Best Current Production Revolver Today

[Riomouse911]

Of the three choices, I like the 686 for a six-shooter .357. Mine has been good for over 20 years.

My 6-shot GP 100 has a funky trigger stage that doesn’t agree with me. The gun is stout and accurate, its just that pull…

My 1988-era Taurus 66 was a decent revolver, and my 94 and 941 are ok rimfires, but I think I will stick to the two above over Taurus.

Stay safe.

 

[bigpower491]

None of the above

 

[defjon]

Rugers new mrsp seems higher than smith. Go with smith.

 

[UncleEd]

Rugers new mrsp seems higher than smith. Go with smith.

MSRP means nothing.

A quick internet check for "buy now" 4-inch 686s
vs. 4-inch GP100s are comparable in price. In
fact looks like Ruger has just issued a lot of
blue carbon GP100s for $730, around $100
to $200 cheaper than SS by either maker.

 

[shoebox1.1]

My king cobras pretty sweet at the 780 I paid (iirc). Now it has been back to the mothership for misfires but that’s fixed and she’s a fine keeper now!

 

[Old Dog]

What is it with people and inserting manufacturers that are not part of the OP ?

Match your thread title with your narrative section, then. You asked who makes the best production revolver today in the title, then restrict options in your post.

So do you not want anyone who doesn't believe those are the top choices in the revolver market today to post? Or do you really believe those you listed are the three best revolver makers in the business today?

 

[westernrover]

....The Mk III action heavily influenced the internal design of the Dan Wesson revolver series.

They were actually designed by the same person.

 

[Jakemedic]

My vote, would be for Smith and Wesson. Although my last purchase new was 18 years ago when I purchased a 340PD. At first, my problem was the barrel got loose. Sent it back and got it back in a few days. After carrying it for many years, the finish was coming off. They replaced the frame and sent it back, again in just a few days. Customer service seemed to be very good. Now I haven't purchased a new S&W as of late. They do appear to be the king of revolvers, unless you spend thousands for a Colt snake gun. Your results may vary.

 

[WestKentucky]

Taurus, Smurf, or Rooooooger… nope. There are better options. Even without going with a high end gun like a Korth or Manurhin.

Chiappa Rhino is an overly complicated gun, but it is a fine gun indeed. The one I had was a delight to shoot but when the prices spiked on them I let mine go. It wasn’t the configuration I really wanted and I planned to buy what I do still want, I just haven’t found one in stock yet. It is at least the equal of the three listed. I place it above them, but for sake of argument I will say they are about even. Price tag is similar to the Smurf so money wise we are still in the same ballpark.

Kimber K6 is another revolver from a company not known for revolvers. There have been some hiccups along the way, but the guns are very well made and feel almost as good as they look. It’s also in the same price range as the Smurf so there’s option B for folks who can’t handle a flipped over kinda wonky looking wheelgun like the rhino. Again, at least as good so I’m calling it even.

Whatever name it goes by these days… current importer is Rock Island. Alpha Proj is/was what they are. Same situation, at least as good, probably better but calling them all even.

NOW with all that said… if I were buying a DA revolver today, it would be a Taurus. Make mine a 3” 357 on the 66 frame with adjustable sights. The switch cylinder models are slick but it just adds complexity that’s truthfully not needed. If 38 was enough then an 856 3” polished stainless, executive grips. For a hunting gun make it a 608 6”. Reason for all of these is pretty simple, you get a gun if similar quality (arguably better, I would agree with that argument in many respects) for basically 2/3 the price. A Taurus 66 is a $450 gun. A S&W 686 is $900. The gp100 or sp101 are in the $700-$800 ballpark. Buy the Taurus, buy a better set of springs for it. While your putting the springs in, polish the mating surfaces a bit. Now your at $500 or $550 and you have a gun that beats the snot out of its competitors and with the trigger work still is cheaper. The other brands just don’t make sense anymore.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Just skip it all and get the legendary French Manurhin MR73 imported by Beretta

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/manurhin/

 

[wcwhitey]

The first new revolver I bought was a S&W Talo 629 Deluxe 3” about 3 years ago. Almost a grand out the door. A very nice revolver. My first MIM and lock S&W. 6 months later I picked up a Model 638 .38 Special. Another good one. Both are what I expected from S&W. Functional, accurate working and well made. Is S&W the best, not sure but they are what I like. I have S&W revolvers from 1907, 1960’s/70’s and 80’s to compare. What I trust!

 

[shoebox1.1]

All the things i like in one photo...
Nice cigar... whats that ?

That’s a “southern draw” kudzu I believe. Pretty good stick

 

[contender]

1.My top choice today for a belt gun would be the Ruger LCRx 3" for the belt in 357 for CC. Very impressed with the LCR series to the point i would give up that sixth shot for this five shot design in 38/357.
2. If talking competition, S&W continues to rule the roost with the superior trigger and multiple models to choose from.
3. For a service revolver and general work gun, Ruger GP. Its not refined as a Smith, but i have never seen a Ruger GP out of time or with a sprung crane.

and in all honesty, they all would see 38 special loads 90 percent of the time.

 

[reddog81]

Just skip it all and get the legendary French Manurhin MR73 imported by Beretta

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/manurhin/

Too bad they’re impossible to find.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

They were actually designed by the same person.

Do you happen to know whether this was the same Karl Lewis behind Lewis Machine Tool? If so, he really did things!

 

[cfullgraf]

I have more S&W revolvers than anything else. Can you guess what I think is the best?

Next are Ruger revolvers. I feel Ruger DA revolvers look frumpy but I have chamberings not offered by S&W. They shoot well and are well built.

I bought my first Colt revolver in 2021. A Python first then two Anacondas 4” and 6”) in 2022. Maybe someday I'll get an SAA but I'd rather have an S&W K-32 or Model 16-0 through 16-3.

Taurus might have some interesting revolvers that I have not seen anything substantially different from the S&W revolvers that I have. But not yet.

The Korth and Kimber revolvers may be great, but I have plenty of concealable small revolvers so I do not need to spend big money on a small revolver.

While I prefer S&W revolvers, other brands may be better.

 

[westernrover]

Different Karl Lewis, but Karl R Lewis worked for Browning, Colt, and Dan Wesson.
Here's a patent he filed while working for Browning that describes a novel type of cylinder ratchet mechanism: Cylinder ratchet mechanism for revolver type firearms (freepatentsonline.com)

Probably his most prolific invention for Browning was the BLR.

 

[CraigC]

This, although I'd say go back nearly 40 years for the
S&Ws.

40yrs would be better.

 

[Old Dog]

This thread topic, to me, seems about like asking "Who makes the best current production off-road vehicle?" and offering choices of only Ford, Hyundai and Kia, while ignoring Jeep, Chevy, Land Rover and Toyota.

 

[Blue Jays]

"…What is it with people and inserting manufacturers that are not part of the OP?…"

Had your subject line Best Current Production Revolver Today in mind at time of original response.
After reading again, my suggestion out of those three choices would be Smith & Wesson.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Out of the 3 I'd go with Ruger

 

[Tallball]

In a couple of hours I'll be at the range shooting five revolvers: two Smiths, two Rugers, and a Taurus. I bought all of them used. They're all reliable and very good shooters.

 

[buck460XVR]

No contest....the 686, even as a 7 shooter. I have several 686s that range from 40 years ago to 4 years ago. While the finish is a tad better on the oldest, the newest are the most accurate, even tho accuracy with any of them is superb. IMHO, They are better looking than the Rugers and Taurus, even with the hole....and we all know how much better the triggers are.

Rugers new mrsp seems higher than smith. Go with smith.

MSRPs for Rugers have gone nuts. Many of their new handgun MSRPs are higher than similar Smiths. Used to be they were considered "the working man's gun" because of their price point and slight imperfections of fit and finish were readily accepted because of this. Difference in price between them and a Smith was a legitimate excuse to buy one. While they are still a fine firearm, IMHO, they are not worth more than a comparable Smith. OTD prices seem still be lower than Smiths, but there also seems to be more Rugers available on store shelves. I believe the high MSRP and the discounted OTD prices are a marketing strategy by Ruger, so folks think they are getting a "deal".

 

[SteadyD]

I would say Ruger based on one major point. They ALWAYS fix a gun with problems, up to and including replacing it if need be, AND they do so faster than their competition for the most part. Longest I’ve waited for a Ruger to return was 17 days doorstep to doorstep when they were running slow. Longest on a Smith was over 6 weeks.

 

[defjon]

MSRP means nothing.

A quick internet check for "buy now" 4-inch 686s
vs. 4-inch GP100s are comparable in price. In
fact looks like Ruger has just issued a lot of
blue carbon GP100s for $730, around $100
to $200 cheaper than SS by either maker.

I mean, msrp is reflected in the end price . Always. To some degree.

Haven't paid more than 350 for a gp100. The prices now are nuts. They are higher if not down right commiserate with smith, and smith is generally a more refined product imo.

In these stupid times, I grabbed a 2.5 686+ for 750 otd ...for what it's worth, not a single ruger new or used was less and this is a local gun shop with massive 10k inventory, new, used etc.

Passed on a 6 inch 686 for 550 semi recently. I say wait for good pitches.