What if the only handguns you could own are revolvers?

[Feanaro]

I'm a little like Goldilocks when it comes to barrel length. I dislike snubs, too short. Small sight radius, usually attached to a grip that's too small for my hands, and poor ammo performance. 6" is nice but not quite perfect. Anything over that is too durn big. 4" is just right. If I could ever FIND a 5", I might prefer that but we'll see.

 

[AStone]

I hear you.

I don't dislike snubs, though.
Love mine. Wear it daily.

However, if I could have only 1,
a general all round handgun,
it'd be be a 3" instead of 4",
probably either a 65 or 686.

I had a 686 4", but found it a bit front heavy for my taste.
I know that lots find it just right.

But for me, that 3" middle ground is perfect:
small enough to carry easily, long enough for COM @ 25 yds.

 

[Oro]

If I couldn't use my beloved 1911's, I'd have to rely upon the two revolvers I carry anyway - a 2.5" M19 in .357 for concealed carry, and a 3" M629 in .44 mag for open woods carry. They are the best tools for those purposes that I have found. No scarifices here.

 

[Feanaro]

I don't dislike snubs, though.
Love mine. Wear it daily.

I prefer comforting to comfortable. (I'm the sort of person who voluntarily wears full sleeve button down shirts and stuffy pants in 99 degree Southern heat.) And I do not find snubs comforting. My skills aren't adequate with them and I don't have the time or money to fix that right now.

 

[AStone]

I prefer comforting to comfortable.

Yeah, me, too.

That's why I carry a snub loaded with .38 +P wearing Hogue Monogrips.
Gives me that extra margin of control (comforting),
even though they don't work for pocket carry
(which is not comfortable for me anyway).

As for skills with snubs, I recommend point shooting drills.

Snubs are most effective as SD inside a 7m radius,
where point shooting will let you get off 2 or 3 ...
more than likely enough (statistically speaking).

Outside 7 m, I'll take a 3" in .357 Mag.

 

[Feanaro]

As for skills with snubs, I recommend point shooting drills.

The only thing I really can't practice at any range in the area. Not that I could afford a snub right now, thanks to acursed higher edumacation.

 

[aguyindallas]

S&W 686, 642 are the first that come to mind for me.

 

[jad0110]

But for me, that 3" middle ground is perfect:
small enough to carry easily, long enough for COM @ 25 yds.

Amen to that. A lot of us here feel the same way. I'd love to add a 3 incher to my stable one day.

 

[Poohgyrr]

I guess that law would make me send some things to Hamilton Bowen for a.44 S&W Special conversion. So, you guys would have to just leave him alone until he finishes my stuff.

And I would definitely get some eight shot 3" to 4" .357 S&W Magnum N frames.

Otherwise, I'd just keep using S&W's in .357 and .44 Special. Would not enjoy losing my autos.

And you do realize this what this would do to the prices of all those old S&Ws out there don't you.......

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

Ruger SP-101, 3 inch barrel, 357 magnum. This gun is still concealable, has a long enough barrel to get the velocity up on magnum loads, can shoot 38 specials, built like a tank, extemely versatile. If one of these were my only handgun, I'd be perfectly happy.

 

[tinygnat219]

I'd go with my existing 686-5, or I would go for one of those Performance Center S&W Revolvers that have 7 or 8 .357 rounds. If criminals count on 5 or 6, I want 7 or 8.