I really like double action revolvers and own more of them than any other type of firearm. But they aren't for everyone. I see a lot of people sell them and when I ask I've been told point-blank more than once "it's too hard to shoot". The double-action trigger is a rewarding challenge for myself but if you just want to go out and enjoy some casual blasting, which is a fine pursuit in itself, then I think for a lot of people the single-action revolver is a superior choice. As others have said, many end up using their DA as a SA anyway.
If you want a new gun that comes with learning a new skill buy a double-action. Join a pistol shooting league and be the hipster shooting a revolver in IDPA/IPSC/whatever. It's great fun.
If you want to go out and shoot occasionally, like shooting farther distances, and want a gun that really stands out aesthetically from your current collection, a SA revolver is a great option. I have no problem admitting that the appearance of the SA is a large part of what attracts me to it. They're very pleasing. Shooting them is a great deal of fun as well, especially if you like shooting for precision as the design encourages patient and paced shooting. I also find the reloading process novel instead of being a burden or feeling too 'time consuming'. Nothing about these guns was designed to be done at breakneck speed (though you certainly can learn to shoot them fast).
I don't think you could go wrong with a Blackhawk if you're just going to have an individual shooter, since the adjustable sights will let you play around with load development more. I like the appearance of the fixed-sight guns, but admittedly they do restrict your reloading a good bit more as you just hunt for a suitable POA/POI mix and then you're done.
I also second the recommendation of picking up a Schofield reproduction. They are the coolest guns ever made that aren't S&W Model 15s.
As far as calibers, the 45 LC is the caliber that just feels right to me in these guns, but the 38/357 is considerably cheaper and super versatile. Another thing to consider with the 357 is that down the road there are more firearms chambered in it (rifles and handguns) so there's a better chance for cross-platform usage. There's lots of 45 LC guns out there are well the but vast majority of current production revolvers are 357 magnums.
If you want a new gun that comes with learning a new skill buy a double-action. Join a pistol shooting league and be the hipster shooting a revolver in IDPA/IPSC/whatever. It's great fun.
If you want to go out and shoot occasionally, like shooting farther distances, and want a gun that really stands out aesthetically from your current collection, a SA revolver is a great option. I have no problem admitting that the appearance of the SA is a large part of what attracts me to it. They're very pleasing. Shooting them is a great deal of fun as well, especially if you like shooting for precision as the design encourages patient and paced shooting. I also find the reloading process novel instead of being a burden or feeling too 'time consuming'. Nothing about these guns was designed to be done at breakneck speed (though you certainly can learn to shoot them fast).
I don't think you could go wrong with a Blackhawk if you're just going to have an individual shooter, since the adjustable sights will let you play around with load development more. I like the appearance of the fixed-sight guns, but admittedly they do restrict your reloading a good bit more as you just hunt for a suitable POA/POI mix and then you're done.
I also second the recommendation of picking up a Schofield reproduction. They are the coolest guns ever made that aren't S&W Model 15s.
As far as calibers, the 45 LC is the caliber that just feels right to me in these guns, but the 38/357 is considerably cheaper and super versatile. Another thing to consider with the 357 is that down the road there are more firearms chambered in it (rifles and handguns) so there's a better chance for cross-platform usage. There's lots of 45 LC guns out there are well the but vast majority of current production revolvers are 357 magnums.
