whats a good revolver for a newbe?

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Coveboy

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I am looking for recomendations for my first revolver. I just completed my restricted course and I am looking for a good inexpensive revolver to use at the range.
 
well inexpensive can mean two things.

1 - inexpensive to initially purchase
2 - inexpensive to purchase ammo

the latter can further mean two things, either go with a .22, or get into reloading for centerfire.

i would say likely the best revolver on the market for the money would be a ruger single six.

if you want a double action, they're generally more ex#####e. a smith & wesson 617 will most definitly be more.

try not to buy a piece of junk, you will hate it!

you have to figure out what you want more specificly.

good luck, and keep and eye on the EE!
 
That's a hard question to answer but if you have a local gun club that can let you handle a few types that would be your best bet. I went down to my gun club and tried a few and ultimately settled on the Sig P226.
 
22lr are good, but if you want something in centerfire a S&W 686 with a 6" barrel in .357mag/.38 is a good choice too, .38's are cheaper than .357's and you have the option to use either.
ww w.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=14799&tabselected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=
 
+1 on a S&W .22. You can probably find a reasonably priced used one if you shop around.
 
S&W models 617 and 686, Ruger Single Six and GP100. The 617 and Single Six are .22, the 686 and GP100 are great .357s that you can learn on using .38SPC ammo.
 
S&W 29 or 629 stainless 6" 44 magnum. :)

That is proably the only revolver I'll own in my collection. Well, that is the only revolver itch I have that needs to be scratched.

I scratched the majority of my itches, but I'm not finished scratching yet. hehe
 
The much-neglected K-framed 357 is awesome. Everyone's gunning (pun intended :p ) for 586/686's, but the K-framed model 19 is an awesome revolver, handles 38/357 loads and has great sights and is usually cheaper than a 586/686.

The 1st handgun I bought was a 45 auto. Many told me to get a .22 and work up. One ole-timer told me to go ahead & get the .45 (which I wanted so badly) and then shoot the crap outta it over the weekend until I was sick of it. Promised me that the recoil wouldn't bother me afterwards. Sure enuf, after about 500 rounds the recoil didn't faze me at all. Since then, recoil has never been an issue with me. I shot my buddy's 44Mag 6" revolver one-handed with really hot loads, no biggie. Yeah, there was recoil. There was supposed to be recoil.....;)

I'm not trying to prove I'm a "real man". What I'm trying to get across is that unless you accept that recoil will never hurt you, anything other than a .22 will always intimidate you.
 
ruger blackhawk 38/357mag
for all people previously said about that caliber and the fact that it has a great trigger!
it's a simple action however.
 
I agree with the choice of a .357 provided you intend to handload for it, and components are cheap and plentiful. If handloading isn't something that interests you, you had better start with a rimfire, and the Smith & Wesson M-17 K-22 would be a good place to start.

The selection of .357s is abundant, although I must admit a preference for the older style K and N frame Smiths (M-13, 19, 27 & 28) or the .41 frame Colts (Lawman, Trooper, Border Patrol,& Python). I also liked the old Ruger Security Six or the Speed Six, but I'm less happy with the newer Ruger DAs, to me they seem a little clunky. A Blackhawk is always a good choice, for the SA enthusiast, and it now comes in so many versions that its tough to keep track.
 
Skip the .22, get the 357mag right away. I got the .22 first and now I save that for newbies I bring to the range. Unless you are extremely recoil sensitive you can start with 38special right away and never look back.
 
peter2772000 said:
The much-neglected K-framed 357 is awesome. Everyone's gunning (pun intended :p ) for 586/686's, but the K-framed model 19 is an awesome revolver, handles 38/357 loads and has great sights and is usually cheaper than a 586/686.
Click to expand...

Absolutely correct!
My 1st, and still only, .357/.38spl is a model 19 nickel plated hardly used which I got for $400 and gets a lot of admirers at the club.
My first purchase was a double action .22lr (Ariminus HW9) which is way better to load & unload than a single action, and my input for a .22lr revolver would be a double action.
 
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Another hearty recomendation for a nice used K frame model 19 or an N frame model 27 or 28. With a little patience examples of these in good condition with good to acceptable lockup come up for sale at around the $450 to $550 range. These are a great buy but you need to be a fan of the more classic short underlug style. Or wait for one with a PPC barrel mod to show up.

586/686 are nice guns but being more recent you'll pay a little more for them.
 
Thanks everyone for the quick responses. As I plan to get into loading my own I am leaning towards the 357/38 just not sure which one. I am hopeing to get to the range in the next few days and speak to some of the guys and hopefully handle some to see what appeals to me.
 
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