The best double action revolver? New or Old (2000+, pre 1975's)

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Mbshooter

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I've been living in Illinois for the past year and had the opportunity to do some interesting pistol shooting. Build quility has been a huge issue for many of the pistols I have shot (trigger pull, feel/ergonomics, etc.). I have shot a number of Colt's, Rossi's, S&W's, Ruger's and a couple of Tauras', so my question is... What has been your experience?
I am still a novice and would like to hear what my fellow Canadians have to say. For the most part Americans are very opinionated and kinda full of BS.
Personally, the Colt Python (6in) has been my fav but this is not a gun that ppl part with very easily.
 
I must agree with Rigmovers comments. I finally got posession of a five screw, pre numbered, Smith .44 magnum --- Serial number dates it to 1956. Considering it has never been anywhere a "pistolsmith" :) the double action function is nothing short of flawless. Well worth the years wait.
 
For me the balance and trigger are the most important things when using the revolver.
I tried a few Colt revolvers over the years and never was impressed with DA, but whatever works best for You.
Personally I like model 10 from S&W - and I believe there is a reason why this gun is in production for over 100 years.
Excellent balance, accuracy and trigger. For target shooting though I would be more inclined to look at model 14 or 15 instead.
Good luck.
 
I would place the "Golden Age" of S&W between 1946 and its purchase by Bangor Punta in 1965, when Carl Hellstrom was president.

These are my examples from this era:
DSC00110.JPG


Top: Model 29-0 four-screw made in 1961
Middle: K-38 Masterpiece five-screw made in 1952
Bottom K-22 Masterpiece five-screw made in 1953
 
regardless of which one you have it all depends on trigger pull ergonomics etc..
for the most part any revolver can be made to shoot well with a little honing of the internals therefore improving trigger pulll and contact surfaces.
ergonomics can be improved by changing the grips.
as far as straight out of the box good.....well thats a different story.
 
If you are buying for looks and feel only it would be hard to beat a Colt Python or one of there other models. If you are buying for looks, feel, how they work and cost then in my opinion you cannot beat the Smith & Wesson guns. Yes the older are a little or a lot nicer but there is nothing and I mean nothing wrong overall with the new ones..

If you are buying for price and strength the Ruger are third. Before anybody flames me for these comments, yes I have owned all these guns over the years and still have many of them. These are just my options or my 2 cents worth and as I read the first post in this thread that is what the OP wanted, was other peoples opinion.

Graydog
 
S&W's quality pre WW2 was incredible, their quality started slipping in the late 60's. The new ones with the two piece barrels, MIMed parts, no thanks, for Modern manufactured revolvers go Ruger.
 
graydog said:
there is nothing and I mean nothing wrong overall with the new ones..
Click to expand...

Except that stupid internal lock!

graydog said:
If you are buying for price and strength the Ruger are third.
Click to expand...

Don't confuse bulk with strength. Ruger frames are cast while S&W frames are forged. Casting leavse the metal more porous and vulnerable to defects in manufacture. Forging creates a stronger metal. Casting is also a less expensive process which accounts for Ruger's cheaper price; you get what you pay for.
 
Aqualung are you saying Smith and Wesson revolvers are stonger than the equivalent models of Rugers? If you are I think you are mistaken big time. I have 8 or 9 Smiths, maybe more, and I love them.
 
No, he's saying forged parts are usually stronger then cast parts, so you can make them smaller and light for equal strength. Rutgers tend to go well past that point, being brute strong (in particular the SRH). The only revolvers I know of that are stronger then that are the custom jobs. - dan
 
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