Author Topic: Advise for my 1st revolver purchase(s) (Read 1189 times)

PASlugger · « **on:** March 20, 2004, 05:14:13 PM »

I'm about to begin shopping for my first revolver(s) and wanted to get some input.

My goals:

1) want something cheap to shoot at first. I have not really done much handgun shooting, so I'll be doing a lot of practice.

2) I'm not looking for a "carry" arm here, I would prefer something accurate that I could carry afield.

3) Eventually (maybe sooner than later) I want to purchase something similar to use for white tailed deer in PA. I'm mostly an archery hunter at this point, and have always wanted a new challenge.

What I've been thinking about so far is a Ruger Single Six in the 22 combo. Having the ability to change out from 22LR to 22MAG is appealing to me. Since I'll primarily be using the gun for range/hunting shooting, I'll probably go with a blued model.

Down the road, I was thinking about a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 MAG/9mm combo to match up with the .22 combo.

I know many people argue about the .357 for deer. I would only want to use it for close range shooting. This is not a problem where I hunt.

Going with combo's in both guns would provide me a lot of flexibility in shooting, kinda like 4 guns for 2.

I would like some input from those who own these guns, or those that think there are better options out there ...

Thanks

PASlugger

PASlugger · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2004, 05:21:02 PM »

Oh, one more thing I forgot to add... What barrel length would be recommended for these revolvers? I was thinking 6.5 inch.

PASlugger

TScottO · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2004, 05:44:25 PM »

Even though this is the single action board... for pure shootin fun it would be hard to go wrong with the SW 617 with a 6" barrel. The single six is a great lil gun, for that one I would suggest the 5.5" barrel. I have both of these and accuracy is quarter size groups at 25 yards with each of them.

Scott

Tom W. · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2004, 05:54:49 PM »

If you want a convertable in a larger caliber, why not the Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with the .45 ACP cylinder with the 5 1/2 inch barrel. It makes an excellent "fun gun", and has the power needed for deer, especially if you reload, or know someone that you trust that will. I plink with mine with light loads, and can have some serious hunting rounds if needed.

KSR · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2004, 08:20:42 PM »

I have a Blackhawk in 357/9mm 6.5" and it is a great all around gun.
You can hunt, plink or whatever you want with it. As far as is killing a deer
it is plenty powerful enough if you do your part.
I have killed a deer before with a 25-20, one shot and he ran about 30-35
yards.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2004, 11:23:35 PM »

for what you want it would be hard to beat a single six with either a 5 1/2 or 6 1/2 barrel when your ready to step up to a bigger gun id suggest a .44 mag super blackhawk. With the extra weight of the super shooting .44 specials would be alot more confortable then shooting .357 mags and even the .44 specials are better on dear sized game then a .357 and once you get some experience with it and can use full power loads you will have a handgun that is capable of hunting anything.

44 Man · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2004, 02:01:20 AM »

I agree with Lloyd. A single six now and move to a .44 mag later. The opportunity to use .44 spl is very nice and a mild loaded .44 mag (around 1000 fps) will do anything you ever want to do and is MUCH more pleasant to shoot than a .357. It's the report of the .357 that is so bothersome. I always wear ear protection at the bench, but find it difficult to do so in the woods. But even with muffs, I find the "boom" of a big bore much more pleasant to my senses than the "crack" of a .357. Plus you have a more versatil gun for hunting. 44 Man

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2004, 06:01:09 PM »

Slugger,
I think a 6.5" Single Six would be an excellent choice for a first handgun. Not too expensive to purchase or to shoot. But, I have to vote with Lloyd and 44 Man on your next larger caliber handgun. I would recommend a 44 mag.. One thought...you might want to compare the standard grip to the bisley. You can get both the Single Six and the Blackhawks with either. While not everyone likes the Bisley grip, it fits me better than the standard Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk grip and is more comfortable for me to shoot.
It sounds like you've got a good plan to start.
Good luck with your choice.
TnNuc

Old Griz · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2004, 06:26:57 PM »

:cb2: I started to buy a Ruger SP101 in .22, but for some strange reason left the store with a Ruger Bisley in .22. Fell in love with single action revolvers, and been getting them ever since. Have several .44s, but I bought two of the Blackhawk Convertibles (one short barrel, one long) for Cowboy Action Shootin' (modern class of course). Did this so I could buy that cheap Wolf 9mm ammo for practice. Of course, .38 ammo is pretty cheap, too. My .44s are my favorite guns to shoot, but sometimes the pocketbook is the determining factor. The versatility of the .357/.38/9mm is really hard to beat for a fun gun. Costs less than half as much to shoot as a .44. Now if I'm going hunting, I'll grab a .44. I'm not one of those who says that a .357 is too small for deer, it's just that a .44 is better. And since SA revolvers are probably the most fun guns you'll ever shoot, AND they are so much CHEAPER than DA revolvers or semi-automatics, you'll wind up with a .44 (or .41, or .45) someday, because YOU'LL GET ADDICTED TO TO THEM! I promise. You will. You've been warned.

My favorite rifle for plinkin' now is my Marlin Cowboy .357/.38, too. .38s for fun and small game, .357 for coyotes. (For some strange reason they make me take the red dot scope off for Cowboy Action Shootin'. Go figger.

Oh, by the way . . . the .357/.38/9mm Convertibles shoot all three calibers very well, but they just seem to like the .357 fodder the best!

Old Griz · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2004, 06:33:10 PM »

:cb2: Oh, and I agree with my fellow Tennessean, TennesseeNuc, about the Bisley grips. Unfortunately the BH Convertibles don't come with these grips. Guess ya can't have everything!

magooch · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2004, 04:08:56 AM »

I think you have the right idea about the Single Six and whether you go with a 357 or a 44, I would suggest that you try to find someone who will let you try these out before you buy. Around these parts, there are a lot of slightly used 44 magnums sitting around in gunshop and pawnshop display cases. I suspect that the previous owners either didn't like the wallop of the 44 magnum or the cost of the ammo.

Many years ago when the 44 magnum was first introduced, some friends of mine bought them, so I had a chance to try them out. Now maybe the ammo they were using was loaded to the hilt, but frankly, shooting the 44 magnum was a painful experience that I never felt compelled to revisit.

I decided the 357 was big enough and powerful enough to do anything I would ever want to do with a handgun. I have a Ruger Blackhawk and a Colt King Cobra; both are stainless with 6 1/2" barrels. I also have the Single Six--stainless with 6 1/2" barrel. All three of these guns are unbelievably accurate.

When you make your selection, I would strongly suggest that you carefully consider the price of ammunition. I get my 357s for $10 a box of 50 from a friend who loads them--boy, does he load them. Anyway, the point is you are probably going to have to pay a considerably higher price for 44 magnum and 44 special than you would for 357 and 38 special.

The bottom line here is that I would go with stainless and not jump too quickly onto the really big bore hand cannon, that you might later regret.

Gunruner · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2004, 09:48:46 AM »

Hi Slugger, A Ruger Single Six is the perfect starter revolver,IMO. I bought my first in 1973 and have owned many since. I never had much use for the .22 Magnum cylinder so I don't recommend the xtra cost of the convertible. I've shot many hundreds of the magnum ammo but the accuracy and cost was prohibitive. I later went to a .41 Magnum Blackhawk to carry in Wyoming as the .357 isn't allowed for big game hunting in that state. I'm now experimenting with the .45 Colt in a 5 1/2" blued Blackhawk. I started reloading in 1983 so .45 Colt loads cost me only $3.50 a box of 50. Using jacketed bullets will add $4 to that price. The .357........... well, I suppose the .41 spoiled me. I've owned 3 in .357 and they never got shot much even with .38's. My suggestion is buy the .22LR for sure then shoot the .357, .41, .44, .45 and then decide which centerfire is the most FUN for you.

Mauser · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2004, 10:41:51 AM »

I agree with those who say that the single six is a great starter pistol. You absolututely will not go wrong there. On the other hand, if ammo cost is not as important an issue (I may have missed that in your post) the Blackhawk in 357/38 spl with a 6.5" barrel would be great also. The 38 Spl loads in this gun are very mild shooting.

Incidentally, without crunching the numbers, I'm guessing that buying two guns might be almost as much than the ammo cost getting used to a 38/357 without a 22 first. $300.00 will buy you around 1000 rounds of 38 Spl. This way you have your hunting gun right away.

I think the longer barrel is better: Its easier to shoot well with its lower recoil/muzzle blast and longer sight plane and it has more power. Its not a conceal/carry gun anyway.

PASlugger · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2004, 01:35:50 PM »

Thanks for all the input so far. It is helping me make a decision. I'm already thinking "Old Griz" is correct, I will end up hooked. I've already begun to think about reloading to keep the cost of shooting the center fire down whether it be the .357, or .44 mag.

I'll be posting something under the reloading section so I don't mix topics here. Heck, I have almost 30 years of .308 brass sitting at my dad's house just waiting ...

In the end, I'll probably make the center fire decision based on cost of shooting. Reloading will have a large piece in that decision. I know factory ammo would be lots cheaper for the .357/.38/9mm.

I do agree that the .44 mag would fit the hunting bill much better when it comes to deer. Although, I'm a patient guy and can put myself in 20-30 yard opportunities for deer. So, the .357 would work for me if I practice enough. As with anything, getting into the vitals is the key. I'm almost totally an archery hunter anymore, so these thoughts are always with me anyhow.

I'm almost settled on 6.5 inch barrels for each. That should be a good tradeoff on accuracy vs. ease of carry. Anything longer would begin to get cumbersome.

myronman3 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2004, 03:23:37 PM »

i agree with the others. start with the 22 and move up later. if you plan to start to reload in the future, when you move up i would definatlly go with the 44. it is so versitale that can be loaded to full power, mid range (where i run mine) and low power. even at mid range levels they are very easy to tolerate. at low power levels they are so smooth that my bud's 12 year old daughter shoots up a storm. the big gun soaks up that recoil. and with a 44 if a guy shoots cast bullets you get alot of bang for the buck.
i have owned or shot alot of different makes and models, i think the 44 is probably the most versital of them all. if i had to choose one it would be a blackhawk in 44 magnum stainless finish with a 4 5/8 inch barrel. easy packing, fun to shoot, yet still potent and affordable. hope it helps.

Old Griz · « **Reply #15 on:** March 22, 2004, 05:34:47 PM »

Boy, I sure hope that was a keyboard error on Mauser's part. $300 for a case of .38 Specials? I just bought a case of 1000 rounds of factory ammo, not reloads, for $120!

Now if you're gonna reload, go with myronman3's suggestion and get the .44. I buy reloads that are extremely accurate and very mild to shoot. You'll find a good solid load for fun and practice, and there are a lot of great bullets to use with a hot hunting load.

If ya have to buy your ammo, the .357 is the most versatile.

If ya roll your own, you might be better served with the .44.

Either way--YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FUN! And that my friend is the name of the game! :cb2:

Mauser · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2004, 04:38:26 AM »

Well I did understate it a bit. IF you can get nearly 3000 rounds for $300 my point is made even more. If you can't get used to a Revolver with 3000 shots you never will. If you think you might end up with the 357 anyway, get it first, shoot the cheap 38 Spl ammo and get up to speed that much sooner. 38 Spl loads in the 6.5" Blackhawk are real pussycats.

PASlugger · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2004, 02:29:32 PM »

I'm not worried about the money for the 22 combo. I actually look forward to carrying that afield outside of deer season, plus it will be a fun gun to shoot and light on the wallet.

My hardest decision at the moment is blued vs stainless (for either of them). I'm not too worried about reflection while hunting deer, I can deal with that one way or another. My eye definetly likes the stainless look better than the blued. Which ever way I go, I'm getting both with the same finish.

PASlugger.

papajohn428 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2004, 10:03:22 AM »

If you're already planning on getting into reloading eventually, it doesn't matter whether your second gun is a 357 or a 44, you'll eventually have one of each, it's just a metter of time. Personally, I'd get the 357 first, to practice your reloading on, once you have a good grip on what you're doing you can move up to the 44, and a power level several steps higher. I think the 38/357 is more forgiving for a new reloader, and probably easier to learn, and more forgiving with minor mistakes.
If the stainless guns look good to you, that's what you oughta get, you can always add blued guns later, but at this point in my life, I'm buying everything I can get in stainless. It just seems to simplify things.
My .02
PJ

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2004, 08:50:54 PM »

Slugger,
I love blue guns. The problem is that they just don't stay that way with a lot of use. Stainless makes life a little easier. :grin:
Best,
TnNuc

Tom W. · « **Reply #20 on:** April 06, 2004, 04:21:12 PM »

Indeed. My .44 is stainless, the .357 I traded off is stainless, my .480 is stainless. I wish my .45's were stainless. I'm getting to that stage also, where what I buy will be stainless if it's available.

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #21 on:** April 10, 2004, 06:32:23 PM »

finding a stainless convertable in 357/9mm may be a bit difficult. Not impossible just a bit difficult. Other wise I agree with all your choices both single six and blackhawk I have both and love them all. get them while you can.
Jim L