choosing A Revolver

[nedmoore]

I want to buy a revolver to carry at certain times when I do not wear a holster, belt, etc. When I am at home I normally wear shorts and a T-shirt. Say I am working around the house on a Saturday and have to go to Home Depot- I would like to grab my gun and put it in my pocket of my cargo shorts. I do not feel comfortable with my auto "floating around" but I am ok with a wheel gun in my pocket. I would like to have a 357 mag. or bigger with a 3" barrel, is 2" ok? I am going to gun show this weekend and would like to buy something, but I do not want to spend a fortune either. Any thoughts, opinions, or past experiences would be greatly appreciated.

[SRVA]

Any of the "J" frame Smith and Wesson revolvers would be a great choice.

[JLaw]

Any of the "J" frame Smith and Wesson revolvers would be a great choice.

+1 on any J frame Smith. Remember that shooting a .357 Magnum out of a 2" J frame isn't going to be lots of fun at the range. But if that's what you feel comfortable with go with it! If you feel okay with .38 Spl +P, the S&W 642 is very popular for a good reason.

JLaw

[flb_78]

You can get a Rossi R462 for 290 bucks from Academy.

Stainless, 6 shot, 2 inch barrel, inexpensive.

http://academy.com/index.php?page=conte ... 03613-6202

I have no personal experience with it, but my buddy does. He likes it.

[Dan20703]

If you feel okay with .38 Spl +P, the S&W 642 is very popular for a good reason.
JLaw

+1 on the 642.

I carry mine in a pocket holster while wearing cargo shorts and T-shirt. I sometimes forget that it's there. Load it up with +P 158 grain LSWCHP for SD.

[Moonpie]

You can't go wrong with the S&W. Put a set of Barami Hip Grips on them and you're good to go!

http://www.baramihipgrip.com/

[srothstein]

I am a fan of the newer Ruger revolvers, both the GP-100 and SP-101. I think the 101 is almost perfect for what you are looking for.

[LarryH]

Steve R --

What are your thoughts on a Ruger Security-Six?

[shaggydog]

Steve R --

What are your thoughts on a Ruger Security-Six?

I have owned my Security Six since 1983 (that date may be off by a year or so either way). 2.75" barrel is easy to conceal. Weight is acceptable. I have absolutely no problem with the recoil using .357 mags (even with the stock grips) and it is more than acceptablly accurate at the short fighting distances.

[LarryH]

Thanks, shaggy.

I had a chance to buy a like-new at the last Pasadena Gun Show. If I hadn't just written a check to replenish the supply of 9mm and .45 ammo, I'd have probably purchased it. Told him that I'd call him when my tax refund gets back, to see if he still had it.

[Keith B]

I've had a stainless 4" Ruger Security-Six for 30 years. I used it as a backup to my S&W Model 66 duty weapon in case it was out of commision.

They are great guns. The thing about Ruger vs. S&W K or J frames is no side plates that could potentially warp if dropped. They also have a beefy top strap that is nothing short of a railroad tie. I used to load some REALLY hot .357 rounds and it handled them with no probelms.

The only real difference I can see in the Security-Six vs the GP-100 is the ejector rod shroud runs the close to the full length of the barrel, vs. the Security-Six where it extends just beyond the ejector rod.

Mine has about 5000 rounds through it and even after 30 years looks great!! I would highly recommend either Ruger model for a solid, dependable revolver.

[LarryH]

Thanks, Keith.

Like your avatar. I'm strictly fixed-wing, but know a few balloonatics.

[nedmoore]

Thanks for all of your input, I went the cheap route, skipped the gun show, and bought the Rossi. I think that it will be fine for my needs, and cheap enough that I don't have to worry about marring etc. Just got back from shooting it. Thanks again.

[JLaw]

Thanks for all of your input, I went the cheap route, skipped the gun show, and bought the Rossi. I think that it will be fine for my needs, and cheap enough that I don't have to worry about marring etc. Just got back from shooting it. Thanks again.

1) Congradulations on your purchase...

2) Range report?

3) Pictures??? Hint, hint.

JLaw

[nedmoore]

Oh it shot fine, I had purchased some pretty cheap ammo for the range that had aluminum cartridges so they were not as easy to eject from the cylinder as I would have liked. The guy at academy was pretty slow, it took about 45 minutes to complete the purchase. I can't take any pix right now-I did not tell my wife! Two guns in two weeks would not go over all that well!