What is your ideal battery / armory of Revolvers and do you have it?

ABPOS

Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2015
Messages
2,066
Reaction score
2,230
Location
SE Wisconsin
For the sake of discussion and planning, just curious on what people say to this.

For example, I have 2 smith and wesson revolvers that pretty much handle my needs. A 442 and a 6" Model 19. One is a great carry gun and 1 is great for Home Defense. I probably wouldn't NEED any more. Actually I could get away with just the 442 but I wouldn't consider that ideal.

And beyond that, I think I could see some other models working better for those 2 things. Well, I would like the airweight for pocket carry when I do. But only on occasion. I'd like a Steel J frame for belt carry. Which is the majority what I do. And I'd like a smaller K frame for Home Defense. Or something different. I can think of a lot of models that would probably be better.

The model 19 is great. But there are probably better models for home defense. Like a TRR8 or 686plus with say a 2.5" barrel.
Something like that. Or even just a better balancing, more compact K frame.

Then I'm sure I could use a .22 for practice.

So my ideal family looks kind of like this:

617 / 63
442
649
4" tapered bbl 10 or 3"HB 10

Then throw in stuff for fun:
M1917 / Victory / 27

You see in my ideal family I don't even own a 6" model 19. LOL. I will say this, that one shoots really good and the trigger is GREAT. But I think other models balance better and might be a bit more practical. I don't plan on gettting rid of it but it doesn't SEEM ideal to me. I'd take a 4" 66 over that any day.

Anyways.....

I always like to see what other people find "ideal".
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
For me, a minimalist revolver battery would consist of:

1. NAA Mini .22 LR or Magnum (non-permissive/deep concealment/BUG)
2. 2" I or J frame in .38 S&W or .38 Special (normal EDC)
3. 4" mid-frame .38 Special or .357 Mag ("duty" use/home defense)
4. 4" to 6" SA or DA in large caliber (.45 Colt, .44 Mag) (big game hunting/animal defense)
5. 4" to 6" K22 style DA .22 LR (small game/range/training).

I could get by without any issues equipped as above.
 
For me, a minimalist revolver battery would consist of:

1. NAA Mini .22 LR or Magnum (non-permissive/deep concealment/BUG)
2. 2" I or J frame in .38 S&W or .38 Special (normal EDC)
3. 4" mid-frame .38 Special or .357 Mag ("duty" use/home defense)
4. 4" to 6" SA or DA in large caliber (.45 Colt, .44 Mag) (big game hunting/animal defense)
5. 4" to 6" K22 style DA .22 LR (small game/range/training).

I could get by without any issues equipped as above.

What..!! are you looking over my shoulder..

NAA Sidewider 22lr/22wmr conv.
Mdl. 60 snub.357
Mdl. 13
Mdl. 629 Mountain Gun
Mdl. 17 6"
 
My ideal "practical" list would be:
J frame .38 snubby
L frame .357 w/ 4"-6" barrel
N frame .44

It covers edc/hd/woods carry. Everything else on my list would be fun stuff
 
Model 36 x 2
Model 60 x 2
Model 60-15
Model 19-5, 2-1/2”
Model 66-4, 2-1/2”
Kimber Ultra Carry Series 1

While I have many other “wants”, I believe that my “needs” are pretty well covered.
 
My battery of revolvers is as many as I can afford, which is now about 35 and counting. This does not include any of the semi autos that I have.
I'm well past the need to have stage in my collection it's become more of what I want.
 
I have been buying Smith and Wessons for 4 decades now. I have many firearms that fill many roles. I own more than I need, but not all that I want :)

To start with, almost every day of my life since 1980 there has been a J-frame Smith and Wesson with me.

Sometimes as a backup and other times as a primary firearm. At this point I have many to choose from depending on how I am dressed, the mode I am carrying in, where I am going and if I need to conform in terms of ammunition

J-frames2s.jpg

For home defense, I prefer to use a 12 gauge, but I will pick up whatever is at hand if/when an event occurs. A home defense firearm does not need to be light or small, you are carrying it in your home. Most recently I built a little 12 Ga coach gun for the night stand

SxS3s.jpg

I used to keep one of my Remington 870WP shotguns in that role.

I have other things placed around the house if we get surprised or overrun.

25-625mg.jpg


Les%20Baer%20Targetmaster%20LS%20small.jpg


USP-tac.jpg


1894SS-41LTD%202.jpg


Franchi%20LAW12%20rs.jpg

What is sitting where just depends on whim at the moment. I do not actually have a "plan" beyond the issue that I will be walking away from the event
 
Been buying guns and keeping some for a while.
Never actually gave much thought to ‘ideal.’
Have kept some of most everything, have sold some that didn’t work out.
Like 2- model 53s, 2- Detonics Pocket Nines.
Have tried the long barrels. But Don’t really care for anything longer than 6.5.
Have tried the Nickels, not for me, but I do still have one Model 19.
 
After 50 years I have returned to my starting point
2” K frame 38 special
3” K frame 38 special
3” K frame 357 magnum
4” K frame 38 special
4” K frame 357 magnum



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
2" J frame Bodyguard (I would like a Centennial model 40, but the m-49 is what I have)

4" K Frame

6 " N Frame

K22 and 617
 
It pains me to say this, but I think I could get by with these three...top gun is a GI National Match .45 built at FT Benning awhile back. The S&Ws are my old 649 .38 and a K22. Life would probably be simpler with these three.
Bob

wZ9ilmv.jpg

I can't argue with your choices. I just don't do autos for nightstand any more. At least at this point. I just like them to not have to have oil / grease. And I don't like concerning myself about what to do with the chambered round for when I dry fire. Is it good, how many times etc etc. Revolvers are just so nice to not have to even think about that. And I prefer dry firing them over anything else. Let alone the fact that everyone else around me has a revolver for their defense gun. In my family. Mom, Dad, wife only knows how to run one. Daughter prefers them. My son is the only one who likes an auto and even that is DA/SA. LOL The M9.
 
I would think that unless you hunt with a handgun or live in grizzly country, you could get by with a 2" J-frame and 4-6" K- or L-frame .357 especially if you reload. If you don't reload or are dead set on having a 22 lr, then a Hi-Standard Sentinel might fit in too. Just don't tell my wife I said this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 292
Good choices for you and will do well for YOU .. for ME where I
live and frequent autos that carry as many rounds as your two revolver's and double the fire power with the extra magazine is what I carry ..

The reason !! The HOOD gets closer every year .. And when I have to cross the river to the other side for medical reasons (doctor appointments) I want to be well armed .. They run in packs 3-4 in a car .. When you see them walking around with their pants down to their knees there's always a half dozen or more ..

So many fights at the shopping malls their losing business to the point of some stores closing and others added police presence in the store ..

Not any one thing is the best for everyone's situation .. so carry what is best for yourself and family and don't worry what other's think or carry !!
 
I believe its quite possible to get by quite well with just three revolvers.
A small 2" .38spl for concealed carry. Most here like the J-frame, but a K-frame will work. Then there's my personal favorite, the Colt Detective Special. ;)
A K or L frame 4" .357 for carry or home defense. It need be you can hunt with it. My choice is the 586.
A K-frame .22 either 4 or 6" for small game, practice and just plain fun. Here I go with the 4" Model 18. My all time favorite revolver. :D
 
Back
Top