19 or 586

[MarkL]

Hello all. Been awhile since I've lurked here. I currently have a beautiful 4" hard chromed 586. A friend has a beautiful 4" 19-4 he's selling. If you could only have one, which would it be? I've always loved blued guns and am trying to figure out if I want to sell the 586 and get the 19-4. I understand the pluses and minuses of each. I'm smitten with each. The gun won't be carried much. Used for occasional plinking and for night stand duty.
Thanks as always for your input.

 

[diamonback68]

Keep the 586, you wont be sorry..................trust me.

 

[HOGSTR]

I vote 586. Heavier, and easier to shoot well.

 

[Nframe357]

Another vote for the L frame, much longer lived revolver.

 

[jframe]

OK, I gotta be different. I say get the 19; they are SO much better balanced to me. Stay away from 125gr full power .357's, and you'll be ok. Use heavier weight bullets or ANY .38 loads. Some folks like the full lugged under barrel on an L frame, but the K frame just looks really graceful with the tapered ejector housing. Here's my snub version and I'd love to be able to afford a four incher to keep it company! I've got Eagle magna style grips on it now with a t grip, but the boots are still in my drawer, and I swap them out often.

 

[aterry33]

It is really personal preference.. some folks shoot the 586 better and some shoot the 19 better.

In any case, it takes a lot to break a Model 19, i.e. a lot of magnums and generally the 125 grain kind. I wouldn't worry too much about that.

 

[roaddog28]

OK, I gotta be different. I say get the 19; they are SO much better balanced to me. Stay away from 125gr full power .357's, and you'll be ok. Use heavier weight bullets or ANY .38 loads. Some folks like the full lugged under barrel on an L frame, but the K frame just looks really graceful with the tapered ejector housing. Here's my snub version and I'd love to be able to afford a four incher to keep it company! I've got Eagle magna style grips on it now with a t grip, but the boots are still in my drawer, and I swap them out often.

I have to agree with jframe. The best balanced revolver in 4 inch has always been the K frame. And the best all around revolver for everything would be the K frame magnum either 19 or 66. I have both the K and L frames. But it I only could have one revolver it would be the K frame magnum. As long as you don't shoot a lot of magnums and when you do use 158g ammo the revolver will out live you!

roaddog28

 

[Glock17]

My vote will be the 586 L-Frame !!!!!!

 

[Charles]

For nightstand duty, I'd give a slight edge to the 586. But you need that 19-4, too! Cancel your cable for a few months and spend your evenings dry-firing and practicing draws and reloads instead. Don't sell your 586. You'll want to replace it eventually and it'll cost you way more than just buying the 19. And with some good grips, the 19 is a great carry piece, especially in Arizona, so you can leave the 586 at home and keep the 19 with you.

 

[sw44spl]

yes go 586 and later get a 19.

 

[j38]

They are both great - and different feeling revolvers. You would do better to spend your time figuring out how to buy the 19 AND keep the 586.

Good Luck,

Jerry

 

[borntoraisehogs]

19 , both if possible .

 

[tallpaul]

I have a plethora of k frames and one l frame... only because I haven't found more deals on the L's

I would keep that 586... I bet it shoots great and for your uses I doubt you'll find better. I would however find a way to get the 19 also!

 

[TSQUARED]

For light plinking and a bedside gun I would opt for the 586. If you were going to shoot it competitively I would opt for the K framed model 19. I feeel that the K frames have a somewhat smoother action than the L frames - perhaps I have been inhaling powder smoke too long.

 

[jpwhel]

Another vote for you really need both. The 586 L frame is a bit heavier with the full lug barrel and is to me the better shooter. The Mod 19 is a great K frame that handles well. I justify both by having different barrel lengths, 4" on the 586 and 6" on the 19.

Good luck in choosing.

 

[Gilou06]

For 38SPL sport shooting, I find K frame better balanced. But L frame are definitely guns for men !!!

 

[deuterij]

Tough call. For overall shooting I like the 586. For craftsmanship and history I like the 19-4. If you can possibly swing both, I vote for that. If not, then is it possible for you to take both out to a range and try them out? Go with whatever feels right. The best guns feel like an extension of one's hand and require little thought to aim and shoot well.

If you typically shoot a lot of magnum loads, then definitely the 586.

 

[ColdBlueSteel]

Both of course, if possible. If I had to make the choice between one of the two, it would be the 586. IMO best all around shooter, especially for the magnum loads. Bottom line, find a way to keep both.

 

[MarkL]

WOW! Great responses and advice guys. It's truly appreciated. I've decided to keep the 586 and attempt to obtain the 19-4 as well. The only problem is also trying to figure out a way to get that second (base model) 1911 to add to the stable. All of this while trying to maintain a stream line herd, yah right! Whenever dilemmas such as this arise, I thank God I was blessed to be born in this great country.

Regards, Mark

 

[Gilou06]

I just would dampen my last post : OK for K frame for sport shooting but pay attention to the grips.
K frames are only comfortable to shoot with large T grips on square butt (like mod. 14). I believe that mod. 19-4 4" come with this type of grips, whereas 3" (or less ?) has round butt and 19-3 small square butt (as shown on my avatar - mod. 10).