A good revolver for a new target shooter?

[Sparkyshooter]

I've always loved competitive shooting events. My favorite has always been the stock revolver competitions with the fast shoots, multiple target shots, and timed exercises. Jerry Miculek is my idol - 12 shots from a 686 in 3ish seconds. Holy crap.

So I'm trying to find a revolver to train on: target shoot, speed shoot, reloading exercises, etc. I'm new to the whole revolver sphere so I got no idea what I should look for besides what the big boys use in the competitions. I really like the look and features of the new 686SSR but a part of me says a standard 686. Anyone have both and can tell me the pros and cons?

Also, what are the major difs between 4" barrel and 6"? Is the difference huge? I'm a small guy. The 6" looks cool but its kinda big for me.

Finally, does anyone have other suggestions for revolvers that I might, in my revolver naivete, have overlooked?

 

[Sparkyshooter]

I've always loved competitive shooting events. My favorite has always been the stock revolver competitions with the fast shoots, multiple target shots, and timed exercises. Jerry Miculek is my idol - 12 shots from a 686 in 3ish seconds. Holy crap.

So I'm trying to find a revolver to train on: target shoot, speed shoot, reloading exercises, etc. I'm new to the whole revolver sphere so I got no idea what I should look for besides what the big boys use in the competitions. I really like the look and features of the new 686SSR but a part of me says a standard 686. Anyone have both and can tell me the pros and cons?

Also, what are the major difs between 4" barrel and 6"? Is the difference huge? I'm a small guy. The 6" looks cool but its kinda big for me.

Finally, does anyone have other suggestions for revolvers that I might, in my revolver naivete, have overlooked?

 

[Sparkyshooter]

I should add, hobby shooting aspirations aside, my revolver has to complement my Sigma 9mm. I think the .357magnum ammunition type has the sort of range and stopping power that would make up for my 9mm's "spray and pray" type-cons.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, if you idolize Jerry Miculek, you might consider one of these:
625 JM

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[stevieboy]

I have a 686 6" and an SSR. Both are great guns. The SSR is basically a 686 with a pretty good trigger job and a fancy shroud on the barrel. Because it isn't a fully underlugged gun, like the regular 686, it is significantly lighter, weighing around 38 ounces as opposed to about 44 ounces for a 686 of comparable barrel length. I find that both my 686 and my 686SSR are extremely accurate guns. The SSR, with its four inch barrel, was designed for shooting events like those you're interested in. It points naturally, and I find that it is extremely easy to acquire the target and shoot. The gun came with fancy wooden grips. It also came with a pair of Uncle Mike's combat grips. After a couple of weeks of shooting with the factory grips I switched them out for the Uncle Mike's. They're less sexy looking but the Uncle Mike's fit my hand as if they had been custom made for it.

With a 6" barrel, the 686 becomes more of a target/hunting type of gun.

Note that the SSR has NOT been machined for moon clips. The charge holes are chamfered so as to make them work better with speed loaders, but if you want something that reloads really fast for competition you might want to look at the 627, which is made moonclip compatible in some iterations.

 

[crackedwindshield]

My.02, I always wanted a 4" to do the same thing in the accuracy dept. as my 6" and they do well but the 6" spoiled me and it seems nothing else will do.Up close no difference but at 30yds and beyond it really shows up. Especially at large 100 yd targets the 6" is the man.

 

[johnfly45]

Depending on the particular disciplines available in your area, you may find the rule book(s) guiding your choices. For example, IDPA has a maximum 4" barrel length for revolver. A 686 with speedloaders would compete in the SSR division, a moonclipped revolver in ESR division. USPSA doesn't split out moonclipped from speedloaders, but if you fire more than 6 rounds before reloading, you get bumped into Open division and compete with the raceguns. ICORE doesn't limit the round capacity, and tries to keep a level playing field by course design (though you better not miss with a 6 shooter!).

Power factors also are a consideration. ICORE recognizes factory 158 38 spl ammo as making the power factor (120 PF for reloaded ammo), while USPSA and IDPA require 125 PF for minor (USPSA) or SSR (IDPA) and 165 PF for major (USPSA)and ESR (IDPA). As a point of reference, you may find it difficult to make the 125 Power Factor with standard pressure .38 spl data, while 45 ACP easily makes major.

Others will chime in with models to consider, but as a start I'd say the 625 would be a very popular revolver for USPSA (and with 4" barrel also for ESR in IDPA), a 686 in SSR, and a 627 in ICORE.

I always tell new competitors to start with what they've got that meets the basic requirements, and not to worry about buying something new too soon, unless they really want to. With experience and exposure at various levels of competition, you'll find what makes the best match to your interests. Good luck!

 

[Sparkyshooter]

Ron -

I *love* that gun but am worried the .45ACP is expensive to practice with and is going to knock my tiny butt across the room. I've fired .45 semiautos before and couldn't hit squat. If they made a 357 version it would be a no-brainer for me.

stevieboy -

Your description of the two makes me really think the SSR is more what I am looking for. But - what's the difference between speed loaders and moon clips? I didn't know there was a difference. I'm new to the whole revolver thing.

Thanks guys.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

I don't understand how someone can consider the .45 ACP's recoil to be worse than the .357 Magnum's.

If all you want is to compete in gun games using a revoler, and you want to stick to the .357" bore diameter, a heavy barrel Model 10 or Model 64 would be a much more economical alternative.

 

[Sparkyshooter]

Admittedly, Wyatt, I haven't fired a .357 in a while (2006?). I blew an original Nintendo Entertainment System to smithereens with the dern thing.

I like the .357's double ammo capability. I expect I'll be practicing and target shooting with 38 +P pretty often. Is the 357mag recoil significantly more than the 45acp?

 

[Revolver King]

You can really get involved in revolver shooting. It really depends on what games you play. I will say that I have used a 686+ for most types of comp. I would use speed looders in IDPA only loading 6 rounds and I have won in that division. I also have my 686+ moon clipped converted and can use moon clips in other types of comp. The 686+ really loads well using moon clips, better then the 627. Which I also have. It cost $80 to a 100.00 to have a 686 moon clip converted but you can use it both ways with or without moon clips and speed loaders. Good luck.

 

[Dale53]

I have two S&W 686's (a 4" and a 6") and also two 625's (a 625-6 with 5" barrel and a JM Special 625-8 with 4" barrel).

I find them all a delight to shoot but find myself shooting MANY more .45 ACP's than .357's.

Note:
I cast my own bullets and reload for all of the calibers that I shoot (including center fire rifles). If you are going to compete seriously, you WILL need to reload (unless you have seriously deep pockets). After you decide to reload, you can tailor your rounds for your personal preference (or your particular discipline's rules).

The .45 Revolver with target loads is a ***** cat and will shoot with anything out there. It can also be loaded up to a moderately serious hunting load for the smaller big game (250 gr bullet at 900-1000 fps). The heavier loads will put a whitetail deer's feet in the air quite handily! The lighter target loads (200 grs at 725-750 fps) are a pure pleasure to shoot.

On the other hand, the .357 magnum can be easily downloaded using .38 Specials. Here again, reloading will allow you to tailor the load to your needs.

Dale53

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by Sparkyshooter:
Is the 357mag recoil significantly more than the 45acp?

Not only is there more of it, it comes much more quickly.

The 357 definitely raps your hand hard and sharply. A .45 ACP recoils about as much as a .44 S&W Special and it is much more pleasant to shoot.

 

[Sparkyshooter]

I think I'm leaning towards the 686ssr or the JM .45. Thanks for the great input guys. This forum is 100 times better than fumbling around in the dark.

I looked up the dif between moon clips and speed loaders. This is basic stuff I know but I'm new to revolvers. Been shooting semiautos for years.

If I might divorce from competition for a minute and ask about defense - what's the range and stopping power on a 45 ACP?

 

[stevieboy]

45ACP is a relatively low velocity/big mass round. I used to own a 625 (traded it in for my SSR) and it, too, was a great gun. The recoil of a .45 ACP round in a big N-frame revolver like the 625 is only modestly more than that of a .38 special round fired out of the 686, in other words, extremely manageable and not at all unpleasant. Now, on the other hand, a high-end .357 magnum round, even one fired out of a 6" 686, will definitely get your attention. It's not especially painful to fire it out of so heavy a gun, but it is LOUD and there's a unique "snap" to it which is distinctive.

 

[Revolver King]

I own 4 686's and 1 627 and I have never fired a 357 out of any of them. I use 38's only. I also have 3 625's and I use 45 Gap in them, Why because they use small pistol primers and they are faster reloading and unloading from the gun. I don't own a 45 semi auto.

 

[stevieboy]

In response to your question about range and stopping power of the .45 ACP, Sparkyshooter, I'd defer to one of our ballistics experts for the technical stuff. Suffice it to say that the .45 ACP round was developed originally as a military round and became a huge success because it was perceived to have much more stopping power than, say, a .38 special. Now as to .45 ACP vs. .357 magnum, this forum is filled with innumerable debates on that issue. Both rounds have their champions, I'd say. My guess is that either will do the job.

 

[Gunned-up]

If Jerry is your idol, the 625JM (.45 cal.) is a great revo. I own one. Another good aspect is if you want to shoot a revo for compition, you can use it for IDPA. The rules state that a 4" barrle is max. It also uses moon clips which are fast. Have the cylinders chamfered and it becomes very fast to reload.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

On the subject of fight-stopping ability, there can be no question of the .357 Magnum's record in that regard.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I have a 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch, and a 7 inch 686. I shoot the 4 & 6 the most, the 4 inch will out shoot me. I got it at a show for $275 and it was a 7 shot, I stripped it, installed a six shot cylinder,done a trigger job and cut cylinder for moon clips. Plus I bobb the hammer. When to club and test fired it with 300 rounds as fast as I could load and had 14 rounds outside the 9 ring on a 25yd target without a missfire. The 686 that you are looking at can do the job you want. Now make up you mine if you want it to look like.