Help me find a revolver please with this criteria...

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Crossfaced

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I'm going to Wyoming to go hiking. Nothing overnight but some back country hikes. Admittedly and unfortunately I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to revolvers, all I've ever been trained on and own is semi auto pistols

Here's what I'm trying to find if possible...

357
Something I can conceal somewhat comfortably
6 shots
Has some heft to it, not interested in a hand cannon with huge recoil
$500-600 range

Any suggestions where to start?
 
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M66 or M19, M27, 686 or 586 all have some heft. If they start with a 6 they are stainless. M66 and M19 are the lightest will handle 357 but are more suited for shooting 38 Special the 28 and 586 or 686 will handle anything you can fit in the cylinder. All can be found used in your price range.
All can be found in 2, 4, 6, inch barrels give or take a 1/2 inch.

Out of all of them I would go with a 66 with a 4 inch barrel good compromise between power, weight and accuracy.
Hope this helps!
 
Budget, availability (time to find and practice) might make any SW a difficulty. Is a holster included in your budget? Since you aren't looking for a collector, you might look at some of the other major manufactures offerings that new with a decent holster are well in your budget. I can think of a few nice 3-4" .357s that would work. I'm partial to fixed sights but that's just a personal thing. Look at used guns for bargains but make sure they are in good working order (check for push off on older SWs). You might get lucky and find a good used S&W in your price range (depends a lot on where you live, wouldn't find one in my neighborhood). Also check with friends. Some of my best deals have come from bartering with friends.

10mm will do about anything a 357 will... Not sure why you want a revolver if you're trained and familiar with autos. I like revolvers and have used them enough to be handy with them. If I was handy with a semi, I'd sure consider that venue too.
 
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Personally, I think a good stainless steel K-frame, like a 65 or 66, would suit your needs, but availability and cost might be an issue. L-frames, like the 686 or 686+ that others have recommended, are other good options. A little bigger and heavier than the K-frames, but with a good belt and holster they're not too bad to carry (full disclosure: my only experience carrying a 686 was while working as an armed guard in a duty belt and holster, anywhere from 8-16 hours/day, most of that time on my feet). I don't know offhand if any of these options fit your budget range, though.

If you're ok with a a non-S&W gun, a Ruger GP100 might be more widely available and I'm pretty you sure you could find one in your price range.

As 1-1917 said, does your budget include associated gear, like grips, holsters, speedloaders/strips, ammo, etc.?

Is there any particular reason why one of your current semi-autos doesn't meet your needs? While I think every handgun owner should have a good DA revolver, I think you might be better served using a gun you're already familiar with than try to get used to a new gun, depending on how much time you have before your trip.
 
The hard part is staying in your budget, unless you find a used revolver in this category.

A .357 revolver weighing 35 oz empty has enough mass to tame recoil of even the wildest SD ammunition. This pretty much says "L-frame" or larger. A 686 with a 2.5" to 3" barrel fits the weight criteria, yet is easy to conceal. The "+" version gives you 7 shots in the same size cylinder that holds 6 rounds.

Harder to find would be a 686 "Mountain Gun," which has a 4" tapered barrel (aka "pencil barrel"), weighing in at 35 oz. It is about as large as will fit in an IWB holster, hence easily concealable.

There is a new model 66 K-frame, which holds 6 rounds in a slim package. Originally only with a 4-1/8" barrel (to meet Canadian requirements), it how is available with a 2-1/2" barrel. A K-frame is much slimmer than the more common L-frame. The new 66 is also outside your budget.

I chuckle about someone recommending a model 28 "Highway Patrolman" revolver. It is a huge revolver, N-frame, with a heavy walled 6 round cylinder. Unless you wear a glove size L, you're probably more comfortable with SA shooting. However it won't break your budget (discontinued, used-only), nor your hand shooting heavy loads. With a 4" barrel, it comes in at 42 oz or so.

There is a J-frame model 60, which holds 6 rounds of .35 7 and might even fit on your pocket (2" bbl anyway). It should not be fired around children - not the noise (which is ample), but your expletives once the grip is debossed in the palm of your shooting hand.
 
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I would suggest a seven shot 686 with a barrel length between 2-1/2 inches and 4 inches. Go with the longest barrel you can conceal, it will increase the muzzle energy while also increasing the controlability and accuracy. Hollow points are not best for defence against animals so load it up with some heavy hard-cast bullets like Buffalo Bore 180 gr. 357. Be aware that .357 is probably of marginal effectiveness against a grizz. I prefer a .44 magnum for bear country, along with a canister of bear spray and a healthy dose of caution.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
I think your budget may be a little light for some of the suggestions, especially anything​ with a 3" barrel. My feeling is that the difference between a 3" and 4" is no big deal. A 4" 13-2 would fit your budget easily. You'd get a high quality pinned and recessed gun at the lower end of your cost criteria. I paid $400 for mine last year. Without your price consideration, my choice would be my 2 1/2" 66-1, hands down. Good luck.
 
Good luck on your HUNT for the perfect gun. 1 size, is not best for all. Based on what you say, a 4" 586, or 686 would be good options. If you want a little lighter, a 4" 13, or 65 might do you well. A gun show may be a good thing for you to attend. There you may be able to handle some for feel. Bob
 
sodacan said:
I think your budget may be a little light for some of the suggestions, especially anything​ with a 3" barrel. My feeling is that the difference between a 3" and 4" is no big deal. A 4" 13-2 would fit your budget easily. You'd get a high quality pinned and recessed gun at the lower end of your cost criteria. I paid $400 for mine last year. Without your price consideration, my choice would be my 2 1/2" 66-1, hands down. Good luck.
Click to expand...

With enough looking, it can be done. I got my nib 686+ 3" for $552 out the door, and S&W has a $30 military rebate on top of that. It was a local purchase as well. Too many stores around want to sell volume of fantastic plastic, and not so much of the firearms I desire (revolvers and 1911s). I much prefer my Smiths over my GP100, in fact, there is no comparison. I won't handload to nuclear levels, so he proposed strength advantage of the Ruger, say over my 627 or 686 is a non factor. Good luck to the OP in your search. There is always a good reason for a new addition to your arsenal.
 
Fantastic info everyone I really appreciate it.

We're hiking a few spots TBD for a couple weeks but I know we're spending a week at Yellowstone.

I was thinking about going 10mm but there's none that I really like. I've tried just about all available to me.

My $500-600 budget is for the gun only. I plan on buying used and I have about $200 set aside for holster,clips or strips...etc.

So thanks again, this is great info.
 
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