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

686 or 681 4 inch.

Common as dirt, no crying if you scuff one up, no worries about handling recoil.
 
"Hiking" with "no overnights"...... so can we assume no heavy packs...... just a day pack or Maxpedition style sling pack and water.........???

Can you carry concealed in Wyoming ?

Will this be a gun that will get carried all day,every day but maybe/most likely not be 'shot" the whole trip????? An emergency tool ?........ if so the lighter the better.

My go to gun for 'woods bumming/hiking" in Penn's woods/ Allegheny Mountains..... is a 3" model 66.....(but they are extremely hard to find and are selling for over $1000 these days)....... but....IMO a 2 1/2 or 4 inch Model 66 would serve just as well .......I can also recommend a 3 or 4 inch model 65 which has fixed sights.

You said 6 shot ...... but if you can find one a 3" 60-10 or -15 think micro-686.......357/38 is a great little gun.

I like to carry mine in a Bianchi 111; thumb break, cross draw holster with one or two speedloaders and a 'Ammo Wallet" which holds 12 extra rounds ( shot shells, 125gr hollowpoints+P 38s, and 158gr .357 JSP) in my "pack' or on the ATV.

If I'm wearing a vest or Shirt jacket.... the gun is "kinda" to fully concealed..but I can just reach under the garment to grab the butt.... also available to either hand.

Some might recommend/consider a Bianchi X-15 vertical shoulder holster.......some folks like them ..... some not so much. Again; I like them with a lighter gun ..... in colder months.....the gun is protected under your coat...... but you only need to pull the zipper down to access you gun.

IMO do not get a drop leg holster......they look cool.... but.... most flop around and catch on things.

Get a good 4" fixed blade or lock blade knife, life straw or Sawyer filter
 
Albeit you are not familiar with revolvers, you seem already familiar with carrying a gun. If it's only for self protection, why not consider something really light like the small, light AirLite Model 360 PD? Is a 357 Magnum weighing only 11 and some ounces?
Model 360 PD | Smith & Wesson
The only caveat is recoil: is mean! I used to have it, and it feels like your hand is being hit my a mule kick. However, if it's just for safety, only having it with you ought to make you feel quite well protected.

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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?

I use a 586. But you could find a model 65 in good shape under 600.
 
I think that you must take weight into due consideration. If you hike for a week, most of the guns suggested will start feeling as if you are carrying an anvil.
 
Oh boy a subtle and veiled bear gun thread.

Hiking in Northwest Wyoming I carry bear spray and .44 Magnum. If a semi auto was my thing; I would carry Glock 20 10mm and bear spray.

At the OPs price range the Crossfaced would look long and hard to find Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum. Stretching the budget a bit he might find a 629. If weight was a major concern and he can stretch the budget a bit more; a Mountain Gun would be near perfect.

Then again there is that budget. which gets me right back to Glock 20. I'm not a huge Glock fan but sometimes, when certain constraints are factored in, it really is a very good choice. Fifteen rounds of 10mm is hard to argue with.

Here is what I carry when these are part of the equation. Sorry but it will bust the heck out of your budget.

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At that price range a 4" 686 would be perfect.
I just sold a cherry 686 no dash for $600.00 so just look around .
 
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?

I WOULD LOOK FOR A CLEAN USED 4" M686. IF PRICE IS AN ISSUE, I WOULD SEARCH A PLACE LIKE Sportsman's Outdoor Super Store, or Bud's Guns, FOR POLICE DEPT. TRADE INS......

GENERALLY, POLICE GUNS ARE CARRIED DAILY, BUT SHOT INFREQUENTLY. THE 686 IS A VERY DURABLE REVOLVER, EASILY REPAIRED IF NEED BE, AND DUE TO ITS STAINLESS CONSTRUCTION, VERY SUITABLE FOR WOODS CARRY, ESPECIALLY IN FOUL WEATHER. THE FINISH OF A STAINLESS REVOLVER, IS EASILY BROUGHT BACK TO PRISTINE CONDITION WITH SOME METAL POLISH, AN OLD T-SHIRT, AND A LITTLE ELBOW GREASE......

A 4" REVOLVER, IS EASILY CARRIED ON THE HIP, BUT MY FAVORITE MODE OF CARRY, FOR HUNTING, OR WOODS WALKING, IS A SHOULDER HOLSTER. INEXPENSIVE, BUT VERY SERVICEABLE, NYLON SHOULDER HOLSTERS CAN BE PURCHASED FROM Uncle Mike's. TUCKED UNDER THE ARM, THE WEAPON IS VERY WELL PROTECTED, AND CAN BE EASILY CONCEALED, IF NEED BE. THESE HOLSTERS ARE COMFORTABLE FOR DAY LONG WEAR.......

RIGS ARE ALSO MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR HUNTING WEAPONS, TO BE WORN OUTSIDE OF CLOTHING. THEY CAN STILL BE CONCEALED, IF NEED BE. I AM PICTURED BELOW, UPON RETURNING TO CAMP, AFTER A DAY OF BOAR HUNTING. I'M CARRYING AN 8" COLT PYTHON, IN A NYLON HUNTER'S RIG. I DON'T RECALL THE BRAND, BUT IT HOLDS AN 8" COLT OR 8 3/8" LONG S&W REVOLVER, A K FRAME 686 OR EVEN AN N FRAME 629 VERY SECURELY.......
 

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I fish the back country of Wyoming for 2 weeks most summers. I carry a 629 4 inch barrel loaded with 44 mags in bear country, 44 specials hollow points in big cat country( Big Horns). A 357 is not adequate for bear and big cat country. Concealed carry is unnecessarily, after all it's Wyoming.

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...hiking the Wyoming back country calls for a nice single action...open carried in a western rig...

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A note of caution to the OP. Unless things have changed since I last inquired on the subject, you are not going to be able to carry ANYTHING in a National Park. Carry in national parks is prohibited to my knowledge.

Dave
 
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