If you could own only one revolver... read OP

[BAM-BAM]

Considering everything you specified, I would respectfully recommend you look for a good used 686-4 with a 4" barrel. It will prove to be extremely accurate and reliable, and you will never wear it out. Plus, you can shoot either .38 Special or .357 Magnum ammo in it...

Best duty/utility/general purpose handgun one can own!!!!!

That said my "favorite" revolvers are my 3" 66s -3 and -4s with Spegel Boot Grips

 

[H Richard]

Since you stated you didn't need one for carry or home defense, but to just have one, I'd elect one that I would use (a lot). The K Frame Mod 17 .22RF is the most usable handgun in the world. You will shoot it lots, and improve your shooting as a side benefit. Your enjoyment from shooting it will improve. It will wind up being your most used handgun.

 

[NYlakesider]

I will give the same advice I gave back in the 1970s-early 80s when the revolver was king and I was a firearms, pistol permit institutor at my NY state club.

Get a good quality D.A. 4'' .357M with adjustable sights.(In that era it was a couple different Colts a few S&Ws and the new Ruger Security six) Its reasonably concealable, a decent target shooter, good house gun and OK for some hunting. Learn to shoot it well with .38s and only then move up to the magnum loads.

Today I would also say stainless to my pick!

 

[shawn mccarver]

Nothing much wrong with the current version of the models 19/66. Round butt, K frame, better able to handle magnum loads than the K frames prior to the redesign, allows the use of light 38 Specials all the way up to heavy magnum loads without fear of the split at the 6:00 o'clock position on the barrel shank, easily concealed, etc. I prefer the 4-inch barrel.

In the 70s, there were a number of articles on the "if you only had one revolver" topic. I suspect the best known is the Skeeter Skelton article. Bottom line is that most of the authors of those articles arrived at the same conclusion - 4-inch medium frame .357 Magnum. I see no reason for a different conclusion today.

 

[AlHunt]

Well, my 2 cents ...

I have a 6" 686-4+. To me, it's the perfect middle ground for an all around revolver. The long barrel and full underlug really tame the recoil while not being so heavy I can't shoot it off hand (one handed). Adjustable sights and drilled and tapped for a scope if I ever get the urge.

That said, there's a lot of merit to the .22 revolver argument, too. You might want to consider having 2 revolvers.

 

[safearm]

S&W Model 329 Nightguard. 2.75-inch barrel, round butt, fixed rear sight, and tritium XS Sight Standard Dot front sight. Admittedly I only carry .44 Special in it, 240 grain LSWCHP and .44 snakeshot, but that big bore makes it very versatile, and if needed I could carry .44 Magnum. I normally carry in a Tucker Gunleather OWB, but in a pinch, I could carry it AIWB. At only 28.8 ounces (empty) it weighs less than a 2.5-inch Model 19 (30.5 ounces); you can carry all day with no fatigue.

I have other revolvers that I keep for sentimental reasons (Colt Python that my wife bought me for our first wedding anniversary, Ruger Security Six that was the first personally owned firearm I carried on duty as a police officer) or unique design, i.e., NAA Mini-revolver and S&W J-frame 442, but this is the first revolver, and maybe even the first handgun, I would grab if I could only have one.

P.S. - There's no problem shooting .44 Special out of this pistol with elk stag grips and a grip adapter. If I put factory .44 Magnum ammo in the chambers, I would put the rubber grips back on.

 

[JohnRippert]

For me it would be a 4inch Model 19 like this one.

 

[raljr1]

4" K frame 357

 

[RetCapt]

I would go for an 'L' frame. Since my background is LE, most of my shooting has been .38-357, so that what I am most familiar with.

The 'L' frame is enough larger than the 'K' frame to be more robust with heavy 357 loads. But it avoids the bulk and weight of an 'N' frame six shot.

From the time of introduction, I have thought that the 'L' frame struck just the right balance. I have a customized no-dash 586 that I thought might become my ideal PPC revolver. Unfortunately professional responsibilities displaced competition shooting so it never got tested in the heat of match competition. For me though, it was probably as close to DA revolver perfection as I was ever going to get.

Mine is a 6" bbl since it is for competition. For general use, many would probably prefer 4". My last department issue duty revolver was a 4" 686, and I thought it was the best revolver we had ever been issued.

Going back and reading further, I am editing and making an addition to (hopefully) make this more relevant to the question. In rereading my original post, I think I got on to a somewhat off-topic excursion.

Many posters have advocated for a snub 'K' frame. Excellent recommendation in my view. I don't have one of those, but I do have a Ruger Security Six 2 3/4" bbl, which is close enough for size/weight comparison purposes. I was familiar with Ruger sixes because that is what two of my PPC revolvers are. But I had never handled or fired a stock one. I found the short barrel to balance perfectly. At the 25 yard line I could shoot that Security Six as accurately as I could my deptartment issue 686, with less weight and easier concealability.

So if the priority is short barrel carry, much as I like the 'L' frames, I think a 'K' frame size and weight revolver is better suited.

 

[S&W Fan]

The one I won't part with is a 686 no dash four inch. All around accurate and useful.

This, plus the fact it's the one I inherited from dad that he bought new in 1981. I also used it to teach my sons how to shoot when they were youngsters.

 

[Telecaster]

I picked .22 because all other uses of handguns can be had in semiauto, but a revolver eliminates all the cycling issues of .22LR, plus it's fun and practical.

 

[Capt. F.]

Seems I'm the only voice in this wilderness.
Although I have others in heavier calibers, hands down my 4" Model 28 would be my choice IF I WAS LIMITED TO ONE GUN.
MTCW
Forrest

 

[TAROMAN]

I have owned just about every S&W revolver type minus the 500.
When it comes down to one, it has to be the 625.
Does everything I could ever want.
One revolver to rule them all:

 

[DR505]

I have owned just about every S&W revolver type minus the 500.
When it comes down to one, it has to be the 625.
Does everything I could ever want.
One revolver to rule them all:

Good choice, but your barrel is too long!

 

[Bumpus13]

I'm asking you. Yes, it's ultimately for me, but I want to find out what others would own if they only had one revolver.

Ouch. Only one is a tough decision.

For me it'd be a …

****. I don't know. LOL


It's hard to pick between my S&W & Colt babies. This week it'd be my Python. Next week it might very well be my M19-4.

Next month? Who knows.

 

[dave1918a2]

Just one is tough.Probably My 3" 629. However as most shooting will be purely defensive or for food, it would be hard not to keep this one. Ammo is heavy, but You only need one. Human wearing a vest will not get up soon from a center hit, if They can still breath. Stop cars, school busses, and almost anything on 2 or 4 legs. And at 48 OZ empty it is a decent carrier.

 

[M29since14]

For me it would be a 4inch Model 19…

Me too! It's such an easy question. Yeah, if I planned to shoot mostly .357 Magnums I would probably pick a 586 instead, but for my usual mix of cartridges, a Model 19 will do just fine. I'd be happy with either one, given the OP's scenario.

 

[Bumpus13]

Thinking more about it … Since you mentioned appendix carry, you'd probably be interested in a more compact package. I don't carry appendix, but I do carry IWB.

The new Colt King Cobra is a .357 Magnum on a frame that is roughly between J and K frame size (but a bit closer to K)

You still get the versatility of light .38 to heavy .357 in a relatively small package. They also come in a few barrel lengths (2", 3", and a 4" target model) … I opted for the 3" with a brass bead front sight. The front sights are easily interchangeable (fiber optic & tritium are advertised) but sight availability is currently spotty at best, so be advised. They're very solidly built guns with excellent fit and finish and I consider them to be the ideal carry revolver. Felt recoil loaded with .38 specials is quite comfortable. While .357 Magnum loads are manageable, you can definitely tell the difference and they're not something I'd want to fire 2 or 3 consecutive boxes of at the range for fun. So, practice with .38 then carry with .38+p or .357 (My carry load is 158gr Speer Gold Dots in .357)

The downside is that they're pricy. MSRP is around $900 … of course compared to other quality 3" barreled revolvers, that's not really out of line these days.

Pictured: 3" King Cobra, and KC between K frame (4" M65) & J frame (2" M60) for scale

 

[Bumpus13]

LOL @ self …

Now I feel dirty for talking up Colt in the S&W forum. I'll say a penance and fire 200 rounds in my 686 later on to atone for my sin. hahaha

 

[TEXASJake]

This is tough ... one revolver that is Not a J Frame ..... I would have to 2nd the notion of a model 19 w/ 4" barrel. Good overall and not too heavy. Well built and solid all around.

No.2 would have to be a Model 29 of any sort. 44 mag and 44 special is harder to find in a crunch ... but you can't go wrong with a model 29 of any flavor.

Model 19-5

Model 29-9
I personally Like these "retro" looking ones that S&W Did for Lew Horton in 2001. But any pre-lock model 29 is a keeper.