Newbie with an Old question

[shoottolive]

I know you get asked alot. "What should i get". But this is my first gun and i respect people who have been doing it way longer than i have. Before i give you my very specific list of what i want. You should know this will be woods/ self defense gun. So weight is an issue. Ok get ready!!!!


So I've made up exactly what I want. A double action stainless steel dull finish, Not shiny. Revolver that weights less than 26oz and has dark wood grips. I know I can order them but already on is prefered. Adjustable sights and fiber optic front sight perfered I really like the ruger GP 100 wiley clap edition. Because of size and and look. But its so damn heavy
I don't feel like carrying around 2lbs of gun. I hope this narrows down the search.




Like this but lighter ruger.jpg

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[DocProton]

Ruger LCR

[zacii]

How about the mini-me version of the GP-100; the SP101?

The SP101 with a 3" barrel would be my suggestion. I have one with a 2" barrel and I'm quite fond of it.

They are small enough to conceal, yet heavy enough to enjoy shooting.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

[barstoolguru]

Weight handles recoil; you can get lighter like an S&W air weight or titanium but the weight will make the gun more manageable

[sgb]

Smith & Wesson Model 640 Pro Series




S&W Model 60 Pro

[Thunder71]

Tough choice... I'll be interested to see what you end up getting!

Not sure if some read what you were looking for though...

[Hiram25]

Welcome to the DC Forum from Delaware! Good luck with your search.

[gasmitty]

Lots of us carry full-sized 1911s that weigh about 39 ounces empty, and do so in relative comfort. A key to that is a good holster and dedicated gun belt, so realistically the GP100 shouldn't be out of reach.

If you can step up the to 36-ounce range, I'd suggest you look closely at the S&W Model 66. It's been out of production for a while, but there are scads of used ones out there, priced pretty much according to condition. And don't be frightened by the thought of a used gun - unless it was used to drive fence posts, the S&W revolvers are pretty rugged and the whole world knows how to fix 'em if they have a problem. It's a stainless K-frame, 6-shot .357 magnum that came with 2-1/2, 4 or 6 inch barrels, and has an adjustable rear sight -a stainless version of the Model 19. The no-dash and -1 models had some early problems with handling a steady diet of full-house magnums, so I'd be looking at 66-2 and later models. Virtually no new wheel guns come with wooden grips these days, but I bet you'd find most of the M66s out there have some fine-looking checkered walnut grips.

[JDKinman]

Agree 1000% on the K-frame Smith & Wessons. They are lighter than the Ruger GP100 and you can find them in 2 1/2" barrels. We've got several K-frame Smiths, including a Model 19 in 2 1/2" barrel that I carry quite frequently--so much, in fact, that I'm having a custom paddle-holster made for it. The shorter barrel is easier to conceal and takes a little weight off.

Accuracy? My last qualifying score with that gun (2 1/2" Model 19) when I carried it as a backup during my LE days was a 297 out of a possible 300. It'll shoot.

JD

[bmcgilvray]

Hi shoottolive, and welcome to the Forum! Sounds like you really need the 2 1/2-inch K-Frame Smith & Wesson Combat Magnum mentioned in the post above.

It's only going to come in a few ounces heavier than your target weight and the revolver holds six shots. I think they weigh no more than 30 oz. and maybe an ounce or two less. It'll be a used-gun-only proposition though as K-Frame .357 Magnums have been discontinued by Smith & Wesson. Shame, as they fill the bill so well.

Perhaps its a generational thing but 26 ounces does not a heavy handgun make. Weight can be your friend when actually bringing the handgun into play. Go lighter if you wish but be reluctant to buy into the ever-smaller, ever-lighter fad that's overtaken the concealed carry community.

Some variation of the bottom revolver is what we're talking about here. It's a 2 1/2-inch round butt stainless steel Model 66 built on the Smith & Wesson K-Frame. The same exact configuration could be had non-stainless steel in the 2 1/2-inch Model 19 which was available in both blue finish or nickel finish. That's a 4-inch nickel square butt Model 19 above the Model 66. The 4-inch Model 586 above those two is larger in girth and heavier. It became the replacement for the K-Frame .357 Magnums after being made simultaneously for some years with them. Sill larger is the granddaddy of all .357 Magnums the N-Frame Model 27, this one in blue finish with a 6-inch barrel.


If you can find a 3-inch Smith & Wesson Model 13 or Model 65 then you'd have a dandy fixed-sight K-Frame .357 Magnum that weighs scarcely more than the 2 1/2-inch versions with their slightly more snag-prone target rear sights. All K-Frame .357 Magnums are now discontinued though they represent the very best "totin'" .357 Magnum revolvers ever made.

[Spirit51]

How about the mini-me version of the GP-100; the SP101?

The SP101 with a 3" barrel would be my suggestion. I have one with a 2" barrel and I'm quite fond of it.

They are small enough to conceal, yet heavy enough to enjoy shooting.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

This is what I was going to suggest too. I love my Ruger SP101. I have had it for years and never tire of it. I now carry a Ruger LCP in my pocket because of the size and weight, but as my at home and in the garden gun the SP101 is my favorite.

[gasmitty]

.

Brian, your gun porn is killin' me!!!

[Boracho]

I'd suggest the SP101 Ruger, or a Model 66 Smith and Wesson, as http://www.defensivecarry.com/forum/...mcgilvray.html suggested....Great guns. A Model 686 as well might fit your parameters...

I just love the wheelguns, and its great to see so many enthusiasts out there, as well as new shooters coming into the fold on revolvers.

[shoottolive]

I think I decided to say screw the weight and just get the GP100 it..... the heart wants what it wants.

[zacii]

I think I decided to say screw the weight and just get the GP100 it..... the heart wants what it wants.

If that's what you really want, then just do it. Just invest in a good belt and holster combo.

Sent from my Galaxy S2