Wheel Guns

Need one of these wheel guns

I'm far from an expert on revolvers, but I don't think you could go wrong with a S&W 686.

I wish Colt would make Pythons again...

"Orientated" is not a word. You mean "oriented."

Argumentative!

Might I suggest the GAU-8? Here it is next to a Volkwagen. A-10 pilots swear by them!

Anyway, I love the .357, and it can also shoot .38 with of course less recoil. I used them extensively, often as black bear protection in Alaska. Do not use these for brown bears BTW unless you save a round for your own head.

I know several people who've had GP-100s (in one case, for around 25 years) and haven't had a single problem.

I was quite fond of my S&W Model 642, until I had to sell it to pay for college.

For pure usefulness, I think the POS .22 revolver in the glove box of the jeep that will eat any crap gas station brand rounds you feed it takes the cake.

Yeah. I'd go .357. First choice would be a S&W. They pretty much invented the .357 revolver. If you're purely practical, I'd say buy something new, stainless, and with a rubber grip. If you like a little style, a used Highway Patrolman is a very nice revolver.

I hadn't really been a revolver person and I haven't fired it a lot, but I've got to say that it is a lot easier to shoot than I'd have thought. It is nose-heavy enough that the heavy trigger pull is very manageable. Shooting .38 out of is quite fun. .357 is a bit less pleasant. And with the wood grips the grip is slick enough and the recoil sharp enough that the pistol twists a bit in my hand with each shot, so you really can't shoot using "natural point of aim" with the .357 loads because the grip on the gun is moved with each shot. (At least it is for me and my wood grips.)

My Dad has a Ruger Single Six that his Dad bought at Western Auto in 1954. It still runs like a champ.

Ruger Blackhawks/Super Blackhawks are the best centerfire single action revolvers produced in the last 50 years. I've owned both and a couple of Vaqueros. But, when it comes to double action revolvers, I've never owned a Ruger. I've always been a S&W and Colt man.

The Colt Detective Special and S&W Model 36 (and derivatives) simply can't be beat for last-ditch self-defense weapons. I believe the Colt Python and S&W K-Frame (Models 13/65 & 19/66) are the pinnacle of .357 Mag double actions. And last, but most certainly not least, you're simply not going to beat the S&W Model 629 (.44 Mag) Mountain Gun and Model 625 (.45ACP) Mountain Gun.

When it comes to .22LR/.22 Mag, get a Ruger Single Six single action or one of the cheap Taurus double actions. S&W makes some .22 double actions, but they're expensive ($700+) and Colt used to make some great ones, but they're nearly collectible now and are priced accordingly.

I see a place near you is offering a 4" Taurus Model 94 (.22lr) for $327.99. You can probably find a used Single Six with both the .22LR and .22Mag cylinder for that much.

My nephew has a GP-100 (it's probably a dozen or so years old) and shoots very well and seems very well built. The machining on it is so precise that you can spin the cylinder and it will keep spinning for a very long time.

My cousin bought his shortly after he turned 21 (which was a couple of years after Ruger introduced that pistol). It's been a while since I shot it, but ISTR that even .357 rounds weren't quite so punishing to shoot with the factory grips and the overall "chunkiness" of the weapon.

I've owned two .357 - both Ruger, and they were very reliable. Not sure about the first one, but the second was a Security Six.

My dad had a Dan Wesson about that time, with (I think) a rubber grip.

Regardless, I recommend them.

Just stay away from Rossi/Taurus, only wheel gun I ever owned was a Rossi .357 mag and it broke. Twice.

When I worked security we could only use American made weapons.
I have no idea why.

My .357 is a Smith and Wesson M19, so I recommend Ruger also.