Recently, the NYPD announced that it would finally be phasing out the last of their remaining .38 Special revolvers, with a sunset date of August 31, 2018. At that point, wheel guns will be verboten and all sworn officers of the NYPD can choose between a (modified) GLOCK 17, GLOCK 19 or the SIG SAUER P226 in DAO as their duty gun. New York City, for those who are unaware, requires all duty guns to have a stiff trigger pull; usually eight pounds or more. Any and all officers have to complete semi-automatic training and qualify with one of the new sidearms.
It’s astounding anyone is still using a revolver as a duty gun; apparently 150 officers still carry them despite the fact that 9mm semi-autos having been standard issue for New York’s Finest since 1994.
While they’ve been all but completely eliminated from use in the line of duty, the service revolver still has a place as a personal defense firearm. They aren’t the best fit for daily concealed carry as they’re on the large side, but these wheelguns can still serve well in other roles.
The primary advantage of the double-action revolver, of course, is that they are incredibly simple. Aim, squeeze, repeat. Reload as needed. Provided the shooter can handle the trigger (rarer these days due to how lazy striker guns have made people the reduced popularity of revolvers) and isn’t consumed with the idea of needing more rounds, a service revolver is about as user friendly as it gets.
Some models should only get the occasional serving of high-pressure loads, but with a bit of care they last decades. There are M1917 revolvers that people still shoot fairly regularly, and those revolvers are about a century old. Simple, reliable, accurate…outside of not being too big for concealed carry and only packing six shots, there aren’t too many downsides.
And part of revolvers’ appeal and their longevity is that, if you can handle it, they’ll shoot anything. Many semi-autos didn’t feed hollowpoints all that well (and most hollow points that made for them weren’t that good) until gun and ammunition makers got around to solving those problems.
Today, the best roles for the medium revolvers like the S&W Model 10, 586 or Model 66, Ruger GP100 – or among the classics like the Colt Trooper, Lawman, Python, or New Service, the S&W Model 19 or Ruger Security-Six – is as a home defense pistol or truck gun. Unless you find an appropriate holster (which can be a challenge) they don’t make great CCW pistols, because there are snubbies for that.
In many areas, they also make a decent woods gun, as the stouter .38 Special loadings or a .357 Magnum round will more than do for most critters in the Lower 48 other than grizzlies, which are mostly confined to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
So there’s no downside to having at least one of these classics in your safe. It’s a handgun you can always hand off to a newbie in a pinch and know that they’ll be able to make it go bang if they really need to. Plus, they’re just a hell of a lot of fun to shoot.
What about you? Do you have a medium to large wheel gun that you use for anything other than your daily carry? Sound off in the comments.
Sam Hoober is a contributing editor at Alien Gear Holsters and Bigfoot Gun Belts. He also contributes regularly to Ammoland, Daily Caller and USA Carry.
Where’s my lump of coal, honey?
One flaw in your argument Robert – the NRA’s reputation and image. It’s already so poisoned by the Left that it’ll never recover. It’s the boogeyman to the Left, feasting on the flesh of children, drinking the blood of the innocents, holding Congress in sway with its many billions of dollars of campaign support and luxury junkets. And the non-gun owning general public believes that image. Might as well use that reputation to its advantage and slash and burn its way to victory.
I don’t carry it, but I have a Colt M1917 that’s always a conversation piece at the range when the moon clips full of 45 acp come out.
A big issue I faced when I had a FFL 01 was my wholesale pricing from RSR cost more than Buds was selling firearms for. Also, I failed to figure out my municipalities’ rules against having customers in my house.
I carry a S&W M642 every day, and my Ruger Vaquero .357 is a nice range toy that will do the self-defense business in a pinch. I expect to add another revolver soon, just because they have soul (for lack of a better description), and modern Tupperware guns are merely appliances.
Ralph,
Not sure exactly what direction you are thinking for a new revolver — may I suggest Ruger’s GP100 series? They are built like tanks and last forever. And you can get really nice aftermarket grips for them if you like.
If you are thinking of using it primarily for fun shooting at the range as well as a home-defense firearm, those GP100s with 6-inch barrels are exceptional. That long barrel has several advantages:
(1) Extra weight to tame recoil
(2) A long site-radius which is nice for target shooting
(3) Stout .357 Magnum loads with 125 grain bullets will approach 1,700 fps!
And, Ruger just started selling .357 Magnum revolvers with 7-round cylinders. I cannot picture any human being on the planet being able to absorb seven, 125 grain, .357 caliber bullets at 1,700 fps and still be operational. Heck, I cannot imagine any human being on the planet absorbing two of those and being operational.
I think everyone who has work in the industry of firearms, hunting, and shooting have been made targets. I’m a small single shop gunsmith and I have received death threats and mail from wackos.
Wolves care not of the comments of sheep.
Call me names, tell me I have blood on my hands. Tell me I support mass shootings, and anything else.
But know this, I DON’T CARE.
We need to start using their arguments against them. We need common sense abortion laws. We need common sense laws on freedom of speech, the press. etc… When they defend themselves use that against them again and again. At least it will be fun watching their little heads explode. No worries though, they are mostly empty noggins anyway. The brain matter that may fly cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Facebook is cancer, and as such no one can ‘shame’ me. So no, I don’t get Social media shamed. Of course I don’t even hunt anymore anyway. Might start again eventually thought.
Remember that the fed judge in CA that stopped the law banning possession of high cap mags., used the argument that exceedingly few people were turning in their high cap mags. He said something to the effect that, “I’m not going to allow the state to make criminals out of a million owners.”
I began to tear up as I gazed upon all of the revolvers illustrated in the article.It was like seeing pictures of dearly departed family members you had all but forgotten about. I owned a couple of Pythons, a couple of Model 19’s (4″ and 6″), a Model 10 HB (never issued, NIB police surplus) 2 different GP-100’s, (4″ and 6″), a 4″: Security Six, a Model 27 Highway Patrolman, a Colt Detective Special, an Agent, and too many J-frames to list.
There were a couple of N-frame .44 mags and a Ruger SA Super Blackhawk along the way as well. All except for a Model 38 Body Guard lightweight J-frame and my wife’s 442 have gone away at various times, for various reasons, usually involving needing money at the time…Let’s not even talk about 1911’s, or high-end over/unders…
Only by my brother when I missed a shot while duck hunting.
What is this ‘facebook’ that you speak of?
C 96 – Fed Ord rework
DWM Luger – postwar refurb
Spanish Mauser –
US Enfield – 3/’17
High Standard Field King – mid ’50s
1885 Low Wall .32-20 -1905
1910/34 Mauser .32 ACP
RockOla M1 Carbine -1944
I think having cops revert back to wheel guns would be a good idea. Far too many cops use their firepower to the extreme, which actually endangers the citizenry. Being limited to 5 or 6 shots before having to reload would make them THINK about what they are doing.
As I’ve shared a few times, my first duty pistol as a reserve deputy back in 1991 was a 4″ Smith 686. At the time our sheriff thought that automatics were “too complicated” for lowly reserve officers. We elected a new sheriff three years later and he was okay with automatics so I went out and bought a 4006 since I was a Smith and Wesson guy. I still have the 686 and take it to the range a couple of times a year. I have a good quality nylon military style flap holster for my Smith that works well for a walk in the woods.
My old captain, who was the state pistol champion for a couple of years back in the 70s, carried a 4″ Model 19 until he retired in 2004. He still reloaded from belt loops and was faster through our qualification rounds than most guys were with automatics.
I occasionally carry an older Smith 640 .357 loaded with .38 +Ps as an off duty pistol. I also have a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 special with Crimson Trace grips.
These days I carry a double stack 9mm on duty but I think that I’d be well served by my old Smith if I had to go back to a wheel gun for some reason. I’d just carry the snub in my cargo pants for a quick reload and break out the 870 if the fight got serious. Old school still works.
A manual safety, thumbs up. I read the ruger.com site too. It sounds like they are saying there is a full length alum. rail. That would be amazing. I’d love to see some targets shot, and some photos of the gun’s innards.
At ruger.com they mention that one reason for the hammer action is that it reduces racking force required compared to striker. My wife could rack my Springfield XD when I bought it, but now can’t. That XD recoil spring is very stiff.
I’ve NEVER seen a PETA type who DIDN’T hate people. It’s just very well justified self-loathing on their part.
I’m an every 10-20 year hunter (who’s never gotten a deer), but regarding death threats from snowflakes, let me join in the chorus of:
“I’m your huckleberry.”
This is really an excellent gun that doesn’t get enough credit. Remington’ s reputation may have taken a hit with some or their in house designs but I can say it doesn’t carry over to their 1911 line and recently has led to some excellent deals. Burns above summed it up pretty well with the R1 Carry being a TRP at half the price.
Story says the naked guy was 55, not the CCL holder.
so if a magazine becomes a handgun, does that mean here in NY that I need a background check before buying one? same with ammo? this is something that needs to be changed to read differently.
I would also like to say that there are times in the winter when a 4″ barreled revolver can be carried as a ccw, as well as the 2 or 2.5 inch variation. which I have used. companies like Galco can sell you a nice holster for it. and shooting defense rounds though them is a lot more pleasent then a small light weight snubby.
Fvck Fvckbook and same goes with the Twitter tw@ts.
I’m glad I’m old enough not to have to relive high school again “Oh…they like me!”
I’m also not stupid enough to get addicted to their dopamine app.
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2017/11/facebook_was_designed_to_be_addictive_does_that_make_it_evil.html
Thank you doesky2 for posting the link you did. I did some further research and found two videos that I hope to watch with my family during the Holidays. Watching them has been the best 30ish minutes I’ve spent on the web in the past year. No $hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C74amJRp730
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C74amJRp730
PETA? Oh, that means People Eating Tasty Animals!
Wow! Just Wow! It took till the Beginning part of 21st century for America to start looking like George Orwell’s book 1984…How ironic….Who here will be declared an Enemy of the State ??!
The last guy that asked if I would like it if he shot my family wound up laying facedown in the muck til WDFW arrived. Turns out it was a “misunderstanding.” Pretty sure he got the point after an hour and half in the soggy grass outside the blind. As the game officer summed up, “don’t say what could be perceived to be a threat to someone minding their own business with a gun.” Pretty sure the dipshit had it on camera, haven’t seen if he posted yet. Altho I get outside and don’t do social media nonsense.
Most people who do not own suppressors really say ignorant stuff, not dumb just uniformed. First, when shooting varmints, a suppressor captures the muzzle “blast” and most often, the missed animal or a second varmint will just stand there and try to figure out where the shot came from. Even deer will do this, because they do not automatically know the direction of the shooter. Secondly, it does not matter what caliber you shoot when it goes this slow, it has a trajectory like a 22, dropping 8 inch at 100 yards and a couple feet by 200. Even my 300 BLK has that much drop. So if you are shooting little stuff like coyotes, and of course good enough to only take head shots, the little 45 grain bullet is just fine at 100 yards. I love this ammo, not for beginners, but in a suppressed bot gun this stuff is great. The only other option is the 60 grain Aquila, but it simply is too slow, about 900 fps is all and way too much drop. Been using them 10 years and really do not care for them.
Next week The Progressive will be reporting that New York’s chocolate rations will be increased from 30 grams to 20 grams.
I don’t know what to believe anymore. See BS news, or crazy like a FOX, isn’t NBC owned by a Japanese cooperation? They’re going to be anti gun for sure. And it’s all crap anyway, because evidently none of them can read… “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED”, is it that hard?
The top failed cities with the highest crime are all run by DEMONCRATS for many decades.
I wonder if people will ever wake and realize the democrat party is gone!!
They can lie cheat and steal and bring in millions of illegal voters and they still lose……
Derangement syndrome is REAL!!!!
Look at fake news media…. 1000% discredited millions of times with lies for years!
The V3 is proving to be quite a shotgun, that will handle both light and heavy loads. The design and quality appear to be better than anticipated. The V3 may become the gun to beat. Remington appears to be moving back to a quality product, at least shotgun wise.
Kitty lovers hate when I point out the problems feral cats cause. I’ve never even killed a feral cat, and I stay tactful in my arguments. But they hate it… Feral cats are a cancer.
Any time I’m in the woods I have a Super Redhawk in 454 Casull on my hip for predator protection. I know for sure there is at least one bear that hangs out in the area I deer hunt in (found a tree pretty chewed up last year and visited that tree again this year and could hear it “huff huff” but never saw it) as well as cougar all over the state (found a kill last year and have seen tracks on both sides of the mountain). Fun range toy as well. Almost always turns heads when I touch one off!
You have two different groups within “medical professionals”. You have people treating victims and you have the academics. they have two different motives for being anti gun.
1) When it comes to everyday medical professionals they are influenced by witnessing or hearing of trauma. They see or hear of gunshot trauma. a) Since they are trained to look for “direct agency” of injury or pathology they see the gun/bullet as the agent of violence. It does not even occur to them that the criminal who did the shooting is the agent. More importantly, b) the negative corollary, people NOT harmed because, they had a firearm to protect themselves is not personally witnessed or conveyed by anecdote .
Also, c) imagine if you would, people coming into trauma centers with tags that said “Killed by the fourth amendment” or “severely wounded due to the fifth amendment.” Or more simply 90% of murder victims coming in with a tag that said “harmed by a released criminal — who would still have been in jail if not for left wing judges’ left sentences.” Or “gang member” or “harmed by gang member” they would start seeing the real underlying agency in criminal violence. They simply never do.
2) the academics specializing in firearms epidemiology/study are a) not just doing “public health” but this newer much more policy-political concept of “population health.” They are empowered, have more funding, more influence by taking positions. They get published, reviewed, quoted — and funded. News media calls them for their opinion. Bloomberg will toss their insitution $10 million.
Yeah right. The right wing media never lies. Uh huh.
Nice Tu Quoque fallacy you got there.
Because of the two party system which is really a one party system of extreme criminals and statists, neither reciprocity will not pass nor will the HPA. I know TTAG predicted both would pass this year, but they are mistaken. Neither can pass because the tug of war on guns has equal strength on both sides. But make no mistake, eventually, the anti’s will win. They will never “come for your guns” in a stasi style raid, at least not in force. They’ll just slowly ban new standard capacity mags, semi auto’s etc. Eventually we’ll see more requirements for carry, etc then may issue, then no issue. With a large, dense population there is no other possible outcome of course. You see it in Colorado, soon in Virginia, Florida etc. You can delay it though for a long time.
Just got a Henry. 308 lever gun. I can see why it’s preferred for hunting with quick cycle and low weight.
I have a 45-70 BFR. Got it to match my Guide Gun. Suprisingly, recoil is on a par with a .44 Mag, maybe a little milder, depending on how you load it. But, it has a 7.5″ barrel and weighs just under 5 pounds. Love shooting it, had to start handloading 45-70 to feed it. Amazing revolver.
I don’t think anybody gets it..?This is Creeping Incrementalism into an authoritarian based Police-State! Can’t anyone see the writing on the wall…! This is an absolute outrage how far we’ve *lost* our Civil liberties in most of these “Left coast and Eastern Communist Bloc Police states! “
OuchUgly! Mechanically intriguing to be sure. Make magwell smaller to fit magazines…wait…just make it look like the LWRC smg45 unicorn…and I and I’m sure a lot of other people would gladly give up their money for the 45, 9, 10mm versions. We want to shoot something reliable, good looking and, did I say reliable? Do this and we”ll be your customers!!!
Regards
Customers who just told you how to get us to be your customers
Don’t own any Remy’s.
Or their clones.