What "makes" a fighting revolver for you?

[Ura-Ki]

Best "Fighting Revolver" ever made!

 

[nammac]

I'll give ya the Python is a good fighting revolver. CHP carries them for years.

This isn't a half bad fighting revolver either, S&W 586 toting seven delicious rounds of .357 Magnum, in a moon clip to boot.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Uberti "London Model " 1851 Navy

• Andy54Hawken
• May 5, 2024

Just 'cause it was one of , if not the first practical fighting revolver.
The Colt 1851 Navy.
I know the Patterson Model came out first ..but it is / was a bit fragile.
The 1851 is a robust , accurate , and easy to carry revolver.

I know the following will be met with disdain and disbelief...
But I wouldn't feel under gunned with one as a self defense firearm.
Andy

 

[nammac]

And this was a pretty good fighting revolver in its day…. The Single Action Army, this of course being a highly shoot able clone in God's caliber .45 Long Colt…

 

[ma96782]

The S&W Model 15 'Combat Masterpiece'......the name says it all!

I carried mine for half of my career as a uniformed LEO. 4 inch, blue steel, six shot .38 special was enough for the Dept. Yeah, I wanted a .357 mag M19 or M66 but that wasn't gonna happen. When the Dept. switched to the SS S&W M67 I kept the M15 determined to be the "Old Fart" and as my protest to modernity without much gain.

So anyway, finally the day came when the Dept. switched to the semi auto S&W 6906 9mm with 15 round magazines. Well, that sounded a lot better. So, I gave up my M15.

Which reminds me.....that the new fangled revolvers can be had with a greater capacity v the old six rounds. Whatever, it appears that I can still count that far. So, I've been sticking to the six rounds, as my "magic number" for a revolver.

BUT, mind you that was for "open holster carry". For CCW, I picked up a 2", 5 shot, .38 special, SS, S&W M60.

As for what rounds?

My last issued rounds were the 158 grain LSWCHP .38 Special +P round. Commonly called the FBI load today. Before that, the 125 grn .38 special +P semi-jacketed hollow point was issued/used. I used them in my M60 for the longest time.

Aloha, Mark

 

[aflineman]

I like my Model 15 Smith. .38 Special, but I carried and shot the heck out of one for many years (started as a duty weapon). 2nd choice would be a Model 19 Smith or a Security Six. Just because manual of arms is so similar.

 

[Porter]

There are some times when a small revolver is the best/only choice for carry. Say it's mid spring, the weathers getting nice, and the shorts and tee shirts are coming out, a small frame revolver makes lots of sense here, and while some could argue there are also small enough semi autos, the issue isn't capacity, it's POWER! Would you rather have a .25 auto, or .32, or would you rather have a full pop 9mm or .38 special, 10mm auto, or even better .357 mag or .41 mag?
See where this is going? The topic of this thread is: What makes for a really good "Fighting Revolver" if you find your self in a situation where a revolver might be the best or only choice!

For me, a 4 inch Colt Python in .357 Mag is the perfect carry wheel gun, next to that, a Ruger GP-101 or even an old school Red Hawk, also in .357 Mag makes for a great choice, not as small or light, but when it comes to POWER, i'm not backing down to anything less then a 9mm!

Normally, I carry a full size semi auto double stack in a very powerful caliber, and I also carry a B.U.G. usually a Colt New Agent or New Detective in an ankle holster, cause you just never know!
View attachment 1878387

Everything is about give and take, firearms are tools for that days specified needs according to the user. I own a SP101 and tho pretty small it is heavier and carries bulkier than say my Glock 43x/Hellcat that is super slim/short/lighter and has 15 round capacity in 9mm. There are others that are very similar in size/capacity/weight as my 2 current carry choices but obviously not as powerful as say .357. 9mm is a good carry caliber especially with defense rounds. Other things to think about is trigger pull vs a double action revolver is much better as when you add stress to a defensive situation you may not have time to put the revolver in single action to get over the longer/heavier trigger pull of a revolver not to mention be very smooth with the DA trigger under stress and not pull muzzle downward while rapid fire situation occurs. And talking about adding stress to a defensive situation what happens if you miss because target is moving, this is where capacity is king among other things imo. Like I said all our tools are give and take and also choosing the right firearm for the situation becomes important. Again I am not trying to tell anyone what's best for them just listing other things to think about when choosing to carry revolver as a fighting pistol that may require more than 5-6 rounds. In the end a revolver doesn't beat a semi auto in anything but more powerful round and reliability if you buy into that which I don't but others do. I guess I questioned the word fighting instead of carry pistol as my definition is definitely different as imo carry pistol better describes a revolver. But to some those are just words, but I like your idea of semi auto on the hip and revolver on the ankle. Not trying to offend in any way, just my opinion offcourse but here is my revolver for your viewing pleasure compared to my Hellcat. I really like the 101, and actually need to shoot it more.

 

[ageingstudent]

That's how I feel about my 3" 60.

There is something about that 3 inch barrel. I'm surprised it's not more popular. It seems like 4 is a mite too long and 2 is a mite too short. For some reason, I always feel very confident having it around. I shoot it well. By today's standards, it has horrific sights, ha ha. I don't know what it is. I can just hit stuff with it.

 

[CountryGent]

There is something about that 3 inch barrel. I'm surprised it's not more popular.

Ditto. Not many manufacturers make them with a 3" barrel these days.

 

[DB is Here]

There is something about that 3 inch barrel.

Truth.

 

[ageingstudent]

Uberti "London Model " 1851 Navy

• Andy54Hawken
• May 5, 2024

Just 'cause it was one of , if not the first practical fighting revolver.
The Colt 1851 Navy.
I know the Patterson Model came out first ..but it is / was a bit fragile.
The 1851 is a robust , accurate , and easy to carry revolver.

I know the following will be met with disdain and disbelief...
But I wouldn't feel under gunned with one as a self defense firearm.
Andy

Love that Navy...love that caliber. It can also be used as a club to open a stout can of whip-arse on somebody... .

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Love that Navy...love that caliber. It can also be used as a club to open a stout can of whip-bubblegum on somebody... .

Why yes...yes it can.
Luckily for all involved ...I am more of a Mild Bill...rather than a Wild Bill....
Andy

 

[ageingstudent]

Why yes...yes it can.
Luckily for all involved ...I am more of a Mild Bill...rather than a Wild Bill....
Andy

Always good to know you have a barrel that can reach out if you need it. I'm thinking more than one person got an attitude adjustment from that fighting revolver you have right there. Any handgun needs to be able to get down and dirty. Danger is close if it's down to that. I'd carry one right now if it's all I had. Much preferable to a sharp stick.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Always good to know you have a barrel that can reach out if you need it. I'm thinking more than one person got an attitude adjustment from that fighting revolver you have right there. Any handgun needs to be able to get down and dirty. Danger is close if it's down to that. I'd carry one right now if it's all I had. Much preferable to a sharp stick.

For many years....the largest caliber handgun I owned was a Uberti copy of a Colt 1860 Army ....
I shot it well and won many a revolver shooting match with it.
I knew how to shoot it...and kept it as a "house gun".

While I wouldn't recommend the above to do for most folks...
I shot this revolver at every monthly shoot...so it was well maintained...and well used.
I didn't feel undergunned then...and I wouldn't feel so now either.
Andy

 

[HA556]

What "makes" a fighting revolver for you?

The one in my hand and stands between me and the enemy!


Was probably already stated but, I didn't read all 7 pages.

 

[ageingstudent]

For many years....the largest caliber handgun I owned was a Uberti copy of a Colt 1860 Army ....
I shot it well and won many a revolver shooting match with it.
I knew how to shoot it...and kept it as a "house gun".

While I wouldn't recommend do so for most folks...
I shot this revolver at every monthly shoot...so it was well maintained...and well used.
I didn't feel undergunned then...and I wouldn't feel so now either.
Andy

That .36 Navy is more or less the basis for the .38/.357 is it not? It seems like there's a relationship there. Recoil is manageable. Still plenty of power. .45 and .44 are a bit too much gun for me. I'm not recoil sensitive, but they're so damn big. They're unwieldy for me. I seem to shoot the 35 and 36s better.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

That .36 Navy is more or less the basis for the .38/.357 is it not? It seems like there's a relationship there. Recoil is manageable. Still plenty of power. .45 and .44 are a bit too much gun for me. I'm not recoil sensitive, but they're so damn big. They're unwieldy for me. I seem to shoot the 35 and 36s better.

A .36 Navy load is about* the same as a .380 load on paper....
However what that pure lead round ball or bullet does to flesh is a bit more , shall we say....icky...

The '51 Navy is a fine , well balanced revolver for sure...and one that was made for quite awhile...1851 -1873.
The '51 Navy and its frame / grips were the basis for the Colt Single Action Army...so that also says something.
Andy
* All depending on the loading...
I use 20 grains of 2F

 

[CountryGent]

Honorable mention as this one features good sights, fantastic trigger, laser-beam accuracy, and seven rounds on tap. I don't shoot the .357 much any more, but one could at lot worse with a defensive revolver.

 

[ageingstudent]

A .36 Navy load is about* the same as a .380 load on paper....
However what that pure lead round ball or bullet does to flesh is a bit more , shall we say....icky...

The '51 Navy is a fine , well balanced revolver for sure...and one that was made for quite awhile...1851 -1873.
The '51 Navy and its frame / grips were the basis for the Colt Single Action Army...so that also says something.
Andy
* All depending on the loading...
I use 20 grains of 2F

It's very easy to the hand. No wonder wild bill favored the Navy.

 

[Ura-Ki]

I wish someone would do a good repop of the old Colt Side Hammer Revolvers, especially like my little .44 pocket pistol, this thing is SLICK and accurate enough, and I would never feel under gunned with this in the pocket!