Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Best Service Revolvers

Looking back to the days when Revolvers were in the holsters of most law enforcement, what would you rate as the top 3?

My top 3
1 - S&W 25
2 - S&W 24
3 - Colt 357 (first model on Python frame)

1) S&W M66
2) S&W M65
3) S&W M686

Honorable mention goes to the M19, M13, M10, M64, M586.

I wouldn't put any N-frame on the list for a police service revolver--too heavy to be carried all day. Even during the heyday of the police revolver the N-frame was not the dominant choice--the Colt Police Positive and S&W M&P revolvers were.

Here's my choices:

1. S&W M586/686
2. Colt Python/Trooper
3. S&W M19/66
4. Ruger GP100
5. Ruger Security/Service Six

S&W K frame .357's were thought to be THE ideal LE revolver, and if used with .38 +P, they weren't pretty darned good. But when shooting magnum loads, they were somewhat notorious for splitting forcing cones, which would lock up the gun...a less than desirable feature.

There were many law enforcement agencies that were restricted to .38 special only. Given such a restriction, I would reach for a S&W M-15 Combat Masterpiece; the greatest .38 special IMO.

The forcing cone cracking is not a problem with 158 grain bullets. The 110's and 125's were the culprits in cracking forcing cones. I've got 2 M-19 S and I've never had a problem but, I never liked those light weight bullets.

You might be real surprised if you weighed a Model 28 and a 586 at the same time. Measure 6" guns and you'll be downright flabbergasted.

I would have to say the Python, then the 586. However the Dan Wesson should be mentioned somewhere.

when I first came out of the Academy I worked part time for a university Police depth that still issued smith 586s. I rely really liked that revolver.

Colt Official Police, S&W Model 10, Colt Police Positive.

Exactly. The issue was the ammunition, not the gun. Another instance of faulty logistics compromising a perfectly good weapon.

Way back - The Colt Single Action Army revolver.

The best service revolver was the Model 58, had it been chambered for 45 ACP and issued with top quality moon clips. I shot one rechambered/rebored to 45 Colt back when Skelton was writing articles about N frames recut for 44 Special.

The weight removed in the Model 58/45 Colt conversion improved its handling qualities immensely.

The 58 was a bit heavy, though.

a family member joined the FBI in the old days. He loved his Model 13 Smith. The Department issued the .38 Special 158 grain LSWCHP. He still says that was an effective load. It sure did the job for him when the chips were down on a few occasions.
I like the K frame smiths, Model 10, Model 15, and Model 19 myself.

The best carry revolver ever put out is the 4 inch L Frame 686 in 357 Magnum and then the Model 66 with the Colt Python coming in a distant third.

That was the thought, but it did happen with 158's. My first handgun was a 19 and my forcing cone split while shooting 158's. I've also replaced barrels on guns where people told me they were shooting 158's.

Model 67 for duty and a 3" M10 for plainclothes would work for me. Carrying an N-frame around all day would be a little much, at least where I worked.
Bob

I carried a 4" Cobra for many years and never felt under armed. I did lust for a pair of factory nickle Vipers, 4" an 2" at the local hardware store but never seemed to have the cash them days.

That's my favorite configuration for a Model 10.