Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns If you could only have one revolver........

.......what would it be. I know this is not how it is in real life, but just for fun, play along. One revolver, regardless of caliber. And why? Pictures welcome.......One revolver over all others.....

The one I have. S&W 610 no dash 5 inch 10mm

4 inch 41 magnum Mountain Gun

Good choice, Gitem 12. That is one on my wish list. Should do all that would be needed of a revolver.

4" Standard 629-5 (no lock). Super versatile.

Mark in GA

4" Smith model 66.

657 Mountain Gun...as long as I can reload. If not would probably go the same gun in .45 ACP....

Bob

S&W Model 686 357 Magnum with a 5" barrel.

Ruger Redhawk with Dan Wesson barrel system in 45 Colt

Ruger stainless GP-100, 6" half lug barrel, .357 Magnum.

Pair that with a Ruger 5 1/2" bull barrel Mk II or III .22 and those would cover about 99% of the handgun shooting that I actually do.

Probably a stainless 4" .357. Lots of ammo choices including 38's. Can be loaded hot or mild so that it's a firebreather or just fun to shoot. Lots of good choices from different makers. I really like the 4.2" SP101 but again, lots of good choices on the model.

S&W 25-7

Colt SAA, nice thing about this one it can shoot both 45 Colt and 45 ACP, great revolver, great combo.
Real ivory grips are a plus.

I own a few revolvers, but if I had to get by with just one it would be my Smith & Wesson model 69 .44 mag.

I can load it down and it replaces my .357's and .44 special. Load it up and it makes my Redhawk unnecessary.

4" 629 Mountain Gun.

If I could only have one handgun and it had to be a revolver, I would choose with my head instead of my heart.

Assuming I can keep all my semi-autos - My heart says to keep my Ruger Vaquero, 45 Colt. It's just sheer joy!

Easy to change calibers with this system

Not my favorite revolver or a lot of fun to shoot, but if limited to one it would be my S&W 642 LadySmith. The reason is simple, it goes everywhere with me including a lot of places where a bigger revolver would not be welcome.

Actually I changed my mind and would keep the one David Clements is making me now: River GP-100 converted to 10mm!

JWP, that is one fine looking Redhawk.

Guys, I know this thread topic has been worn out in the past, but it's really interesting to hear what other folks would choose if there could be only one. If I stop and think about the question, there are a lot of clarifications to answer. What will it be used for? How easy is it to carry? If I didn't reload, can I find ammo easily? Do I need to conceal? I haven't decided on my one and only yet......... Probably wouldn't be any that I currently have in the safe.

Thanks

Whitworth's 500 single action, why, pure beauty combined with raw power.

My colt anaconda.

S&W Stainless Mountain Gun in 45 Colt.

My Ruger SBH .44 with 7.5 inch barrel.

Probably this one.

I seriously considered that as my choice. And it would be pretty damn hard to beat, IMO

Some fine sixguns in this roll call!

If I had to keep just one it would definitely be this old 4 5/8" '93 Vaquero in 45 Colt. Handles standard or heavy loads, shoots dead nuts to its sights and short enough to hide under a shirt-tail, if need be.

The 4 5/8″ Ruger Vaquero

A model 10 or model 15 Smith & Wesson. I don't shoot any handgun better.

For a good many years this was the only one I had, and I guess if push came to shove it would be the one I'd keep.



I have "better" ones, but there is something about the old beast.

Who is the pistolsmith responsible for the wizardry, if I may ask? Very !!

I have it ...Freedom Arms Model 97 in .22LR/22Magnum

Blackhawk 45 Colt with 4 5/8" barrel.

My 4 inch 629

A 4" Smith&Wesson L or N frame in .357 mag.

586/686
27/28

This did not require any contemplation.

My 5" 29-2. It's hard to find a more versatile double action that suits my needs, and taste.

From popping bunnies and ground squirrels to elk, to defensive use,this one .44 will do it. With the equally awesome Milt Sparks 200 AW, I can carry the big gun comfortably, as well as protect it. It's a perfect combo.

While I love my J Frame centennial snubby, if only one could be chosen, it would be the 5" .44.

625-6 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt........and I already own one!

I've gone through a bunch of Smiths over the years but now down to only a select few. This 57 has been the best of the best and would certainly be my overall choice of "one revolver".

There is also a lot to be said for a S&W Model 625 .45 Colt cut for moon clips so you can shoot .45 Colt, .45 ACP. .460 Rowland

As much as I like my 44's and 45's, my "last resort" revolver would be a DA 357 Magnum, a 4- or 5-inch S&W 686. I have several of these in my safe and shoot them a lot. In my view, the 686 is more versatile than any big revolver ever could be. With light loads it's suitable for small game. Medium loads are more than adequate for personal defense. And heavy loads will work to bring down any large game in North America short of the big bears.

A 4" L-frame S&W is the best-balanced DA revolver I've ever found, with the slightly heavier Ruger GP100 a close second. Both closely match for balance and pointability the best-balanced revolver of all time, the Colt Single Action Army 4.75". The primary reason I didn't choose the SAA is that in my opinion single action revolvers are simply not as ergonomically effective for rapid deployment in defensive/tactical situations. I'm including defense against 4-legged as well as 2-legged varmints, here.

The N-frame Smiths are bigger, heavier, harder to shoot rapidly... at least in my hands. The Ruger Redhawk is even more so. The K-frame S&W's are too light to stand up to heavy duty loads. The heavier Ruger single actions, while wonderful hunting guns, lack the efficiency of a DA trigger.

The 357 Magnum revolver has the advantage of easy ammo availability. You can fire just about any 38 caliber rimmed cartridge in it, and I predict you'll be able to buy 38 Special ammunition almost anywhere in America until the Second Coming.

Just my dos centavos.

Jack Huntington, did the wizardry.

Outstanding choice. For me it would be either that or my 4 inch Redhawk 45 Colt.

4 inch barrel model 19, S&W, .357 magnum. It does it all. Thanks goodness I have one.

The 4" M19/M66 is almost as close to a perfect packin' pistol as you can get... except for the M686. I've had several M19's and M66's, but just have one now.

The M19/66 is, like all K-frames, just a little too lightly built to tolerate heavier loads. I shot a M65 out of time in less than 2 years using full-power 357 loads on a regular basis (admittedly, it had seen a lot of time as a police service revolver before I got it and fugged it up). I learned with that K-frame gun that stout 180 gr loads are beyond the K-frame's design parameters.

I can and do shoot heavy-loaded 158 gr and 180 gr bullets in my L-frames, and do so without any fear of damage to them. I admit I rarely shoot 180's any more, because I can do anything I need to with 158's. I reserve the 180's for my 357 lever rifles, where the longer barrel and slow-ish powders can really wring some performance out of them.

I agree & I love the one I have, but if I could only have one, it would be a 6" Model 57.

Had a great one, no-dash, & in a fit of stupidity, sold it.

MM

The new L-Frame S&W Model 69 in .44 mag sure are nice.

As far as K-Frames go, the 3" Model 66 is close to perfection IMO.

Gotta agree. Really been loving mine. Not sure if it would get the nod over my 5.5" Redhawk but it would definitely be in the running.

Hard to argue with a 4" DA 357. Mine is a Security Six.

I already have my "one" revolver, my SW Mountain Gun in 41mag.

Mine won't impress anyone, but does all I need it to. Ideal trail gun, and I like it.

38 S&W




DMc

Not to covet of course, only if he'd sell.

For any of us on the campfire to only have one revolver would require some cataclysmic, apocalyptic, end-of-world, Armageddon-esque event; or perhaps a Hillary presidency (if that's not redundant). In any case, the need for a gun to withstand the potential abuse of competition or the constant use of magnum ammo would be unrealistic; nice perhaps, but not necessary. Therefore I'd be hard pressed to decide between these two:



…..concealability would be a perq, but not a requirement during a melt down of society….consistent-carry would trump concealed-carry and the model 19/66 is about as easy a full sized gun to carry as there is. My first revolver was a 2 1/2" model 19 and it was a wonderful handgun that I wish that I had kept.

Let's pray that we never have to "grab and go" with just one gun!!

S&W 629 Mountain Gun, plenty of power and utility.

A 629 mountain gun or 4" Redhawk would be a pretty practical choice for those living in areas with large predators and/or frequently around large stock animals.

I find the .44 mag and .45 Colt to be extremely versatile, with lots of practical loads available to the handloader, from snake shot to heavy for caliber bull stompers.

Tough call. It would be one of these. Probably the 629. Specials for SD and full house loads for hunting situations. But the 19 wouldn't be a bad choice either.

I have a 2 1/2" 66 that goes most everywhere I do. I can't imagine not having it.

Exactly, as they can be loaded from mild to wild to handle any situation perfectly. Not so with the 357 as it is light in the loafers for really large game.

I would like a .45 Colt/ACP, Ruger Bisley Vaquero in SS with adjustable sights, 4"+ barrel, aluminum ejector rod housing and aluminum Bisley frame, heavily fluted/chamfered cylinders and scalloped recoil shields.

I'm guessing it can get down to 31 oz

…..fully agreed to…..however, in time of disruption (not necessarily a criteria according to the OP), .38 spl. and/or .357 will certainly be easier to come by than .44 mag/spl. or .45 lc. The only reason that I'd have only one revolver is because of some severe disruption.

As a number of other posters have mentioned: S&W 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt.

RS

A Model 29 with a 5" barrel is the Holy Grail for me! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to find one someday.

Much easier and cheaper to take the route Mac and I did on my 57 and 657 5" guns...get a 6" and find a good smith who can duplcate the crown and either put the original sight back on right or one of the Weigand bases that has interchangeable blades...

If you want something really unique, get a 5" 27-2, have it rebored to .44 and then add a 29-2 cylinder...have Ford's refinish it and you'll have a 1950 Target .44 Magnum...

Bob

For me, it would be one of my Ruger Bisley Vaqueros, cal. .45.

Despite the many miles/years as a certain 642 and I have together, the easy choice for me is the 625 MG in 45lc. No hesitation there....

George

Don't go getting too attached to my 625.

ONLY one revolver ... ... then its got to be a 44MAG. As to which gun, I would go with a S&W M629-4. Color case hammer & trigger, longer stop notch, improved extractor,
factory drill & tap if you want a scope .... and best of all NO lock. The 44 MAG is kinda like the 30-06 of handguns.

Greg, this is precisely why I said I'd take a 686.

If the situation were anything other than this, I'd be more likely to take a .22LR, .32 H&R Mag, or .45 Colt as my only revolver, depending on the hunt I was on.

4" S&W 629 no dash, or a 29-2. 44 mag of course.

Dang! I thought I had this figured out. Handloader: 44mag in 5.5" Redhawk. If non-handloader: 357mag 4" GP-100.

Now with gmoats and DocRocket post, I'm reconsidering a 22lr!

Apparently, I'm not as smart as I think I am, lol! : D

Doc makes us all question our intellect---sign of a truly great thinker!! :-)

It would be a first generation Colt SAA, probably in 38-40...

Actually, an H&R top-break 9-shot .22LR makes a lot of sense, as does a K-22. If Ruger ever comes out with the 3" LCRx in .22Magnum/.22LR convertible with an 8, 9, or 10 shot cylinder, it might win the "one and done" competition in a cake walk.

Love my kit gun

29-2. 4".





Travis

Hard to pick anything smaller than 44, if you can have only one. The one has to cover a lot ground.

WOW--what a collection!!

…..a pic reminiscent of where Redford turns to Newman and says, "….use enough dynamite there, Butch?"

….to which Newman didn't respond, but was thinking, "GFY, Sundance." :-)

Since the question is only one revolver, a 6" Anaconda 45. I could use some of the same bullets in it and my SIG P220 and the same powder and primers for most loads.

S&W pre-lock RB 3" 66 or a no dash 696.

...yes they are as handy as it gets....



..especially if you have TK Custom modify the cylinder to take .38 Super and 9mm...four calibers in one handgun is hard to beat...





Another reason for at least temporarily choosing to have only one revolver around is travel. When I went out to visit Mackay in 2013 I took only one gun with me as I was flying and didn't want the hassle of having to keep track to more than one gun...so I just brought one of my favorites a 1980 vintage S&W 57 4". It worked for everything from concealed carry to shooting 500 yards... When I was out there again in 2014 although I had a case full of handguns to shoot I only carried the 57.

Bob

I'd probably have to go with my Ruger Redhawk 4.2" 44 Mag or my Ruger Vaquero 4-5/8" 45 Colt. Have a soft spot for both.

in 44

A gun you can carry all day; it can fire pipsqueak 45 Schofields, shot or roundball to hot 360gr. handloads and can make 44 Specials and even 44 Mags serviceable up close.
The DA approaches the Smith and Wesson action with two springs and metal polish along with the durability of a Ruger.

But a lot of 45 Colts fit the bill:

HawkI, that is a nice group of guns.

Hey, thanks!

I like 44's, but the 45 Colt is still the King!

Of the ones I have it would be the 4" 657 Mountain Gun.
I really need to find a 629 5" though and that might change my mind.

Greg, for me the 45 will conceal just fine. As to 38, 357 ammo being easy to find, it didn't pan out that way in the recent ammo shortage. The more popular rounds were very difficult to find. Plus the 45 or 44 will handle a wider range of game handily.

…..good points, all…..

The availability issue is a conundrum……you're absolutely spot on….the less popular (profuse?) calibers were available, although not always in large quantities. It was hard to find .45ACP and 9mm, but usually a lot of .40……..you'll get no argument from me re: .45 LC---great cartridge and available in great platforms.

For me, it would be my Ruger new model flat top .44 Special with a 4-5/8" barrel.

I pack it in an ElPaso Saddlery IWB.

Virgil B.

Excluding carry guns,I already have the Colt SAA in 38-40 that Shrapnel mentioned, but I'd be hard pressed to chose between my Smith K-22 and my Ruger Security 6 in.357, 4" barrel for general use.

For plinking the K-22 can't be beat and the Secuirty Six is just the right size, weight and power for carrying while I am in the saddle. All my other handguns just get minimum use at the range.

I really had to choose, it would be the K-22 as I also carry a little Rossi model 92 in .357 while riding. The K-22 would fill the bill for anything else I need to do.

Dang it, Hawk! How do you guys manage to acquire so many big bore handguns!?

I've been in literally dozens of gunshops in both Pennsylvania and Indiana and it's scarce find 44mag or 45colts!


Leo

S&W 657 .41 Magnum 4".

My S&W 627 PC 5" .357 with its 8 shot moon clips, smooth action, and good accuracy would be the last handgun I would let go.

If squeezed down to only one, it would be the S&W Model 57 on the left, though the 5" Model 27-2 of the same era would be close. Both have cut down target grips to fit my hand.

For a long time my 6" 629 WAS the only revolver I owned. Were I forced to have only one, it'd get the nod based somewhat on practicality, but mainly on sentiment. Were I to be truly practical it'd be my 586.

If I can only have one revolver, make it the next one I want. The same answer continues to apply as I obtain the answer to the first question. If living in the southeast, probably a S&W 627-5 4 inch. North and west, a S&W 629 Mountain Gun 4 inch. If I could only have one revolver... how sad the thought. Does this mean I can have unlimited semi-autos to ease the pain?