It’s funny - didn’t think a single action Army would be fun to shoot. However, a USFA screamed “buy me!” and I couldn’t resist. To my surprise it aims so naturally and it’s a total blast to shoot. Beautiful to boot!
I had a 6" Rossi 357 mag when I was in college. Sold it a long time ago, but recently bought a 6" 686-6 S&W 357. Absolutely love it, and it pairs with my lever-action. Love just taking a couple boxes of ammo to the range and not having to worry about loading mags, just a pocket of ammo and a load of fun.
@Some Guy 99 357 magnum produces more energy than 9mm but it really doesn't make much difference in terminal ballistics. You get comparable terminal performance with both calibers, but with 357 you get significantly more recoil as well as ammunition being quite a bit more expensive. Then we move to the issue of extremely low capacity, generally being only 5 or 6. As for reliability, the problem with revolvers is that when they do malfunction. Which happens more than you may think, it almost always requires a trip to a gunsmith. When an auto malfunctions, it can almost always be fixed with either tap rack or changing of a magazine. Carry what you want. At the end of the day I'm not your dad and it makes no difference to me. But modern semi autos are fantastically reliable firearms
@@tinman8518 I agree. I love some good nostalgia as much as the next guy but no one can deny that if they had semi autos in “the Wild West”, Billy the kid would’ve tossed them wheel guns in the trash for a high capacity, instantly reloadable for more capacity, handgun. Truly, I love revolvers but if I’m prepping for possible combat, the thought of having one makes me shudder. What if there’s (usually are) more than one or two criminals.
i do love my 686+ with 4" barrel. i have probably about 1500 shots through mine. They did go up a lot in price from what you've stated. It retails for about $950 now.
You are spot-on about the S&W 686 (and the blued steel 586). Accurate, reliable, powerful, they are great. I have a nice collection of these in various barrel lengths and they are all good. I also like the 686 +; it is a great farm gun. I always say, "Six for sure, seven for damn'd sure." My 586 with an 8-inch barrel is really a pocket rifle. Other brands like Colt, Ruger, and Cimarron are also great guns. I do recommend shooting any revolver that you are using for self-defense in double-action only. Never cock the hammer in a SHTF situation as your adrenaline will almost guarantee that you will squeeze off a round unintentionally, with devastating legal and moral repercussions. I very seldom shoot double action myself. I tell people, "Train the way you'll use it, and you'll use it the way you've trained." When you are scared sh-tless in a deadly situation, you won't be thinking about your gun, you will be probably tache-psychiac, focusing only on the threat. Train properly, and hope that day never comes. --Old Guy
Thanks for sharing your passion about the Colt, it's not about chasing the latest thing. As always, remember to support your local shelters and recycle
I love my 6-inch 686, I bought it used in 1994 for $250 and it had a custom trigger job that is out of this world. What a fantastic gun! I went to the store to buy a new G100 and saw the 686...........
My first gun was a S&W model 14 made in 1952 that my grandfather gave me when I was 14. I have 1,000s of rounds through it and it still looks brand new. It is also probably still the most accurate firearm I have.
New gun owner here, I got a 6” barrel GP 100 and it’s a really nice gun. I am considering getting the 4” also and I also have the LCR .38 for carry. The grips are all really comfortable and they are really good looking guns.
I fully understand and agree with your affection for the S&W Model 14. Wood on blued steel is so visually pleasing, and when beauty is as beauty does, that is pure bliss.
At one time I had the 2" 3" 4" 6" and 8 3/8" SW 686's. I'm down to three now. The 3" 7rd,/ 4" Classic 586 / 6" PC 7 shot and a 50 yr old Mod 19 4" that's too pretty to shoot! Love em all!
Finally! Some wheel gun love! I have an Air Weight S&W as a backup gun. I've done some work on it myself to lessen the double action trigger, and, of course, the single action is about 1.5lbs. There's nothing like a hair trigger revolver!
I have recently fulfilled my dream and bought 6 inch SW 586. The gun is more than 30 years old but the price here in center Europe equaled two new Glocks 😂 Nevertheless, I love it. I can hit small steel plate on DA from 50 meters ❤ More revolver videos 👍
Prices of used vintage revolvers are appreciating even here in California. I recently bought a vintage 38 Special Colt Agent snub nose and yes, it cost twice the price of my Glock 34. Your vintage 586 is an excellent all around home defense and target revolver. Good to know that you can still buy handguns in your country. Enjoy it.
Love, love, love wheelies. I am a big fan of classic S&W (pre-lock) and most break tops. 22, 32, 38, ,44, or 45 I love them all. Would love that 8 shot Snubbie if it wasn't uglified and Gucci priced.
Outlaw, I hate to make you jealous, but...when I was about 19 I came home form work late one night, and my dad handed me a paper bag. Inside was a Colt Python.(I think he paid $600 for it) It's absolutely beautiful (not as beautiful as my wife, but close) It has a 6" barrel, royal blue, with Rosewood grips that have 3 white diamonds (I think they're Ivory but I'm not sure) down the right side. It's still in my safe and my son is named Colten because his mother would't let me name him Colt. It will be his pretty soon.
Chris, I recently purchased an S&W 627, N frame, 357mag, 2.6"" barrel, weighing 37ozs, it is an incredible revolver, very accurate, with a short barrel. I believe you will place it on the top revolver list. I am an avid fan of your outstanding videos; sadly, true honesty has become rare in this country! Please continue doing great work!
I love that you and Gun Sam just dropped revolver videos. Oh man. I love my old Smiths. The coolest firearm I own hands down is a 1917 Smith DA .45 made in 1917. At some point in the early 1940's it had been reblued beautifully, the barrel shortened, and the grip reduced. It's pretty much identical to Indiana Jone's revolver from Raiders of the Lost Ark, down to the year, model, and modification.
Good list. I’ve always had a soft spot for Ruger Security Sixes. For some reason I prefer their aesthetics over their Colt and S&W competitors. The GP and SP series are complete tanks too.
I grew up with my dad's security six with a 3&1/2 inch barrel. He got it from his step dad. He later gave it to my older brother who eventually gave it to me. I love the cylinder release. It's more intuitive for me than the Smith and Wesson and Colt cylinder releases. I just bought a Taurus Raging Hunter which has a dual cylinder release. It took my three tries to open it because it's so awkward and goes against old habits. Also, the security six can be fully disassembled using just a dime and some of its own parts.
My top 7 revolvers I still own (sold a 686-7 shot, 629 44mag and Ruger Redhawk 45LC/45acp during the pandemic) 7. 22mag NAA 5 shot w/ laser grips 6. 44spl Charter Arms Bulldog with shrouded hammer 5. Ruger LCR in 327 federal magnum 6 shot 4. “The Professional” Charter Arms 32 H&R magnum 7 shot 3. S&W 642 Pro series 5 shot moon clips, no lock 2. Ruger GP100 327 federal magnum 7 shot 6 in barrel 1. Ruger Blackhawk 6 shot 357mag convertible 9mm cylinder 5 inch barrel. Honorable mention - Heritage “tactical cowboy” 22lr/22mag threaded barrel with suppressor and rail for red dot or scope. Fun fun fun! 🙌🏽😂
Good choice for a top 5. I knew the 686 and GP 100 would make the list. Literally just got a GP 100 for Christmas and I love it man! One of the best out there 🙌
Yeah, S&W 686 won't be found around here(near Ft Worth TX) for less than $900 heh. Definitely not $500-600 anymore. Also minor correction, that's the LCRx, the LCR is double action only and doesn't have an exposed hammer.
Being an older guy, many people forget that in the seventies and early eighties, two iconic TV shows had characters that used the Colt Python as their duty weapon. On Starsky and Hutch, David Soul carried one, and on A Man Called Hawk, Avery Brooks also had one. And I do believe Brooks' character originated on the show Vegas, with Robert Urich, and he was carrying the Python even then.
I had both a 686 fouri nch 7 shot and a Ruger GP100 four inch 7 shot on the counter in front of me last month. I opted for the Ruger. I preferred the extra weight for recoil, and the sights. Plus I had a 6 shot GP 00 a few years back and liked the way it shot. That said, I do have the Taurus 66 four inch 7 shot, which is basically a 686 knockoff. Not as good quality as the others, but it would make for a great "New York reload" with the right holster setup.
I completely agree with your take on used firearms. I picked up a S&W model 15-3 recently and the first time i took it to the range it immediately became one of my favorites to shoot. I can't miss with it. Also the first handgun i ever purchased was a 6 inch Gp 100 i love that revolver it is an absolute tank.
The gun I learned to shoot on was a Ruger Bearcat 22lr. I moved on to a Tarus Tracker 357, which I packed for a long time in the woods. I now carry a 2022 Python, and it's by far my favorite of any revolver I've ever shot. I appreciate your videos, and you just earned a subscribe from me.
Dang I was hoping to see the SP101 in 2.25” barrel. Just bought one. It’s my first wheel gun and I freakin’ love it. Great review, it’s got me thinking I might need 2 or 3 more revolvers lol
@@bobjohnson1633 It's extremely durable to fire and more affordable. As a backpacking gun it's particularly good because it can be dissembled and cleaned in the field. Which I can't do with either Colts or Smiths.
I'm glad the Colt Anaconda got an honorable mention. I bought one last year and it very quickly became my new favorite. One day when I have more money and less sense, I want to get it engraved to truly make it 'mine.' ( I also love my single action, I just couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it)
Excellent! I agree with you that the Colt SAA is THE ultimate revolver. Period. Own three in 45 Colt, and one in .357Mag. Best wheelguns on the planet. That said, my real combat revolver is a 1979 S&W Mod28 4" .357Mag. That weapon was personally used by me in three shootings during my career as a peace officer. And I'm still here to tell the tale. And as much as I love the SAA, that old Mod28 is my #1 "go to" gun in a fight. There's no plastic striker fired pop guns in my safe or on my hip. The only autoloader I have is a 1911A1 in 45ACP. An old Colt made in 1944, was used in more than a few fights with the NVA long ago in the "Southeast Asian War Games". Other than that, y'all can keep your Tupperware pistols. Ranger.... Out......
We just recently purchased our first revolver, the 7th firearm we've brought home in 2022, because our family loves variety, and its a fun shooter. It's the Taurus Executive Grade 856. I know Taurus' reputation, especially with their revolvers, but this gun caught my wife's eye, and it is a beautiful gun, and if your wife okay's a gun purchase, you buy the damn gun. It's a firearm assembled in a dedicated production room by specialists who hand fit, polish, tune, and QC the guns, but... again... it's a Taurus. So far so good, though. I'd love to see you review this one and see it in comparison to the defender its made after. Enjoyed your video and, heck yea, I'd love to see more revolvers on your channel!
Nice list. My current Stable: *Kimber K62 2" black coating version (my wife decided she liked, so it is her EDC) *S&W Model 19 Carry Comp PC (my EDC) *S&W Model 629 PC UDR *S&W Model 65 3" *Ruger Alaskan .480 *Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum 7.5" *A brace of Ruger Blackhawk 50th Anniversary 6.5" .44 magnums with the steel grip frames slicked up by Hamilton Bowen in a kirkpatrickleather Idaho John rig. I'd like to see a new Anaconda in 3". I would eventually buy one.
My dad has the original Colt Python .357 6” with the blues finish. He bought it back in the 80s from a neighbor who was a police officer. I got to shoot it once, and it was amazing!
Great video!!! My 7 revolver favorites in my collection: 1. 2nd Gen Colt SAA 2. USFA SAA 1st Gen Colt clone 3. S&W Model 29 6 1/2” barrel 4. S&W Model 29 6” barrel 5. Freedom Arms .454 Casull 6. Colt Anaconda 6” barrel 7. Colt SAA “New Frontier” 7 1/2” barrel
appreciate that you stay on topic. eg: #2 the ruger, you state is one of two for x-reason but you only speak for the ruger and are focused. Your monologue is clear, precise, well spoken and presented better than professionals on national tv stations.
Thank you. Although my go to town is a G17 w 22 rounds, my GP100 lies within reach when at my desk. I love that firearm. I'm 75 and can no longer throw the bad guy down, but can still throw down. I get a workout just hauling around the G17, Taurus compact 9mm, a 4" flipper, and a CRKT combat kukri (not concealed). You are informative, and I read you as honest, and always feel like I have a friend onboard when watching your videos. Regards
Totally agree about the used guns having a better feel right away. I think some people are overly attached to everything being new and shiny, but personally, I find something more appealing when it's been well maintained over time.
My favorite LEO carry revolver was a Dan Wesson 6” .357. Had the pistol pack and could switch out barrels in 5 minutes more or less. Solid and accurate.
That Colt SAA 1873 is so damn beautiful! Other than this gun (and the Italian replicas, which I also love), I never really used to be a fan of revolvers in general. But I have to admit they're definitely growing on me. Plus, you had to go and show us all those other sexy ones - it's making me want, like, all of them! As always, I really appreciate your no-BS approach to firearms. And yes, please, I would love to see you do more videos on revolvers. Cheers, mate!
The real Colt SAA 1873 is way out of my budget. I have a Uberti 1873 Colt clone with a 7 1/2" barrel in 357 magnum and another Uberti Remington 1875 Outlaw in 45 Colt. The single action revolvers are fun guns especially in cowboy action shooting but could also be serious woods guns like what our forefathers carried in the past. The 45 Colt could probably stop anything that moves in North & South Americas except perhaps grizzlies and predatory polar bears.
I grew up shooting a S&W 686 plus target with a half lug, PC tune job and nice cocobolo grips that my dad bought. I now love revolvers and can't get enough of them. Gotta bring one with every time I go to the range or backcountry. Looking at getting a snubby since I travel interstate frequently. More revolvers on the channel please! Thanks for the content, Honest Outlaw, keep it coming.
There is absolutely nothing like shooting a quality, well tuned revolver. To put it simply, they put the round exactly where you aim it. My personal favorite: The Smith & Wesson L Frame in .357 Magnum.
I have 2 M1917s. Both are 106 years old and work fantastic. One is a Colt and the other is a S&W. The Colt was my Grandfather's and the S&W I bought at my local shop just before covid. I do have a original Python that I bought new. It has had timing problems and has been back to Colt twice for repairs.
I bought a Korth NSX 357 6 inch after watching your review . I love it . Just watched a revolver episode where the wheel guns took a hit for needing to be cleaned after a couple hundred rounds vs semis . True enough. That would have been a good time to mention revolvers for carry are bringing way more to the table in terms of powder charge and bullet weight . They foul more quickly bc of that…. IMO
I'll always be happy to see revolvers! Me and my DW .44 have decades together and somewhere nor5th of 35k rounds through 3 of the barrels. It's a work of art in its own right with the beautiful bluing on the vented heavy barrels and the only replaced parts were a new set of springs.
I'm 64 and grew up with revolvers, I often carry a S&W 686, 4" because the .125gr. Jacked Hp was called the "man stopper" because of its ability to end gun battles. My wife and children all carry 9mm, yet because I practice shooting my 686 often, I feel okay with this revolver. I also use a S&W Shield Plus, I sometimes carry it, but my heart belongs to the S&W 686. Chris, I love all your videos, yet please show more about wheel guns of every kind, they are still excellent firearms for self-defense, plus great for new shooters and old-timers like me! Please keep up doing great unbiased reviews! Thank you Chris!
Old Smith and Wesson revolvers are freakin' awesome. I own a Highway Patrolman with a 6 inch barrel from about the same time, and it's easily my favorite gun. The enormous frame gives you lots of real estate and soaks up the recoil from 357 quite well. 38 feels like a bb gun. Double action is smooth as silk, and single action doesn't even feel like 2lbs.
My first handgun was an S&W model 28 6" in .357 mag. Great gun, but it's hard to coceal. I had a NYC carry permit and having two handguns required jumping through too many hoops, so I chose something I can shoot cheap with .38 special, hunt with .357 and dealt with it under my coat in a shoulder holster.
My 7 favorite revolvers, Smith model 19 4 inch, Smith model 25 in 45 autorim 6 inch, Smith model 25, 45 Colt,l 6 inch, Smith model 27, 8 3/8, Smith model 29 6 inch, Ruger 3 screw Blackhawk 44 mag 7.5 inch, Smith model 36, 3 inch. Honorable mention, Dan Wesson 357 Maximum, 6 inch.
That model 14 is an oldie. I say that because of what is called a "mule ear" hammer. IMO there are three really good self defense factory loadings. They are: Federal Micro, Underwood hard cast wadcutter, and Underwood Extreme Defender.
I love my gp100, recently broke my foot and been at home polishing it with some mothers mag, coming out really nice cant wait to throw some nice wood grips on it and hit the range again 👍🏾
My do-it-all revolver is my 460V five inch muzzle brake equipped full lug barrel X-frame S&W magnum. Why? From 45 Schofield and 45 Colt to 454 Casull and 460 S&W magnum rimmed cartridges AND TK Custom altered my cylinder for their 45 ACP stainless steel moon clips. BONUS!!! Also holds and shoots 460 Rowland, 45 Super and 45 Winchester magnum using Starline brass. An extra long firing pin permits shooting rimmed cartridges without the use of a moon clip and fire each and every time.
The S&W 686 was the first revolver i ever shot over a decade ago it belongs to my uncle and still does to this day i enjoyed it so much i bought one for myself last summer and i still take any opportunity i can to take it with me to the range absolutely love that gun
1st gun I shot at a range was a buddy's dad's Colt Trooper mkIII 4in 357 with coke bottle grips. Feels like holding a blunderbuss now, but it drove tacks.
I have to agree with the K-38. I inherited Dad’s pre-14 K-38, made in 1952. First centerfire handgun I ever shot. He carried it countless miles in the hills with the pack string, fired many heavy handloads; daily holster wear has taken most of the blue, but it still locks up tight and the action is flawless. I bought my 8-3/8” Model 27-2 in 1975; that 327 looks like a mutant to me - so homely it’s almost cute. But I’ll bet it’s a heck of a home defender.
Lcr is my fav lazy carry. I like the 38 special more than the 357 because it weighs less. Also like the 9mm one. DA only all the way for concealment. Great trigger.
Awesome!!! Great review!!! Thank you for covering revolvers!!! I own and carry a Ruger SP 101 357 mag with 2.25 inch barrel. Not sure if you ever covered this revolver but it a solid firearm.
The first K-14 I saw, I purchased. I guess that was nearly fifty years ago. You really took me back to those days before my autoloader obsession, when Smith and Wesson was IT for me.
All of my revolvers I've bought over the last almost 40 years have been used. The Colt Anaconda may be my first new one ever so I'm waiting for the video on that.
I’m a S&W fan, have been since I bought my first one back in 1982 (model 19-4, 6 inch) Another of my classics is my model 10-5 snubby, great carry gun too.
