imported post
In summary, you're looking at a 357 Magnum revolver and want some options.
I started on my revolver craze about a year and a half ago after seeing the National ICORE championships on Outdoor Television. I picked up a S&W 625 in 45 ACP. Since then, I've tried a variety of revolvers. My dad owns quite a few, but I had never tried them. The top current production revolvers in my opinion are (no order):
S&W 625 or 25
S&W 686
S&W 327 / 327 TRR8
S&W Model 22 / M22 Thunder Ranch
Ruger GP100
Ruger SP101
S&W Registered Magnum (new)
S&W Classics: 25, 29, etc
S&W 586 L-Comp
S&W just released their "Night Guard" line, which has a wide variety of guns, including a 7 shot 357 Magnum, a 45, and a 44 Special revolver. The 586 L-Comp is a neat little gun.
Don't forget Dan Wesson! You should be able to find a Dan Wesson kit on gunbroker. Generally, these include several barrels and grips, as well as a tool to change the barrel. Dan Wesson guns are very, very nice. Since they'll be used, you'll need to account for gun smithing fees to verify condition.
There are some current production DW guns from CZ USA, but they're GIGANTIC hunting guns in mega-fireball throwing uber-whompin' calibers. They'd be fine for open carry, but forget concealing it. They're almost as silly as the S&W 500 Magnum and the Ruger Alaskan.
Colt also makes some good revolvers, like the Agent, Cobra, and Python. They will be expensive though.
With regard to the list above, I have found that I prefer a 6 shooter over a 7 or 8 shooter. The reason is NOT capacity...which is nice. The 7 and 8 shot revolvers seem more difficult to reload quickly, even with moonclips. A 625 with chamferred cylinders makes for very fast reloads with round nosed 45 ACP (use CorBon Powr Ball or some sort of expanding FMJ for defense). HKS speedloaders are slower, but certainly easy to manage with a 6 shooter.
I do like the 8 shot Smith & Wesson guns for their features. The 327 TRR8 (now available with in 45 ACP with a 4 inch barrel) is a really neat gun. Some folks don't like the rails; I do because they give me options. S&W added many nice features, such as upgraded sights, trigger job, chamferred the cylinder, and so forth.
The Rugers are good guns too. I have an SP101 with 2" barrel. It's a handful with full 357 Magnum ammunition. The GP100 with 4" barrel is a work horse. It shoots well. My only gripe with Ruger revolvers is the factory trigger--it's terrible!
Be very careful with your gunsmith...make sure they have experience with revolver trigger work. My Dad's GP100 came with a trigger job...and it shows. It fails to ignite even Federal primers 100% of the time. There is more to a revolver trigger job than lightening the springs and many gunsmiths don't understand what's involved.
Also note that you'll pay a lot of money for trigger work. There are only a few good revolver smiths out there.
