Happy birthday to me

[Angry Perch]

I opened the birthday gift from my wife, and it was a pistol case with 8 crisp hundred dollar bills in it. She said she knew I'd wanted a handgun for a while. God I love her! Guess it's time to start doing some research. I've always thought I wanted a wheel gun, but who knows?!

[jrebel]

That is a great birthday present.   What is your purpose with a pistol.....this would help to narrow down some choices. 

[headshot5]

I opened the birthday gift from my wife, and it was a pistol case with 8 crisp hundred dollar bills in it. She said she knew I'd wanted a handgun for a while. God I love her! Guess it's time to start doing some research. I've always thought I wanted a wheel gun, but who knows?!

Congrats!  You better be planning ahead for her birthday now.  I'm partial to wheel guns so I'd say your choice is solid.   

[Skyvalhunter]

I say spend $400 on a nice gun and send the other $400 to me so I can do the same then we can talk about our new guns.

[Angry Perch]

That is a great birthday present.   What is your purpose with a pistol.....this would help to narrow down some choices.

 
Honestly, if I were to state a legit purpose, it would be bear protection. But I'm really not that concerned with bears. I just mention it here and there to scare my wife, and voila, a case full of hundred dollar bills! The wheel gun idea stems from 2 things. 1) a bear worthy calibers and 2) Starsky and Hutch. But have you priced a Python lately? Sweet Jesus! I have no interest in concealed carry. I was cruising the internet last night getting ideas, and of course the choices are infinite. If it was my hard earned cash, I'd probably take it to Home Depot and buy tile for the bathroom, but if the wife wants me to have a handgun, I guess I'll be a good boy and do what she says!
Things I've seen that I like, but know very little about:

Ruger GP101 .357 with 4.2" barrel
S&W 686 .357 with 4"barrel
CZ 75b
CZ 97b

[jrebel]

Check out the ruger Alaskan 454 casual....,you can also shoot 45 colt in it as well.  I love mine and it screams......HAND CANNON!! 

[Angry Perch]

Check out the ruger Alaskan 454 casual....,you can also shoot 45 colt in it as well.  I love mine and it screams......HAND CANNON!!

I'm a recoil wussy! I'm 6', 225 and I prefer to hunt with a .243! When I shoot my .35 Whelen from the bench I tuck a shot bag between it and my shoulder. I cry when I read yorketransport's posts. I could pull the trigger on that .454 if a bear had my kid in it's mouth, but if he just wanted my foot, I might let him have it!

[jrebel]

Check out the ruger Alaskan 454 casual....,you can also shoot 45 colt in it as well.  I love mine and it screams......HAND CANNON!!

I'm a recoil wussy! I'm 6', 225 and I prefer to hunt with a .243! When I shoot my .35 Whelen from the bench I tuck a shot bag between it and my shoulder. I cry when I read yorketransport's posts. I could pull the trigger on that .454 if a bear had my kid in it's mouth, but if he just wanted my foot, I might let him have it!

You would be surprised.....It really is a pleasure to shoot.  I would rather shoot it than a 44 mag equivalent.  It all depends on the ammo.  If you chose to shoot 45 colt out of it, it is super manageable with almost no recoil.   You should find a few guys willing to let you shoot some to find out what guns have less recoil.  If your in the area I would gladly take you to the range and let hammer out a few rounds. 

[headshot5]

Smith and Wesson model 69, 5 shot L frame 44 mag.  Nice packing good shooting.   

[Bofire]

4 inch 357 is a very good all round gun
Carl

[headshot5]

Either the ruger or the smith listed would be my choice.

[Angry Perch]

Either the ruger or the smith listed would be my choice.

Both well made, reliable guns?

[jrebel]

Either smith or ruger would be solid choices for a revolver.  Here is the pic of my ruger revolver....some people love the look and others hate it.  It is a little unconventional but I love it. 

Isn't there a 357 on the site someone is selling for a screaming good price?  I will have to look. 

[TheSkyBuster]

You can't beat a 686.    I prefer a shorter barrel, but the 4" is probably a better woods carry gun 

[pianoman9701]

Happy birthday, Perch. When you get tired of her, please let us know!  One of a kind.

[b0bbyg]

4" barrel makes it legal for hunting,   I like the pistol for scouting elk when Bear are in season. 
If I happen to stumble across one I have a legal hunting weapon at my disposal.

I have the GP101 that I carry around at times. Have not shot much but like the gun,

[headshot5]

Either the ruger or the smith listed would be my choice.

Both well made, reliable guns?

Yeah you can't go wrong with either.   I have a few of both brands, just practice shooting whatever you get a bunch.    

[Angry Perch]

I now realize I said GP101, when it's either a GP100 or SP101. I like the look of the SP better. I guess I need to handle them all and see how they feel.

[brew]

happy birhtday my friend....

[257wbymagkiller]

I have the 686 .357 in the 2.5" out of ther performance center, and it is  AMAZING

[Mossy]

I now realize I said GP101, when it's either a GP100 or SP101. I like the look of the SP better. I guess I need to handle them all and see how they feel.

Better just get the GP100 Match Champion then

[jeffro]

Me and the wife have been married so long (28 yrs) that we came to an agreement to just buy our own presents, that way we get what we want.
New Years eve we set a price limit and try to stick to it
Last year I got a new Howa 1500 .308 bench gun and had enough left over to take momma to Vegas for our anniversary.
If this is your first pistol I'd recommend a Glock 23
Small, light, limited recoil, dependable
My .02 cents

[Encore 280]

You could get a 357 and shoot 38spc. less recoil or 44 mag and shoot 44spc. less recoil. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Both Ruger and Smith revolvers are extremely well made, dependable and great to shoot.  If I had to turn in all my handguns but one, I'd keep my Ruger Security Six.  If I could only have one handgun, it would be a 4" barrel stainless .357

[Angry Perch]

Handled an SP101 with 4.2" barrel last night. Really liked it, except grip is a little small. Man, the GP 100 is a tank! Probably more pleasant to shoot, but not to carry. I'm guessing I could get aftermarket grips to remedy the size issue. The weight might make recoil an issue, but I'd imagine plinking with .38 would help a lot in that regard. I could just load it up with heavy .357 rounds when in the woods. Any comments/ suggestions for grips?

[jrebel]

No suggestions on grips.....but for carry I would look real hard at a Gunfightersinc kenai chest rig.  I have o e and it is the only way to pack a big revolver when hiking. 

[fish vacuum]

*cough* 10mm Glock *cough*

[steen]

That is a great birthday present.   What is your purpose with a pistol.....this would help to narrow down some choices.

 
Honestly, if I were to state a legit purpose, it would be bear protection. But I'm really not that concerned with bears. I just mention it here and there to scare my wife, and voila, a case full of hundred dollar bills! The wheel gun idea stems from 2 things. 1) a bear worthy calibers and 2) Starsky and Hutch. But have you priced a Python lately? Sweet Jesus! I have no interest in concealed carry. I was cruising the internet last night getting ideas, and of course the choices are infinite. If it was my hard earned cash, I'd probably take it to Home Depot and buy tile for the bathroom, but if the wife wants me to have a handgun, I guess I'll be a good boy and do what she says!

Things I've seen that I like, but know very little about:

Ruger GP101 .357 with 4.2" barrel
S&W 686 .357 with 4"barrel
CZ 75b
CZ 97b

I bought the Ruger SP101 .357 with 4.2" barrel and LOVE IT! It is too much fun buying ammo for it:regular .357, Hornady .357 for personal protection, bear and deer, Shotshell for grouse and .38 special for target practice. Oh! And some speed loaders cause you never know which bullet you are gonna need! Lol

[Angry Perch]

SP101 is on the way! Ordered some Hogue rosewood grips, so we'll see how those work out. Now to stock up on ammo!

[Angry Perch]

No suggestions on grips.....but for carry I would look real hard at a Gunfightersinc kenai chest rig.  I have o e and it is the only way to pack a big revolver when hiking.

What about with a hunting pack?

[fish vacuum]

No suggestions on grips.....but for carry I would look real hard at a Gunfightersinc kenai chest rig.  I have o e and it is the only way to pack a big revolver when hiking.

What about with a hunting pack?

And binos.

[jrebel]

No suggestions on grips.....but for carry I would look real hard at a Gunfightersinc kenai chest rig.  I have o e and it is the only way to pack a big revolver when hiking.

What about with a hunting pack?

That is one of the reasons I bought it.  It works awesome while wearing a pack.  If you have binos on a chest Barnes this could be a problem.....though it is not for me because my binos  stay in my pack or on my packs waist belt. 

[Angry Perch]

No suggestions on grips.....but for carry I would look real hard at a Gunfightersinc kenai chest rig.  I have o e and it is the only way to pack a big revolver when hiking.

What about with a hunting pack?

That is one of the reasons I bought it.  It works awesome while wearing a pack.  If you have binos on a chest Barnes this could be a problem.....though it is not for me because my binos  stay in my pack or on my packs waist belt.

Cool. I'll have to check it out then.

[Angry Perch]

Got the Kenai chest holster last week. Works like a dream with the pack on, although I'll have to figure something out for binos.

[lewy]

Good choice on the sp 101, I have one and really like it, the wife shoots it well to. As mentioned you can practice with 38 spl rounds and it's very mild