Considering a new pistol purchase. I prefer revolvers. I have large hands. Considering a Taurus 856. Any other suggestions?

Maj John Bell — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:25:33 -0400

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Apr 14 at 2023 6:28 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:28:15 -0400

any suggestions?

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Apr 14 at 2023 7:06 AM

SSG Paul Headlee — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 07:06:32 -0400

Smith 640-3 with after market grips if you want to pocket carry. Smith 396-1 if that’s too small.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 14 at 2023 9:19 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:19:36 -0400

I have a Rugar Blackhawk, .45., 7 1/2" barrel. I know the factory grips are not that big, so i purchased some larger grips. Love it. Killed 3 black bear with it.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Apr 14 at 2023 9:30 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:30:50 -0400

The J Frame Smiths are of similar size, but also more expensive. I have two Taurus Revolvers now, a 942 2" barrelled 22mag and a Pathfinder 627 .357mag 7 shot and 4" barrel. The 942 could use a little buffing on the trigger parts to lighten up the pull a bit, the 627 has about as good a double action pull as any I have tried. The Pathfinder is not exactly easy to conceal, the 942 fits into my slide holster and rides pretty close to the body.
Don't overlook Charter Arms, they actually make a decent and economical revolver. A friend of mine still carries the Charter 38 special I sold him 40 years ago.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2023 10:54 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:54:17 -0400

Buy the guns you don't have until you have them all.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2023 11:41 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 11:41:30 -0400

Lots of folks like the Ruger Sp101 .38spc/.357

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Apr 14 at 2023 12:54 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:54:50 -0400

The 856 looks like a nice compact wheel gun Maj John Bell. I have a S&W airweight 442. The grip was too small so I replaced it with a a pachmyer (sp) grip and put in a Wilson Combat spring set to get the trigger pull more manageable. Let us know what you finally decide on and how well you like it

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2023 1:40 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:40:32 -0400

Ruger SP101 357 Mag 3” barrel with after market Hogue grips. You can load it with 180 grain lead flat nose for small game up to Black Bear and any 38/357 defense ammo.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Apr 14 at 2023 2:51 PM

SSG Bill McCoy — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:51:32 -0400

Pistol and revolver grips are all a matter of personal preference. I like to "try on" the handguns that I buy. I have 3 colts - a Trooper Mk III 4" .357; a Cobra Stainless .357 4" and a 2-1/2" Python. Despite the Python's smaller grips because it's a snub, I actually shoot better with it which I attribute to the trigger. With all, I shoot expert, but the Python is usually perfect scores. Go figure!
All that said, my everyday carry is a 1911 .45 which I shoot perfect scores with as well.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Apr 14 at 2023 3:50 PM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:50:44 -0400

There are plenty of oversized grips that can be added on Revolvers as well as Semi autos. Yes, it does make a difference and when I had firearms that were too small for Me to get a proper grip on t. at did fix the problem That can be taken care of pretty easily and put onto any firearm Your comfortable with or like using and a proper had fit does increase accuracy a lot. I had one five shot S&W, .38 caliber, Chief's special revolver i couldn't hit much of anything with as it was too small for My hand, changed to an oversize grip and fired Expert on the first try now that it actually fit My hand. The range instructor came up with that idea after I had just fired expert with a S&W, .357 Magnum which already fit My hand and it worked.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Apr 15 at 2023 3:15 PM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 15:15:34 -0400

I worked for an excellent gunsmith with over 20 years experience. He taught me two major opinions;

1. There is no such thing as a "good" cheap gun.
2. There are no good guns made south of Texas.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 15 at 2023 6:11 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 18:11:22 -0400

For revolvers, I can only say what has been on my hip my adult like. 22LR Smith stainless J Frame with aftermarket grips. 357 Colt King Cobra 4" medium frame. More recently, 460 Smith 5" when our large population of bears are waking up and moving around (now). Galco makes a leather holster for it.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 16 at 2023 9:35 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 09:35:49 -0400

One more note on the Rugar .45. I reloaded my own. I pushed the loads up to the low range of a magnum round. I also cast my own bullets which saved money on buying factory bullets. I had a great mix of lead/wheel weights which I had nearly no leading in the barrel, yet they expanded great and didn't splatter.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Apr 16 at 2023 11:37 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 23:37:03 -0400

Smith and Wesson 686 or 681 in .357 Magnum
Ruger GP100

Response by COL Carl Jensen made Apr 25 at 2023 2:50 PM

COL Carl Jensen — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 14:50:13 -0400

If the 1911 was good enough for great grandpa, grandpa, Pa and you, stick with it. The 1911 has been good for over 100 years and it is still copied and in use. Today's versions are more improved than the original. I would think many today, serving, would still be comfortable with it. I guess it was another item of the Army again, with their, if it works fix it?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2023 5:04 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:04:02 -0400

Taurus 856 is a good choice, in my collection the one I have is in a 3" barrel, lite to carry, 38spl, 6 rounds, old school what it was called in the day, "Combat sights", which is really a rear grooved sight. In the picture, it's the middle on the right.
The other 3" barreled revolvers, on the right is a S&W 66-6 in 357mag, heavier then the 856, by many ounces, adjustable rear sight is nice, but I shoot all sights good, with practice.
On the left, the 3" barreled is a S&W 686-6 Plus, in 357mag, a little heavier then the S&W 66-6, holds 7 rounds, same good sights on it.
At the bottom is a Taurus 66, 7 rounds, 357mag, with a 4" barrel, very nice, very accurate, as people will say, heavy, but in the army, my issued M-60 was said to be heavy. And, that's up to the person carrying the item, the M-60 wasn't heavy to me, better then carrying logs out of the jungle with my grandfather.
At the top is a S&W 629, 5" barrel in 44mag, if the round is not to your liking, it's ok, it's an N-frame, and there are other calibers in an N-frame. Like to the left 2nd down from the top, is a S&W 625 (JM), in 45acp. Now, if I had a choice of which revolver I might like the best, it will be this revolver. N-frame, can shoot it in my sleep, accurate, at 100' a 6" or 8" steel plate tree, hits most of the time, if missed, it's me getting in a hurry.
The 45acp, to me is a great round, slow and fat, that's just what ingredients calls for, in a man stopper.
The snubby Python 2 1/2" barrel, has police service from the 70's, carried by a good retired police officer on duty, when he was in charge of the narcotics division. Before him, it was carried by an older police officer, until he became the department armorer, he then sold it to my friend, I think for $50, lol. It does shoot very well, and accurate, hammer and trigger is very fine still, after I took it apart and cleaned it out. The wooden grips are very small to me, by now I have larger rubber pachmayr grips on it, looks stupid with larger grips, but it works. My 4" python in the day, looked and worked better with the rubber pachmayr grips. Why I don't have that 4" python today, was I sold it, because I bought a Colt Gold Cup Match 1911 for it's replacement. In the early 80's, that was a good decision, to move to a 1911 in 45acp, a slow fat, man stopper round.
If you don't want a heavy full framed revolver, I do have a 8 rounder revolver that is lite, considering that it is a S&W N-frame, and that will be a a S&W 327 R-8 in 357mag, 5" barrel. Very not heavy for what it is, accurate, and a pleasure when shooting, my friend.
All in all, as some suggest here, it is just up to what you are thinking, and the Taurus 856 is a fine revolver, and the cost is even better of a deal. Pull the trigger, you won't be disappointed, a good additions to your firearm collection.
Shooting for years with anything, no matter what the cost, caliber, color, manufacture, and or what it's made of, it all comes down to the shooter with their ability of, "Round Placement", which is "King" in the shooting game.
All revolver grips are changeable, Hell, I can even shoot with no grips on the revolver, not to comfortable, but it works, and a good "War Story" for those who will listen.
Revolvers and I good a long way back, to when I first join the police department, that's why I still shoot a revolver, but I do shoot automatics, alot, I'm not particular with what I shoot, as long as it goes Bang, and puts a hole in something, Sir.
"Have fun"