Let's Hear About your favorite Wheel guns.

[Mustangs Rule]

I'll begin with one of mine. Smith And Wesson Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. Pinned contoured 4" barrel, glass smooth double action. 38 Special with adjustable sights. I like the factory walnut wood grips with Tyler T grip filler. Anybody use or remember Tyler T's.

Back in the days when all cops used revolvers the model 15 was a standard winner at PPC (Practical Police Course) events. Designed to be a double action. Pull is hardest at first then eases off just before letting off.

 

[Chrstn]

Beautiful piece. The Model 15 Combat Masterpiece is a classic for a reason that pinned 4” barrel and the glass-smooth S&W double action are hard to beat. The walnut grips with a Tyler T really complete the period-correct feel too.
Tyler T-Grips are definitely remembered simple, effective, and they transform the handling without ruining the lines. And you’re spot on about PPC; the Model 15 dominated for years. That progressive DA pull is exactly why so many shooters shot them so well. True old-school craftsmanship.

 

[Jbotto]

I’ll play. I’ll end up with a S&W some day, but I sure get along great with my GP100, older hard and smooth grip, no finger grooves or sticky rubber for me.

On the note of the Tyler-T grip, I found a company BK Grips that makes something similar. Tried it on the grip of my Ruger Redhawk.

 

[nhenry]

Ruger Vaquero in 45 colt with an 8 inch barrel and deep bluing. Dad’s got it currently

Had another 45 Colt SAA made by Colt that I was pretty fond of too. Color case hardening, deep blue, pretty walnut grips. Man, that gun was great.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Beautiful piece. The Model 15 Combat Masterpiece is a classic for a reason that pinned 4” barrel and the glass-smooth S&W double action are hard to beat. The walnut grips with a Tyler T really complete the period-correct feel too.
Tyler T-Grips are definitely remembered simple, effective, and they transform the handling without ruining the lines. And you’re spot on about PPC; the Model 15 dominated for years. That progressive DA pull is exactly why so many shooters shot them so well. True old-school craftsmanship.

Check out this fellow shooting a S and W model 65-3 double action only. Pretty Amazing

you tube smith and wesson model 65 on the range - Search Videos

Watch videos instantly on Bing—enjoy direct playback, discover related clips, and dive into trending content all in one place.

www.bing.com

 

[BAKPAKR]

My favorite wheel gun is a 3” S&W 629. It is relatively heavy but the barrel doesn’t get in the way of anything on my pack belt. I have taken a bunch of critter with this revolver, ranging in size from ground squirrels to elk.

 

[howl]

Ruger GP100 .327 is a lot of pop with relative little kickback. The one I have is particularly well made. I also had the SP101 version. It was a bit rough and nowhere near so smooth to shoot.
After deer season I sometimes go to a food plot to plink the overgrown purple top turnips. 85gr loads will blow a charging bull turnip 20’ high.
I've killed a couple deer with it. 'Bout the same as what I hear a .357 does. I never recommend anything less than .44 for anyone else on deer, but properly applied.327 works.

Honorable mention: S&W 43c is a hoot to shoot.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

My favorite wheel gun is a 3” S&W 629. It is relatively heavy but the barrel doesn’t get in the way of anything on my pack belt. I have taken a bunch of critter with this revolver, ranging in size from ground squirrels to elk.

very cool, Thanks for your response.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Beautiful piece. The Model 15 Combat Masterpiece is a classic for a reason that pinned 4” barrel and the glass-smooth S&W double action are hard to beat. The walnut grips with a Tyler T really complete the period-correct feel too.
Tyler T-Grips are definitely remembered simple, effective, and they transform the handling without ruining the lines. And you’re spot on about PPC; the Model 15 dominated for years. That progressive DA pull is exactly why so many shooters shot them so well. True old-school craftsmanship.

I am 78 years old and grew up in Connecticut. Below is a list of the firearms companies in my home state and adjacent states. Literally I was raised in a “Firearm Heaven”. My first car was a salt rusted out 56 Chevy hand me down and my first trips away from the family dairy farm were to the Colt Factory tour and the Winchester museum.



I recall when Sturm-Ruger came on the scene. They pioneered and mastered investment casting and OHH what a new-old world of fine firearms they offered shooters. Such integrity.



Here a list of companies whose firearms filled the used gun shops I was visiting growing up. I have had one or more from every company.





Colt, Winchester, Ruger, Charter Arms, Marlin, Mossberg, Hopkins and Allen, Lyman, Iver Johnson, Connecticut valley arms



And in New York Remington, Ithaca, Savage/Stevens and up in Massachusetts Smith and Wesson And Springfield armory, and in New Hampshire Thompson Center.



Most recently I bought a second-generation Colt 1861 Navy percussion revolver made by Iver Johnson with full Colt oversight. Miles in front of the Italian made reproductions.



What gets my wallet out are firearms that are graceful in design, have a sense of superb workmanship being just obvious and lastly have an inherent history of ethical use.



I never for example had the slightest desire to own any WW2 era German Military firearms.



Obviously, my model 15 Smith and Wesson fits that to a “T”. A police officers duty revolver “par excellance”



I also have a pinned barrel model 60, the “Chiefs Special” and a stainless version of the model 13 S&W 3” barrel .357 once used by the FBI. That was the revolver that successfully ended the infamous 1986 Miami shootout when the FBI agents went up against criminals with semi-auto carbines.



My last revolver is a 4” barreled model 629 44 magnum very much like the sidearm carried my Yellowstone National Park Rangers. All “good guy” guns.

On this 629/44 mag I have a pair of pre WW2 factory S&W hand finished "coke bottle grips" with a palm swell.



Ever so many years ago I was doing my best to become really good with an early Colt Trooper, which had the same action as Python. I shot a lot at a police qualification range that most of the time allowed the general public to use half of the range unless some official event was happening.



At some point the range master seeing I was serious and took me under his wing of instruction, under on condition, get rid of the Colt. I balked until he let me fire a few rounds with his K frame model 15 Smith. I put my Colt up for sake that day and bought a 4-inch Model 13 in 357.



The old trooper and all Colt Pythons inherited their actions from the Colt Officers Match revolver, which was a great single action target revolver, but the double action was reversed. Started easy and stacked going near let off. Nobody could ever win a PPC course with a Colt like that. It took 40 years to wear that model 13 six gun out to the point where the frame developed a beginning crack.

Almost all double action shooting.

Fortunately, I bought another long ago. A more vintage model 13 with a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. If it ever came down to just one handgun that would be it. I do not shoot much anymore. I do not need to. My eye muscle memory has a great reserve.



My most enjoyed place for that six gun, is when horseback riding in the back country.



I could live off the land with that fine revolver. Really cool to have some light loads in it and come back from my horseback ride with a few grouse tied to my saddle horn.



Semi autos cannot operate with such light loads nor can you really develop your trigger skills by skip loading to get rid of a flinch.



Revolvers have a place still,,,,right on my hip,,,, then in my hand.



MR

 

[Steiny77]

I'm a big fan of just about all S&W revolvers with exception of the really big bores, no desire to shoot any of the high powered handguns that kick like a mule.
Have several S&W .22, .38 & .357

Also have a couple cowboy revolvers in .45 LC, Colt & Ruger. They're pretty slow to load / unload.

 

[Nameless Range]

I've got a Ruger Vaquero in .44 mag that I bet I have shot thousands of rounds through. As a kid my dad and I competed in Cowboy Action Shooting (both state champs at different times). He cast his own bullets, and of those thousands of rounds I've shot through that gun, I bet 95% of them have been .44 Specials. I've shot 2 deer with it, dozens of gophers, and packed it all over the State of Montana.

 

[Outlaw99]

I’ve own a ton of Rugers and they’ve all treated me exceptionally well, but the one that brings me the most joy is my 1987 Colt Python with a 4” barrel. It’s an absolute joy to hold and shoot

 

[Outlaw99]

 

[Two Trax]

My all time favorite is a S&W model 624 44 spl 3 inch stainless round butt. It was one of the Lew Horton editions. I load 240 gr semi wadcutters to about 900 fps from the 3 inch barrel. Very controllable, not super loud and definitely thumps stuff. Carries in a pancake holster that rides a bit high on the hip.

 

[noharleyyet]

I've 5 S&Ws...the bottom blued K frame is the favorite. Tuned and accessorized to Ben Lamb's specs...smooth trigger, delightful to operate.

https://flic.kr/p/24V93QG

 

[PoleX]

Had the barrel switched, frame polished and some trigger work done. Buttery smooth. It was my dad’s pistol and I wanted to start carrying it for bear protection. The smith did a great job.

 

[44hunter45]

Hard to name a favorite. #1 and #2 in no particular order are my 7 1/2" 44 RM Redhawk w/o scope mount cuts and a 1 of 768 made 45 Colt BH Hunter. The BH Hunter is a round guard.

Both are slicked, tuned, and lapped. I've killed deer with both of these.




As I always say, not my beer can.


Same revolver with Hogue grips for barnstorm loads on my 2016 Idaho cow moose hunt. No moose were harmed. Had an encounter, but could not get the shot I wanted. This tag is no longer available.

 

[Ben Lamb]

The 4" S&W model 29 is the one I'll trust my life too.

The Hawes (Made by JP Sauer & Sohns, 1960's) was dad's fast-draw competition pistol, so it's got the nostalgia

Neither are leaving my employ until I die.

 

[44hunter45]

Here's another project gun. Rossi 68S J-Frame clone. .38 special.

Slicked and trued, Pachmayr grip added. It could not use a speed loader because Rossi's cylinder latch is too tall. I ordered a used latch from Numrich and filed it down until the speed loaders would clear. After fit and function testing, I polished the part and blued it. The original latch is in the back of the safe.

This thing is a handful even with light wadcutter loads using the factory grip. With my big hands my pinky hangs off the bottom. With the rubber grips it is very comfortable with 125 grain Speer Gold Dot loads. I have fired +P in it, but I don't think these are really tough enough for a steady diet.

 

[44hunter45]

Someone had commented on this one being their son's bucket list gun. Ruger BH in .30 Carbine. I shoot the same loads in this and my USGI carbine. Additionally I shoot 110 grain pistol HPs in the revolver.

Fun as heck to shoot, but louder than my 4" Security Six in 357 Mag. (which I believe is the gun that cost me my hearing)

Interesting fact. SOME (but not all) .30 Carbine BH can use 32-20 brass for a rimmed alternative. Mine is too tight in the rear cylinder gap. I could have @p_ham take a red hair off the back of the cylinder, but it is not something I care about.