US made revolvers

[Fireguy]

I'm buying my 80 year old Dad a HD revolver, he will only accept USA made guns. It must be .38 / .357, I'm not sure about barrel length. What would you suggest and will grip size be an issue? ?

[Vacaville]

Ruger GP100 or S&W full size with a 4" barrel.

[BigDogatPlay]

80 years old.... how are his hands? Good shape or arthritic? How is his arm strength? If he's in good shape for an 80 year old (and bless him for a long life) a GP100 is possibly about the best bet with a four inch barrel in current production. And I am an S&W guy saying that.



If he's not what he used to be arm and hand strength wise, consider trying to find an older S&W K frame .38/.357 in at most a four inch barrel, the .357's are in bold... model 10, 12, 13, 15, 19, 64, 65, 66 or 67. The advantages here are largely in weight. The heaviest four inch K frame is going to run ~34 ounces unloaded, the airweight Model 12 considerably less. Any of these that have been well maintained will give lifetimes of service and lend themselves well to smoothing by shooting, if nothing else, if they aren't already well worn in.

You might also consider a Ruger SP101, which is a five shot .38/.357 in current production, or an older Ruger Security Six, Service Six or Speed Six. Any of those will fill the bill nicely.

Grips can be interchanged easily and cheaply. I am a big fan of Pachmayr Gripper Professional on my S&W's. They are made for smaller hands but large handed guys like me have found that they work very well.

[SAR_boats]

Charter Arms, S&W, Ruger, Used Colt Python, Freedom Arms

4" or 5" barrel, unless he is willing to practice enough with it to get proficient with something shorter.

[FUBAR]

S&W 686-M, 686-1,686-2,686-3, or 686-4. Don't compromise.

[darkest2000]

Plenty of options if that's his only criteria.

[rattlesnake_nm]

Every now and again I see cheap colt trooper mkIIIs. I picked up one with a 6 inch barrel for $250 last weekend.

[scarville]

Ruger or S&W will meet his made in USA requirement.

Which revolver to get depends a lot on his hand size, strength and length of his fingers. I have rather small hands and, for me, the L-frame S&W is just right. When I grab one with a hogue grip my finger fits rights where it should be on the trigger. The N-Frames are a little big though not unmanagably so. The K-frames are a bit small but still comfortable and I can add a nice Pachmayr grip to increase the reach to the trigger and cushion the recoil. The GP-100 feels like an N-frame to me but I know you can get a smaller grip for it. In fact the design of the GP-100 allows for a wider range of grip styles and shapes

If you need to do any action work to make the gun smoother and get a lighter trigger I think that is easier to do on a S&W.

[bsg]

whatever list you come up with... include the K frame S&W for consideration.

BigDogatPlay gave you some noteworthy advise above.

[Fireguy]

Thanks for your help.