Читать книгу Guns Illustrated 2011 - Dan Shideler - Страница 11

REVOLVERS AND OTHERS BY JEFF QUINN

The Mateba six-shot semiauto revolver in .44 Magnum, shown here with compensator. Photo courtesy J. C. Devine.

The past year has certainly been an interesting one for gun owners. We have in our nation the fi nest selection of firearms available anywhere in the world, yet we also have politicians vowing to rip those guns from our possession. However, on most fronts, I think we’re winning.

Just in the last few months, several new concealed-carry guns have hit the market, and more are on the way. I have seen prototypes of some very interesting and useful compact revolvers that should be available by the time this Gun Digest goes to press. While many choose a semiauto for concealed carry, the compact revolver still holds its own, with many knowledgeable citizens recognizing the advantages of a reliable revolver as a last-ditch fi ghting gun. While revolvers can break, it is a rare occurrence. I have never heard of a revolver having a failure to feed or having a cartridge case hang up halfway through ejection. Another plus is that a revolver does not leave your empty brass lying on the ground. Many of us choose revolvers for personal defense for these reasons, and while there are some good semiautos that are used for hunting, most handgun hunters choose either a revolver or a quality single-shot, for reasons of accuracy, power, and reliability.

Let’s take a look at some of the better offerings of revolvers, derringers, and single-shot pistols that are available today. With modern revolvers now having capacities from fi ve to twelve rounds in their cylinders, 2011 is a good year for those who choose to purchase and enjoy “Revolvers and Others.”

AMERICAN WESTERN ARMS

AWA is best known for their line of 1873 single action revolvers, which are some excellent Colt replica sixguns. Offered in most popular chamberings and barrel lengths, the AWA line consists of their Classic revolvers, made very much like the sixguns of the late nineteenth century, and their Ultimate series with upgraded coil springs and various stock options. These revolvers have a reputation for smooth actions and quality production. Less well-known among the AWA-distributed products are the semiautomatic Mateba revolvers. These futuristic-looking revolvers feature interchangeable barrels and are chambered for the .357 and .44 Magnum cartridges, as well as the .454 Casull. The Mateba fires from the bottom chamber in the cylinder, lowering the center of the recoil in relation to the shooter’s hand, for a more straight-back recoil impulse, lessening muzzle jump and making target acquisition between shots faster. While many uninformed shooters think of the revolver as antiquated, this Mateba is as modern as you can get.

The Freedom Arms Model 2008 single shot pistol should give the T/C G2 Contender a run for its money.

One big honkin’ single action revolver: the Magnum Research BFR .45-70.

Bond Arms Snake Slayer .45 Colt/.410 shotshell derringer. An extremely well-built derringer of the Remington pattern.

Is this cute or what? The North American Arms .22 Magnum mini-revolver with LaserLyte laser sight.

Taurus Judge .45 Colt/.410 shotshell polymer-frame revolver, a new twist on the well-established Judge lineup.

BERETTA

Beretta has been cranking out some very good-looking Old West style fi rearms for a few years now, since their single action, which should be safely carried with an empty chamber under the hammer. Beretta offers not only the 1873 Single Action Army style but a modifi ed Bisley style sixgun as well.

There is also the Stampede Marshall, which has a Thunderer-style birdshead grip frame. Beretta revolvers are chambered for either the .357 Magnum or .45 Colt cartridges.

BOND ARMS

Bond Arms has been producing high-quality two-shot derringers for several years now and have reached the apex in derringer design. Their derringers are often regarded as the best that money can buy, and Bond offers an extensive variety of chamberings, from .22 Long Rifle up through .45 Colt/.410 shotshell, covering many popular chamberings in between. Bond derringers are built primarily of stainless steel, and they exhibit first class craftsmanship and are built with quality materials. My personal favorite is the Snake Slayer. I have one that I carry often. Besides its intended use against venomous reptiles, it is also a fi ne personal defense arm for use against carjackers and other two-legged predators. Loaded with #000 buckshot or Winchester’s new buck and birdshot load, it would be a very effective close-range defensive weapon. The Bond Arms derringers offer a lot of versatility, with the barrels being interchangeable, so one can switch calibers as needed. Bond Arms also offers some high quality corporate acquisition of Uberti. Building on the quality firearms produced by Uberti, Beretta markets their Single Action Army replicas with some high-grade finishes such as a brilliant carbona-type blue, along with authentic-looking case coloring and an antique finish that makes the gun look like an original, well-worn gun from the late nineteenth century. Beretta adds a transfer bar safety system to their revolvers that allows the firearm to be carried fully loaded, with a live cartridge under the hammer – unlike the original style 1873 leather holsters in which to carry your derringer. I particularly like the horizontal driving holster. It is ideal to wear while riding in a vehicle or on an ATV or motorcycle, placing the handgun within reach for a fast and comfortable draw.

Author with Colt .45 SAA.

The eye-catching Cougar and Panther from Charter Arms.

CHARTER ARMS

Charter Arms has built their reputation upon providing very useful gun designs that are affordable for the common man. I have many times relied upon a Charter revolver for various needs, mostly a .38 Special riding in a boot or pocket for protection, and at other times packing their handy little .22LR Pathfinder as a trail gun while just bumming around in the woods. The Charter revolvers are available in blued steel or stainless, and recently they have added alloy frames to the lineup for those who want to carry the lightest possible package.

The latest innovation from Charter is the finishes that they apply to their alloy-frame guns. Made in a variety of colors, their pink finish has proven to be extremely popular with women in Charter’s Pink Lady variation of their fi ve-shot .38. They also have a couple of revolvers with a mottled finish. I refer to them unoffi cially as their “Cat” revolvers. The Cougar has a pink mottled finish, and the Panther a medium-dark bronze mottled finish. I have handled and shot both of these, and they are indeed good-shooting, lightweight revolvers. Both have exposed hammers and black synthetic grips, and they draw a crowd when brought out in public. Some love the finish while others hate it. No one seems to be neutral on these fl ashy new finishes from Charter Arms. Personally I like them, especially the bronze mottled finish.

Besides these, Charter still builds their legendary .44 Special Bulldog revolvers. These powerful belly guns fill a needed niche in the market as they have for the past few decades. The Bulldog is lightweight and easy to conceal yet carries fi ve .44 Special cartridges in the cylinder. Recoil is stiff with heavy loads, but not really painful at all. These stainless revolvers are not much bigger than a compact .38 Special but pack a hefty punch. In addition to their popular .38 Special and .44 Special revolvers, Charter still has their rimfi re Pathfinder line in .22 Long Rifl e and .22 Magnum, along with revolvers chambered for the .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, and .357 Magnum. Charter also makes a true left-handed snubnose revolver called the Southpaw. The Southpaw is a mirror image of their standard revolver design with the cylinder latch on the right side; the cylinder swings out to the right as well.

Also of interest to us here is the Charter Dixie Derringer. The Dixie is a fi ve-shot .22 Long Rifle or .22 Magnum mini-revolver with a crossbolt safety. Construction is stainless steel throughout. Weighing in at just six ounces, the Dixie Derringer can hide just about anywhere and is pretty effective at close range, especially the .22 Magnum version.

CHIAPPA

Chiappa is a relatively new name in the firearms business but is the outgrowth of the well-established Armi Sport company. Chiappa has entered the market with several quality replica firearms, but the one of interest here is not a replica of an Old West gun at all but a thoroughly modern revolver. The Chiappa Rhino is a unique sixgun that fires its cartridges from the bottom barrel in the cylinder, resulting in a lower bore axis in relation to the shooter’s hand, and greatly reduced muzzle jump upon firing. Much like the Mateba in design, the Rhino is more compact but does not share the Mateba’s semiauto design. I have not yet been able to fire the new Rhino, but have seen and handled a few examples in various barrel lengths. It appears to be well-crafted of quality materials. The Rhino is chambered for the 357 Magnum cartridge. It certainly has a very unconventional appearance but feels really good in my hand. I have high hopes that it will work very well in reducing the muzzle jump and felt recoil of the .357 Magnum cartridge.

CIMARRON

For many years now, Mike Harvey and the gang at Cimarron Firearms in Fredericksburg, Texas, have been at the forefront of marketing quality replicas of Old West style rifles and handguns. Of concern here is their extensive line of authentically reproduced historic sixguns. Cimarron has not only 1873 Single Action Army replicas, but has also delved into other lesser-known but very historic firearms of the nineteenth century. Cimarron offers replicas of most of the major players in the cap and ball sixgun business of that era, such as the Walker, Dragoon, Army and Navy guns, as well as the Remington and even the Leech & Rigdon guns. Cimarron covers the transition from cap and ball to cartridge with their conversion revolvers and the 1872 Colt replica. The company also offers the Remington 1875 and 1890 cartridge revolvers, as well as a variety of the Smith & Wesson break-open six-guns such as the Russian and Schofi eld models.

Besides these authentic single action replicas, Cimarron has a selection of two-shot derringers. They are small and easily concealed and are chambered for the .22 Long Rifle and Magnum rimfire cartridges, as well as the .32 H&R Magnum and the .38 Special.

The EAA .45 Colt single action Bounty Hunter.

Rossi .38 Special revolver is a competent concealed-carry piece.

An awesome snubbie: the Smith & Wesson Model 25 .45 ACP

Chiappa Rhino .357 Magnum revolver.

The .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum Plinkerton revolvers are priced to get most anyone into the single action revolver game. These guns are built from a non-ferrous alloy but have steel-lined chambers and barrel, and they shoot surprisingly well. The Plinkerton would make a good understudy to Cimarron’s centerfire sixguns, but it’s also a handy and reliable plinker.

One new attention-getter from Cimarron is the so-called “Holy Smoker,” modeled after Russell Crowe’s revolver in the film 3:10 to Yuma. It has a tastefully-rendered, gold-plated sterling silver crucifix on each grip panel.

COBRA

Cobra Firearms of Utah manufactures some small and reliable two-shot single action derringers. These compact derringers are made in .22 Long Rifle, .22 Magnum, .38 Special, 9mm Luger, .25 Auto, .32 Auto, .380 Auto, and .32 H&R Magnum. Their Titan model is built of stainless steel, and is offered in 9mm Luger and .45 Colt/.410 shotshell. These derringers are available in a variety of colors, and each sells at an affordable price. Brand new from Cobra this year is their Shadow +P-rated fi ve-shot .38 Special revolver. This one has a concealed hammer and looks very much like a Smith & Wesson Model 642. It has a stainless cylinder and barrel with an aluminum frame for an overall a weight of fi fteen ounces. I have not yet had the opportunity to fire one of these, but I have handled a couple of them, and they appear to be well-made from quality materials. I look forward to trying one out soon.

COLT

Colt has been producing revolvers for almost 175 years now. In fact, if it were not for Sam Colt, we might not have revolvers. His first successful revolver, the Paterson, set the stage for all revolvers that have followed. That design, while it worked pretty well, was delicate and underpowered, but it led to the big Colt Walker, which packed a lot of punch and set the Colt company on its way to success. Through the years, Colt has produced some very good revolver designs, but today has only one Colt revolver in its stable, that being the Single Action Army. The SAA is probably the most recognized handgun in the world, and is certainly the most copied revolver design ever produced. Colt still produces the SAA, and the latest sixguns that they have been shipping for the past few years are as good as any that Colt has ever produced. Available in three barrel lengths (4.75, 5.5, and 7.5 inches), the Single Action Army is chambered in a choice of .357 Magnum, .44 WCF, .45 Colt, .38 Special, .32 WCF (.32-20) and .38 WCF (.38-40). The SAA is available in blued/case-hardened or nickel finishes. Through the Colt Custom Shop, many options are available such as non-standard barrel lengths and hand engraving.

Ruger LCR polymer-framed .38 Special, one of the hottest revolvers on the market.

Blackhawk Ruger eight-shot .327 Federal Magnum Blackhawk with Barranti Leather rig. The term “six-shooter” is obviously inadequate to describe it.

EUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY

EAA Corp. has a line of Single Action Army replica revolvers called the Bounty Hunter. These sixguns are available chambered for the .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum cartridges, with an alloy frame and a choice of six or eight-shot cylinders. The available centerfire chamberings are the .357 and .44 Magnums and the .45 Colt. These sixguns are built with all-steel frames in a choice of nickeled, blued, or case-hardened finishes and have the traditional half-cock loading feature but include a modern transfer bar safety action that permits carrying them fully loaded, with a live round under the hammer without fear of firing if accidentally dropped.

The double-action Windicator revolvers are chambered for the .38 Special cartridge with an alloy frame, or the all-steel .357 Magnum version. Both revolvers have a synthetic rubber grip and a businesslike matte blue finish, with a choice of two- or four-inch barrel.

FREEDOM ARMS

Freedom Arms of Freedom, Wyoming, is best known for its fi ne, sturdy, and super-accurate revolvers. It is often said that a Freedom Arms revolver is built like a fi ne Swiss watch. I disagree. A Swiss watch has a lot of tiny, delicate parts, and can get screwed up beyond repair if dropped hard. The Freedom Arms revolver is tough. It is built to very close tolerances but can also take a lot of abuse. Chambered for such powerful cartridges as the .454 Casull and the .475 Linebaugh, the Freedom revolvers will withstand a lot more punishment than most shooters can endure. The Freedom Arms revolvers are meticulously fitted and finished to perfection. The chambers in the cylinder are precisely aligned with the bore, and every detail of these revolvers follows the same precise standard of quality.

The large-frame Model 83 is the fl agship of the Freedom Arms line and is chambered for the aforementioned .454 Casull and .475 Linebaugh cartridges, in addition to the .357 Magnum and .500 Wyoming Express cartridges and the .41 and .44 Magnums. It’s available with fixed sights or rugged adjustable sights. The adjustable-sight guns also accept a variety of scope mounts.

The Model 97 is Freedom’s compact frame single action revolver. Built to the same tight tolerances as the Model 83 revolvers, the Model 97 is a bit handier to carry all day and is chambered for the .17 HMR and .22 Long Rifle/Magnum rimfire cartridges, as well as the .327 Federal, .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, and .45 Colt centerfire cartridges. In addition to these standard handgun cartridges, the Model 97 is also available in Freedom Arms’ own .224-32 cartridge, which is a fast-stepping .22 centerfire based on the .327 Federal cartridge case.

First introduced to the public last year, the Freedom Arms Model 2008 Single Shot pistol is the first single shot handgun that ever stirred any interest in me. There have been several very good single shot pistols on the market for years, but the Freedom Arms is the only one that is built like a Freedom Arms revolver. I have fired a couple of these chambered in the 6.5x55 and 6.5 JDJ cartridges, as well as one chambered for the .375 Winchester cartridge. Current chamberings offered are the .223 Remington, 6.5 Swede, 7mm BR, 7mm-08, .308 Winchester, .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .338 Federal and .375 Winchester. Standard barrel lengths are 10,15, and 16 inches, depending on caliber, but non-standard lengths are available as well for a nominal cost.

What makes this single shot so comfortable to shoot is the single action revolver grip style. Shooting the pistol allows the gun to recoil comfortably, with no pain at all to the hands as is encountered with some single shot pistols. The barrels are interchangeable, with extra fitted barrels available from Freedom Arms, allowing the shooter to switch among any of the available barrel and caliber options all on one frame. The Model 2008 weighs in around four pounds, depending on barrel length and caliber. The barrel is drilled for a Freedom Arms scope mount, and the scope stays with the barrel, allowing the interchange of the barrels without affecting the sight adjustment. These new single shot pistols have handsome impregnated wood grips and forends and are shipping now.

LEGACY SPORTS

Legacy Sports is best known for their Howa and Puma rifles, but they also have made a big splash in the market last year with their Bounty Hunter Model 92 lever action pistol. The Bounty Hunter resembles a sawed-off Model 92 lever action rifle, but is built from the start as a pistol, so it needs no special NFA tax stamp for approval. It can be purchased just like any other pistol, and has become quite popular for its nostalgic appeal, as well as its reliable function and accuracy. Legacy also markets a couple of good holster rigs for this “mare’s leg” pistol, made by Bob Mernickle exclusively for Legacy Sports. The holster and belt combo is a beautiful rig and makes a necessary addition to the Bounty Hunter, completing the nostalgic package.

Legacy also has their 1873 Colt replica sixgun called the Puma Westerner. These are reliable and well-built sixguns, chambered for the .357 Magnum, .44 WCF, and .45 Colt cartridges, with 4.75, 5.5-, or 7.5- inch barrels. They are very high-quality Colt SAA replicas. These sixguns are offered with a blued and case-hardened finish with walnut grips, nickel finish with walnut grips, or with a stainless finish and white synthetic ivory grips. The Puma line also includes a very affordable single action replica chambered for the .22 Long Rifle or .22 Magnum cartridge that would make a good trainer for the larger bores, but will be a lot less costly to shoot.

MAGNUM RESEARCH

Magnum Research of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been producing their quality BFR revolver for many years now. These robust single action revolvers are built for hunting the largest, most dangerous game on the planet. In addition to their venerable .454 Casull revolvers, the BFR is available in other high-performance calibers like the .460 and .500 Smith & Wesson Magnums, the .475 Linebaugh and .480 Ruger revolver cartridges, as well as the .30-30 Winchester, .444 Marlin, and .45-70 rifle cartridges. The BFR is also available chambered for the ever-popular .45 Colt/.410 shotshell combination, which offers a lot of versatility in a handgun.

NORTH AMERICAN ARMS

The North American Arms mini-revolvers are well-established in the market place, being in production for a long time now, but they seem more popular than ever. These little fi ve-shot miniature revolvers are more often than not bought as a deep-concealment handgun. They’re small enough to fit into most any pocket, and are handy enough to always be with you, no matter what the attire or climate. Chambered for the .22 Short, .22 Long Rifle, or .22 Magnum cartridges, these little jewels are easy to carry and surprisingly accurate within their intended range. The small sights and short sight radius makes hitting at a distance a challenge with most of them, but there is one model – the Pug – available with a really good set of high-visibility sights, and now LaserLyte makes a laser sight just for the NAA revolvers, adding to their usefulness and versatility.

ROSSI

Rossi has been producing reliable and affordable revolvers for decades. These double-action sixguns are available chambered for the .38 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges, in either blued steel or stainless finishes. Rossi was acquired by Taurus a few months ago, and all of the Rossi revolvers are now produced by Taurus in Brazil. They are quality, reliable revolvers built for concealed carry or as a duty/hunting gun. Available with short barrels and fixed sights for concealment or longer barrels and adjustable sights for precision shooting, the Rossi line still means a quality product at an affordable price.

The oddly-named and somewhat angular Windicator .38 Special.

RUGER

Sturm, Ruger builds some of the strongest and most reliable revolvers available today. The company’s Single-Six and Blackhawk lines are running strong, with the welcome addition of the New Model Flattop Blackhawk introduced a couple of years ago. Ruger now offers as a regular catalog item the Flattop .44 Special. This is a long-awaited .44 Special built on the frame that is sized like that of the original .357 Blackhawk. The .44 Special Flattop is also available in a Bisley model this year, with a blued fin-ish, and also as a regular Flattop made of stainless steel. These new Flattop models have proven to be wildly popular among single action sixgun enthusiasts.

Ruger has also taken the .327 Federal cartridge that they introduced a couple of years ago in the SP-101 compact revolver and chambered it in the Black-hawk. This stainless Blackhawk has an eight-shot cylinder and is strong enough to exploit the full potential of the .327 Federal cartridge. This little cartridge really performs, offering high velocities and deep penetration. The Ruger’s cylinder is long enough to handle the long 120- and 135-gr. .327 bullets (which actually measure from .312 to .313 inch diameter).

In their double action revolver line, Ruger also chambers the relatively new .327 Federal in their GP-100 revolver. This revolver is also built from stainless steel, wears a four-inch barrel, and has a seven-shot cylinder. Of course, Ruger still has the GP-100 in .357 Magnum. This is one of the strongest, most reliable, and most durable double action .357 Magnum sixguns ever built. Ruger got started in the double action revolver business with their excellent Six series guns back in 1971. My first handgun was a blued steel four-inch .357 Magnum Ruger Security-Six. I learned to shoot with that superb sixgun. It was strong, reliable, and just the right size and balance for a .357 Magnum revolver.

The Six series has given way now to the GP-100 series, and the GP is a worthy replacement, probably better in many ways than my old Security-Six. The GP-100 has proven itself already, selling in large numbers since its introduction in 1986. This year Lipsey’s, a large Ruger distributor, has a special high-polish blued steel GP-100 that is the best-looking double action .357 Magnum to ever leave the Ruger factory. Moving up in size a bit is the Ruger Redhawk, chambered for the .44 Magnum and .45 Colt cartridges. The Redhawk is bull-strong and as reliable as an anvil. Though it has been around for over thirty years, I have never seen a worn-out Redhawk. They can withstand a lifetime of shooting and never miss a beat. At the top of the heap, at least in size, is the Super Redhawk, chambered for the .44 Magnum and the .454 Casull. The .454 can also chamber and fire .45 Colt cartridges – as long as the shooter takes care to scrub the chambers clean afterwards – and is a very versatile handgun. Built for hunting, the Super Redhawk comes supplied with scope mounts and is a superb choice for hunting large game with teeth and claws.

At the other end of the size scale, Ruger introduced their polymer-framed LCR fi ve-shot .38 Special revolver last year, and it has been a runaway success. Ruger has sold many thousands of these little pocket revolvers the first year, and demand is still outpacing supply. Mine has proven to be strong, reliable, and accurate. Look for other additions to the Ruger defensive revolver line this year. They have some promising new handguns in the works.

SMITH & WESSON

Smith & Wesson has been in the revolver business for over 150 years. No longer producing any single action revolvers, with the one exception of their Performance Center engraved Model 3 Schofi eld, S&W is probably the most pro-lifi c producer of double action revolvers in the world. From the .22 Long Rifle up through the formidable .500 Smith &Wesson Magnum, if a revolver cartridge exists, chances are that S&W has at least one revolver chambered for it. The small J-frame fi ve-shot .38 Special revolvers are some of the most popular self defense guns ever produced. The Model 642 is probably the best-selling revolver in the S&W line. It is a compact, reliable fi ve-shot revolver with a concealed hammer and a lightweight frame. It’s easily slipped into the pocket, where it rides comfortably, day in and day out, ready for action when needed. While not my first choice if headed for a fight, I often carry a lightweight .38 S&W in my pocket. It can just be placed there and forgotten, but is always ready should a need arise.

Smith & Wesson Performance Center .460 S&W Magnum revolver. This may be the largest production revolver currently built.

Moving up in size, the S&W K&L frame revolvers (K = medium frame; L = “medium-plus”) are the mainstay of the Smith & Wesson duty line. These revolvers have served well for generations of sixgun users, both for defense and for hunting. The larger N-frame guns are the epitome of what a Smith & Wesson revolver should be. The classic Models 27 and 29 are back in the lineup and are beautiful and functional examples of the timeless double action revolver. The N-frames are now available in snubbie configurations, something unimaginable even a decade ago. Large but well-balanced, these .357 and .44 Magnum six-guns define the double action revolver to many shooters; with their typically crisp single action trigger pulls and butter-smooth double action trigger pulls, they are reliable and accurate.

Moving up again in size to the S&W X-frame gun, we find the most powerful double action revolvers ever produced. The .460 and .500 S&W Magnums are at the upper limits of what most would ever consider possible in a hand-held revolver. Just thirty years ago, the .44 Magnum was considered to be the “most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off,” as Dirty Harry Callahan phrased it. The .44 Magnum now pales in comparison to the power of the .460 and .500 Magnums. Of course, even back when the Dirty Harry movies were made, that was not a true statement, but it made for good theatre. However, today there is no doubt that the big S&W Magnums are powerful enough to take any game animal on Earth.

On the other end of the scale in both size and power, Smith & Wesson has just introduced a small polymer-frame revolver. I have only briefl y fired two examples of them, but both shot very well. The Bodyguard 38 is a five-shot .38 Special revolver with a built-in laser sight. The cylinder release is ambidextrous and rides at the top rear of the frame. Just to the right of that is the activation switch for the laser. I am a firm believer in laser sights for defensive weapons. At night, it is hard to see the regular notch and blade sights on a handgun. Tritium sight inserts are good, but in a conflict, your attention will be on the target. The laser sight places the dot on the target, making solid hits much more likely under stress. The built-in laser sight is a good idea. In addition to the integral laser on the Bodyguard, S&W also offers the excellent Crimson Trace Lasergrip on many of their defensive handguns, which is a welcome option.

TAURUS

Taurus USA has many different revolvers available for use for concealed carry, target shooting and hunting. From their small lightweight pocket revolvers up through their 454 Raging Bull, Taurus has a wide selection of revolvers from which to choose. Their small-frame snubnose revolvers are available chambered for the .22 Long Rifle, .22 Magnum, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal, .38 Special, and .357 Magnum calibers. They are available in blued, nickel, or stainless finishes, mostly with fixed sights, but a couple of models have fully adjustable rear sights. Their duty-size four- and six-inch .357 Magnum revolvers are still in production, with a wide variety of models available. The Raging series of hunting handguns chamber powerful cartridges like the .44 Magnum and .454 Casull and are good choices for hunting big game.

Still probably the hottest-selling revolvers on the planet now are the many variations of the Taurus Judge. Folks have really taken to these versatile handguns. They are available in all-steel or lightweight versions, with two, three-, or six-inch barrels, depending on model. Available chambered for the 2-1/2- or 3-inch .410 shotshell, both also chamber and fire the .45 Colt cartridge. These are formidable close-range defensive weapons, firing .45 Colt, .410 birdshot and .410 buckshot. They will also fire .410 slugs, but if a solid projectile is desired, the .45 Colt cartridge is a much better choice. I really like the personal defense loads that are now being sold by Winchester, Hornady, and Federal. These loads are tailor-made for the Judge series of handguns and are very effective for social work. New for this year is the Taurus Judge with a short barrel and a polymer frame, making for a relatively lightweight and compact package.

THOMPSON/CENTER

Thompson/Center is responsible for making the single shot hunting pistol popular. Starting with their Contender model decades ago, the T/C pistols have evolved into the Encore and Contender G2 designs, but both are just improvements and refi nements of the original Contender pistol. The Contender is offered in just about any chambering that one would want, from .22 Long Rifle up through powerful rifle cartridges such as the .45-70 Government and all the magnum handgun cartridges, including the .460 and .500 S&W Magnums. Thompson/Center offers wooden and synthetic stocks and a variety of barrel lengths. The barrels are interchangeable within the same frame group, and these hand-rifles come pre-drilled for scope mounts to take full advantage of their power and accuracy potential.

UBERTI

Uberti Firearms has been producing quality replicas of nineteenth century American firearms for decades now.

While manufacturing replica rifles and handguns for other companies such as Beretta (Uberti’s parent company) and Cimarron, Uberti also markets their own line of replica firearms. The Uberti Cattleman series replicates the Colt Single Action Army design and includes the brand-new Callahan Model that is chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge, probably a first for an SAA clone. This Magnum is offered with original-style fixed sights or as a fl attop style with adjustable target sights. In addition to the Callahan, Uberti offers this 1873 style sixgun in .45 Colt, .357 Magnum, and .44 WCF (.44-40) cartridges. Finish options run from a standard blued/casehardened to nickel and even a bright charcoal blue finish.

The Uberti Stallion is a slightly scaled-down version of the Single Action Army and is chambered in a choice of six-shot .22 Long Rifle or .38 Special, or a ten-shot .22 Long Rifle. There are also Bisley and birdshead grip models available. Uberti also has fans of the old Remington revolvers covered with their Outlaw, Police, and Frontier models, replicating the 1875 and 1890 Remington revolvers. Uberti has several variations of the S&W top-break revolver, including the Number 3 Second model, as well as the Russian, in both nickel and blued finishes as well as fully hand engraved models. These are available in .38 Special, .44 Russian, and .45 Colt chamberings. Uberti has not forgotten the fans of the early cap and ball sixguns and offers authentic replicas of the Colt and Remington cap and ball revolvers.

U. S. FIRE ARMS

USFA of Hartford, Connecticut, builds some of the best 1873 style Single Action Army revolvers that money can buy, crafted to precisely replicate one of the fi nest sixguns ever designed but built on modern CNC machinery and hand-fitted by American craftsmen. I own a few of the USFA revolvers, and each one that I have owned and fired has been very accurate and well-fitted. USFA offers an extensive choice of calibers and options, from hand engraving to ivory or fancy walnut stocks. Caliber choices include .45 Colt, .22 Long Rifle, .32 WCF, .38 WCF, .44 WCF, .38 Special and .44 Special. Standard barrel lengths of 4.75, 5.5, and 7.5 inches are available, as well as non-standard custom shop lengths. Abbreviated barrel lengths are available on some models.

One very unique USFA sixgun that I love is their Snubnose model. This sixgun has a two-inch barrel, a modifi ed Thunderer style grip, and is the ultimate single action big bore belly gun. Offered in blue or nickel, it wears a full-size rounded grip and for a touch of class, it has a lanyard loop on the butt. [Editor’s Note: The USFA Snubnose, as well as its big brother the Omnipotent, seem to be modeled after the Colt Model 1878 Double Action but are single action only.-DMS] Another USFA that I love is their John Wayne “Red River D” sixgun. This gun replicates the Single Action Army revolver that John Wayne carried in most of his western movies, and it has his Red River D cattle brand tastefully applied to the gun. The John Wayne revolver has a special serial number range, simulated ivory grips, and a quality western holster and belt rig.

S&W 63: Smith & Wesson Model 63 .22 Long Rifle.

USFA now offers a slightly scaled down version of the SAA frame that is chambered for the .327 Federal cartridge. Called the Sparrowhawk, this eight-shot revolver wears a blued finish and a 7-1/2-inch barrel. It has a fully adjustable rear sight and a post front sight. The sights are just like the ones on their .357 Magnum Shooting Master revolver.

As I stated at the beginning of this piece, last year was certainly an interesting one for gun owners, and this next year looks to be exciting as well. Gun manufacturers are reporting all-time high sales numbers, as well as strong profits, all in this time of deep fi nancial recession. As we cross into this second decade of this new millennium, revolver sales are still very strong. The semiauto fans have tried to put the nail into the coffi n of the antiquated revolver for decades now, but it refuses to die. No need for such rivalry! While semiauto designs are more popular than ever, many shooters, hunters, and those who carry concealed still prefer the reliable, accurate, and easy-to-use revolver. At the same time, the derringer is still running strong, providing a compact, simple design with plenty of power for close-range performance. The single shot pistol is still very popular with hunters, offering rifle-like accuracy with rugged reliability and simplicity. 2011 is shaping up to be a banner year for gun sales of all types, with revolver sales continuing to be red-hot.