Thread: Question for Gun Folks

Revolver or plastic? Looking to purchase my next gun and trying tp decide between a revolver shot a SW 686 that was awesome but also like the new XDM from Springfield. Thoughts and opinions?

The solution is to get both.

You know me to well

I have the Kimber and the Beretta and was looking for something different the next logical step is plastic with a striker or a revolver. I was amazed at how well I shoot the 686 with a 38 load for the first time touching a revolver. 50 rounds head shots and only 4 were outside the head.

Do you like the .40 S&W round? It you do, and already have 1 or more guns in .40 (or you're adding another caliber ammo to stock up on), I'd give the XDM a try.
If not, you can wait for some other calibers to become available.

Personally I love the feel of .40s, my favorite being a XD SC.

Not a wheelgun fan myself, but to be fair I haven't tried many.

No all I have is a Kimber Gold Match II in 45mm and a Beretta 92FS 9mm

Don, as you have excellent taste in pistols and razors, I might suggest you try a Colt Python 4 or 6 inch barrel or a Colt Trooper (a downscale from the Python if you must have a .357). These only come in .357 Mag., so you could shoot .38 Special through them also. I prefer the blued finish, but Pythons came in nickle too.
The Python was the closest to a custom that a production revolver ever came, all hand fitted.
Next on the list would be a Colt Diamondback 4 inch .38 Special.
I'm a bit of a Coltaphile when it comes to revolvers (I own 3). A good revolver is a thing of beauty.
As the Colts are no longer in production the used market is the only option. If you don't know what to look for in a used revolver, I can send a scan of the important items to check (assuming I can find it, I seem to be misplacing things I swear I have just seen not long ago).

I used to prefer revolvers to semi autos until a friend talked me into trying his Glock 40. I shot ten rounds and fell in love with it. The Glock is indestructible, functions flawlessly under adverse conditions and like all autos is easier to clean then a revolver. Holds way more ammo too. I still like to take a revolver to the range once in a while though. S&W has some 357mags that hold 8 rounds now.

Revolvers have some good points over autos, the first and foremost is simplicity. If you have a misfire, no tap, rap routine, just pull the trigger again. I learned combat shooting on a S&W revolver, darn accurate and fun to shoot. You can pop 38’s all day and stuff 357’s in it when needed. I could drop a speed loader in the cylinder and pop round 7 off faster than may could shove in another mag and drop the slide, just takes ten thousand rounds or two of practice. I have a 44 Colt Anaconda Team RealTree special from Colt, another nice weapon. I can bounce pop cans all day long at 100 yards with it, download it with 44 specials and shoot all day.

Push comes to shove I grab my Sig 220, but if the wife ever has need of a weapon, a revolver is simple and easy to use. They are just darn fun to shoot as well.

Out of those two, I think I like the S&W. I'm not a big fan of the locked and loaded indicator on the XDM. If I were to get a revolver though, I love the .44 magnum. What a joy to shoot!

I recently had the (dis)pleasure of shooting an S&W 500. Holy god that thing is a hand cannon!