What .357 mag shoud I buy?

[Fazer]

Guys--I have always wanted a revolver and have been looking (on-line) at the Ruger GP100.  I also like the Colt Python, but of course it is a bit more spendy, about double.  There are also a bunch of Smith & Wesson offerings.  I don't know much about any of them, but I would like to stay with a large frame in the 5-6" length as this will not be carried.

What say you?

[h13man]

The Python is finest revolver I've ever had the pleasure to shoot and the best of the .357 IMO. The GP100 Ruger, I like it better than my past 586 S&W but SS regardless the brand. Ruger makes good solid guns. Presently mulling over buying Ruger .22 Super Heritage SA revolver for myself.

[Chrisj CMA]

You really can’t beat a Smith and Wesson model 686. There’s a big however, however. The current models from Smith and Wesson are hit and miss as far as quality. I have -6 which I purchased  over ten years ago and it’s amazing.

If I had to replace it today I would look for a good used 686-3 or -4. These would be made before the dreaded safety lock and during a time that quality at S&W was unmatched.

To get a nice 686-3(4) it will cost around $1,000 but any really good .367 revolver is going to be in that neighborhood. If you pay much less than that, well as they say you get what you pay for.

The 686 is the perfect balance of heft and size so it can bear a steady diet of .357 ammunition and still be comfortable enough to carry daily.

I conceal carry mine every day and shoot it often and after all these years it’s still as new

[henry 008]

I have a Ruger SP-101 that I got when my left arm was in a cast. It was a lot simpler to use than a semi-auto for a 1 handed carry. I built a fixture that would hold 2 sets of 5 bullets in a circular pattern that I could pick up with a speed loader, and I had a bracket (similar to what you see storing hand guns in a safe) that held my pistol while reloading. I had a forward can't OWB holster at 4 o'clock that used.

[flsix]

If you aren't going to carry it then you can also consider the 7 & 8 round versions. I like the 7 rnd S&W Pro Series with the 5" barrel. It has a slab side barrel that looks different. Generally the S&W will be lighter than a comparable sized Ruger.

[Serk]

S&W just re-released their classic Models 19, 36 & 10 with no internal lock... Might be worth taking a look at...

https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/Smith-Wesson-Releases-No-Lock-Classic-Revolvers/514948

[Chrisj CMA]

I have an older M-19 which is an amazing gun but the 19 was lightened up for carry comfort and for that reason it doesn’t hold up as well shooting lots of full power .357. Mine is a great shooter but after having to send it back to S&W to get repairs I only shoot 38+P with the model 19

[henry 008]

I have an older M-19 which is an amazing gun but the 19 was lightened up for carry comfort and for that reason it doesn’t hold up as well shooting lots of full power .357. Mine is a great shooter but after having to send it back to S&W to get repairs I only shoot 38+P with the model 19

same with the SP-101. It's a little on the light side and all I use is 38+P hollow points in it.

[Jess from VA]

Lots of good advice here.

I have several .357 S & Ws in K frame (19 blue, 66 stainless) and L frame (586 blue, 686 stainless) (L frame is halfway between small K and large N frames (.44 mags))  In 2.5" to 6" barrels.

I have small hands and like the K frames better than the L, but Jeff is right that if you intend to shoot a steady diet of hot .357 ammo, the L frame is the better/beefier choice.  Most of my shooting with all of them has been with .38 Special, which is cheaper and lends itself better to range and target practice.

I had a perfect new blue 6" Colt Python (Colt revolver cylinders rotate opposite to S & W), but I wanted to keep it perfect, so rarely shot it.  I always preferred S & W over Colt revolvers anyway, so when prices on perfect Pythons soared out of sight, I got over twice what I paid for it and bought a very nice AR & optics with the money.  That beauty was a safe queen anyway.

My advice would be a 4 or 5" barrel S & W  K or L frame with adjustable sights.  I like blue better than stainless for looks, but stainless is the better/sturdier finish (my myopic eyes always shoot better groups with blue than shiny guns too).  If this will be exclusively a target gun for bulls-eye targets (or hunting), then a 6" barrel is better yet.  I would avoid a 7 1/5 inch barrel.  

I also have a four inch Ruger GP100 in stainless with target sights and it is every bit as reliable and accurate as any Smith, but I like Smiths better.   Price on the Ruger is probably better though.  

Unless it's for concealed carry, avoid any snubbie revolvers.  I have 2  J frame snubbie Smiths, one with a rare square butt (most are round butts).  But I almost never carry them anymore (like autos for carry).  

All of my stuff was before the stupid internal locks.  

Most of my stuff I got used, some are new.  So many people buy new, rarely shoot and then sell or trade them.  Part of this lifelong hobby for me has always been cruising gun stores all over, and most have used on display.  If you know what you are looking at, you can nearly always find like-new, for a used discount.  That was my main MO.  When I couldn't find what I wanted used, then I bought new.  

I always wanted a WWI era Smith Model 17 in .45 ACP (made by both Smith and Colt) when the US military wanted to give every soldier going overseas a .45 auto, but there just weren't enough of them to buy.  So the revolvers used the same ammo (with moon clips), and went to war.  When cruising gun stores, I happened upon one made by Smith in the USA in 1937 for the Brazilian military.  In much nicer shape than old 1917s, and rare.  It's a great hobby.  

[hueco]

If I was in the market for a 9MM semi auto pistol. I would go with the Rost Martin. A new name on the market. But. I think will be around. Made in Dallas, Texas.
https://www.rostmartin.com/

[Jess from VA]

If I was in the market for a 9MM semi auto pistol. I would go with the Rost Martin. A new name on the market. But. I think will be around. Made in Dallas, Texas.
https://www.rostmartin.com/

Man these striker fired, trigger safety, polymer framed Rost Martin sure look like Glocks.

Carried by more cops than any other (though Glock used to have about 80 percent of the police market, its down to around 50–60 percent today).

[0leman]

Back in the late 70's I procured a S/W Highway Patrol 357.  Got it before there was a lot of paperwork filed.   Have shot it a lot, though not as much as the Ruger Black Hawk that I had previously.  I put pachmayr grips on it plus a trigger shoe.   It is too heavy to carry around, though do have a shoulder holster for it.   Oldie but goodie

[Chrisj CMA]

If I was in the market for a 9MM semi auto pistol. I would go with the Rost Martin. A new name on the market. But. I think will be around. Made in Dallas, Texas.
https://www.rostmartin.com/

Man these striker fired, trigger safety, polymer framed Rost Martin sure look like Glocks.

Carried by more cops than any other (though Glock used to have about 80 percent of the police market, its down to around 50–60 percent today).

Them are some funny looking revolvers!

[Jess from VA]

Them are some funny looking revolvers!

Agreed. 

I have no striker fired autos with a safety on the trigger.  Don't like them at all.

[Rams]

If I was in the market for a 9MM semi auto pistol. I would go with the Rost Martin. A new name on the market. But. I think will be around. Made in Dallas, Texas.
https://www.rostmartin.com/

For a significant amount of time, I owned a Colt Trooper 357.   It was a very good pistol and I enjoyed target shooting with it.   But it did have more recoil than I preferred.

Today, I'd rather shoot a 9mm.   We're all different is about all I can say.  I have a friend in KS that has a Desert Eagle: The .50 Caliber monster, he's offered to let me fire it.   Absolutely no interest in shooting that monster.

Rams

[Jess from VA]

I traded up my 6" Colt Trooper Mk III against a new 6" Colt Python.

[fudgie]

I like my GP 100. Mine has a 2" barrel. Wish it was longer. I carry a Rossi .357, 4", all the time and love it to. Different frame weight tho.

[Bigwolf]

It might interest you to realize that the Ruger revolvers have locating lock features at both ends of the cylinder.  Other revolvers with swing out cylinders lock/locate on only one end.  I like the extra stability of the Ruger design.
Several of these mentioned revolvers work well.  The colt is the only one that spins the cylinder counterclockwise.  The advantage to that is that, in the odd event that the cylinder would become jammed, you can just swing the cylinder out and clear the jam.  With all of the others, that spin clockwise, the only way to clear a jam is to very carefully work the cylinder counterclockwise.  That ain't easy, but it can be done.

Stay away from Tarus revolvers with the internal (safety?) lock.  Those have a habit of self-locking after 2 to 4 shots fired.  When buying a used revolver, pay close attention to cylinder alignment. If the arm is slightly bent or for any other reason the cylinder does not line up properly, the accuracy will likely suffer. 

Good luck, and enjoy!

[Rams]

It might interest you to realize that the Ruger revolvers have locating lock features at both ends of the cylinder.  Other revolvers with swing out cylinders lock/locate on only one end.  I like the extra stability of the Ruger design.
Several of these mentioned revolvers work well.  The colt is the only one that spins the cylinder counterclockwise.  The advantage to that is that, in the odd event that the cylinder would become jammed, you can just swing the cylinder out and clear the jam.  With all of the others, that spin clockwise, the only way to clear a jam is to very carefully work the cylinder counterclockwise.  That ain't easy, but it can be done.

Stay away from Tarus revolvers with the internal (safety?) lock.  Those have a habit of self-locking after 2 to 4 shots fired.  When buying a used revolver, pay close attention to cylinder alignment. If the arm is slightly bent or for any other reason the cylinder does not line up properly, the accuracy will likely suffer. 

Good luck, and enjoy!

Some interesting information I didn't know.   Thanks for posting it.   

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Additionally, Ruger revolvers are cast steel, and S & W forged/milled steel.

The Rugers appear heavier but only an once or so on the scales (size for size), and their casting is very good.

The cast vs forged between the two is practically irrelevant.

Ruger may make a tougher gun (double cylinder locks), but Smith triggers are better out of the box.  This can be worked on regardless of make, and I've had trigger jobs done, and nothing else at all.  I know how to do it but a good man knows his limitations, it's easy to screw up badly, and the good gunsmiths I've had are pure wizards (and I love talking with them).

There are 'Ruger only' loads in reloading manuals because of this toughness, if you are inclined to push the envelope (I never have).  I mostly take targets, not bears or moose.    

My big .44s are Rugers (Redhawk, Super Blackhawk), all others are Smith.  This was not so much a deliberate choice as it was finding the particular guns when looking, but I am happy with the result.  

And here's a quote I've heard many times.  Glocks are plastic, Rugers cast, Smiths forged and they all work well.  Don't waste another minute thinking about it.  

[Chrisj CMA]

It’s unfortunate in my opinion that Smith & Wesson allowed their quality to degrade so it’s no longer accurate to say a S&W revolver is a superior firearm bar none. That’s why I would look for older guns from a bygone era when no one could touch the quality of a Smith & Wesson revolver. With one exception back in the day Dan Wesson split off and made his own revolvers. They were very fine guns and his big difference was interchangeable barrels.

[Jess from VA]

I don't disagree with Jeff's comments on new S & Ws, but very much agree on looking around gun shops at used revolvers (and taking your time, as I said above).  Most shops won't put out something abused, neglected or damaged, and many are nearly new in function, if not perfect in appearance.  Again, this is how I found the majority of my firearms; used and in excellent condition and function.

Going around to shops also gives you a chance to handle them and talk about them with knowledgeable people.  You must follow the rules about handling (always check for empty, no pointing or covering people, and ask permission before cocking or dry firing at harmless walls or the floor).  Some revolvers can have a nice crisp single action (hammer cocked) trigger let off, but be hard and nasty to double action (triggercock and fire).  Sometimes the single action is 'gritty' (in need of cleaning or stoning internally).

You can ask to fire a used one for tryout, buying a box of ammo and paying range time/targets.  Take hearing protection with you.  If they put a guy on you to watch, put up with it nicely.  


My last new purchase was a S & W Performance Center L frame 686-6 Plus, 2.5" barrel, 7-shooter .357.  It has the stupid trigger lock (which will never be locked).  It also uses 7-shot moon clips, which are way faster than standard speed loaders.  I wanted at least one Performance Center revolver, and this thing is sweet.





Moon clips on right.

 

[TTG53#1717]

I bought this lightly used Charter Arms “PUG” .357 on a whim . It didn’t print anywhere near hold, so I diagnosed its issues and did some mildly aggressive adjustments.

I can now print 6 inch groups at 15 yards just where I want them to go. Truth be told it’s primarily carried with hand load shot shells as an anti snake gun when I’m helping my pal at his TX deer lease out in the oil country.

At the range there is a “developed” 38 Special ++P load that is comfortable in my septuagenarian hands and super accurate.



Less than $350 and I’m pleased.

[MAD6Gun]

 I have a Ruger 6 inch GP100 i bought from my dad years ago. He had the trigger done. It breaks at around 2 pounds. very smooth and accurate. I would put that gun up against a Colt or Smith for accuracy. I also have a stainless SP101. A great defense revolver but does kick fairly good with 357 rounds.