.357 Revolver Home Defense/Open Carry

C

Cheimison

Moderator
I want a .357 magnum revolver for home defense and open carry. I want it to be fairly heavy (for recoil compensation) and of moderate size (IE, no cannons or snub noses - just something around the size of a normal autoloader). This is to be a 'backup' piece to the AK and USP that I have, as I want a gun for all the major rooms (.357 is going in the kitchen).
Main requirements:
Finish - Any, I like stainless steel in revolvers just for looks. I do want it to be low-maintnance and moisture tolerant
Capacity - 5 or 6 shots, either is fine.
Grips - Good rubberized grips, like the kind you find on a Taurus
Frame - I want the frame to be fairly normal dimensions (medium), but on the heavy/reinforced side. I intend to fire hot .357 loads.
Additional Features that would be nice: Chromed barrel and polygonal rifling
 
The S&W Model 686, the Colt King Cobra, the Ruger GP-100, or the Dan wesson M715 all fit your requirements of a strong, ss, 6-shot revolver in chambered in .357mag.
Most revolvers sold since the late 1980's have come with rubber gips from the factory.
Chrome lined barrels are a feature of a semi-auto (mainly rifles) as a handgun seldom develops the heat to warrant this feature.
Also Polygonal rifling is a feature of a semi-auto made outside of the United States. As the semi-auto was designed around the jacketed bullet some companies (ie Glock) went to that style of rifling. Poly rifling doesn't work very well with lead bullets. A revolver can excell using lead bullets. Manufactors won't restrict a big usage of revolvers by going to that style of rifling.

Judging by your requirements I guess you are a semi-auto fan. The revolver is different and you won't find certain features or options found in the other action. As you are probably a fan of high capacity (going by your list of firearms you own), you should be aware that there are 7-shot revolvers that fits your requirements also (ie S&W M686+).
 
I was looking at some 7 shot .357s from Taurus. I am a capacity fan, but for that I've got the USP and AK, and the USP is the carry gun. The revolver I want around for solid reliability (due to the simpler action) and high power. Also, what .357 loads would you recommend? I can tolerate stuff on the hot side (I like my 9mms bordering on SMG loads), and since this will be for up-close-and-personal something with super range and accuracy isn't neccesary.
Just going off the weight for purposes of general durability:
Colt King Cobra - 2.6lbs - Good
GP100: 2.7 lbs - Good
SW 686: 3.3 lbs - Excellent

Although the home loads will probably considerably lighter, the carry loads could be well into the range of small game hunting rounds - I'm not the world's greatest pistol marksman by any means but I can handle recoil fairly well - of course, I'll have to try and see what works first, but my accuracy and shot time is nearly as good with +P+ 9mm as with soft plinking loads.
 
Well hold on to your bootstraps pardnah as the recoil from a hot .357mag is in an entirely different league from any +p or +P+ 9mm. There's more of a learning curve to the revolver than you think. Get pistol shooting out of your mind as you will then enter a new world. Expect noise, flash, and recoil to increase greatly.
 
I really like the Ruger Security Six series in stainless. You can find them for great prices here and there even though they have been discontinued for many years. I normally recommend it to people as a "starter .357" because it just feels good in the hand. But there is no denying the GP-100 is "stouter" than the SS. If you have to have that, then the GP-100 is very unlikely to ever let you down.

That said, nobody could dislike a 586 or 686. I keep looking at those half lug 686 specials that Smith put out to their stocking dealers. 5 inch barrel. Hi Viz sights but I could always change those out if I tired of them. I would like to have one.

Just a quick search found one on GA. Just for the picture.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976472509.htm

Gregg
 
If you really want weight in a .357, look for a S&W M28 or M27 (new or used), or a used Ruger Redhawk.

Any of those should out last any of us.

And I'll second the above post that revolver .357 recoil & blast is MORE!! :eek: than typical service autos. Revolver barrels over 6" help.
 
GP100 is always a good choice--they're very sturdy.

There are no revolvers with chrome lined barrels or polygonal rifling.
 
Miscalculations

I think you're calculating your revolver weights by using 12 ounces per pound instead of 16 ounces per pound. You have the 686 listed at 3.3lbs (I can't remember the rest off the top of my head) which would equate to 52.8oz; much higher than its actual weight. The 686 weighs in at around 40oz,or 2.5lbs.

Indigo
 
I think I just calced that one wrong for some reason.

I actually found out the revolver size I wanted (from the ones I usually look at in the shops) is a 6" barrel. Do they have any 6" .357s with that barrel reinforcement on the top like the Raging Bull?

Another question is why do people talk about the weight of a gun? As long as it's not in the absurd range (like a Desert Eagle) you'll hold it so little that I doubt it's weight would have any negative effect on you, and it would positively assist with recoil. As far as 'carrying', I can carry a backpack full of books around all day, or my AK-47 so I can't imagine a little pistol wearing me out.
 
Well, there's alway a Taurus...>

...this is a Model 689 4" 6-shot in stainless steel. It's a medium size frame with a bit of weight about it. Even though it's only a medium frame I find it is still overall a larger handgun than a semiauto such as a Hi Power or 1911. The 4" barrel keeps it to a handy enough size though.

I haven't shot this one enough as yet to give a longer term reliability report, but so far, so good.

​

As for a home defense round, and hot loadings at that, I'm not convinced the .357 is a good choice. It's likely to penetrate walls all too readily. I would have though a big fat, slower, round such as the .45ACP would be more suitable.

The substantial recoil with the hotter .357 loads is also something you need to contend with in order to be accurate with follow-up shots. I'd recommend you shoot some .357s at a range before you make a decision, if you haven't already done so. It's quite a different kettle of fish to shooting 9mm autoloaders, both in power and ergonomics. For your home defense use you'd also want a revolver with a decent double action pull. The SA pull on this Taurus is very good, but the DA pull is only average as seems to be the case with other modern unmodified revolvers I have tried from Ruger and Smith & Wesson. It's by far not as heavy as some I have used but fast DA shooting will take practice to get proficient at.
 
I have a dislike for rounds that will not fully penetrate a human being and some intervening substance like a door or flak vest. .45 has never been an option for me.
Home rounds are going to be lower-powered loads, the hot loads are for carrying in case I need to make distance shots.
 
Both the GP100 and the 686 are available in 6" barrel lengths with full underlugs and also have a top barrel "rib" although it is not vented like the Taurus revolver you mentioned.

The GP100 and the 686 are virtually twins in terms of weight and size. The GP100 tends to hold up better under heavy loads and heavy use, the Smith tends to be a little nicer in the trigger department and maybe also in appearance.

Accuracy is going to be very similar--maybe a small edge to the Ruger. The GP100s tend to be surprisingly accurate with loads they like.
 
SW home defense

Hello
I need your heilp.
what's the best choise for home defense:
- SW 610 ?
- SW 625 ?
- SW 629 ?
others?
Thanks :o :)
 
Why not the Taurus? If You handle them and like the way they feel, get what is comfortable in you hand. All Major Gun makers (Smith, Ruger, Taurus) make quality weapons. Find out what works best for you.
Also you might want to look at Speer Gold dot 135 grain .38 P+ rounds, I heard and read a lot of good stuff about this round.
 
Only Taurus I have ever fired was a .45ACP, so I can't comment on them. Nothing wrong with any of the S&W models mentioned; I just happen to be a Ruger fan.

Either of those will outlast both of us.
 
This is starting to sound like a Mall Ninja thread.

I have a dislike for rounds that will not fully penetrate a human being and some intervening substance like a door or flak vest. .45 has never been an option for me.
Click to expand...

A S&W 686 is probably what you are looking for, May be a Plus version with a 7 shot cylinder.

S&W does not machine their barrels with a braoching cutter any more they are EDM which uses an electrode to electricly machine the rifling. This is very similar to a polygonal barrel.


BUT. I want to state that ventilation of the bad guy is a good idea if you want to have 2 holes for leakage, but SERIOUSLY reconsider that fact and remember the 4 rules and know what is behind the perp before you touch off through the body shots.
 
:) Now you’re talking my kind ‘a gun! I’ve carried one form or another of S&W revolver for more than 25 years. After blowing up a couple of, ‘K’ frames, I’ve moved on to S&W’s, ‘L’ and, ‘N’ frames. My current, all day long, carry revolver is sitting on a table across the room from me right now: It’s a Model 686 with a 2 1/2” under-lugged barrel. I’ve got a Hogue, Goncalo Alves Monogrip on mine; and I, also, carry two Safariland, Comp II speedloaders in front of the holster. This is a very hard-hitting, but slow-firing, gun that I find easier to shoot straight than any auto. There are, of course, those who will disagree; but, with the exception of my current 686, all of my other carry revolvers have been Magna-ported. With a 357 I have found porting to be more of an advantage than a liability. ;)
 
I wholeheartedly recommend the GP-100.
You stated you wanted a reasonably heavy and large gun, the GP fits.
You stated a rpeference for hot loads, teh Gp will hold up better than any other DA .357, except the Redhawk. Problem is, they don't make the .357 Redhawks anymore, and you'll pay out the nose if you do find one.

I'd recommend a 4" barrel, but if you want a 6", they are available.

Alternates, for your stated preferences, would be an older N-frame S&W (model 27), but they are blued (like they should be ;) ). The 686 isn NOT a bad gun at all, just won't hold up as well as the GP, if you keep firing a lot of 180 to 200 grain hot loaded bullets.

In .357 loads, I like the 158-grain Hydra Shok or Gold Dot bullets for defense.
For hunting, Cor-Bon and Buffalo Bore make some very nice, heavy pounders.

Arc Angel: the biggest problem I have with porting in a defensive weapon, is if you have to fire from retention, you're likely to blow a LOT of crap up into your eyes.
 
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