My next .357 - help me decide!!

2

22lovr

New member
I'm in the market for a compact .357 mag revolver and the following are the parameters for what I desire:

Materials-gotta be all stainless steel!
Size-gotta be compact!
capacity-5 to 7 rounds
barrel length-2" to 3" max
grips-small boot
weight-23 to 30 oz
ported-your call as to why or why not
use-multi: car gun, house gun, occasional carry, and lotsa fun.

I've narrowed my search down to the following three:

Ruger SP101
Taurus Model 605
Taurus Model 617

What I like about them: The SP101 has a reputation as the strongest .357 platform out there. The Mod 605 is just about the most compact all-steel .357 out there. However, I'm really intrigued with the 7-shot capacity of the model 617; it is an amazingly compact little package with the larger capacity.
All three, upon close scrutiny, seem to be similar in quality.

Yes, I'm one of those masochistic types that actually enjoys the "punishing-pleasure" of touching off high-pressure rounds with a small revolver. (only wheelgun fanatics would understand)

What do you think? They're all similar in price. I'm in a quandry!
 
Of the three you have listed I would go with the Ruger, SP 101 with the 3 inch tube.

If you open the field up to used S&W revolvers I would pick either the 3 inch barreled model 60 with the adjustable sights or a Model 65 Lady Smith with the 3 inch tube. 6 is better than 5 and would be a lot less bulky than the Taurus 617.

Boo586
 
I just got my second SP101 after a decade long break from snubbies. I love the gun...strong is a good word for it. The Taurus guns are great also. The 605 is pretty close to a J frame in size and strength should be the same. The 617 is smaller for a
7 shot snubbie. For concealment I would look at the SP, 605 (or other 5 shot Taurus, 650 etc) and the J frames. The 7 shot cylinder is harder to conceal but has MOW BUWETS, a nice trade off to some. The Taurus guns should be quite a bit less expensive than the Ruger and the S&W's being the most money.

Quality isnt an issue with any of them. Taurus's warranty is quite a bit better than Rugers. The Taurus 605 is a little lighter than the SP. I have shot the 605 and comparable Rossi snubbie....triggers are great compared to my SP trigger, which by Ruger standards is pretty good. Porting is another victim of opinion...flash isnt much different with or without it and recoil is lessened quite a bit....but you get into the gas/lead coming your direction also. All in all, the SP and 605 are both great guns....
either way you cant go wrong.

Shoot well
 
Yep I am going to have to vote for the Ruger SP series. Strong, reliable, and the triggers can be smoothed out if needed. All of my Ruger revolvers have come with very decent triggers. All have served me well.

You can send it to Jack weigland for a performance job.
Like this one.

sp101.GIF


Tony
 
tonyz,
God....thats beautiful. Just had to say it....When Weigand gets feeling better and caught up on his work, I would love to have my baby tweaked by him....Just Plain Nice.
Shoot well

P.S. There is a very nice Weigand SP, FS in the want ads......:D
 
Greeting'a All;

Here you will find another vote for Ruger's SP-101.:D Better
yet, an older model 2.5" barrel S&W 66.:cool: :)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
My wife has the 605 and I have the Sp101. I would rather shoot the SP101 rather than the 605. The 605 with full power rounds is a handful. Rather wicked snap on recoil. Good price on the 605 though. What matters most is that my wife likes it.
 
I have a S&W mod 60 and it is great. Alas mine is the olderversion in 38 spec but they are in 357 now. great gun points well and has adjustable sights. I carry it every where and have no problems. The 3 in barrel is better and is no less concealable unless one is going for in the pocket carry. going from your list I would take a sp101 but in 3in. I like my Taurus tracker but like the smoothness of my S&W 60 and the ruggedness of the Ruger
 
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Oh, BTW, a good used one is just fine with me

Thanx for mentioning used Smiths. I would love to find a good used specimen of any of these guns and a used Smith is in the mix. Appreciate your helpful replies.

I think one of the reasons I get stressed up over making choices is that there are so many. I thank God I live in a country, state, county and community where I can legally own and carry my choice of firearm protection!

For what it's worth, I'll share with y'all which one I decide upon.
 
Have you held the 617 and 605 yet? Believe it or not but the grip feels different between the two. I took the wife out shopping for a snub and she liked the grip of the 605 instead of the 617. She didnt like the feel of the SP101 at all. So, she gets the 605.
 
Taurus 605 is a small, J-frame-sized gun, while the 617 is closer in size to the L-frame.

An early 2.5" 686 would be quite a nice find.

marko6861s.jpg
 
The Ruger SP101 is built like a tank. I actually liked it because I'm a left-handed shooter and I felt like the Ruger pushbutton cylinder release assists lefty's. However, I sold my Ruger SP101 DAO because the trigger action was too heavy. I later discovered that Jack Weigand could work magic on the Ruger action. The Taurus or S&W snubbies are the way to go if customization is not an option.
 
I'd go with the SP101, because I did ;) . It's my everyday carry gun. It rides in an Uncle Mike's model 0 (zero) with the plastic clip cut off, in my right front pants pocket.
 
357 snub

I own a ported 605 and sp101's in 2 1/4 and 3 in length. The PORTED 605 is far more controllable than my stock 101's. I think you can get the ported 605 for a little less than the Rugers. That said if limited to non ported I would choose the Sp101
 
>>An early 2.5" 686 would be quite a nice find

Yes. I have an early 2.5" 586. It is the most accurate gun I own.
You also could not go wrong with a K frame, probably a little easier to carry.

justinr1
 
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