Need some advice on buying a new .357

K

keko

New member
I would like:
1) .357
2) Stainless Steel
3) Four inch barrel

I have two S&W revolvers, both .38 specials. One is a 642 (bought new) and the other is an older K frame four inch SS barrel (bought used). I discovered that I can drive nails with that four inch .38...man-oh-man. Naturally, I want to expand the experience with a more powerful revolver.

I would love some input, with the pros and cons of the suggested gun(s).

I have looked at S&W and Rugers...both are great...I can't decide due to my limited knowledge.

Should I buy used or stay new?

Gander Mountain has a ton of Ruger .357's with bobbed hammers...not sure if the single action function is disabled or not...maybe a new hammer is all it needs?

Thanks in advance, Keko
 
Greeting's Sir-

First, let me state that Ruger and Smith & Wesson build really nice
.357's. And you will get a lot of varied opinions as too which is best.
I'm going to stop short of a recommendation, and just say try both
of 'em out yourself; as I think you will be pleasantly surprised! Right
now, I own but one .357 magnum; and its a 6" S&W model 686-5.
And as we say in the gun buisness, "its a tack driver".

Best Wishes,
 
Does you S&W 4" have adjustable sites? Anyway I believe you would be best served by buying the .357 equivalent of what you are happy and competent with already. Your current .38 is either a model 64 or 67, depending on your sites. So how about a 65 or 66? You cold also look for a 681(fixed sites) or 686(adjustable sites).
 
keko

I was looking for the same thing

1) .357
2) Stainless Steel
3) Four inch barrel

The Ruger GP 100 is the best thing I could find and not too expensive and now I am just wating till the next gun show in March to see if I can get a good deal on one. Otherwise I am just going to get one from someone local, unless someone here in TFL wants to sell me one.
 
i currently have 2 .357's a ruger sp101 and a 4" colt king cobra. dont think youl go wrong with a smith or ruger. i bought the ruger used but it was in great shape and looked practicly new, i saved over $100. in fact my last 4 guns have all been used and im a big proponet of buying so. i would opt for an exposed hammer in a 4", 2" would be a diff story. but hey if you can score the ruger for mid $200's or less id jump on it.
 
How about a Taurus tracker?
Stainless steel
Four inch barrel

Pros: great rubber grip, very nice ss finish, adjustable sight, ported, nice price
Cons: don't know.

Probably the only Taurus I'd ever buy. The others look cheap.
 
I recommend the 'Universal Soldier' Smith & Wesson 686. It's a solid gun in the 'L' frame (but the same grip size as the 'K' frame). Everything is available for it, holsters, grips,speedloaders - you name it. Sights - whatever you like.
It can be customised and trigger - jobbed to whatever you want.
There isn't a better revolver in the World! And, I have a variety of Smiths - custom, .32 H&R, Model 10, Model 66. All great guns - But - the 686 is a 'onceler'. It isn't fair that a gun should be so good.
 
I discovered that I can drive nails with that four inch .38...man-oh-man.
Click to expand...
That says it all.

Ruger and a Smith 686 may be "tougher" guns, but IMNSHO, the only way to duplicate that feel is going to be with an older Smith model 66. You probably won't be content with the Ruger trigger anymore after being "spoiled" by the S&W,,, and the larger L frame 686 has a slightly different balance to it,,especially if the older K 38 you have is one of the square frame models.

You may also find you'll have more luck finding an older Smith model 19 - which is the blued version of the 66. You can find an nice 19,,enjjoy shooting it and using it while you look for a nice 66,,then either hang on to it, or sell it after you find a nice 66.
 
Gp-100

I am a Smith and Wesson fan. The pre-safety Smith's are without doubt my favorite wheelies.
That being said, when anyone asks about the type of gun you need, I steer them to the Ruger GP-100. Why?

Because it is the SKS of the handgun world. Not super accurate, but certainly no louse either. You can throw it in the mud, run it over with a tank, let it rust there for a few years, then pick it up, load, and fire.

The GP-100 is just what it's name implies. General Purpose. It will be equally at home on the nightstand in your defense, or on the IDPA or IPSC feilds, slaughtering steel targets every time.

They are also easy to maintain, parts are plentiful due to numbers manufactured. (The've been in production for many, many years). Due to their popularity with civilians and LE, you can find any accessory or upgrade you can think of.

You just can't beat 'em.
 
I went to a gun show this past weekend looking for a Ruger .357 but was really taken with a Dan Wesson with interchangable barrel lengths. It's said (by some at least) that the DW is just about as tough as a Ruger. I shot it yesterday for the first time and it's pretty accurate with full .357 loads. Besides that , I think it's sexy as hell! :D
 
operate and handle both S&W and Ruger. Get the one that feels better for you. Unlike other guns the .357 mag double action revolver really involves two stellar performers in which the buyer can't go wrong with either choice.
 
Listen to The Body Bagger. What he's saying is the truth. I ended up getting my used 4" S&W 686 (no dash) because it was a good deal from my brother-in-law (who is a LEO in Tenn), but I wouldn't turn my nose up at either the Ruger or the S&W. Personally, I think that you'll get more bang for your buck with a new Ruger over a new S&W, but I think you'll be happy with either one. I am really happy with my used S&W, and I got it for less than I would have paid had I got an equivelant new GP-100. That, and it stayed "In the Family", too! :D
 
You said you have a K-frame .38?
How about a K-frame .357?

If you want a tougher gun, either the 686 or GP-100 will do fine, the Ruger will be less expensive.

BTW, I've found my GP-100s to be very accurate, not sure where they got the reputation of being just "ok". Though I will say they shoot best with 158-grain or heavier bullets.
 
cool 38splfan , I never knew but wondered what "gp" stood for . and I have 2 of them. what does sp stand for "special Purpose"? I have 6 inch gp, ss, 3 inch gp, ss and sp101 2 inch of course stainless. Yeah I like em. Highly rrecomend the 3 inch if you like fixed sights.
 
My vote ?? Smith and Wesson model 66 stainless, awesome gun, adjustable rear sight, studly enough for .357 and shoots .38 like a champ. Plenty of used ones out there for varying prices. Good luck.
 

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Pezo

Hey Pezo,

I'm not sure about the "SP" designator. When I find out, I'll let you know.

As far as the accuracy reputation, that was jsut me being overly critical :o
I'm kinda picky, I guess.

I do have to admit that the GP-100 is much more accurate than many revolvers I have fired, including a few S&W's ;)

Great guns, really. Just can't beat 'em at all.
 
newbe...dont laugh

Been shooting only since nov. 2004. got my first hand gun (a semi-auto) nice to shot but too big. so this past sunday i got my second gun, a revolver .357, love the feel, and shot it to day with .38's for now. but the ? is, What does "Its a nail driver" mean? :o


CZ 40P
S&W 340PD
 
What does "Its a nail driver" mean?
Click to expand...

Rough translation = nail driver (or more commonly tack driver) refers to ones ability to drive a nail or a tack using a bullet like a hammer. It's a figurative(sp?) way of saying not only is the gun accurate, one's ability to "hit" with it is enhanced also.
 
I am a big Ruger revolver fan. However, even though I lean toward Rugers, my all-time favorite .357 4" revolver is the S&W 686 (six shot).

There is just something about the size, balance, "intangibles" of this model that hit me just right. I can do some of my very best shooting with this -- it is almost like I couldn't miss if I tried.

All that aside, try these yourself, as other have said --

GP-100
686
K-frame (66).

Pick the one that you like best and no matter which one you pick you will have one of the finest .357 revolvers ever built.
 
I would almost certainly buy used if it was me. Not only can you get some great deals but the older guns interest me more anyway.

My house gun for the last twenty-two years has been a stainless Ruger Security Six with six inch barrel. That gun works. And it hits exactly where I aim it. I don't really care for the GP-100 myself but I suppose that is just because I loved the SS and Ruger replaced it with the bigger gun that just doesn't feel as good in my hand.

The other "magic wand" in my hand is my S&W M19-3 in four inch. Not the best gun in the world if you want to fire super heavy loads all day but otherwise a wonderful and responsive gun Perfect in many ways.

I love S&W M28's. They have gone up in price in the last year but they are still a bargain if you look around. And an N frame is going to be easier to control in recoil. I bought one that was all scratched up and sent it back to S&W for a revolver tune. Now it is at APW for a brushed chrome refinish. Then I'm going to carry the heck out of it here on the property! Won't have to worry about scratching that one anymore!

And there is obviously nothing wrong with the S&W L frames. (585/686) Many people shoot these particular models better than any other. That full lug barrel helps with recoil plus makes it steady a bit better. They are nice guns and you can find them most anywhere for good prices.

I guess my advice is that any of the above guns are good. So I would just start looking for a "great deal" on a lightly used one. Whichever one you find for the best deal, buy it!

Gregg
 
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