Recommendations for an "old school" .357 magnum?

T

The Geologist

Inactive
Howdy. I just got my Class A firearms license and am planning to purchase a few handguns in the coming months. I really enjoyed the brief time I spent shooting a .357 magnum and would like to buy one. I just want to own a nice gun and just have fun shooting it; I have no intention of carrying a .357 magnum revolver concealed nor would I consider this gun to be primarily for self defense.

I've read through some of the threads here in the revolver forum and am impressed by the amount of knowledge is on tap in regard to Smith & Wesson wheelguns. Now when I first started looking for a nice Smith, before I ran into this site, I pretty much had my mind made up that I wanted a 686 in either a 4" or 6". No snubbies for me. Then I started reading about all the differences between the old models and the new ones, about how the old ones have nicer triggers and the fit and finish of a hand-fitted masterpiece. Clearly, there are a lot of people who really prefer the older guns. It seems a lot of them, when you come right down to it, simply prefer a blued gun. :) Now one of the things that appeals to me about the new S&W 686 is the stainless steel construction, not that a blued or nickel plated gun bothers me, I just like the look of stainless steel.

Well, anyway, since I'm so confused over the old vs new S&W guns, maybe I should plan on picking up a few different .357 magnums, so they can keep each other company. :D I think I'd still like to get a new 686, but I'm looking for some recommendations on some of the really good "old school" S&W .357 magnum revolvers. Preferably in stainless, but I'm open to suggestions if you believe that the best .357 that Smith ever made was not available in stainless steel. I'd really appreciate you letting me know the model number, frame size (J, N, etc...I'm still a little unclear on that stuff), the build dates (and serial numbers) I should look for and avoid, and maybe even a photo to whett my appetite. I truly appreciate your helping me find a .357 magnum that represents the best of the "old school" Smith & Wesson revolvers. Thanks.
 
How about a Ruger Service, Security, or Speed Six?

Here is my Service Six, made in 1978.
I love it.

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You can't go wrong with a 686. If you happen upon an early one you need to make sure that the recall modifications have been done to it. IIRC Only the -nothing to -2 guns are affected. Somebody will chime in with more certain info. An M stamped over the model number in the yoke cutout will indicate that the gun has been successfully recalled and modified.

You can also check out the 66 and the 65. Both K frames. Slightly lighter than the 686 but handier to most ppl.
 
With respect, the words Smith & Wesson, old school and stainless don't go together. Old school Smith .357s are blued. They include the pre-27, 27, 28 and the 19. I might have missed a few but those are they, at least in my book. The 586, a handsome and good handgun, is just too new chronologically. If you had to have stainless I guess an early 66 might get a pass, but not from me. Blued, carbon steel all the way. Good luck and have fun in your search and research.
 
For old school there is nothing like a M27 (blued or nickeled). It is the direct decendant from the original .357 magnum revolver, The Registered Magnum.
 
old school .357mag

I happen to have a Dan Wesson 15-2 357mag Monson pistol pack 2.5,4,6,8" nice but blued, ruger are told to take much hotter loads than S/W. Colts are nice if you have super deep pockets, I used to have a tauras 627 seven shot SS 357mag which wasn't bad. Some less known brands Janz, Kora, Knorth, high quality on the 1st and 2nd euro made.
 
I'm partial to 2-digit model numbers and blued steel, so I will have to go with the venerable S&W 19 Combat Magnum.

 
I will second the recommendation for a Model 28 Highway Patrolman. Look around for one made back when the serial numbers started with an S and the grips had a diamond on them. Can't beat them. They _used_ to be a great deal a few years ago but prices have really gone up. But people pay >$500 for new handguns that are made out of plastic so maybe their prices aren't really that high.

And the Model 19 is a real sweetheart as well. Mine is a 19-3 and the blueing is just amazing. And let's not forget the real "old school" guns. Plenty of policemen walked around with Model 13's. There is just something about those heavy barreled, fixed sight Magnums. You can still get good deals on them here and there although the 3" models are really in demand (and pricey).

And if you REALLY like the looks of the M13, don't let yourself see a M58 in .41 Magnum. Same gun just a little bigger and somehow "just right." Too bad they have gotten so darn expensive!

The 13 and 19 are both K frames. The 586/686 are the slightly larger L frames. The 27 and 28 are N frames. The 58 is a fixed sight N frame.

Gregg
 
I endorse the 6in 686 - The Universal Soldier. I have two of them, both with adjustable front sights (686-4's). They are about eight years old and have fired thousands of rounds. Never one trouble.
I have both stainless and blue revolvers and I prefer the stainless for ease of maintenance.
Frame sizes go from smallest to largest. J to K to L to N.
The 686 is an 'L' frame. For heavy loads I prefer the 6in barrel because there is more weight to reduce recoil and keep the snout down.
The quality of these 686's is every bit as good as any earlier model (I have several.) I am a range officer at my local club and I advise anyone starting out with revolvers to buy a 686, and keep it. Get a good one and you will never regret it. Other guns may come and go but the 686 stays.
And, by the way, don't hesitate to ask questions. I never mind going over old ground. If a Drill Sergeant couldn't be bothered telling the new recruits what to do because he already told some others last week, he wouldn't be much use - would he?
 

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Great 1st Post...welcome to TheFiringLine! :D

My answer would be to get a 'recent' production 686 7-shot .357.

It's been around long enough to be 'old school', but gives you the BEST of S&W in materials and workmanship, with a 20th Century twist.

OLD SCHOOL to me would be a Colt Python 6" .357 in Royal Blue.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That's just my random thoughts.
 
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late 70's, early 80's Colt Python
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(ten minute trigger spring and hammer spring kit make a world of difference)
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my m19 (middle) and new (at the time) 686+ top left. Wood grips are back on the 19 now.

All of them shoot very well.
 
My own choices in 357 Magnum are 2" and 4" J framed Colt Trooper MKIIIs and Lawman MKIII, S&W N frame M28 6", M19 6" and M65 4". I have others but, these are the best IMNSHO.
 
As an avid "old school" Smith kinda guy, I can't say I share your enthusiasm for stainless steel. However, there is a model that bridges the gap rather nicely: the M66. As a K-frame gun, it will serve you best if you restrict your recreational shooting to mostly .38 Spl. ammo, and keep the full-power .357 loads to a moderate number. Since you state that you "just want to have fun shooting it", this should work out well for you.

There are a good number of pre-'82 (pinned and recessed) M66s out there, and they tend to be very reasonably priced. You can find them in both 4" and 6", though the 4" are far more plentiful. Be aware that an awful lot of them are retired LE guns, so condition can vary considerably.

OutAtTheEdge
 
Thunderers.jpg

The one on top is an old school .357magnum. (.45ACP on bottom)

Seriously, if you want an old school DA .357, set your sights on a 4 inch Model 27 S&W and don't look back.
SmithWessonModel27.jpg

Buy Supica's Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson and start haunting Pawn shops. Repeat the mantra..."Pinned & Recessed." If you are lucky, you might even find a Registered Magnum. Right now many old school S&W .357's can be had for between $200 and $300. (M27 in good shape is usually $400 or so. In another 5 years I expect the price to no longer be that low.

Here's a link to the S&W Forum.
S&W Forum
 
Yes, you should have. The last M27 I almost bought was plain jane with no RWO or red ramp and it went for $725.00. People are discovering them as sleepers.
 
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