Revolver and Lever action in .357 wise choice?
- Thread starter usr1987
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Cheapshooter
New member
First time I have heard the GP100 referred to as "light"!
It's a tank, and the Redhawk is a bigger tank.
rodfac: most SW i looked at had canted barrel. Since its CA, you do not actually check out the gun you guy, it comes from a warehouse with the serial assigned to you in most cases.
lamarw: I find the 45s heavy and cost a lot to shot.
Cheapshooter: I know its weird to say so, I am not a big guy, but I found out I shoot better beefy heavy guns than even plastic/short barrel.
I would want something in 9mm since is less than 18c to shoot, but not many are fun without moonclips, and I do not want to use that.
lamarw: I find the 45s heavy and cost a lot to shot.
Cheapshooter: I know its weird to say so, I am not a big guy, but I found out I shoot better beefy heavy guns than even plastic/short barrel.
I would want something in 9mm since is less than 18c to shoot, but not many are fun without moonclips, and I do not want to use that.
357 Python
New member
Not bad at all. I have been considering pairing my 44 Magnum Ruger Vaquero with a 44 Magnum lever gun but haven't decided which lever gun to get yet. I am leaning to one of the Henrys.
Here is a link to a Rossi .357, if it is new in box the price is not bad http://www.armslist.com/posts/9232143/springfield-missouri-rifles-for-sale--rossi-model-92-carbine-357-magnum---38-special--500
Marlin 1894C are going for just over $600 new.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/41044
New S&W 686 is $700 and up...
I use to have a 1894 in 44 mag... traded it for a S&W Model 28 .357 and I have been happy with it for 40 years.
The only guy that needs to be happy with his purchase is you!
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/41044
New S&W 686 is $700 and up...
I use to have a 1894 in 44 mag... traded it for a S&W Model 28 .357 and I have been happy with it for 40 years.
The only guy that needs to be happy with his purchase is you!
My local LGS can get Redhawk 357 5.5 but is 998$ and a Henry is in the same price range. Used ones are non existent and called quite a few local shops. I am quite shocked at the overall cost and also the cost of ammo. 49c/357 and 39c/38spl, is way more than the 9mm at 17c/rd. Considering that I shot around 100-250 rds /month this might be expensive. I might have to reconsider this since I do not want this to turn into a sports car driven on Sunday
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Either way, you're not fully "authentic." The Single Action Army was originally chambered in .45 Colt, but the Winchester lever action carbines weren't. Those were in .44-40. Back in cowboy days, those who wanted the same cartridge in both their six gun and their saddle gun had to wait until Colt started making the SAA in .44-40. Offering the lever action carbines in .45 Colt is a modern adaptation, not "authentic."Cheapshooter said:
Much cheaper to buy ammo on line and especially in bulk.My local LGS can get Redhawk 357 5.5 but is 998$ and a Henry is in the same price range. Used ones are non existent and called quite a few local shops. I am quite shocked at the overall cost and also the cost of ammo. 49c/357 and 39c/38spl, is way more than the 9mm at 17c/rd. Considering that I shot around 100-250 rds /month this might be expensive. I might have to reconsider this since I do not want this to turn into a sports car driven on Sunday
Quality, new, large mfg brass case, full power 158gr can be had for 30cpr, a penny or two less as you start upping the quantity. Also, since it's easy to save your brass from revolvers and LGs, you can resell it. Can't speak for certain in your area but you should be able to move it for at least 5cpc, which would make your cost down in the 25cpr neighborhood.
If that got your attention.....
Of course then there is reloading it yourself, which isn't as complicated as many make it seem. For under fifty bucks you can pick up a lee classic loader, mallet and pair of loading blocks (or make your own). Even a beginner can reload at 20cpr, as you start to learn the art of buying and keeping tabs on cost, you can get your costs similar to that of new mfg 9mm.
I think the Ruger 77/357 pairs up with a double action revolver better than a lever action, and it is not semi-auto about which you are concerned. Where you get into trouble is actually intending to cut costs and shoot 38 Special. Then the rifle of either type doesn't function or is not at its best. However, I too have seen a new Remlin work perfectly shooting 38 Special. It was cowboy action with 10 rounds, but the newer shooter was not at all fast or testing the action's ability at competitive speed. The gun had no work done to it.
The 77/357 has a five round rotary mag,, while the lever actions typically hold 9 or 10. The 77/357 is less likely to encounter a law about round capacity, if you can imagine an 1866-1892 design being condemned. If five rounds seems like too few, consider that additional mags can be carried and I expect to remain legal.
The Redhawk doesn't measure much differently than a Smith N-frame and can share some of the same holsters. Neither gun was intended for concealment, especially the Smith as a police gun carried openly. What I question about the interest is round count. If it holds more than six, you know it is in a platform intended for a larger caliber. I had a 5" GP100 full lug that had no problem shooting the full range of 357 Magnum. The GP100 Match Champion I have now is more of a handful but is up to the task and a more practical gun. Same thing for the 4" S&W 686 I had. You could simply opt for a full lug GP100 with a longer barrel, 5 or 6 inches. Grip choices help with any recoil issues.
The advantage of a loading gate is to be able to quickly, although not fully, reload, even one-handed in the right circumstances. That is why tube-loading Henry Repeating Arms rifles are allowed but not favored in Cowboy Action Shooting.
If you favor a lever action rifle, then the more logical pairing of a revolver would be a single action Blackhawk or Vaquero, noting that you, like me, might prefer to shoot a Redhawk single action in any case. The Redhawk trigger in either single or double action is not the stuff of dreams. The catch with the Blackhawk or Vaquero is that you will probably not get a full grasp of the grip. I would pass, if you are immediately going to go with a poorly fitting Pachmayr rubber grip. Those guns have enough mass to handle the recoil, so it's really a matter of gaining some skill with that type of grip and learning to let the gun roll rather than fight it.
I guess I have spent my two cents
The 77/357 has a five round rotary mag,, while the lever actions typically hold 9 or 10. The 77/357 is less likely to encounter a law about round capacity, if you can imagine an 1866-1892 design being condemned. If five rounds seems like too few, consider that additional mags can be carried and I expect to remain legal.
The Redhawk doesn't measure much differently than a Smith N-frame and can share some of the same holsters. Neither gun was intended for concealment, especially the Smith as a police gun carried openly. What I question about the interest is round count. If it holds more than six, you know it is in a platform intended for a larger caliber. I had a 5" GP100 full lug that had no problem shooting the full range of 357 Magnum. The GP100 Match Champion I have now is more of a handful but is up to the task and a more practical gun. Same thing for the 4" S&W 686 I had. You could simply opt for a full lug GP100 with a longer barrel, 5 or 6 inches. Grip choices help with any recoil issues.
The advantage of a loading gate is to be able to quickly, although not fully, reload, even one-handed in the right circumstances. That is why tube-loading Henry Repeating Arms rifles are allowed but not favored in Cowboy Action Shooting.
If you favor a lever action rifle, then the more logical pairing of a revolver would be a single action Blackhawk or Vaquero, noting that you, like me, might prefer to shoot a Redhawk single action in any case. The Redhawk trigger in either single or double action is not the stuff of dreams. The catch with the Blackhawk or Vaquero is that you will probably not get a full grasp of the grip. I would pass, if you are immediately going to go with a poorly fitting Pachmayr rubber grip. Those guns have enough mass to handle the recoil, so it's really a matter of gaining some skill with that type of grip and learning to let the gun roll rather than fight it.
I guess I have spent my two cents
Last edited:
Cosmodragoon
New member
usr1987, to address some of your concerns:
I've also heard about Smith and Wessons with canted barrels but I haven't seen it firsthand. There is a lot of talk floating around about quality not being what it used to be with revolvers in general. Some of that has to do with cost-savings measures such as MIM parts. We forget that aside from expanding technology, companies are trying to stay competitive and meet high demand in a market where inflation is real and both American labor and materials are expensive. In my limited experience, it does look like older models sometimes seem to have been made with a little more care. You can look for used older models or you can carefully inspect new ones and if anything is wrong, contact the company.
With modern versions of the medium-large revolvers, such as the 686 or GP100, you'll get a better trigger out of the box with S&W but you'll also get that dreaded lock hole. With the smaller revolvers, I think the LCR has a better trigger and is nicer overall than the alloy Smiths.
As far as lever guns go, I've had and shot a bunch of Henry Rifles over the years. My experiences have been very good. I also got hung up on wanting a loading gate once upon a time but I got over it. The "tactical reload" with a loading gate sounds good but yes, those can be fiddly and will you really need it? (Will you need it faster than you can draw its pistol partner?) Henry also has unusually good customer service, as in I've actually gotten email replies from their CEO. Once, something they shipped me was one day late. When I called to make sure everything had gone out the door, they actually followed up by sending me a care package of extras!
Yes, ammo costs money and 9mm remains fairly cost effective. If California does something crazy like ban all semi-autos, will that affect 9mm prices or availability? I don't know what other unique challenges you have over there but common answers for other still-common calibers like .38 special and .357 magnum include buying in bulk, group buys, and learning to load your own ammo.
I know what you mean about moon clips. I like to be able to use them but I'd hate to have to use them.
I've also heard about Smith and Wessons with canted barrels but I haven't seen it firsthand. There is a lot of talk floating around about quality not being what it used to be with revolvers in general. Some of that has to do with cost-savings measures such as MIM parts. We forget that aside from expanding technology, companies are trying to stay competitive and meet high demand in a market where inflation is real and both American labor and materials are expensive. In my limited experience, it does look like older models sometimes seem to have been made with a little more care. You can look for used older models or you can carefully inspect new ones and if anything is wrong, contact the company.
With modern versions of the medium-large revolvers, such as the 686 or GP100, you'll get a better trigger out of the box with S&W but you'll also get that dreaded lock hole. With the smaller revolvers, I think the LCR has a better trigger and is nicer overall than the alloy Smiths.
As far as lever guns go, I've had and shot a bunch of Henry Rifles over the years. My experiences have been very good. I also got hung up on wanting a loading gate once upon a time but I got over it. The "tactical reload" with a loading gate sounds good but yes, those can be fiddly and will you really need it? (Will you need it faster than you can draw its pistol partner?) Henry also has unusually good customer service, as in I've actually gotten email replies from their CEO. Once, something they shipped me was one day late. When I called to make sure everything had gone out the door, they actually followed up by sending me a care package of extras!
Yes, ammo costs money and 9mm remains fairly cost effective. If California does something crazy like ban all semi-autos, will that affect 9mm prices or availability? I don't know what other unique challenges you have over there but common answers for other still-common calibers like .38 special and .357 magnum include buying in bulk, group buys, and learning to load your own ammo.
I know what you mean about moon clips. I like to be able to use them but I'd hate to have to use them.
Awesome combination. Get whatever revolver you like and if $$ isn't to big an issue it's hard to beat the new Winchesters unless you want to use a scope. If you want a scope then I would lean towards a Marlin. A Ruger bolt gun is cool too but a lever is MUCH more fun for messing around.
Mike
Mike
May have been an issue during skirmishes with marauding Indians on the homestead in the 1880s, but not with a levergun today.
It's not that important.
If you need a quick followup shot after you run dry, just drop a round in the open port & close the action.
If you blow off an entire magazine's contents on a deer & still need more shots, you might as well just pack up & go home.
Denis
It's not that important.
If you need a quick followup shot after you run dry, just drop a round in the open port & close the action.
If you blow off an entire magazine's contents on a deer & still need more shots, you might as well just pack up & go home.
Denis
I am still trying to grasp the GP100 being called light.
Everybody should have a good 357 magnum revolver. My GP100 is my favorite handgun. As for a 357 magnum in a lever action rifle, you get better velocity, accuracy, and range than the handgun. It is very effective for self defense, suitable for a wide variety of game, and has light recoil. It is also great for teaching kids and new shooters, especially with 38's.
Everybody should have a good 357 magnum revolver. My GP100 is my favorite handgun. As for a 357 magnum in a lever action rifle, you get better velocity, accuracy, and range than the handgun. It is very effective for self defense, suitable for a wide variety of game, and has light recoil. It is also great for teaching kids and new shooters, especially with 38's.