Shopping for a 357
- Thread starter BoogieMan
- Start date
sourdough44
New member
I have a 4" Security-Six in the pipeline right now, to go with my 6" I already have. I paid $450 for this new addition.
1990s era Ruger DA revolvers...
I've owned 2 new in box(unfired) Ruger DA only revolvers from the 1990s era. A SP101 .357magnum(spurless hammer) & a limited ed format GPNY(produced in 1991 but never issued to the NYPD).
Both stainless steel wheelguns were robust, well engineered & had 0 problems.
I'd buy another Ruger DA revolver any day of the week.
To my understanding, Corbon uses Ruger 6" barrel GP100 revolvers to T&E .357magnum ammunition.
ClydeFrog
I've owned 2 new in box(unfired) Ruger DA only revolvers from the 1990s era. A SP101 .357magnum(spurless hammer) & a limited ed format GPNY(produced in 1991 but never issued to the NYPD).
Both stainless steel wheelguns were robust, well engineered & had 0 problems.
I'd buy another Ruger DA revolver any day of the week.
To my understanding, Corbon uses Ruger 6" barrel GP100 revolvers to T&E .357magnum ammunition.
ClydeFrog
Here are a couple deals I found. Looks like there is a lot of interest in security six. I expect this will probably close between $5-$600.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=338557262
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=339003450
Would most of you consider this a good deqal?
Im hoping one of you isnt a bidder.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=338557262
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=339003450
Would most of you consider this a good deqal?
Im hoping one of you isnt a bidder.
Seems like every time a Ruger ____ Six gets brought up, there are two camps: those that say it's a fantastic deal in guns and you should snag one, and those who claim we hardly EVER see them priced in such a way that makes them a great deal. 
We've already done that in this thread.
I never find them for prices under $450, which is what I would be willing to pay for one. I believe that if either of the ones you linked will sell around there, either would be a fantastic purchase.
I'd say the one with the original wood grips appears to be in better condition, but I can tell you that most normal folks (myself certainly) would HATE those grips. They suffer from the same problem as the many years of the S&W Magna stocks did, they simply don't fill that area between your hand and the trigger guard and they are uncomfortable and don't inspire confidence. So it would be my prediction that if you bought the nicer one, you'd be next searching for grips.
Grips are personal of course... but as a guy who formed his opinions in the 1980s, I still love the gaudy Pachmayr gripper grips and I have so many sets of Pachmayr grips in my collection that it might seem irrational if I totaled them up.
When looking at a ___ Six, it's my opinion that you have to look at it as a useful tool and get away from any motivation that wants to suggest it's "collectible." I suppose anything that people may want or like that is no longer in production can be some level of "collectible" but these revolvers were a working man's tool and marketed specifically by Bill Ruger to hit a price point that the average American working man could afford to spend on a quality tool. If it's not some limited or scarce variant specifically made in a short run for some purpose, it's simply not an investment. So when looking to spend money on a Security, Speed or Service Six, compare what you are getting to what you would have to spend to buy a newer GP-100, which is the evolution of the design and is... at least in theory... a better revolver.
Nostalgia is great, but don't confuse it with value, scarcity or collectibility.
I would love to add either of those revolvers to my cache, but not if the price gets to $500 or goes beyond.
We've already done that in this thread.I never find them for prices under $450, which is what I would be willing to pay for one. I believe that if either of the ones you linked will sell around there, either would be a fantastic purchase.
I'd say the one with the original wood grips appears to be in better condition, but I can tell you that most normal folks (myself certainly) would HATE those grips. They suffer from the same problem as the many years of the S&W Magna stocks did, they simply don't fill that area between your hand and the trigger guard and they are uncomfortable and don't inspire confidence. So it would be my prediction that if you bought the nicer one, you'd be next searching for grips.
Grips are personal of course... but as a guy who formed his opinions in the 1980s, I still love the gaudy Pachmayr gripper grips and I have so many sets of Pachmayr grips in my collection that it might seem irrational if I totaled them up.
When looking at a ___ Six, it's my opinion that you have to look at it as a useful tool and get away from any motivation that wants to suggest it's "collectible." I suppose anything that people may want or like that is no longer in production can be some level of "collectible" but these revolvers were a working man's tool and marketed specifically by Bill Ruger to hit a price point that the average American working man could afford to spend on a quality tool. If it's not some limited or scarce variant specifically made in a short run for some purpose, it's simply not an investment. So when looking to spend money on a Security, Speed or Service Six, compare what you are getting to what you would have to spend to buy a newer GP-100, which is the evolution of the design and is... at least in theory... a better revolver.
Nostalgia is great, but don't confuse it with value, scarcity or collectibility.
I would love to add either of those revolvers to my cache, but not if the price gets to $500 or goes beyond.
Boogieman, you could have signed my name on your post. I made my app on 2.26.13 and I am still waiting. I too want a 357, I've already started making them. I would really like a 6" or 8" bbl, probably a Smith. Will you get yours from the auction? I will hate to do that, I hope to find one in Jersey but no high hopes. A 6" 686 would make me happy. There was one at Valley Forge GS. Good luck with it.
My only 2 things that I must have are:
1: able to handle full house 357 everytime
2: be blued finish.
For some reason I just cant find blued revolvers. I own several SS guns and I love them. But to me a blued finish with a wood grip (aftermarket for comfort) is what a gun should look like. I still have about 30 days until my next permit is filled so no hurry. I have a bid in on a DW pistol pack that is priced fair when compared to others out there. I think they may increase in value over time. The thing is that value in my guns will never be much. I coudnt own a safe queen. I just love to shoot stuff.
1: able to handle full house 357 everytime
2: be blued finish.
For some reason I just cant find blued revolvers. I own several SS guns and I love them. But to me a blued finish with a wood grip (aftermarket for comfort) is what a gun should look like. I still have about 30 days until my next permit is filled so no hurry. I have a bid in on a DW pistol pack that is priced fair when compared to others out there. I think they may increase in value over time. The thing is that value in my guns will never be much. I coudnt own a safe queen. I just love to shoot stuff.
In 4" - 6".....blued....my favorite would be the S&W model 19 ( K frame ) ....or the N frame (model 27's or 28's )..../ I'm not a Ruger fan..and the triggers on most of the Rugers are not nearly as good as S&W triggers, in my opinion ...and fit and finish on the S&W's is much better as well. I think the S&W is the best gun for the money in a .357 mag you'll find.
It depends on what fits your hands the best.../ although changing grips on a K or N frame is pretty easy to adapt to your hands as well ...maybe an L frame ( but they're harder to find in .357 mag) blued.
If you go stainless...it will open up models like the 66 and 686 as well...good guns in my view....just depends on what you want.
It depends on what fits your hands the best.../ although changing grips on a K or N frame is pretty easy to adapt to your hands as well ...maybe an L frame ( but they're harder to find in .357 mag) blued.
If you go stainless...it will open up models like the 66 and 686 as well...good guns in my view....just depends on what you want.
If you like the Dan Wesson and the slew of barrels -- by all means. I would NOT be buying it in hopes that it increases in value, especially if you intend to shoot it.
I believe that the Dan Wesson will eat whatever you feed it and if you really beat the crap out of it with the WORST, most obnoxious .357 Magnum loads and you put every effort in to beating it in to submission with heavy loads... you'd almost be starting from NEW again just by replacing a barrel.
I can't understand why they aren't more popular.
With all that said, there's one double action .357 Magnum revolver out there that may be TOUGHER than all others that has not yet been mentioned, and that's the .357 cal Ruger Redhawk. They only made them for a short time in the early 90s (IIRC) and they are...massive.
I believe that the Dan Wesson will eat whatever you feed it and if you really beat the crap out of it with the WORST, most obnoxious .357 Magnum loads and you put every effort in to beating it in to submission with heavy loads... you'd almost be starting from NEW again just by replacing a barrel.
I can't understand why they aren't more popular.
With all that said, there's one double action .357 Magnum revolver out there that may be TOUGHER than all others that has not yet been mentioned, and that's the .357 cal Ruger Redhawk. They only made them for a short time in the early 90s (IIRC) and they are...massive.
I owned one of these revolvers for a few years - and I loved it, but was not "in love" and sold it. The grip frame was just wrong for my hand, no matter what grips I tried to use to make it better.
It's also extremely muzzle heavy (but I like muzzle heavy, so to me that wasn't a downside).
But tough? Tough as a truck full of barrels of nails. I imagine there might be a load that could hurt that pistol, but I have a funny feeling you could put a case full of bullseye behind a 158 grain bullet and it wouldn't hurt the gun one bit.
At the end of the day, though, it's a revolver that's neither fish nor fowl. It's the size of a .44 mag Redhawk, but weighs even more because of the extra metal in the cylinder and barrel. It's simply not a carry piece, and heavier than I'd like to take into the field. So, at a time when I needed some extra cash, it was expendable. Oddly, it doesn't sell at a premium (or at least it wasn't selling at a premium when I unloaded mine) - in fact, I'm pretty sure it was selling at a discount compared to the Redhawk in 44 mag.
Bob Wright
New member
ChipChip said:
I agree with you there. In my opinion the Model 586 is the best DA .357 Magnum revolver ever to come down the pike, bar none.
Bob Wright
I agree with you there. In my opinion the Model 586 is the best DA .357 Magnum revolver ever to come down the pike, bar none.
Bob Wright
Buy the Ruger GP100 in 357 Magnum with either a three or four inch barrel. It has quite a bit of industry support, so you can get custom grips, night sights, holsters and so forth.
S&W revolvers are more expensive, include the terrible LOCK, have cruddy MIM parts and so on. Buy a prelock gun such as the S&W Model 19 or 686.
Take a look at the Ruger GP100 Wiley Clapp models. They are more expensive, but they're three inch tubes with rear sights (the standard model with three inch barrel has no rear sight).
S&W revolvers are more expensive, include the terrible LOCK, have cruddy MIM parts and so on. Buy a prelock gun such as the S&W Model 19 or 686.
Take a look at the Ruger GP100 Wiley Clapp models. They are more expensive, but they're three inch tubes with rear sights (the standard model with three inch barrel has no rear sight).
I am blessed to have a very nice Model 19 and a Python as well.
But if I did not yet have a 357 revolver, any decent Ruger _Six, or GP 100, or 586 or 686, or Model 27, or Colt Trooper or Lawman, would be welcome in my home. I think this thread is a case of folks being picky.
I have actually been casually shopping for a Lawman snubby.
But if I did not yet have a 357 revolver, any decent Ruger _Six, or GP 100, or 586 or 686, or Model 27, or Colt Trooper or Lawman, would be welcome in my home. I think this thread is a case of folks being picky.
I have actually been casually shopping for a Lawman snubby.
Yup, I'm finicky (picky, to a fault) about my Dan Wessons, Smith&Wessons, Rugers and Colts!
Seriously, there are so many good examples out there, some haven't even been mentioned yet. Having a 357 that doesn't get mentioned in a forum thread is STILL better than NOT having a 357!