Shopping for a 357

Ruger GP100. It's a tank. It is more than accurate. The price is right.

I love 357 Magnum. It's hard to say what I love the most:

S&W 627 Performance Center 5"
S&W 627 Pro Series 4"
Colt Python in 6",4" or 8"
S&W Performance Center 586 L-Comp
Coonan 1911 357 Magnum
Ruger GP100 6"
Taurus Custom Shop 605 Snubby
 
im sure someone posted this already (didnt read thru the whole thread) but you should look for a ruger six series revolver. service six, security six, speed six.
my dad found a like new police service six in a small pawn shop, got it for $400 OTD. shoots excellent
 
I love the 357 magnum. I think my 2 favorites are the Marlin 1894 (I use it for deer) and the Coonan Classic.

Loaded with Buffalo bore the Coonan can push a 125 grain bullet at about 1800 FPS from a 6 inch barrel. That is about 900 Foot Pounds.
 
I have a Ruger SP101 3", which is just too light to be fun to shoot. I now use 125gr in it for best results. I have a GP100 coming in a special edition 5" that I hope to use for a full range of ammo weights and loads. Hopefully, it will be my fun-to-shoot gun. There is something to be said for weight and barrel length in magnum and +P shooting.

I saw a reference to a rare Redhawk in .357. My Redhawk is .45LC and serves well as a gun suited to +P loads, making the .45LC perform to modern rather than vintage cowboy standards.
 
'nother vote on the ruger sixes

Really, really quality gun that has an attractive price on the used gun market. Can't go wrong with them.
 
I, not to long ago, picked up an SP101 with the 4.2" barrel. It's an amazing little gun. It's a 5 shot gun, but I love it.

IMG_0014.jpg
 
The GP100 is the heavier frame, and in my opinion more desireable.

I have owned a Ruger Security Six for about 20 years now. It was given to me by a neighbor who retired from security work and moved to NewZealand. He used it extensively in practice and training.

I have become quite fond of this pistol, and shoot it often. The fit and finish is not equal to that of my Smigh and Wesson model 27, of course, but that old Ruger is durable and accurate.
 
I have an unfired Python with box and papers I will let you make me an offer on.:)


Or if it's not in your budget I have a 19-1 that is a little cheaper. :D ( the top one in the rosewood ass)
 
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I don't care if it's blue but I feel BoogieMan on the 4"-6" for .357 magnum. I know .357 is popular in snubs and all sorts of lightweight concealment models but it just doesn't feel right to me. When you've got big power in a small package, including small grips and low weight, what purpose will it really serve?

We've all seen a few sharpshooters who can hit a mouse's eye with hot loads from a Derringer. (Forget checking the skid-mark of a target.) We've all seen guys who like the feel of .357 magnum force blasting off from a tiny piece of aluminum cradled in their beefy mitt. Chances are, you're not that guy. I know I'm not.

So the place where this might really matter is the tightest of emergencies. It is when you might be pinned up against a wall, on the ground, or you've got a charging beast--human or otherwise--just inches from impact. It is the situation when you needed concealment and you just manage to get the gun out. Here, if you've got a revolver with a smooth profile or shrouded hammer, it could very well save your life. These are situations when you've got point-blank discharge and most of the normal shooting considerations, from accuracy to follow-up, are not necessarily crucial. Here, an anti-personnel mine on a slightly concave steel plate would do the trick. :)

The question is, how many defensive situations are definitely that? What about the 3-30ft range? Do you really want the minimalist hand-cannon there or would you prefer a much more manageably shootable caliber? Restricted to ultra-concealment at those ranges, I would greatly prefer a .38, .380, or .32 magnum. As per the trade-off in one of those super-tight emergencies, I'm not going to worry about a little less power and I might wonder if the extra was really necessary. (Besides, how many guys with those tiny .357 revolvers are just packing them with .38+ in the first place?)

So when I want to carry .357 or up, I'm going to do it on a decently shootable frame with at least 4" of power-preserving barrel in situations with less need for concealment.

(I've been toying with the medium-carry option of our magnum middle-child, the .327 Federal. We'll see where that project ends up...)
 
@J3Hill- Thanks for the offer. Love the Colt, but with the number of guns I have purchased in the last couple of months its just not in the budget. I am in the under $800 range unless its something really special I would go up to the $1000 or so mark. What I have my eye on in recent days is the TALO edition S&W's with unfluted cylinder. I will likely plate it in black chrome and leave the cylinder SS or something along those lines. Other than that for a plane S&W or Ruger I would probably be looking to spend under $500. Also depends on what I have to spend to put it in my hand. Guns at the LGS I am willing to go slightly higher as there are no s&h or transfer fees. Looks like I will be staying in at least a 4" model maybe going as high as a 7or 8.
 
If you want a used gun with a beefy frame that will fall within your budget, consider investigating the famous S&W Model 28 "Highway Patrolman". N frame, most commonly found with a 4" barrel. The bluing varies. I've got two and one is almost a polished look and the other is pretty much a matte black. Both are the 28-2 models. They have adjustable sights and are very accurate. These are the workingman's Model 27.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_&_Wesson_Model_28

800px-Flickr_-_~Steve_Z~_-_28-2_5.jpg


You can thank me after you get one. ;)
 
Well I finally bought one. I wanted something that was a little less mainstream and yesterday my LGS (fellow machinist) stopped in to my shop with a 5" S&W Talo edition 686-6. SS unfluted, 7 shot. I just have to wait my 20 or so days for the INSTANT background check and I will be able to take it out for a spin. I have been shopping all the LGS's and also gunbroker. Everyone I bid on ended up going high 9's or more. Ended up with this for $7. IMO I made a fair purchase
SW-DS2-2.jpg

Stock photo from Talo
 
Nice revolver BoogieMan. I always wanted a 5". The price sounds good for a shot 5" & 7 round. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Is it a round butt?
 
@2Rott- Im new to the revolver world. I only own one other revolver (460xvr) and a bunch of SA's. Judging by the grip (I dont know if there is another way to tell) it is a round but. Feels good in the hand and nice balance. I just dont know about these little plinker magnums.:D
 
BoggieMan....It doesn't really matter much but I like the round butt. I own a 4" 686 sq. butt & in the past year it has become my most fired & favorite handgun. I shoot it in several different types of matches.
From the research I've done I found out TALO does sell some of the round butt 686's but not sure of yours. It doesn't matter unless you want to put on after market grips. It's probably easy enough to find out with a phone call or try someone's square butt grips. Enjoy what I think is one of the best & most versatile revolvers out there.
PS...I'm keeping my eye out there for one.
 
There is a bunch of grips out there that called "conversion" that will give a "square grips look and feel" to a round butt. But your originals look great. Heck the entire gun looks great! :-)))
 
Is it a round but? Do you distinguish by the radius on the back of the grip or would I need to pull the grip and look for a similar radius on the frame?
 
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