There can be only one! What S&W .357 Revolver would you choose?

My first Smith .357 was a 686 4", and I don't feel any need to look for something better. I have done some work on it, however. It now has an amazing trigger and reamed cylinder throats to reduce leading. They were only .356. Yeah, I have a trigger lock but don't care enough to pay serious money for something not as good but without a lock.
 
I only have one .357 (gasp!) a 686-4 (last one with firing pin on hammer) & I have right at $600 in it. That includes a new set of hogues & mepro night sights, which are the best daw gone things since sliced bread! Was a jail gun & its rough. Oh well, shoots good. Not as good as my 1951 K38 though.

I always wanted a 686+ but that extra hole in the cylinder costs north of $200 extra so I've never brought myself to buying one. Plus they're almost impossible to find pre-zit & I won't own a zit gun.
 
So, WVsig,
You made your choice, got your gat (sweet)... now tell us, how well does it shoot for you?

Have you tried any other grips or are you sticking with those target stocks?

RANGE REPORT!
 
I have probably 7 revolvers in .357, only 1 is a Ruger, the rest are Smiths, but I lack a M-27 (sigh-sniff).
I suppose 1 of 2 M-66s, a 4 & 6 inch.
Probably the 6 inch.
 
5864.jpg


I have had a lot of Smiths over the years and liked them all. If I had to pick one, it would be the 586 with a 4" barrel. It is balanced well and feels good in the hand even with hot loads. This is the one I keep handy.

Jim
 
Although most of my .357s are DA revolvers, I'm going to go against the grain and having given it some thought recently, if I could only have one .357 revolver, it would be a Ruger Blackhawk .357/9mm convertible with a 4 5/8 inch barrel. Nothing fancy as long as it is a good one and shoots true.
 
So, WVsig,
You made your choice, got your gat (sweet)... now tell us, how well does it shoot for you?

Have you tried any other grips or are you sticking with those target stocks?

RANGE REPORT!
Click to expand...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546140

So I got to the range today and ran 50 38 Spl down the new to me 19-3. All the rounds I shot today were Remington UMC Green Box 38 Spl 130 GR. All I can say is I am happy with the purchase. Gun functioned 100%. No issues what so ever. Trigger felt great. Sights were easy to pick up. I do sort of wish that my gun had the red line on the front sight which I think is a bit faster to pickup but the black on black worked just fine. I might consider a putting a painted red dot on it but I do not want to screw up the looks of this classic 19. Also don't want to pay to replace the sight. Oh well used budget buyers cannot have everything.

I shot a good mix of DA and SA. To be honest I found the DA to be more fun. It was so smooth and the stroke so clean compared to the DA on semi-autos that I am used to that I did not find a need to continuously cock the gun. More on this later in the range report. I would estimate I shot 75% of the rounds in my 50 count box DA. I still have to get used to the open the cylinder and dump the rounds thing. Using 2 hands felt awkward for this semi-auto shooter. I am sure I will get used to it with more practice. Maybe a speed loader would make me feel better.

It took a few rounds for me to get used to the grip and the action but after a few cylinders I was good to go. Shot this 6 round group at 15 yards. These were all DA. I thought it was not too bad for my first outing with it. Looks like #6 got away from me a little bit but all and all not too bad. These were not exactly slow fire not exactly blasting away but smooth consistent sight and shoot. I might have to swap the grips more shooting will be needed to determine that. If anyone has suggestions for slightly smaller grips than the stock ones I am open to suggestions.

photo10658x1024_zpseeaadb60.jpg


After that I simply loaded it up a shot until I was out of ammo. This what the target looked like after about 24 rounds give or take. 3 at the top were intentional. As was the one on the bottom right and bottom center, which did not stay on paper as planned. These were again at 15 yards and was a mix of DA and SA. For the most part looks like I was shooting low. Will have to work on that. Most likely a sight picture issue. I most likely reverted to a combat sight, cover the target sight picture, while shooting causing me to shoot low. What sight picture is correct for the 19 with standard sights? Most of my stuff is setup as POA=POI especially at 15 yards. That said it most definitely could have been simply IO error.

photo9673x1024_zps82212f64.jpg


I brought along a Sig P228, CZ P01 and a BHP for kicks since I only had 50 rounds of 38 Spl. The DA on the 19 simply crushed the Sig and the CZ both of which have very good DA pulls IMHO. They seemed clunky in comparison. Maybe it is just new love messing with my head. To get it back on track I took out my Izzy BHP and shot another 50 rounds out of that to get me back in my Semi-auto mindset. That gun was built for me... thank you JMB and Saive.

I liked the 19 but I do not think it will replace my BHP or my 1911s. To sum it up my first range trip with my first S&W .357, even without shooting any .357, was all that I had hoped it would be. I have to order 500 rounds of 38 Spl and look for reasonable .357 rounds. I might roll my own as a friend has offered to let me use his press. Same guy whose 686 I shot which started this whole ball rolling. Who wants to set the odds that WVsig's next purchase will be reloading equipment.

I have to say that I really recommend that even the most zealous die hard semi-auto shooters should try and even buy a quality revolver like the S&W I picked up. It is a different feel and a different animal in a very positive way. Kind of like the way a 1911 feels different than the latest tactical plastic.The line from Star Wars kept running through my mind as I shot. "not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age." -Obi Wan
 
Of the ones I own I would say my model 66-2 2 1/2" combat magnum, but I am looking for a four inch model 66 which would be a better all around 357 magnum.
 
I might consider a putting a painted red dot on it but I do not want to screw up the looks of this classic 19.
Click to expand...
A little nail polish works wonders (gloss white first, then your favorite bright top). I have a couple of S&W's that dont have the insert, including one of my 19's, and the nail polish has worked well. If you take a little care, its easily done and doesnt take away from the gun at all.

I used to hate the inserts and usually knocked out the colored one and replaced it with black. These days, as my eyes get older, I find I really like the contrast.

I still have to get used to the open the cylinder and dump the rounds thing. Using 2 hands felt awkward for this semi-auto shooter. I am sure I will get used to it with more practice. Maybe a speed loader would make me feel better.
Click to expand...
Get a number of speed loaders and a bunch of snap caps, and have at it during your dry fire practice. Mas Ayoob has a good video on youtube that explains the reload pretty well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXUwI_d8JlA

Take all your speed loaders to the range too. Like your mags, loading one or two, over and over, will start to get annoying pretty quick. I usually take a half dozen or so, and practice from my carriers. For them, I find the Safariland "split six" type work the best for me.
 
Dan Wesson 15-2

I have several, but my all time favorite is a Dan Wesson 15-2 with a 6" barrel that I found in a pawnshop. Wicked accurate. I liked it so much I eventually found a used pistol pack. I'd love to find one in stainless too.

I also have a 1954 model 28-2 4" which is excellent, and my dad's 627-0 model of 1989 is astounding.

None are as accurate as my Dan Wesson though. I think is is perfectly formed and sized for my hand, almost like it was custom built just for me (Browning High Power's fit me the same way, and again, I shoot the BHP better than any other auto I've tried).
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top