Which .357 snub?

M

MikeJ

New member
I am trying to decide which .357 snubbie to get and have been going round and round weighing the pros and cons of the models I am considering; these gun buying decisions can really wear a person out. So I thought I would post this question to TFLrs for their opinions. Since this forum isn't associated with any specific brand I'm hoping for some helpful and interesting thoughts.
I have narrowed it down to 4 models:
1. S&W model 60
2. S&W model 640 Centennial
3. Ruger SP101
4. Ruger SP101 hammerless

My methods of carry will be IWB in front (summer), OWB strong side belt holster (winter) and once in awhile in a man's leather "purse", for lack of a better word.
By the way, I currently own a S&W model 37 airweight and a S&W model 66 2 1/2" so I am trying to find a happy medium.
Any and all opinions are truly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Um! Let's see? You already own a Smith & Wesson 2.5"
model 66, and you are looking for the perfect .357 magnum
snub.:eek: Sorry, but I can't recommend a better choice;
based on your list.:( Plus, Smith's new Ti's and Sc's are
still very young, and unproven.:D :cool: :)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
If you really want a small-frame Magnum, I would get the Ruger SP101 hamerless.
The SP101 has more weight and is stronger than the J-frame Smiths.

I don't want the punishment of lighting-off a .357 Magnum in a small-frame gun, so I'm happy with my J-frame Bodyguard Airweight (M638).
In the last few years, the Airweights have been .38 Special +P approved.
 
Taurus?

Taurus has their new CIA model, which is hammerless and looks very good to me in stainless steel. Believe me, if I'm going to shoot a small-frame .357, it's got to be steel for me to control the recoil. Lasts longer, too :)
 
Thanks for the quick responses but let me clarify why I want one of these guns, besides just adding to my collection.
I use my S&W 66 snub as my bedside gun and think it fills that niche very nicely. But I do find it a little heavier and bulkier than what I want to carry in an IWB holster. I know that some folks think nothing of carrying much bigger guns than this but that's not me. My Model 37 airweight is an older one and not rated for +P, besides it is a beautiful nickel plated one and I'd prefer not to use it on a regular basis, it still looks like new although it is 12 years old. I have shot all of the guns on my list and really like them all, weight, recoil etc. I will be loading it with the 158 grain lead hollowpoint +P's and like this combination in the 22-24 oz. platform, so hopefully this additional info helps to explain my post.
 
Each morning I wake, face mecca and kick myself in the butt three times for trading away my S/W 640. One of the best guns I ever owned.

Being a J-frame five shot it was plenty light to carry all day, but the steel frame kept it heavy enough that you could shoot full house 357's out of it in somewhat reasonable numbers and .38's all day. At first I didn't like the look of the hammerless design but it grew on me, and frankly was very functional for the purposes you use 2" gun for anyway.
 
I have a Smith M60-14 .357, 3" bbl, full underlug, target sights. Even though it is steel, it is punishing to shoot with CorBOOM 125 gr. +P loads, so much so that I have decided to carry only .38 Sp. loads with it. Much more manageable w/ either Federal 110 gr. PDA or 129 gr. Hydro-Shoks.
Having said that, I love the 3" configuration, and would opt for either a Smith or a Ruger in that bbl. length.
 
MikeJ

I have both a S&W 640 and a Ruger SP101. Both are great firearms and will do the job. My suggestion is to try to find an example of each to shoot and see which "fits" you best, then go with that. I am pretty sure that the 640 is a tad lighter, but with a good .38 Spl+P self-defense round (I personally like the 158 gr +P LSWHP) each will be just fine to shoot.

Good luck in your search.
 
Get 'em all and rotate

No you already have a couple of S&W's so to follow the "all my defensive pistols have the same modus operandi" I say go with the Mod 60

I have a mod 60-4 with the 3 in full underlug barrel and adjustable sights. Mine is in 38 spec and I carry my own handloaded 158gr Lswc over 3.6 gr bullseye.
 
Perfesser does have a point: all your wheelguns should have the same operations drill. Ruger uses a different cylinder unlatch than S&W/Taurus/Charter.

I recommend a 3" tube over a 2", in that it really doesn't affect concealability (especially not if you do IWB). In fact, it could end up helping, in that you can keep the cylinder a bit higher (based on holster design) and "anchor it" with the longer tube.
 
Jim has a good point about the longer barrel..its never a bad thing. Just be careful if you are gonna wear it in the front with IWB...longer barrels can be very painful if you sit down and the gun "get" you. For this carry and gun...go for a Don Hume 715 IWB holster...it rides high enough to be PERFECT for front carry.
Even while driving.
As far as the gun....both styles and makers are first rate. Ive got a 60 - 2 1/8" barrel and SP - 2 1/4" barrel and I carry both the same way your talking about. The advantage is the 60 is a tad smaller and allows good pocket carry also. There really isnt a difference in shooting comfort...I shoot only 357 loads and find both guns comparable in recoil and accuracy with similar loads.
The availibility of aftermarket stuff, grips, holsters, sights etc is about equal...so either way your set.
D/a vs DAO....the 640 and hammerless SP are great guns and take away your s/a option. This is worth the trade off if its a Pocket gun..but if its a consistant IWB gun...you dont need it.
The possibility of the 640 becoming a pocket carry gun are very good if you end up with one....Id highly recommend it.
For solid IWB carry...the 60 and SP with both barrel lengths will suit you well.
The SP is built like a tank and will very likely last longer shooting full house loads but its a little less mechanically perfect than the 60 is...the trigger isnt bad...just not as good as the smith.
Picking a gun just depends on your carry method...or possible "other" carry methods in the future and what you like.
I couldnt decide...so I own both.
Shoot well
 
MikeJ -

I too just "had" to have a 357 snubbie. My collection of snubbies and safety concerns would not be complete until I knew I was carring a 357 snubbie.

So I sold, traded and used money from my stash until I got a M60-9 just within the last 2 weeks. I even put a set of Ahernd's cocobolo boot grips on it.

This weekend I took my new/used M60 out to the range along with the other "inferior" snubbies and carry handguns which I already had bought for the SAME PURPOSE.

Let me tell you, 357s in snubbies are NOT fun to blast away with! I am not a newbie, I've been shooting for well over 40 years shooting everything from handguns to tropical rifles chambered in 450 Lott. I CAN handle recoil on my shoulder and with my hands, BUT shooting more than a couple of cylinders of hot 357s from a 2 1/8 inch bbl in a M60 gets you to wonder about just how much wisdom you have accumulated over the years!

Now, if you want a M60 by all means get one! That is why we live in the USA and fight for our 2nd Amendment rights, but IMHO using a M60 with 357s for self defense is nuts! The muzzel flip and recoil is just too much for good, well aimed second shots. I'll stick to 38 +P.

Incidentlly, this is what I shot for comparison this weekend at the range, Accuracy was excellent in all of them especially the G36 and the 342. But I'll take a .38 or the G 36 for ccw. Either is a joy to carry and will get the job done!

S&W - M60 2 1/8" 357,
M342 1 7/8" .38,
M629 4" 44mag,
M60 3" .38.

Glock 36 - 45ACP, G 21 - 45ACP, G 27 - 40S&W

Colt - Combat Commander - 45ACP
Officers ACP - 45ACP
Govt .380.

Browning HP - 9mm

As you can see, I have been "collecting for many, many years, I have many to choose from (at one time I had the mentality of "Buy'em all and sell what you don't like").

Well, from what I've got I know I will carry a +P 38 before I'll ever ccw a M60 357!

Thanks for listening to my .02
 
Elkslayer,
I guess everyone is different. After growing up shooting "scary guns"...44 mags with evil reloads :D Casulls, DE 50's and lately a Maxine...the 357s are still pretty recoil intensive but not that bad for me. I shot over 200 rounds of full house 357's sunday thru my 60LS and didnt mind it at all.
Funny, I took a re entry shooter with me...my best man years ago.
He preferred full house loads in the LS over the SP and my Kahr K40. He shot well, taking out aggresive and dangerous cans of pop at about 20-25 yds....good.
I snuck a cylinder of a plain one each of the following rounds. 38 swc, 38 +P, 110 gr 357, 125 GD and 158 GD....I ask him to shoot it slow and tell me what he thought.....BA HA HA HA...it was after he had wasted a box of 125 Gold Dots...just for those who thought I was being EVIL...I wasnt. He started with the 158 and worked down......by the end he was like "what the hell was that?"
He was shocked at the difference....."Why would anyone shoot 38's when the 357's are so much more fun?"...my thoughts exactly.......To each there own and shoot what works for you.
Shoot well
 
have a s&w 60-10 357mag,3" full underlug adjustable sights,love it!but it sure is a kicker!thoght it would be "it" for cc. about a month after i bought it ,found a 640-1 with 3" barrel in a pawn shop(only one i've ever seen}.it's a 38 spec.but liked it so much sent it back to s&w and had them laser engrave it,put red insert in front sight & set of s&w rosewood combat grips on it & the mdl 60(these were bought about 4 years ago,the later one's are smaller,don't allow a good grip] now can't deceide which i like best{wish all my problems were that heavy}.carry either in a don hume h715m s.o.o.t. iwb holster.great piece of leather.anyway those are my chioces..
 
have a s&w 60-10 357mag,3" full underlug adjustable sights,love it!but it sure is a kicker!thoght it would be "it" for cc. about a month after i bought it ,found a 640-1 with 3" barrel in a pawn shop(only one i've ever seen}.it's a 38 spec.but liked it so much sent it back to s&w and had them laser engrave it,put red insert in front sight & set of s&w rosewood combat grips on it & the mdl 60(these were bought about 4 years ago,the later one's are smaller,don't allow a good grip] now can't deceide which i like best{wish all my problems were that heavy}.carry either in a don hume h715m s.o.o.t. iwb holster.great piece of leather.anyway those are my chioces..
 
The model 60 is a great gun. Put a Barami Hip Grip on it and this has to be one of the best and most reliable CCW guns you could have. The hip grip will eliminate the need for a holster, and make you a lot cooler in the summer.

As for recoil, remember that in a defensive situation you will not fire enough shots for recoil to be too big of a problem. At the range, I agree 200 or so rounds could get tiresome...

Also, I think a lot of people who complain about 357 mag recoil in a snubbie are trying to use the same ammo they would in full size guns.

Try the 110 g Winchester white box JHPs or Remington 125 g golden sabers. These move a little slower, and have less energy than full power 357s, yet are a whole heck of a lot better than 38 special.
 
Thanks for all the responses. At this time I have narrowed it down to either the S&W 60 or 640 since my bedside gun is a S&W 66 snub. Do I want hammerless or not, that is the question? I know that I won't be carrying it in my pocket so that's not an issue. It will be carried in a IWB holster in front or on the hip strongside. For defensive shooting I have always practiced in DA mode, knowing that cocking the hammer in tense situations can lead to unintentional discharges. By the way, as I mentioned in my earlier post I will probably be loading it with 158 grain lead +P hollowpoints rather than .357's unless it is the 125 grain medium velocity Remington Golden Sabre.
 
thoughts on the Lady Smith?

Hello, I have been a 1911 nut forever, but have recently been bitten by the revolver bug. I have owned several in the past and none did alot for me. I was looking for another ccw gun for myself, (which means I told the wife it was for her", knowing she wll never get it, she said," hey, thats pretty" I looked and there was a Lady Smith 357 snub with beautiful rosewood grips. WOW, it was...uh.....pretty. picked it up and it actually had a nice trigger and felt great in my hand. The only thing hate is that it says "Lady" on the side. Really hurts the pride. Do I get it anyway, and when people ask to see it, just hold it up on the "NON LADY SMITH" side? If I get it I want it converted to DAO.

The PRO"S
feels great in the hand,
looks beautiful,
nice trigger

The CONS
says LADYSMITH on the side, UHHHHHHHHHHH
 
If it was my money this is the order I would go with.

1.Ruger SP-101, 21/4" barrel (It's you choice on the hammer)
2.S&W Model 640
3.S&W Model 60

In the end you can't go wrong with anyone of these guns.
 
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