Which 357 to buy?

>>As for the Smiths I have favored a 686 Mtn. Gun. They weigh
>>about 35.5 oz with the 4" tapered barrel and I like how it
>>balances so it weighs about the same as a 4" K frame 19 or 66
>>and holds 7 shots.

I keep forgeting about that option. Thanks for reminding me, again
:o

justinr1
 
I bought a brand new M19 with a 4" barrel just before all of the S&W BS hit. It was a horrible piece of junk. The blueing was different colors on the cylinder than the rest of the gun, and scratched right out of the box. The bore was off center in the barrel. The timing was also off. I sent it back and S&W did reblue the cylinder, and screwed a new tube on it. The timing was better, but not perfect. After that it did shoot OK, but I never did feel comfortable with it. Traded it for a Browning BPS Trap and an old 10-22. Sold them both and made about $75 on the deal. NEVER will I buy another current production S&W. The old guns are absolutely awesome, but they make junk these days. I look at them occasionally to see if they are getting better but I have not seen it yet.

A ruger GP100 4" is the most accurate handgun I have ever touched short of the single shot guns. I sold it with option to buy it back. If it were not so heavy and a poor double action triggger pull it might have stayed with me.

I have 2 blackhawk 357's, both are very accurate and solid. Not a good carry gun, but outstanding shooters and good value for the money.


My advise is to hold out for an old smith 13, 19 or 66. The K-frame is what a 38/357 should be in my mind.
 
Navigator,

*&* means Smith and Wesson. Most of us hate to speak the name of the traitorous bastards that sold us out to Klinton on gun control.
 
As an alternative voice, I would point out that new Smith and Wessons are not being made by
the traitorous bastards
Click to expand...
.

New ownership is getting the company going again.

They are making some fine weapons. There are still some lemons, but most of them seem to have been made in the last part of the
the traitorous bastards
Click to expand...
reign. They rushed out some pieces to pay the bills, I'm afraid. Some distributors are still "stuck" with some of them.

Don't let any of this political crap sway you from buying a new Smith and Wesson firearm. But I would advise you to handle it before buying.

But if you can find an older model, especially pre-1982, when they still pinned the barrels, go for it.

3 close to perfect 357's are:

Model 19
Model 686
Model 27.
 
Ruger Or S&W

Well it looks like it is down to the Ruger KGPF-340 (GP100) or the S&W 686 plus. Last minute suggestions?
 
Last minute suggestion? Go borrow an L-frame for a week and carry it around stuffed in your waistband. Great gun. but you are going to think its made out of uranium and razor blades by the end of the week. Heavy and sharp. 686=superb target quality hunting, outside the belt, holster gun. Bites as a concealed gun for me. Lean more towards the Ruger or the 3" S&W 65...Expecially the 3" S&W 65. Course, 90% of the time I carry a little Ruger SP-101 in a cheap Golco inside the pants holster and feel pretty well armed....I also own several S&W Mod. 27's. But, they don't get any carry time anymore....Good luck and have fun. No one here has given you 'bad" advice. Any of the listed guns will serve you well for the rest of your life, do anything you ever ask of them and will be in great shape to pass on down to your kids...
 
Ala Dan: Having just bought a used Sec. Six, and not knowing diddley about them, I did some research. Jeff and Boge Quinn who run gunblast.com answered an e-mail I sent them informing me that this model initiated production sometime in 1971, and ceased in 1985, with the Speed and Service Sixes going until about 2 years later. Don't know for sure if this is correct, but they seem to know alot about Rugers. FWIW.





Watch me work
 
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