Weekend Assignment

April 28, 2007
4:01 AM CST

A Reader asked me to do a GGP on fine .357 revolvers, both for carry and as a home defense / bedside gun.

With pleasure—except that I don’t know enough about every .357 revolver ever made.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to send me an email with your thoughts.

Subject line: [cut & paste this] The .357 I Couldn’t Do Without

...and add your thoughts about it in the body copy (pics optional, but welcome).  I’ll either print the best one, or combine several into one definitive description of each model.

Don’t bother with the Colt Python, though: I’ve got that one covered.

Comments

Bottom of Comments | Original Post

My vote is for the early Colt Trooper MKIII .357 6”.  These revolvers made prior to Colt’s cost-cutting move in 1980 are works of art.  Well-balanced, durable, reliable, and with an excellent trigger.

The runner-up would have to be the S&W;M-19 6” pinned and recessed model of the same time period.  It’s only drawback is the relatively light construction which makes it a poor choice for long-term use with full-power .357 loads.  It’s probably the best-balanced revolver ever made, and has one of the best triggers to ever leave an American factory.

If you have large hands, your choice may tend towards the Wonderful S&W;M-27.  All of the excellent features of the M-19,but in a larger, more durable frame. To me, it loses some of it’s appeal as it just doesn’t balance quite as well as the M-19.

My third choice would be the Dan Wesson M-15 .357 in the Pistol-Pac.  The legendary accuracy, and very good trigger make them an excellent choice.  Add in the choice of different barrels and this makes the Dan Wesson a single solution to a variety of shooting needs.

I am biased towards revolvers made prior to the 1980’s.  both Colt and S&W;made some cost-cutting changes to their products, and they have never regained the quality of the earlier models.  Taurus has never made a revolver of that quality, and the Korth and Manurhin revolvers are priced out of the reach of affordability of the American shooter.  Ruger revolvers are the epitome of durability.  They are extremely rugged.  And they are capable of excellent accuracy.  But their fit, finish and handling are all lacking compared to other choices.

Author ID: 7458 | 4/28/2007 06:03 AM CST | #88261


The .357 I Couldn’t Do Without

Of course it’s the one that got away.  A Smith and Wesson Model 13 with a 4” heavy barrell and fixed sights. Somebody had ruined the value of this gun by having the grip filed down to round butt dimensions. However with a set of Pachmayers’ Compac rubber grips it pointed perfect for me, and slid down into my 36” waist Levis like it was meant to live there.  It put the .38 wadcutters right where I aimed them at 10 yds. and was big enough to make shooting .357 magnum loads almost enjoyable.

Alas, that relolver and my 36” waist vanished in the late ‘80s.

Author ID: 7653 | 4/28/2007 07:18 AM CST | #88264


Not really a carry piece, unless your about 6’1” or bigger, but I have a 686+, 7 shot S&W;Distinguished Combat Magnum. I feed it almost exclusively .357M. Holds up good, except the constant blasting can make it difficult to open the chamber in a extended range session, since the extreme .357M full power blast dislodges all the oil in the center button that latches the chamber to the frame. 2 drops of oil, and your back in business.

I don’t carry it… I am just to short in vertical direction. It would be, “is that a gun under your shirt, or are you glad to see me?”

I have a .357SIG P226 w/rails as my carry gun. Heavy, but decently concealed, and plenty of firepower if the need every arises. While it can’t do some of the amazing feats a .357M full-power can, it is no slouch. I have no doubt it would disable a driver of a oncoming car, if I ever found myself in a situation where I was being run down.

My S&W;is mostly used to show off shooting skills --- can’t beat its repeatability on target.

Author ID: 9742 | 4/28/2007 10:26 AM CST | #88267


E-mail sent.

Author ID: 9381 | 4/28/2007 12:38 PM CST | #88269


I still like my 4” SS Ruger Security-Six.  Strong, but not huge, it puts anybody’s jacketed 158gr slug into two inches at 25 yards.  It disassembles with a paper clip and I gave it a good trigger job with the wife’s emery board.  I broke the firing pin, and finally replaced the two pieces myself after shooting another hundred rounds or so with the busted pin.  Tool?  A Nail.
It was my first NEW centerfire pistol--and will probably be the last one I ever sell.

Author ID: 9353 | 4/28/2007 01:37 PM CST | #88270


S&W;Mod 19.  E-mail sent

Author ID: 85 | 4/28/2007 01:48 PM CST | #88271


I bought two Ruger Security Sixes in the 1970s.  A four inch barrel and a 6 inch barrel.  Then came the desire to reload and things have not been the same since.  I echo the earlier commenter’s feeling about reliability.  I’m sure some of the earlier S&W;pieces have some nicer features.  My Mom’s older Model 10 has the sweetest trigger.  But I sure like the Security Sixes for knocking down bowling pins or pinging steel plates.  The six inch barrel model really projects a slug a goodly distance.  Of course when Marlin introduced the Model 1894 in .38/.357 the pace of the reloading picked up a bit.

Author ID: 457 | 4/28/2007 01:57 PM CST | #88272


A ‘70s era (pre-Brit) S&W;M-19 w/3” or 4” barrel and slim aftermarket
grips is tough to beat for an all-around super dependable handgun.
After light use and my own trigger sub-assembly polishing,I had my 4” timed and regulated by S&W;.
Best gun I ever owned.
No BS. I printed 4 out of 6 within 9 inches at 100 yds.,2 handed on bags
w/stock sights sitting at a shooting station at the old Daytona range in ‘76.
The Range Master was laughing when I set up to try for it.
He wasn’t laughing after I walked the target back.
For power without abuse to the gun or yourself in that model;try +P or ++P .38 Special loads.
Also,try 1 or 2 CCI shot loads as the first ones out of the pipe.
Silvertips thereafter;unless you live in a frame dwelling with neighbors close by. Glaser “beanbags” or wadcutters would be better then.
When emergencies are measured in milliseconds and distances are less than 20 feet;you’ll be glad you did.

Author ID: 10001 | 4/28/2007 02:53 PM CST | #88275


Whoa!
Dammit! I AM getting old.
In the M-19, .38 Hydra-Shoks are just about perfect since they’re +P and will totally resolve an imminent threat.
I haven’t thought about them much recently because they’re too hot for my current CC piece, a Bodyguard Airweight (2 shotloads 3 wadcutters).

Author ID: 10001 | 4/28/2007 03:24 PM CST | #88276


Email sent.

Author ID: 9622 | 4/28/2007 04:39 PM CST | #88277


Don’t bother with the Colt Python, though: I’ve got that one covered.

I like your humorous sign-offs.

Author ID: 7956 | 4/28/2007 05:13 PM CST | #88278


The .357 I Couldn’t Do Without

S&W;Model 66, 4” - cause my grandfather gave it to me in the early 1970’s when stainless Smiths were rare and I was only 20, and my daughter really likes it.  Shoot it with heavy 38 reloads, generally.

If I want to shoot real 357’s I use a 6” S&W;Model 586.  Bought it in a pawn shop cheap cause someone butchered the front sight blade with a file.  Excellent long range shooter.  Use 180 grain cast bullets with the starting load of AA-7 (its heavier than the jacketed bullet load).

Author ID: 8728 | 4/28/2007 05:17 PM CST | #88279


I am partial to the .357 mag, as this was my duty issue, many years ago. Smith model 13 for Federal leos.

Today, as an old fart, this caliber is sitll my favorite, but the weapon of choice has changed.
SO, my choice is:
The Taurus Titanium 2” is my gun of today.
7 shot, 6 top of barrel ports for recoil control. The grips are outstanding, and with full-blown loads, recoil is easily controlled. Even muzzle blast is nominal.
Titanium is wonderful.

Author ID: 8557 | 4/28/2007 07:03 PM CST | #88280


Interesting. No one else has covered my choice (e-mail sent, BTW, but I thought of something else to add, natch...)

Smith & Wesson model 360PD. Scandium-framed .357 Magnum J-frame revolver tipping the scales at a paltry 12 ounces empty.

Light as hell for CCW, and a small barrel that a goblin can’t get a grip on as a nightstand gun. Not to mention that you get to hand it to people at the range, then sit back and chuckle evilly to yourself as they touch it off with a full-power .357 Magnum load… 100:1 odds the first words out of their mouth is “OOOWWWWWWW!!!”

What’s not to love?

Author ID: 19 | 4/28/2007 07:52 PM CST | #88281


Email sent.

Ruger Security Six, 6” barrel, btw.

Author ID: 2093 | 4/28/2007 08:57 PM CST | #88282


I have to agree with Flintlock. I bought my Ruger Security Six in 1979, Also a 4 inch stainless. I did buy a spring kit and do some polishing, after thousands of rounds it’s still tight and shoots like new.
The ease of field stripping is a plus.

Author ID: 9204 | 4/29/2007 03:33 AM CST | #88283


Ruger Security Six, 6” barrel. But lately it’s having a little trouble cycling on two chambers. Started out on .38 loads where .357 was flawless. Now does it on .357 and empty. Any clues? I only use it for target now.
Wife carries Ruger SP101 with .38+. She loves it and and I like it too. I loved the look on her face the first time she shot a .357 from it.

Author ID: 8844 | 4/29/2007 04:55 AM CST | #88284


Jay G, one of the best feelings is heading to the range and touching off a .357 Magnum. Usually there’s a sudden silence and a bunch of heads leaning back to see who brought the cannon.

Author ID: 9622 | 4/29/2007 06:12 AM CST | #88285


Heh, Kim, while you mention revolvers in the post, when you specify the question, you just say “the .357 I couldn’t do without” and so I take it that you wanted to give us a backdoor in to talking about our lever rifles as well.

I LOVE my Henry BigBoy in .357.  It holds 10 and is pretty dang accurate. Always nice to use SWC too, for that perfect circle.  Plus, there’s nothing that washes away a bad day at work than to lever out 11 .38’s as quick and accurate as possible at 7 yds.  It’s a good reminder of why a pistol is used to help you get to the longarm.

Cheers!

Author ID: 520 | 4/29/2007 09:27 AM CST | #88287


I’ve owned two .357s,although I have neither of them anymore-a Smith and Wesson Model 19 with 4 inch barrel,and a Ruger GP-100 with 5 inch barrel-both were fine revolvers.between the two,I’d probably prefer the Ruger

Author ID: 8957 | 4/29/2007 09:39 AM CST | #88288


My first and to date only .357 has been a Taurus model 669 in stainless steel with a 6 inch barrel. I bought it 1992 and the only problem I have had it with a a loose screw once. I have replaed the original wood grips with quality Pachmyr ones, but have had to make no other changes.

Author ID: 9417 | 4/29/2007 11:26 AM CST | #88290


Short answer - Ruger SP-101
In the early 90’s I was in my early 20’s.  My friends and I had been hunting a while, we all had long guns, but we were just buying our first handguns.  The new Glocks were hot, as was the new “FBI” gun in 10mm (Smith & Wesson I think).  I got a rather unstylish S&W;K-frame blue 4” bbl.  Nice enough, powerful, accurate.  Then the CCW permit law arrived in Virginia.  No way was I lugging that lump around.  I traded it in on a Snub nose SP-101.  I lost a bit of accuracy, but muzzle flash and noise were enough to make a goblin soil his drawers.  I qualified for my permit with it, and carried it for 4 years, it was tough as an anvil, I ended up selling it to a friend who was moving to Germany in 1999 to work for Siemmens.  He was ex-Army and did not want to be disarmed like the rest of the German sheeple.  He’s back now & still has it.  I will get it back someday.  Lately I have a Glock 17 or Beretta .32 Tomcat for carry.  Also have a few target .22s.
I miss that wheelgun.

Author ID: 9774 | 4/29/2007 03:00 PM CST | #88293


Came across this thing on the web once, wanted it ever since.

semi auto, less recoil, itd turn heads.



thats right, a Mateba Model 6 Unica, one of the worlds only semi-automatic revolvers

Author ID: 7806 | 4/29/2007 05:43 PM CST | #88294


I suggest the S&W;Model 686, 4” (stainless).

It was the first handgun I ever owned, and I rue the day I sold it.  It was damn accurate, worked like a Swiss watch, with everything from discount under-charged .38 wadcutter reloads, to the hottest commercial .357 loads. To look at it it was to hear it scream “precision machining”.

Author ID: 10005 | 4/29/2007 06:11 PM CST | #88295


Criona,

If you think a Henry Big Boy would make a decent concealed carry weapon…

Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.

0 Author ID: 1 | 4/30/2007 06:31 AM CST | #88298


I must echo the sentiments on the Ruger Security Six. Mine is a blued 4” model and I lucked into it for just over $200 when it turned up nearly un-fired at a gunsmith’s shop. It had been stored in a holster for years and the bluing was nearly gone; the gunsmith reblued it and on inspection saw that the innards showed very little wear. It has somehow surpassed my .45LC Blackhawk as my favorite pistol. Accurate? Heck yeah. I put a set of nice coco-bolo wood grips on it that really fill the hand and like Wiley I put a spring kit in it. It’s my favorite carry gun now. Those who mentioned the Ruger SP-101 as a carry gun as well are really on to something...I plan on buying one of those as my next handgun purchase (woulda happened on BAG Day but funds were tight).  --Lone

Author ID: 8551 | 4/30/2007 09:48 AM CST | #88350