Went looking for a .357 today, made a purchase


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Nightcrawler
April 19, 2003, 11:17 AM
Just for grins, I headed out to my favorite gunshop today to price a Ruger GP100. I was pretty sure he didn't have one in stock, so I was going to have him order me one. I had finally decided to follow the advice of my fellow High Roaders and get a nice, sensible 4" .357 revolver, specifically, a Ruger GP100 4" Stainless, with adjustable sights.

I stopped in McDonalds, and I thought to myself. "I wonder if he still has that Rossi .357? I wonder how those are? Heh. Watch him have a 4" Smith M57 in .41 Magnum like I've been lusting after. Well, if he has one of those, I"ll buy it, since I've wanted one so bad. Heh, just my luck he'll have only a 6". I won't buy a six incher; last thing I need is another 6" N-Frame. The Rossi is probably cheaper than the GP100, but the GP is stronger.

So, I head to Freeman's, and low and behold. A 6" Smith & Wesson 57 in .41 Magnum, in MINT condition, for $350.00.

I tell him I'd have preferred a 4". He said he had one, but had sold it only days before. Guy came in and sold both of these revolvers to him at once. Both of them looking practically unfired.

So, I went looking for a .357, came home with a .41 Mag. That will undoubtedly settle my problems with not having enough power, LOL.

I tried, THR, I tried. I tried to be the sensible guy, and a .41 Mag that I couldn't pass up (they don't MAKE 'em anymore!) landed in my lap. I now have a matched pair of 6" N-Frames, one in .41 and one in .45.

The only thing I regret is the grips. The M57 has the beautiful factory grips, even nicer than the ones that came on the M25-5, but they don't provide a comfortable hold for me. So, I'll probably replace them with Pachmayers. Any other suggestions? Something that comes up under the trigger guard., so my finger doesn't hit it.

Anyway, that's my story for today. :)

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WebHobbit
April 19, 2003, 11:26 AM
Hogue rubber or nylon would be my choice. But then I have small hands and need the back-strap open.

Brian Williams
April 19, 2003, 01:18 PM
Now you need a nice mod 27 and 29 to make a set.

listen





357















357














you still need a 357





It is a small nagging feeling in the back of your brain



357

















357




then again it might have been saying "a 57"



but you still need a 357

1badmagnum
April 19, 2003, 02:24 PM
I just ordered a taurus 41 magnum tracker,great minds think alike!~
I'm still looking for a 357 also,but the 41 magnum is a rare caliber,and I love load developement work,gives me a great excuse for buying componants and go shooting :):) :evil:

Real Bill
April 19, 2003, 04:41 PM
then again it might have been saying "a 57"

or could that nagging voice have been saying 5' 7", with some nice grips. :)

Sisco
April 19, 2003, 05:32 PM
Just happen to have a Pachmayr grip that came of my M57, willing to let it go reasonably.
I had the 8" barrel, in a moment of stupidity I sold it to finance something I thought I wanted even more. Sure wish I had it back.

Rob96
April 19, 2003, 06:12 PM
I went out shooting my KGP-141, and SP-101 today. Nothing but magnum loads. Every time I shoot my KGP-141, I appreciate it more and more. Every now and then I get a crazy thought in my mind to trade it, then I go to the range and shoot it. Needless to say, when I am done I just stand there wondering what I was thinking. Trading it on something else, yeah right! Tried the SP-101 out with Remington 125gr Golden Sabers. They will make a very nice carry load. Stopped at one of the gunshops on the way home. There had to be at least 10 different used 357;s in the case, Colt, Ruger Security Six, and at least 5 different S&W's of varying barrel lengths. Oh I was so tempted.:D

caz223
April 19, 2003, 07:04 PM
Ahhh, one of the few calibers I like better than the .357
I had a .41 for almost 10 years before I had a .357, so I guess it's ok.
You're moving up.
Good choice.
You realize that you still need a medium frame 4" .357 mag revolver eventually, right?
If you , um, don't like the way the M57 shoots (Fat chance) you do realize you have a buyer for it, right?

Standing Wolf
April 19, 2003, 10:18 PM
You still need a .357 magnum, of course, but the .41 magnum is a champion.

Hogue makes pretty good stocks, and so do the good folks at Badger. If you want superb stocks, give the good folks at http://www.herrettstocks.com a try.

10-Ring
April 20, 2003, 12:53 AM
Congrats, but I bet you start looking for a 357 magnum sooner rather than later. They just fit a niche in every collection ;)
Congats again.

Nightcrawler
April 20, 2003, 07:13 PM
Well, this has only further reinforced my desire for a 4" .41 Magnum. I'll find that M57 4" eventually.

But now that I have matched pairs in .41 and .45 Colt, I want to continue the theme. Matching Blackhawks in .45 and .41, matching 5-shot Taurus snubbies in the same caliber...cool...

Nightcrawler
April 20, 2003, 07:19 PM
Oh, btw, just how ARE the Rossi .357s? They have a 4" Adjustable sights model for $299 at that shop.

Nightcrawler
April 20, 2003, 07:51 PM
Just ordered some Pachmayr Presentation grips. I thought about getting the Decellerator Gripper ones (they'd match the regular Grippers on my 25-5) but the Presentations look better, I think. They undercut the trigger guard like I need (otherwise my middle finger nuckle gets pressed between the trigger guard and the grip frame) and they look sharp. Also, it won't have the steel backstrap exposed, so the recoil won't be as ouchie.

How strong is the M57? What kind of .41 Mag loads can it take? Thinking factory loads only right now.

Phil in Seattle
April 20, 2003, 08:43 PM
41 magnums are good medicine!

http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL77/858902/1551961/21753639.jpg

Model 57 and Model 657 Mountain Gun

41mag M&P
April 21, 2003, 07:04 PM
I have smaller hands and have had good luck with Eagle grips. I have a set of stag on a blue .41 M&P that fits me very well. I've also got a set of the regular (pannel) grips in ebony that will be going on another M58 when it gets back from Robar. I have found that I really like stag on my blued revolvers. I also have a set on a 6" 57 and also my 5.5" .41 redhawk.

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