Snubby .357

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sprice

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What's the best compromise between the best and cheapest for a snubby .357/38 revolver? Feel free to name a couple. :)
 
Ruger SP101
S&W J frames

Pick your poison. Both are comparable in cost and are arguably the best choices in small self defense .357's. And honestly, why skimp on a gun that's only designed purpose is going to be the defense of one's life?
 
In addition to the Ruger SP101 and the S&W J Frames, used Ruger Six Series revolvers are another option. 2.75" Ruger Security and Police Service Sixes fetch high $300s to low $400s these days. Yes, 2.75" is borderline as far as being a snubby is concerned, but they are easy to carry with good gear.

Another option are S&W K Frames. If you are very patient, 2.5" 19s and 66s can still be found for under $450, but they are getting scarce at those prices. At least where I live. I found my Model 66 a couple of months ago for $430; great carry gun.


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A good used S&W J frame .357. I have bought a couple of them, in like new condition, for a little over $300.00. Not an everyday find, you have to look for them.
 
No doubt, the SP101,
I own a 642 as well and while it is lighter and easy to carry, anything more than 50 rds through it are just plain painful .The Sp can be used as a range gun, it handels .357's better then the 642 handels .38's.
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Here are two pics of my new SP101 3" with badger grips.

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Price being no object for me, within reason, my favorite is the SP101. I would still own them at twice the price. My first two, both 2.25" .357s, came with spurless hammers. When I decided I wanted to use a horizontal shoulder rig part of the time, I acquired a third snubby, also .357, with a spur hammer. I later acquired a 4" version in .32 H&R, and most recently, anticipating retirement from policin' in the next few years, bought another .357, this time with the 3.06" barrel, as a "geezer gun." Life is good! :)
 
I'm very happy with my SP101, light enough to carry, heavy enough that even hot .357 is reasonably comfortable.
 
Yeah, an SP 101 isn't a pocket pistol (my 642 serves that role) but for being a solid and compact platform for .357 it rellay covers all the bases. Easy for CCW duty, comfortable for range time.
 
someone earlier said a 101 was light enough to carry, but I don't know about that one. Mine was pretty damn heavy.

I'd look into a used J-Frame or one of the newer varieties like the LCR. Love my LCR.

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Oh yeah, it may not be a .357 but IMNSHO I don't think at the ranges you'll be using these the difference between a hot .38 and a 357 is anything but academic.
 
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I finally bought one... my new production S&W 'Bloodwork' 2 5/8" PC 627 is here - same SKU (170133) as the previous run nearly ten years earlier. Same gun, save one addition - the IL - which I couldn't care less about. Check out my thread specific to this snubby. At ~$1,185 MSRP, it's a bit pricey - and as a 37.6 oz N-frame, it's likely a bit much for a CCW... but it holds eight! I'm happy... until my sale goes through on what has to go to restock the missing sheckles in my piggy bank. Heck, it's only money...

Stainz
 
I vote in smaller sizes the SP101 or S&W 640. I prefer to stick with +P or +P+ loads in J frame guns chambered for 357. Light guns are bears with magnums. They can be shot well but don't encourage a lot of practice with full loads. Next up you have the M19/66 S&W or Ruger Speed Six. Bigger, heavier but a better idea if you want to shoot a lot of magnums.

The best comprimise between size, weight, and shootability is the SP101.

Keep in mind that you don't gain a lot going from a 38 +P to a 357 in a 2".
 
Another vote for the SP101. I have three, a DA/SA 2 1/4" and DAO 2 1/4" and 3" guns, all in .357 Magnum. I carry the snubbie DAO in my pocket all the time, I don't find it either too bulky or too heavy for that duty. I guess if one wears emo jeans one is out of luck, but in my experience the SP with the right grip and pocket holster (I use Pachmayr Compacs & a DeSantis Nemesis) fits nicely in most pants pockets. Its heavier than an Airweight, no question, but its also a lot more shootable, especially with real magnum loads.

I've also done a lot of testing with .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum loads out of the snubbie SP101. In my experience the real magnums averaged about 400 fps more velocity and twice the muzzle energy of equal bullet weight .38 Special +P ammunition. I'd say that makes the magnum worth it, at least it does to me, I carry and practice with magnum ammunition in my SPs.
 
Just to clarify a bit on weight: a Ruger SP101 weighs 25 ounces. That's only 3 ounces more than a S&W J-frame Model 60, so I would expect the recoil to be comparable. By the way, my 8-shot S&W 327 PC 2" snubbie made of a combiantion of Scandium, Titanium, Aluminum, and steel weighs 21 ounces, and weighs only 3 ounces more than my Model 60 when both are fully loaded, and the 327 holds EIGHT rounds versus FIVE.

I'd encourage anyone looking at snubbies to alook at ALL dimensions of the comaprative specifications, including weight, number of rounds, size (particularly thickness of the cylinder and of the grips), and stopping power. That comparison can lead you to interesting places and solutions.

Jim G
 
Now we are getting somewhere. My new 2.6" SS 627PC 'snubby' will be an easy shooter for anyone with my choice of Remington R38S12 +P 158gr LHPSWC. Of course, so stoked, the big old N-frame will weigh in at 2.5 lb plus. Not a likely carry, unless you like substantial shoulder or belt holsters. My 642 similarly fed is less than 20 oz - and a dimunitive J-frame - an easily hidden CCW. It will be carried a lot more - by me. My 'little' wife, at only 5'10", thinks the 642 is 'too much' for her pockets - she chose a Seecamp .32 (Bottom-feeder - yuck!) - in a pocket holster, it doesn't 'make her fanny look larger'. She likes my 2" 10 - with those +Ps - as her house/car gun. The mass helps, while not being necessarily a negative factor.

So, some won't need the extra energy 'capacity' of a .357M - a .38 +P is sufficient for most. Money saved. Effective and easily toted spell 'carry'. My 642 will continue to get a lot of carry - the new 627 snubby, not so much. Use common sense here. Also - let your spouse/significant other in on the decision-making process. If they don't like it, it's worse than being 'too big/heavy' to you. Don't cut too many corners - after all, what is your - and your loved ones - lives worth?

Stainz
 
"Cheap" and "guns" should not go in the same sentence. If you want a "cheap" gun, get a used 22 caliber semi-auto.

I'm sorta in the middle here.

J-Frame: Pocket or a very small belt holster.
K-Frame: Handy belt gun
S&W 327: Appendix carry revolver when you have the ability in wardrobe

I just don't like the SP101. It's difficult to load due to the proximity of the cylinder to frame and the rubber grips. I'd love to see a six shot version of the gun in 357 Magnum and just a bit more length to the crane.
 
More length to the crane means a bigger frame; can't have one without the other.
 
If I was buying new, it would be a 3" SP101. The extra weight and 1" of barrel are both positives when it comes to shooting "real" .357 ammo.

If you want used, look for a bigger framed snubbie. Two great options are the 2.75" Ruger Six line-up (security and speed) or a 3" S&W Models 13/65 (the only difference is blue or SS).
 
I assume this refers to small-frame revolvers. (There are numerous medium- and even large-frame revolvers with three-inch or less barrels as well.) In that case the Ruger SP101. It is the only one I've seen that is actually tolerable to shoot with magnum loads. I shudder to think of touching one off in a revolver weighing half as much.
 
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