any one carry a.357mag ? - Page 3

Rexster · May 14, 2012, 03:54 PM

Yes, I carry a .357 Mag weapon or two daily. As I type this, I am moonlighting in the daylight at a jewelry store. As I am in my police uniform, I must wear the mandated .40 auto "primary" weapon, but there is an SP101 snubby also concealed on my person, and a 4" S&W Model 19 near at hand. When the armored car made its visit, I discreetly toted the Model 19, semi-concealed, to the front of the business, as I would prefer to engage a bad guy with the 19, if it came to that.

Out of uniform, I am free to forego the .40, and my "primary" will usually be either the S&W Model 19, or a 3.06" SP101. Under harsher conditions, I might choose to tote a stainless steel GP100.

Edited to add: It is normal for me to carry more than one handgun. My usual minimum is an SP101.

raveneap · May 14, 2012, 04:28 PM

SW Model 60 - .357 mag

Cocked & Locked · May 14, 2012, 04:39 PM

I like that

kutz · May 14, 2012, 04:52 PM

Ruger LCR .357. Light to carry and effetive at SD distances.

Warp · May 14, 2012, 04:53 PM

4" GP100 in a Milt Sparks Versa Max II

It conceals fine under a simple untucked T-shirt...standing and walking. Lean forward or bend over...not so much. But it can be done, especially in cooler weather or somewhere you don't mind if it is noticeable from time to time

More often if I carry it, it is openly in an OWB holster.

DHart · April 4, 2013, 01:21 AM

My wife snagged one of my 640-1 .357 mag. revos and carries it, loaded with Speer 158 gr. Gold Dots, in a belly band. She LOVES it and never leaves home without it.

lowercase · April 4, 2013, 02:10 AM

I carry my Charter Mag Pug from time to time.

However, I don't care for its ported barrel, and my .44 Bulldog (same frame) has no ports and a better trigger, so my Bulldog gets the nod most days.

It carries nice and light in a minimal belt slide holster and wearing small wood stocks.

lowercase · April 4, 2013, 02:20 AM

In addition to the little Mag Pug, I have two 3-inch barreled GP100s and am currently getting an OWB holster made so I can carry one of them.

Here's one of my GPs wearing Uncle Mike's boot grips.

Ric · April 4, 2013, 12:37 PM

Absolutely
7 rounds of Gold Dot and action by Bob Munden.
My EDC

Fiv3r · April 4, 2013, 04:32 PM

My local gun guy says that Ruger Sp101s are like hen's teeth right now. However, he's got his feelers out for me. If he runs across one, he'll offer it to me first.

I'm looking for a 3" version to bridge the gap between my snub nose .38 LCR and my 6.5" .357 Blackhawk. I'll probably just load it with .38s, but I like having the option to stoke it up hot for woods carry. I just really prefer revolvers, but I can't hit much with a snubnose. I'm a surgeon with my Blackhawk (well comparing it to how well I shoot my other guns

)

460Kodiak · April 4, 2013, 04:59 PM

Ruger SP101. Durable, accurate, easy to carry, and handles 357 mag with ease. 3" bbl It's the first handgunI ever bought.

shinyroks · April 4, 2013, 05:06 PM

S&W 66 4" with Marschal grips. Might as well do it in style...

JTMcC · April 4, 2013, 05:32 PM

Vern says:
As Charles Petty put it, reducing the weight of snubnose revolvers has "transformed .357 recoil from merely unpleasant to downright brutal."

I say:

I carry regularly a Colt Python, 2 1/2". I also shoot it regularly and it's (in my hands) never had a .38special run thru it.
My Wife/Chic shoots (usually) a S&W 586, no .38 specials thru it either.

I've come to realize that recoil of a full power magnum handgun is increadably user sensitive.
I run full bore .357 thru my 2 1/2" gun on a regular basis, I've never found it "brutal", in fact I've never found any .357 load to be even "unpleasant". I shoot .44 mag and can't say it's unpleasant either. Maybe the bigger handgun rounds would be unpleasant/brutal I don't know but hope to find out : )
One persons sensation of recoil DOES NOT transfer across the spectrum of mankind.
I find handloaded .357 mag, using ancient loading manuals (that exceed current offerings) in a 2 1/2" Colt to be well below what even my kids (girls, 9 and 11) would consider unpleasant or brutal.

So in the end, try it, regardlass of others who find it uncomfortable, you just might love it.

Recoil to one, doesn't equal recoil to all others. As J Cooper said over and over, to anybody who's took a football hit, recoil matters little and snub .357 is all good fun to a lot of people.

J

adaptandovercome · April 4, 2013, 08:10 PM

Sp101 snub but usually with 38 special

chunk · April 4, 2013, 09:29 PM

My EDC is a S&W 13-3 nickel 3'' Loaded with 158gr sjsp in a simply rugged pancake holster...I love the rig, 11 hour days , No problem

weisse52 · April 4, 2013, 10:35 PM

As I type this I am carrying a 686 2.5" in a Simply Rugged pancake on a Wilderness Instructor belt. I find that .357 mag in this is far more pleasant to shoot and practice than .38+P in a 642. YMMV.. oh...and I feel very good about the combo...

Dave T · April 4, 2013, 10:51 PM

Right now my carry gun is also the ugliest revolver I've ever owned. It's a S&W 3" 7-shot 681 from their Custom Shop. It has a two-tone Birdsong finish (green & black) that shows a lot of holster wear on the high spots. The cylinder is unfluted and cut for moon clips.

I'd rather have a fluted cylinder and just a bead blasted stainless appearance but the gun shoots OK and since no one sees it I'll save the money and use it like it is. That green and black looks bad enough that I haven't even taken a picture of it. (smile)

Dave

Cocked & Locked · April 4, 2013, 11:55 PM

I like .357's...not a problem!

wheelyfun66 · April 5, 2013, 06:36 AM

hseII · April 5, 2013, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbuckeye

I have a 2" SP101 that I rotate into sometimes.....

^^^ I have one that I carry in an El Paso pocket holster in my back pocket.
Loaded with .357 125grn Remington Golden Sabers.
More accurate than it should be being so short

460Kodiak · April 5, 2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

I've come to realize that recoil of a full power magnum handgun is increadably user sensitive.
I run full bore .357 thru my 2 1/2" gun on a regular basis, I've never found it "brutal", in fact I've never found any .357 load to be even "unpleasant".

I agree with you completely that perception of recoil is very dependant on the shooter. I had a Bond Arms derringer and I absolutely hated shooting 3" .410 shot shells out of, and yet I don't bat an eye at shooting full power 325 gr hard casts out of my 460 magnum. It depends on the user, but also the platform.

There is a big difference between shooting a 2.5" python and a 20 some ounce j frame or ultralight 5 shot revolver. A python, even a short one, is going to absorb a hell of a lot more recoil than a pocket size j frame or Ruger lcr. The user may not mind it, but I think these little and super light guns is what Vern was refering to. When you look at those, even a Ruger SP101 that is about the same size will handle the recoil better, because it weighs more and is made of steel, not scandium or polymer.

Godsgunman · April 5, 2013, 09:31 AM

I carry my 3" Taurus 65 when I feel like going with a revolver. Very nice accurate gun. Not as dolled up as some of the pics on here but she gets the job done, smooth sweet trigger to.

Stainz · April 5, 2013, 09:35 AM

My smaller 'carry' .357M, a 3" 60 Pro:

Holstered in a S&W 3" J-frame holster with my 3" 63 (8x .22LR), which shares time in the holster:

My 'real' holster carry .357M, either one of my 2 5/8" PC627 UDR's in a custom holster:

I'll have to 'out' myself... I'm a .357M 'poser'! Oh, sure - I have reloaded many .357M cases - to barely +P .38 Special levels. The fact is, other than whatever S&W tested them with initially, my .357M revolvers have never fired a 'real' Magnum load, homebrew or commercial. I have yet to buy my 'first' box of real .357 Magnums! My carry load, seen in the top picture above, is the .38 Special +P 158gr LHPSWC (Remington R38S12 shown in speedloader.). I keep several sets moonclipped for the 627's. Sorry...

Stainz

returningfire · April 5, 2013, 09:36 AM

Yep,
Colt Lawman 1&7/8" snubbie.

19-3Ben · April 5, 2013, 09:51 AM

I've carried various .357mags. Right now my favorite is the Ruger Speed Six 2.75"bbl.

May 14, 2012, 03:54 PM	#51
Rexster Member Join Date: March 25, 2007 Location: SE Texas Posts: 2,790	Yes, I carry a .357 Mag weapon or two daily. As I type this, I am moonlighting in the daylight at a jewelry store. As I am in my police uniform, I must wear the mandated .40 auto "primary" weapon, but there is an SP101 snubby also concealed on my person, and a 4" S&W Model 19 near at hand. When the armored car made its visit, I discreetly toted the Model 19, semi-concealed, to the front of the business, as I would prefer to engage a bad guy with the 19, if it came to that. Out of uniform, I am free to forego the .40, and my "primary" will usually be either the S&W Model 19, or a 3.06" SP101. Under harsher conditions, I might choose to tote a stainless steel GP100. Edited to add: It is normal for me to carry more than one handgun. My usual minimum is an SP101. __________________ Have Colts, will travel. Last edited by Rexster; May 14, 2012 at 11:52 PM.

May 14, 2012, 04:28 PM	#52
raveneap Member Join Date: September 13, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 174	SW Model 60 - .357 mag __________________ ... ed ...

May 14, 2012, 04:39 PM	#53
Cocked & Locked Member Join Date: January 21, 2006 Location: Goat Hill NC Posts: 1,788	I like that __________________ C&L

May 14, 2012, 04:53 PM	#55
Warp Member Join Date: January 22, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,949	4" GP100 in a Milt Sparks Versa Max II It conceals fine under a simple untucked T-shirt...standing and walking. Lean forward or bend over...not so much. But it can be done, especially in cooler weather or somewhere you don't mind if it is noticeable from time to time More often if I carry it, it is openly in an OWB holster. __________________ "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." ― Edmund Burke “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." ― Theodore Roosevelt

April 4, 2013, 01:21 AM	#56
DHart Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,709	My wife snagged one of my 640-1 .357 mag. revos and carries it, loaded with Speer 158 gr. Gold Dots, in a belly band. She LOVES it and never leaves home without it. __________________ Be kind... everyone you encounter is fighting battles of their own which you have no awareness of.

May 14, 2012, 04:52 PM	#54
kutz member Join Date: July 29, 2011 Posts: 39	Ruger LCR .357. Light to carry and effetive at SD distances.

April 4, 2013, 02:10 AM	#57
lowercase Member Join Date: August 6, 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 210	I carry my Charter Mag Pug from time to time. However, I don't care for its ported barrel, and my .44 Bulldog (same frame) has no ports and a better trigger, so my Bulldog gets the nod most days. It carries nice and light in a minimal belt slide holster and wearing small wood stocks. Last edited by lowercase; April 4, 2013 at 02:16 AM.

April 4, 2013, 02:20 AM	#58
lowercase Member Join Date: August 6, 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 210	In addition to the little Mag Pug, I have two 3-inch barreled GP100s and am currently getting an OWB holster made so I can carry one of them. Here's one of my GPs wearing Uncle Mike's boot grips. Last edited by lowercase; April 4, 2013 at 10:33 PM.

April 4, 2013, 12:37 PM	#59
Ric Member Join Date: March 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 691	Absolutely 7 rounds of Gold Dot and action by Bob Munden. My EDC __________________ *The time is coming when those who kill you will think they are offering service to God* Jesus - (John 16.2) Allah Akbar Suicide bombers, terrorists and 911 hijackers The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of (political) party are sufficient to make it in the interest and the duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. - G. Washington You cannot lead in moderation

April 4, 2013, 04:32 PM	#60
Fiv3r Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Posts: 542	My local gun guy says that Ruger Sp101s are like hen's teeth right now. However, he's got his feelers out for me. If he runs across one, he'll offer it to me first. I'm looking for a 3" version to bridge the gap between my snub nose .38 LCR and my 6.5" .357 Blackhawk. I'll probably just load it with .38s, but I like having the option to stoke it up hot for woods carry. I just really prefer revolvers, but I can't hit much with a snubnose. I'm a surgeon with my Blackhawk (well comparing it to how well I shoot my other guns)

April 4, 2013, 04:59 PM	#61
460Kodiak Member Join Date: February 12, 2011 Location: The frozen hinterlands. Posts: 1,143	Ruger SP101. Durable, accurate, easy to carry, and handles 357 mag with ease. 3" bbl It's the first handgunI ever bought. __________________ I hear Hi-Point is set to release their new "Quasimodo" line of pistols. They are going to market it with a new line of matching carbines called the "The Elephant Man".

April 4, 2013, 05:06 PM	#62
shinyroks Member Join Date: January 26, 2010 Location: Ft Collins, CO Posts: 134	S&W 66 4" with Marschal grips. Might as well do it in style... __________________ Never been a fan of poly pistols, I guess I feel that if I ever run out of those little chunks of lead I want to have a partially-effective club at my disposal...

April 4, 2013, 05:32 PM	#63
JTMcC Member Join Date: September 14, 2005 Location: NW Arizona Posts: 16	Vern says: As Charles Petty put it, reducing the weight of snubnose revolvers has "transformed .357 recoil from merely unpleasant to downright brutal." I say: I carry regularly a Colt Python, 2 1/2". I also shoot it regularly and it's (in my hands) never had a .38special run thru it. My Wife/Chic shoots (usually) a S&W 586, no .38 specials thru it either. I've come to realize that recoil of a full power magnum handgun is increadably user sensitive. I run full bore .357 thru my 2 1/2" gun on a regular basis, I've never found it "brutal", in fact I've never found any .357 load to be even "unpleasant". I shoot .44 mag and can't say it's unpleasant either. Maybe the bigger handgun rounds would be unpleasant/brutal I don't know but hope to find out : ) One persons sensation of recoil DOES NOT transfer across the spectrum of mankind. I find handloaded .357 mag, using ancient loading manuals (that exceed current offerings) in a 2 1/2" Colt to be well below what even my kids (girls, 9 and 11) would consider unpleasant or brutal. So in the end, try it, regardlass of others who find it uncomfortable, you just might love it. Recoil to one, doesn't equal recoil to all others. As J Cooper said over and over, to anybody who's took a football hit, recoil matters little and snub .357 is all good fun to a lot of people. J

April 4, 2013, 08:10 PM	#64
adaptandovercome Member Join Date: August 9, 2010 Posts: 49	Sp101 snub but usually with 38 special

April 4, 2013, 09:29 PM	#65
chunk Member Join Date: May 7, 2005 Posts: 125	My EDC is a S&W 13-3 nickel 3'' Loaded with 158gr sjsp in a simply rugged pancake holster...I love the rig, 11 hour days , No problem

April 4, 2013, 10:35 PM	#66
weisse52 Member Join Date: December 5, 2007 Location: Bountiful, Utah Posts: 1,301	As I type this I am carrying a 686 2.5" in a Simply Rugged pancake on a Wilderness Instructor belt. I find that .357 mag in this is far more pleasant to shoot and practice than .38+P in a 642. YMMV.. oh...and I feel very good about the combo... __________________ “And I feel good about what I carry..." US Navy Kentucky National Guard 223 MP Co.

April 4, 2013, 10:51 PM	#67
Dave T Member Join Date: January 19, 2003 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 768	Right now my carry gun is also the ugliest revolver I've ever owned. It's a S&W 3" 7-shot 681 from their Custom Shop. It has a two-tone Birdsong finish (green & black) that shows a lot of holster wear on the high spots. The cylinder is unfluted and cut for moon clips. I'd rather have a fluted cylinder and just a bead blasted stainless appearance but the gun shoots OK and since no one sees it I'll save the money and use it like it is. That green and black looks bad enough that I haven't even taken a picture of it. (smile) Dave __________________ RSVN '69-'71 PSCD Ret

April 4, 2013, 11:55 PM	#68
Cocked & Locked Member Join Date: January 21, 2006 Location: Goat Hill NC Posts: 1,788	I like .357's...not a problem! __________________ C&L

April 5, 2013, 06:36 AM	#69
wheelyfun66 Member Join Date: November 13, 2011 Location: vermont Posts: 267

April 5, 2013, 09:31 AM	#72
Godsgunman Member Join Date: February 14, 2012 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 402	I carry my 3" Taurus 65 when I feel like going with a revolver. Very nice accurate gun. Not as dolled up as some of the pics on here but she gets the job done, smooth sweet trigger to.

April 5, 2013, 09:35 AM	#73
Stainz Member Join Date: April 24, 2003 Location: Pinson, AL Posts: 3,027	My smaller 'carry' .357M, a 3" 60 Pro: Holstered in a S&W 3" J-frame holster with my 3" 63 (8x .22LR), which shares time in the holster: My 'real' holster carry .357M, either one of my 2 5/8" PC627 UDR's in a custom holster: I'll have to 'out' myself... I'm a .357M 'poser'! Oh, sure - I have reloaded many .357M cases - to barely +P .38 Special levels. The fact is, other than whatever S&W tested them with initially, my .357M revolvers have never fired a 'real' Magnum load, homebrew or commercial. I have yet to buy my 'first' box of real .357 Magnums! My carry load, seen in the top picture above, is the .38 Special +P 158gr LHPSWC (Remington R38S12 shown in speedloader.). I keep several sets moonclipped for the 627's. Sorry... Stainz

April 5, 2013, 09:36 AM	#74
returningfire Member Join Date: December 2, 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 217	Yep, Colt Lawman 1&7/8" snubbie. __________________ Life is too short to not just go ahead and do it

April 5, 2013, 09:51 AM	#75
19-3Ben Member Join Date: November 5, 2006 Location: CT Posts: 3,835	I've carried various .357mags. Right now my favorite is the Ruger Speed Six 2.75"bbl. __________________ "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." Mae West