Opinions on .357 Magnum revolvers for higher power loads

Status
Not open for further replies.
That’s interesting that the forcing cone cracked with 158 grain bullets. That is all I shoot in mine to keep that from happening. I generally shoot 1100-1200 fps loads in mine but not very often. Mine sees more .38 Special than .357.

When I was competing with the Model 19, it got shot alot. Over a 3 to 4 year period, probably 200-250 rounds per month. Max loads of W296 with 158 grain jacketed bullets.

During this time, 1980 or so, 158 grain loads in 357 Magnum were kind of the norm. The 125 grain loads were starting to become popular. Once the 125 grain loads took over in popularity, it is one of the reasons I feel that they got the reputation for cracking the Model 19's forcing cone.

In general these days, I load 158 grain semi-wadcutters to about 950-1000 fps in 357 Magnum cases for all my 357 Magnum shooting. I do not shoot my Model 19 much any more, shooting an L-frame instead. If I want to shoot a K-frame these days, I'm more likely to shoot 148 grain wadcutters from my Model 14 or Model 15.
 
suggestion.........consider a larger caliber ?
in my experience, when i want more stopping ability than mid range 357 loads,
need more than 357 is needed- however 41/44 mags might be too much to "handle".
Consider 45 Colt in a S&W M25, Ruger Redhawk or a short cylinder BFR or FA M97?
For hunting a handload of 255 gr SWC at 1000 fps is easy to develop or the Grizzly
cartridge loading of 265 gr LBT at 950 fps are highly effective, easy on wrists, ears and guns ?

Thank you, but I have 3 - .45 Colt revolvers and I can crank out some hot .45s for my original Vaquero if I need too. I am also thinking a Blackhawk.45 Convertible is in my future. But, this discussion is for another time. :)
 
When I was competing with the Model 19, it got shot alot. Over a 3 to 4 year period, probably 200-250 rounds per month. Max loads of W296 with 158 grain jacketed bullets.

During this time, 1980 or so, 158 grain loads in 357 Magnum were kind of the norm. The 125 grain loads were starting to become popular. Once the 125 grain loads took over in popularity, it is one of the reasons I feel that they got the reputation for cracking the Model 19's forcing cone.

In general these days, I load 158 grain semi-wadcutters to about 950-1000 fps in 357 Magnum cases for all my 357 Magnum shooting. I do not shoot my Model 19 much any more, shooting an L-frame instead. If I want to shoot a K-frame these days, I'm more likely to shoot 148 grain wadcutters from my Model 14 or Model 15.

Thank you for explaining. I will definitely keep this in mind.
I would just hate to crack the forcing cone on my model 19-4. Finding replacement barrels is getting harder and harder.

Side note @heyboy mentioned the model 19 Classic. I called Smith & Wesson a few months ago to ask if the new model 19 could handle a steady diet of .357 magnum and was told that it definitely could. There is no cut away on the forcing cone. The frame metallurgy is also much better. The gent I spoke with said the barrel is actually the newer two piece or sleeved barrel.
I was actually interested in buying one but decided my wrists need more weight for help with the recoil.
 
Side note @heyboy mentioned the model 19 Classic. I called Smith & Wesson a few months ago to ask if the new model 19 could handle a steady diet of .357 magnum and was told that it definitely could. There is no cut away on the forcing cone. The frame metallurgy is also much better. The gent I spoke with said the barrel is actually the newer two piece or sleeved barrel.

And the current production Model 66 has the upgraded barrel and frame as well if stainless is your thing. But it is also lighter than what you are looking for.

My right wrist does not take too long to hurt while shooting since I broke it 15 years ago. It does a fair job of predicting the weather though.:)
 
I love my TRR8. It's lighter than my CZ RAMI but handles 357 really well. I'd like to have the 5.5in 357 Redhawk as well. It's pretty heavy though.

8 shot 357s are definitely awesome to have though. You'd know since you got a Night Guard.

Also, I know you didn't mention this one but it's getting to the point now where I've been finding the new Pythons at MSRP. You'd be paying slightly more for it than the Redhawk. I'd definitely go for the Colt if I was just looking for a good soft shooter.

They have by far the best DA triggers of all the mass production revolvers in my opinion. They take care of you too. I blatantly voided my warranty on my new Cobra. I later ended up having to send it off for a paid RMA. It was even in the ticket that it wasn't free. I called one day to see if they had my invoice ready and they told me not to worry about it. Their RMA process was a bit longer than usual at the time but they took great care of me...fixing it for free and whatnot.

I've had great experiences with S&W too. They sent me free screws for a gun they knew I'd bought used.
 
Last edited:
I love my TRR8. It's lighter than my CZ RAMI but handles 357 really well. I'd like to have the 5.5in 357 Redhawk as well. It's pretty heavy though.

8 shot 357s are definitely awesome to have though. You'd know since you got a Night Guard.

Also, I know you didn't mention this one but it's getting to the point now where I've been finding the new Pythons at MSRP. You'd be paying slightly more for it than the Redhawk. I'd definitely go for the Colt if I was just looking for a good soft shooter.

I do really like my 327NG. I like it so much I named it “Brutus”. I am not a guy that names guns. It’s the only one with a name. Besides, it’s the only gun my little 5’ 1” wife likes to shoot and it’s our bedroom gun. If I tell her “Go get Brutus” she knows exactly what that means while others might think Brutus is a dog or a person.
I would like a TRR8, but I am looking for something heavier for hotter loads.

Regarding the Python, I truly have no interest in Colt revolvers. It’s not that I don’t like them I just have no interest in them. I have a Colt DS. That is the only Colt revolver I have ever wanted. The Colt DS must be a phenomenal weapon as it actually made Superman duck. Haha :D

I don’t wish to turn this into a Colt vs S&W vs Ruger vs Whatever issue. I just have no interest in Colt’s so let’s leave it at that. :)
 
Pat Riot,

The 586/686 series will give you a lifetime of shooting stout .357 loads in a package that’s very portable, same with the GP 100.

I don’t have .357 N-frames or .357 RedHawks but I do have them in .44 Mag/.41 Mag, respectively. They’re hefty, and in .357 will have a lot of steel around the cylinder. Of the two I think the Ruger action would probably hold up longer for heavy usage, so if you’re looking to push limits that would be my recommendation.

Stay safe.
 
A .357 Magnum range, and possibly hunting, revolver that'll handle a steady diet of full power ammo and weighs 40+ ounces.....
Sounds like a Taurus .357 Magnum Raging Hunter.
 
My wife shoots a 686+ with 3" and does not like full house mags in it but she will shoot them from my 5" 627 all day‍♂️
 
I do really like my 327NG. I like it so much I named it “Brutus”. I am not a guy that names guns. It’s the only one with a name. Besides, it’s the only gun my little 5’ 1” wife likes to shoot and it’s our bedroom gun. If I tell her “Go get Brutus” she knows exactly what that means while others might think Brutus is a dog or a person.
I would like a TRR8, but I am looking for something heavier for hotter loads.

Regarding the Python, I truly have no interest in Colt revolvers. It’s not that I don’t like them I just have no interest in them. I have a Colt DS. That is the only Colt revolver I have ever wanted. The Colt DS must be a phenomenal weapon as it actually made Superman duck. Haha :D

I don’t wish to turn this into a Colt vs S&W vs Ruger vs Whatever issue. I just have no interest in Colt’s so let’s leave it at that. :)

To each their own. Have you looked at the Taurus 608? It's a complete steal for what it is.
 
The GP and L-frame were literally designed for the .357 cartridge, after learning lessons from the model 19. My biggest complaint about them has always been the unnecessary weight of the full underlug. Luckily, Ruger did build the GP with just an ejector shroud. Here's a 6".

Ropers%20012b.jpg

Another option would be the .357 version of this one.

GP%20walnut%2001.jpg
 
The GP and L-frame were literally designed for the .357 cartridge, after learning lessons from the model 19. My biggest complaint about them has always been the unnecessary weight of the full underlug. Luckily, Ruger did build the GP with just an ejector shroud. Here's a 6".

I have a 5" without full lug barrel and a 3" with. Used to have a 4" with. I much prefer a half-lug barrel. It balances better. Lots of diehard S&W fans out there but personally if I had to choose between Ruger, Kimber, Colt and S&W, S&W would be dead last. I have an older 686 and a 29-3. They are pretty but don't handle like the Rugers.
 
The only Taurus handguns on the “Roster” in California are Snubbies except for 2 model 65’s. with 4” barrels.

Hmm...what about the Dan Wesson 715 or an old model 12? They fluctuate like crazy in value, but you can usually find them fairly cheap. Well made guns and you can change the barrel to different lengths.
 
Hmm...what about the Dan Wesson 715 or an old model 12? They fluctuate like crazy in value, but you can usually find them fairly cheap. Well made guns and you can change the barrel to different lengths.

The California roster includes only models of a gun which have been submitted for destructive testing, and even then, each model only stays on the list for a certain period of time. The same model of gun must be periodically resubmitted in order to remain on the list.

That rules out all sorts of good guns, including essentially all semi-autos and double action revolvers not currently in mass production. The best that Californians can hope for in those cases is to find the used gun for sale - at anything like a reasonable price! - which already is in the state.
 
The California roster includes only models of a gun which have been submitted for destructive testing, and even then, each model only stays on the list for a certain period of time. The same model of gun must be periodically resubmitted in order to remain on the list.

That rules out all sorts of good guns, including essentially all semi-autos and double action revolvers not currently in mass production. The best that Californians can hope for in those cases is to find the used gun for sale - at anything like a reasonable price! - which already is in the sate.

That's absolutely insane.
 
I like CraigC's Rugers---I could see getting a Ruger with the underlug and cutting the underlug off. If done carefully you wouldn't even need a gunsmith
to do it.
 
The California roster includes only models of a gun which have been submitted for destructive testing, and even then, each model only stays on the list for a certain period of time. The same model of gun must be periodically resubmitted in order to remain on the list.

That rules out all sorts of good guns, including essentially all semi-autos and double action revolvers not currently in mass production. The best that Californians can hope for in those cases is to find the used gun for sale - at anything like a reasonable price! - which already is in the state.

That is correct, but there is one caveat. Guns stay on the roster as long as the manufacturer resubmits a request each year along with a fee for each gun they have had approved. I heard that the fee went way up and manufacturers like Ruger dropped a lot of models. For instance there used to be 9 or 10 GP100 models on the list. Now there are 5. As long as manufacturers do not change the gun design and they resubmit Roster requests each year, with a fee, of course, the gun stays on the roster.
 
That is correct, but there is one caveat. Guns stay on the roster as long as the manufacturer resubmits a request each year along with a fee for each gun they have had approved. I heard that the fee went way up and manufacturers like Ruger dropped a lot of models. For instance there used to be 9 or 10 GP100 models on the list. Now there are 5. As long as manufacturers do not change the gun design and they resubmit Roster requests each year, with a fee, of course, the gun stays on the roster.

Is that so? I wonder if the state changed the requirement for resubmission or if I have been wrong about it the whole time.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top