Having a hard time deciding which Used .357 to buy... opinions please.

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beag_nut

Regardless of your opinion of its looks, it is STILL incredibly strong (by design)​


Never said anything about how the GP100 looks or that it wasn't "incredibly strong". Just that compared to the Security Six it was not as comfortable to shoot and didn't possess the same weight distribution and handling traits that I was so fond of with the Six series guns.​
 
good luck finding a Security Six for a decent price, I had a Ruger SP101, loved the gun hated the grips...settled on a GP100 4" barrel....don't regret it, great revolver, a lil big for carrying but I love this pistol, I have several .357 mags including Ruger Blackhawks, the SP 101s and G100s are built like tanks...you wont regret these pistols...beasts that perform.
 
Congrats to the OP for his purchase.

For anyone else out there looking for a good used .357, don't overlook the iconic 586. I have one with a 6" bbl that's beautiful. Bought used for $595, minty. It's the "lock model" from the Classic Series that some superstitious people avoid like the plague (when they're not hanging garlic on their doors to keep away the vampires.) That means it doesn't bring as much as the older ones, but mine is probably the tightest, best built S&W revolver I have, and I have many, new and old. Buy one of the same era that has more cosmetic wear on it than mine, and you might get within the $500 range. The pre-lock models will be more money.
 
The early model Dan Wesson. Internally they are no different than the later models. EWK Arms sells an adapter to use the later concealed nut shrouds. They also make custom shrouds and barrels. LB Custom makes grips of all configurations with different wood choices.
 
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The full lug six-inch barrels make the guns pretty heavy. I'd look for a used GP that had the half lug barrel (discontinued?) , or a Security-Six or a S&W M-66. A four-inch barrel is handier and I'd add the S&W M-686 and GP-100..
I'd def. prefer a stainless gun over a blued or nickel one.

My GP has an excellent trigger pull, and it hasn't been worked on.
 
The DW 15-2. I've had a bunch of them, and the only thing that ever has broken is the hand spring on one of them, and I had to replace the main spring on the first one, the previous owner had clipped it. I have two of them and love them. Easy to work on, and the insides actually make sense!
 
Of those choices, I would pick the Security Six, but you will also need another one that you can cannibalize for parts, maybe one with a bad barrel or something. It would be more practical to hold out for something newer and supported, maybe a couple hundred dollars more. A collector gun is one thing, but a shooter is going to require some maintenance.

The action on the Security Six is no great thing, action job or no. I would much rather shoot a Smith or an Interarms Rossi.

Some of the Rugers have significant end-shake, so I would check for that.

Don't be too quick to use lighter springs on the Six, because you will get light strikes. It's a Ruger, and the action will never be the stuff of dreams. If you like to shoot double action, you might find the trigger very stagey, even inconsistent..

Lastly, the Security Six is not a good gun for full power loads, partly because of the limited grip choices. It is not a heavy gun either, able to absorb a lot of energy. The GP100 eats them up by comparison. The Sixes are not easy to conceal either, given square butt grip frames and limited grip options. The Speed Six would be the exception with its round butt. You probably won't be trying to conceal a 6" Security Six.

If I bought a LNIB that old, the first thing I would do is drop it off at my gunsmith's.
 
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beag_nut



That's what I thought too when the GP100 came out. I was very happy with every Security, Service, and Speed Six I owned and still kick myself for trading them away (typically for one of those new-fangled semi-autos). So I thought: "Great, this new GP100 should be a stronger, improved version of the Security Six." though truth be told I was more than happy with the Security Six just the way it was.

But the GP100 weighed in at 41 oz. (competing with the 42 oz. S&W Model 686), but not possessing the balance and handling characteristics that made the 34 oz. Six so popular. It was bigger and heavier, had a grip design that I never felt comfortable with, and had a heavy and gritty trigger in both double and single action mode.

So while I do have fond memories of the Six Series I can't say the same thing for the GP100.
Ruger guns right from the box are a work in progress. If your GP100 had been "tuned", I think you would have valued it.
 
RealGun

If your GP100 had been "tuned", I think you would have valued it.

No, not really. It just wasn't a good fit for me, especially when I was so much more accustomed to the Security Six; which was pretty much ready to go right out of the box. Come to think abut it I can't recall any of the Six Series revolvers that I had that required any sort of tuning or extra effort to make them run better.
 
RealGun



No, not really. It just wasn't a good fit for me, especially when I was so much more accustomed to the Security Six; which was pretty much ready to go right out of the box. Come to think abut it I can't recall any of the Six Series revolvers that I had that required any sort of tuning or extra effort to make them run better.
I guess it's just me that can't get a gun that doesn't need work. Of course, we have to be reminded that sellers are not always forthcoming about why they are selling a gun. We also have to watch the context of old versus newer production.
 
RealGun

All I can tell you is that the two other .357s I had at the time (a Colt Trooper Mk.V and a S&W Model 686), had great triggers (the Trooper Mk.V had the most comfortable factory grips on it that I have ever come across), and didn't require anything in the way of tuning or adjustment. All three guns were purchased new and the GP100 was a distant third in comparison to the other two.
 
RealGun

All I can tell you is that the two other .357s I had at the time (a Colt Trooper Mk.V and a S&W Model 686), had great triggers (the Trooper Mk.V had the most comfortable factory grips on it that I have ever come across), and didn't require anything in the way of tuning or adjustment. All three guns were purchased new and the GP100 was a distant third in comparison to the other two.
Consideration of older Smiths and Colts is outside the context of this thread (budget). But if you put that GP100 in the context of newer production, a gun from any of the companies that was great right from the box would be unusual.
 
RealGun

Consideration of older Smiths and Colts is outside the context of this thread (budget).

I wasn't suggesting that an older Model 686 or Trooper Mk.V were up for consideration for the OP to pick from. Merely comparing the GP100 to two other .357s that I owned at the time. I would still stay with my original suggestion for the OP to go with the 6" Security Six.
 
RealGun



I wasn't suggesting that an older Model 686 or Trooper Mk.V were up for consideration for the OP to pick from. Merely comparing the GP100 to two other .357s that I owned at the time. I would still stay with my original suggestion for the OP to go with the 6" Security Six.
Me too.

I am having some random light strikes with my Security Six and find there are no springs available specific to the gun. Kind of the risk you take.
 
Hello fellas, new guy here. I am a K frame Smith man, but i recently bought an old Security Six and installed the Wolff spring kit. It has has a nice light double and single action trigger pull. So far no light strikes.

I would have to vote Security Six. I've never owned a Dan Wesson, but i hear nice things about them.
 
Me too.

I am having some random light strikes with my Security Six and find there are no springs available specific to the gun. Kind of the risk you take.

Wolff still makes springs for the Six series. I asked them a little while ago and they said yes. As a matter of fact, they gave me the link to them. They're right on their website.
 
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