The stimulus and the 357

Well, I'm always partial to single-actions when I want to hit something in particular. My favorite is the Ruger Blackhawk and I do tend to prefer the 6-1/2" barrel, though I know folks who think shorter's better because of balance and such things. I also have an old Colt's .357 Model with the 6 inch barrel that's a tack driver. They don't make them anymore but it's a Python, basically, just without the polish and panache. They're found used these days sometimes hardly used for about what a new King Cobra costs. I used to be partial to the S&W 66 and 19 series guns in .357 but, the new ones have kind of soured me and when I started selling off stuff to pay medical bills, those were among the first to go. The Smiths just never fit quite as well as the Colts. But that's me and personal preferences are personal.

The GP100 is more utilitarian but the few I've shot have been plenty accurate and the costs is mighty attractive versus a 686 or older-used but still like-new Colt or Smith. To me a 4" double-action is a fine weapon and, with practice, mostly anyone can find a way to hit what they aim at, or close enough, with one inside fifty yards - but a 6" single-action with a good set of sights, once mastered, is a target-hunting-plinking-do anything the shooter would want from a revolver inside a hundred yards kind of machine. It's more than just a weapon.

That's my opinion and, of course, some will disagree. They always do.

I took part of my $#1400 stimulus and bought a S&W 357 on consignment at the LGS; hope to get it out in the next day or so

Well, without my bias on brand I would recommend a 4” barrel no matter what brand or model for what your needs are. Easy enough to carry but decent enough sight radius for accuracy when needed.

It just dawned on me that I only have one 4” barreled revolver now. I guess I like longer barrels too.

Okay, I will throw in some bias...
Since you aren’t wanting it for CCW why not a single action as @GeoDudeFlorida recommended. A Ruger Blackhawk Convertible .357 / 9mm with a 4.62 barrel might be fun.
https://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/models.html

If I just wanted a .357 Mag for the sake of having a .357 Mag, I would probably look for a nice, early S&W 19 in a 4" - 6" barrel length. I have a (new model) Ruger Blackhawk that I don't know if I've ever fired. I don't care much for single action revolvers, but it was waved in front of me for a good price so I bought it. I'll probably give it to one of the kids before long. I have a nice 27 6" and a Performance Center 627, those two I use quite a bit when the job or the mood calls for a .357. Also, I have an SP-101 2 1/4" but haven't seen it in years....my brother took a liking to it. I kind of like the idea posted above, a Blackhawk Convertible .357/9mm.

Personal preference, but 4" 357s seem like a good general purpose length to me. I carried a 4" S&W daily for years. I've had some 5" guns too; also a good barrel length IMHO. But if I had to pick one or the other, I would go with the 4". I like the S&W N-Frames, but think it would be hard to go wrong with a S&W 686 or Ruger GP100 .357 in the barrel length of your choice...

4" carries better in a holster on the hip; but 6" is such a classic look and feel.
As a one-off, special sort of buy, it might be worth looking into one of the new Pythons.
Maybe.
Perhaps.
For carry? Sure, 4" 686 makes sense. And you'd have enough left over to buy a 6" too.
But, for that "Oooh, wassat?" when you open the case . . .

Ok, that's an 'old' Python, and it found a good new home when I was broke.

I have had .357 in everything from 2” to 16” in handgun form. Mostly double action, a couple single action, and one single shot. The one I really liked by far the most I shot until it was falling apart. It was a Taurus 689 6” blued gun. I would love to replace it with its twin. The vent rib on that gun just really set it off for me, and that is also why I was so drawn to the Contender Hot Shot barrel that I still own. The most important thing about buying a revolver is buying what speaks to you when it hits your palm. Some guns will beg to stay in your hand and others just want to run away. Listen to them.

WestKentucky said:

I have had .357 in everything from 2” to 16” in handgun form. Mostly double action, a couple single action, and one single shot. The one I really liked by far the most I shot until it was falling apart. It was a Taurus 689 6” blued gun. I would love to replace it with its twin. The vent rib on that gun just really set it off for me, and that is also why I was so drawn to the Contender Hot Shot barrel that I still own. The most important thing about buying a revolver is buying what speaks to you when it hits your palm. Some guns will beg to stay in your hand and others just want to run away. Listen to them.

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He's got a point. Since you're spending Uncle Mao's money anyway, why not look at a Taurus or two. For the price of a 4" Python you can buy a 4" and a 6" Taurus and have money left over for a box of shells, each. They really are good, solid guns, especially the pre-2K Miami imports. You can blast away guilt free knowing you're not wrecking a classic or taking value off every time you pull the trigger. I have a 4" Taurus 66 that I carry out in the field and have absolute confidence it will go bang if I pull the trigger. My other roustabout 4" DASA .357 is a Colt Lawman Mk.V. I like the Lawman's trigger better but the Taurus has adjustable sights.

I’d personally go with a 6” GP100. Swap out the front sight to a fiber optic, get the tamer grips, or swap em from your .44 gp and you’ll have yourself a fine range toy you can crank out .357 rounds from all day.

GP100 all the way for a first 357.

+1 on the Blackhawk.

A 4" or 6" S&W Model 28 might also be worth considering. I am quite fond of both of mine.

Look for a Monson made Dan Wesson pistol pack in decent shape. 2, 4 and 6 inch barrel options. Problem solved. Will shoot as well or better as any of the aforementioned options.

4 inch 686. You won't be disappointed.

686+ 4"

Hmmm. Splitting the difference between 4" and 6" wouldn't be a bad idea for a one and only .357 magnum.

Makes me lean to a 5" barrel on an 8-shot S&W 627 .

I've heard you can shoot it single action, too.

First off, not having a 357 mag revolver is Sacrilege!!!!!

I've owned both S&W and Rugers and for me S&W is the way to go. Personal preference as the angle of the grip fits me better. Personally I prefer a 3" barreled revolver over a 4" or 6" model. My 686+ 3" is one of my most well balanced 357 mag revolver as it just fits me well. I also have a 19 and a 66 that are both fine revolvers in their own rights. The 19 is in Nickle, which gives the revolver a warm satin finish which is really nice. Some don't like the 66 as they say that a diet of full load 357 mag will loosen it up. I've got thousands of rounds through my 66 and it's still tight as the day I bought it. So to each their own.

Good luck with your decision.

Model 19 or 66 with a 4” barrel. You won’t even notice it’s there and they’re fantastic shooters usually... I would also highly recommend the 65 or 15 as well if a fixed sight isn’t an issue for you. They came regulated for the 158 grain semi wadcutter and fitted with Hogue roundbutt smooth grips are just perfect for every day carry. Along those lines, an SAA is pretty nice for the same reasons.

For the range, and not carrying, I feel the S&W 686 or 686+ (7 shot) in a 6 inch barrel is best if $$$ is not tight. A small step down would be the Ruger GP100 in 6 inch. These are really your only 2 quality options that are available new and are proven without any possible doubt. They are also both heavy enough to soak up recoil. These are "Medium heavy framed guns". Lighter framed revolvers like the S&W Models 19 & 66 , Ruger Sp101, Security six etc. will recoil more. Taurus firearms run hot and cold, no need to take a chance on those. The "New" model Python seems OK now but they are overly expensive for what they are. And there have been issues. The older Pythons had a horrible stacking double action trigger that real shooters detested but collectors don't mind. As can be evidenced by their astronomical prices.
If you enjoy the complicated loading/unloading process of a single action then any Ruger .357 with a 6ish barrel will be a Wonderfull choice.This is of course my opinion.

.357 mag is my favorite caliber. I'm old and go back to the days when we were issued K and N frames, On the ranch I carry a 686P 4", it has a performance center trigger that is very, very smooth, little effort pushing DA split times. I have 686Ps in 4", 5" Pro Series and 6" barrels, all are accurate and balance well. I also have a Colt Trooper MkIII with 6" barrel, it balances very well, and it has top-notch accuracy at long range, it's dialed in at 100 yards.

Check the gun shows if you can, good values can be found there.

woodnbow said:

Model 19 or 66 with a 4” barrel. You won’t even notice it’s there and they’re fantastic shooters usually... I would also highly recommend the 65 or 15 as well if a fixed sight isn’t an issue for you. They came regulated for the 158 grain semi wadcutter and fitted with Hogue roundbutt smooth grips are just perfect for every day carry. Along those lines, an SAA is pretty nice for the same reasons.

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Mod 65 and a 13 you meant. 15 is a adjustable sight .38. A great one too@

My experience is limited to the 686 4 Inch and the Ruger Black Hawk 6 inch. That Ruger sure is a nice shooter. But so is the Smithy. I got a big nothing for a rebate. But I just got back from Germany and my company pays me a bunch to go there for a month. I got about 1K that I didn't spend. Problem is I go for finger prints in two weeks and then turn in my request for a permit end of May. Been waiting a whole year just to turn in my permit. Then wait another six months for it to be processed. To carry I would get the 686. To have fun with, I would get the Ruger.

My only 357 is a Taurus 692 9mm/357 convertible, And it's a 2.75-in barrel.... Still because it's a fairly large frame for the seventh shot cylinder, It's about the size of your average high capacity 4-in handgun.

A buddy of mine has the 6-in 686 Plus.

Personally I actually prefer my littler Taurus, But I would like to have another inch or so of barrel length because I find the 2 and 3/4-in barrel blasty with hot 158 loads.
In 9 mm it's fantastic though.

Thus eventually I will buy a 4-in or 6" 357.
Most likely a Taurus because I have the GP100 in 44 special, And it just feels like a big bloody gun for a 357.