Ultimate 357 magnum revolver if you were going to have ONE?

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There was this seven - shooter GP 100 that I tried buying once - but this was during a period wherein I moved to a new state, and didn't get to apply for a Concealed Pistol Permit yet - my 4473 was flagged, and I was denied the purchase!!!

It was probably the most fortuitous denial I got - when I handled the pistol waiting for the 4473 to be sorted out - immediate buyer's remorse - I'm sorry to say that it did feel cheap. No doubt it was a sturdy pistol, but the quality of work was something like a comparison between the bridge of the Enterprise and some Klingon warship (my Smiths are old, from the 1990s).

Had to pay for return shipping, as well as a restocking fee...
 
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I've owned a lot of 357's. Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Colt, and Taurus. I've never had one I didn't like. Just pick one you like, and you'll most likely be happy with it.

I suppose if I was going to pick one to carry around in a holster and bang off stuff, I'd pick my "Classic" Model 19-9 Smith and Wesson. Yes...the one with the lock. Maybe it's not as "pretty" as the only ones, but in my hands it shoots better. I don't worry about blowing 357 ammo through it all day long. It came out of the box with a really good trigger, and the finish seems to wear well. If something were to break, I can send it back to the factory to be fixed.

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And for those who say "You ever notice no one shows the side with the lock."

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Not a deal breaker for me. For others, it may be.
Full agreement with you, it's a superb beautiful handgun, have had mine for decades. Only problem I have had is it eats primers, tried adjusting hammer spring, did not work, simple solution??? CCI primers, must be harder or thicker cups?? Don't know but solved the problem.
 
I was late (in my life) getting into revolvers, and my first "real" non-junk (cough cough Rossi) revolver was a well-used 4" S&W M66 no-dash almost twenty years ago.

I still own it, which ought to say something.
Been through a number of revolvers (probably 20+) since then, most of them .357, and nearly all of them are long gone.
That 4" M66 ranks right up there as the perfect revolver IMHO.
At a certain point I had a pretty nice 6" M27. Sold it to fund a somewhat cosmetically-challenged 5" M-27, and don't regret that choice one bit (okay, maybe a little, but you can't own them all, at least not all at once.) That one shoots so well that I'm not sure I could ever let it go.

And no, I don't own a lever gun, or care for SA revolvers, so that is a non-issue for me.
 
They're no longer affordable.
I’m learning there is a big difference between the local gun market and GB.

The LGS sold me a used GP100 during the height of the panic for $400. The shop had been mobbed with people for weeks, but that revolver had been sitting unexamined and unloved, with that $400 price tag. They acted surprised that I bought it. On GB they were selling for 700+

I posted an NIB LCRx on the local board WITH a box of ammo for $500 and got literally zero responses. The same gun at the same price with no ammo sold in two hours on GB.

It seems like the way to buy guns is by driving around.

By the way, if anyone wants a DW fixed sight .357 2” that I got from a THR member, DM me. $450 + shipping
 
This one is my favorite .357 Mag:

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Although a little spendy, that would be my choice for a new 357. I know S&W fairly well as I have a few model 19's. Yours is the ultimate .357 though. They got everything right with that one, including the barrel length. Resembles an old Blackhawk that I once had and I carried that one for many years while surveying in some remote areas of AZ back in the 70's.
 
Since it’s a companion to a lever action rifle, I would want something light and smaller to carry on my belt. But strong enough to shoot rifle rounds, and heavy enough to be able to. So that’s the SP101 3” for me.

Lefty
 
Got my dream 357s a while back, yes I know it's supposed to be one, mine are both Rugers, one is a Blackhawk the other a stainless GP100. Got them shooting to the same spot at 50 yards so moving from one to the other is no problem.
 
I have two, a Ruger .357 Security Six and a S&W .357 and both are fantastic guns. Although not a .357, my favorite recent acquirement is a S&W Model 29-2 44 magnum that belonged to my grandfather and is in fantastic shape. I haven't even had a chance to take it to the range yet but its a beautiful gun.
 
For me, it will probably be a RUGER GP-100 Match Champion. The regular GP-100 is too heavy, like the S&W 586/686 revolvers. Also the trigger on most of the GP-100's that I have tried leaves room for improvement. The Match Champion is a little lighter, just a few ounces and the trigger work is already done by the factory.
I have owned and shot many different .357 revolvers and think the N frame S&W'S are too heavy for comfortable carry and the intermediate size GP-100 and S&W L-frames are lighter, but not light enough. I used to carry a S&W 681 on duty and it got old really fast. It shot well, much better than the issue S&W model 13 and I still have it. It is a great gun, but a little to heavy.
The S&W K-frame like my old issue model 13 and the better known model 19/66 just do not hold up to steady magnum use, in my experience.
Until I get a Match Champion, my most often used .357 magnum will be my RUGER Security Six. My 4 inch, blue model had a trigger job by the previous owner and it equals the best jobs I have on my S&W revolvers. While heavier than the K frames, it is still lighter and better balanced than the L-frame and GP-100 models.

Jim
 
I have to say the S&W Model 27. Now there are many other excellent examples made by several different companies. I am not going to waste time promoting one over another. I happen to really admire the Model 27.

The Model 27 certainly has a place of honor among .357’s, since it was the first .357 ever made, but N frames never did it for me. Just so big and unwieldy. I bought an excellent condition Model 28 for cheap before prices on them exploded. I sold it for nearly double what I paid for it. I do miss it sometimes but the L frame was the perfect compromise between the massive N frame and the dream to carry but too light for serious .357 work K frame. I very much miss the 686 I once had, but the 681 I currently have isn’t going anywhere.
 
Since you said ultimate , I would say vintage Colt Python . If buying new product probably a Kimber .
 
I like my python alot, it is so smooth and an excellent shooter.View attachment 1024746
Just picked this up yesterday at my LGS. Used but not abused. I was waiting in line for a new SP101 .357. This is like new as it can get for around one third off the price of a new one. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank who ever traded it in.

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Thats a fine revolver, truly. It could be my one and only.....except for those grips:fire::fire::fire::fire:... some ruger suit deserves to be fired over that....
Hogue makes a HUGE improvement. I tried to like the factory grips for too long.:scrutiny: Don't fight it like I did!:thumbdown::thumbdown:
20210606_143022.jpg :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
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