What is your best 357 revolver?

Big and small or my custom 66

Smith and Wesson 586 in the 6 inch flavor

S&W 627 prelock V-comps 8 rounds of 357 goodness!!!

Have owned or do own:

Colt Trooper III: Seems to be getting collectible. I didn't care for it.

S&W 686: I like this gun. Bit heavy to carry around.

Taurus 605: Kind of a novelty. Has bobbed hammer & ported barrel. I don't trust it for self defense.

Ruger SP101: Love this one. I think it would meet your stated requirements.

FA 353: Large, heavy, expensive & single action. Love it

Tuckerdog1

.357s are my favorite revolvers. I own these:

Dan wesson model 15 pistol pack. Very good but needs work to fix light primer strikes.

SW 686+ 6". prelock with hammer mount pin. Sweet - almost my favorite.

SW 27 5'. This is my favorite - I just seem to shoot straighter with this one.

SW 66 4". I bought this from a Shotgun News ad. Its a police trade. Nice gun but a little loose.

Ruger SP101 2 1/4' I love this gun. Good to carry.

I don't have a varied .357 selection to brag about. But when I did get one, I picked a good one. I chose a Dan Wesson 15-2VH in 6", Monson made.

I've never had a bad 357. I'm sure someone has made one, but I haven't seen it. I've owned mostly Smith & Wessons, but a few Colts, Rugers, and Taurus' were thrown in there for good measure.

I suppose the Smith & Wesson Model 19, with a 4" barrel, is my favorite. I thought it was the perfect handgun back in the day when I went looking for my first handgun. I still think it is. May not be for you, but it is for me.

but short barrels and light frames are better for ccw.

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...as long as you don't have to shoot them with .357 Magnums. You're right though...that's a very common notion. You just have to back off to 38 Special or pick your ammo carefully (or make your own to suit). The Speer Short Barrel is what I use in the smaller guns, but I can't say I carry them often.

For the range, my S&W 627 V-comp is hard to beat. For carry, I use a Taurus snubby that has been totally reliable and is more than enough tool for the job.

For carry, I use a Taurus snubby that has been totally reliable and is more than enough tool for the job.

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I have to ask what you shoot in it. For example, many guns used as 38s masquerade as 357s.

bullbarrel,

Your older 60 should spin and the hammer should cock with ease. It may just need a good cleaning - perhaps a dissection and cleaning. If you are at all timid, take it to a decent S&W revolver gunsmith. It shouldn't cost much - unless it needs parts - or the frame is damaged.

FYI, the original S&W model 60, like Ruger's original SP-101, was chambered for .38 Specials - not .357 Magnums. The later 60's, like the XL SP101's, should feel at home with the .38 Specials. Just clean the carbon/crud ring left in the chambers before you ever load .357 Magnums!

I don't shoot 'real', ie, warm-hot .357 Magnums in my so-chambered revolvers - my choice - YMMV! I do shoot 115gr Gold Dots at .357 Magnum velocities in one revolver - my 632 Pro - a 2 1/8" barrel six-shot J-frame in .327 Federal Magnum, the chambering whose 'fire' fizzled - and went out - several years back. I suppose this is my favorite '.327 Magnum' revolver! (It's my only one...).



It kicks launching those 115gr Gold Dots - the S&W Accessory grip, the '60 Pro' style grip, gives you more to hang on to than the original Goodyears. It has a still-available sibling in .357 Magnum - the 640 Pro - that differs in the chambering and round-count (It's a five-shot.). Pricey nowadays, but it weighs twice what the 340PD does - should have a more controllable recoil, especially with larger stocks/grips. I can still pocket carry my 632 Pro in the same pocket holsters I use for my 642.

Stainz

I like my 327 trr8 a lot! Not a carry gun, but great fun at the range. Light, handles any load, 8 shot moonclips a plus.

My best is a Python that went back to Colt for a new barrel, re-blue, and tuning. They did a spectacular job.
The SP101 meets your criteria. Stout, concealable, accurate as any snub with fixed sights. I have one and like it. It is enjoyable to shoot even with stout loads.

My "best" - or "favorite" is my 1957 Colt Model 3-5-7. The gun has a single action trigger that is the very best I've ever experienced. They didn't make too many of these and collectors have discovered them and because of their quality and scarcity, are getting pretty expensive. I still shoot it though - all my guns get shot.

My "best" - or "favorite" is my 1957 Colt Model 3-5-7. The gun has a single action trigger that is the very best I've ever experienced.

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Amen.

The Model 357 IS the Python, without the cosmetics. It has the finest action and trigger I've ever experienced.

I carried mine my first tour in Viet Nam, served two customers with it, and neither one asked for his money back.

Best shooter is a 5" Model 27. Favorite is a 3 1/2" Model 27

Easy to pick since I only have - or need - one. It's a 1980 s&w 586 in near-NIB condition.

Everyon's favorite will be somewhat different because of the different uses and needs if individuals.
I really don't plan on shooting anyone however I felt the need for a powerful trail companion and a reveolve that could be applied to a "social Situation" if need be.
I opted for a 4 3/4" Ruger Vaquero .357. WHy? Well All my life I have owned and shot single Actions and the operation is second nature over D/a or a Semi Auto Pistol with it's many movements. The Da's that I own are .38 Specials and I find them very comforting if you know what I mean...
The Vaquero rides in different leather at different times, A Western Style 1880's SHolder rig based on an old Texas style, a high ride hip holster, strong side with modern snaps to contain it, and last a 1880's Pancake, socket style, Crossdraw. When I ordered it the little write-up said it was copied from an Arizona rig of the era.
They all have a purpose but I gotta admit the Crossdraw is most comfortable and versitile. The SHolder rig makes the pretty big Ruger invisable under a coat.
The hip holster is great for walks and sitting at my portable shooting bench. I often carry a powerful revolver while airgunning since running into a large pack of Hogs and a BIG trio of Farm Dogs that snuck up beind me. No problems, just you need to have something when out alone in the fields etc.
I know that different answers will abound in this string, this was just mine.
BPDave

I currently have four;

Dan Wesson Model 15VR, 6" blue, which is my most accurate.
S&W 686, 4", almost as accurate.
S&W 66, 2 1/2"
Ruger Blackhawk, 4 5/8" blue, ties with the M66 in accuracy.

If I am going to shoot in a friendly competition I am shooting the Dan Wesson, however, the 686 is my favorite of the four. The 66 is the only one that I have ever carried concealed, the Blackhawk is in my son's possession and probably isn't coming back.

I guess If I had to choose my "best" it would be my 686.

ZVP said:

Everyon's favorite will be somewhat different because of the different uses and needs if individuals.
I really don't plan on shooting anyone however I felt the need for a powerful trail companion and a reveolve that could be applied to a "social Situation" if need be.
I opted for a 4 3/4" Ruger Vaquero .357. WHy? Well All my life I have owned and shot single Actions and the operation is second nature over D/a or a Semi Auto Pistol with it's many movements. The Da's that I own are .38 Specials and I find them very comforting if you know what I mean...
The Vaquero rides in different leather at different times, A Western Style 1880's SHolder rig based on an old Texas style, a high ride hip holster, strong side with modern snaps to contain it, and last a 1880's Pancake, socket style, Crossdraw. When I ordered it the little write-up said it was copied from an Arizona rig of the era.
They all have a purpose but I gotta admit the Crossdraw is most comfortable and versitile. The SHolder rig makes the pretty big Ruger invisable under a coat.
The hip holster is great for walks and sitting at my portable shooting bench. I often carry a powerful revolver while airgunning since running into a large pack of Hogs and a BIG trio of Farm Dogs that snuck up beind me. No problems, just you need to have something when out alone in the fields etc.
I know that different answers will abound in this string, this was just mine.
BPDave

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I don't blame you at all I carry my 4 5/8" vaquero all the time. Just did today, actually. I carry mine in a tanker shoulder holster that I modified for it to ride in. You're right, it disappears under a coat, but it presents very quickly. Amazing how fast 2lbs of stainless thunder can clear leather.

Love it

S&W 686


though I've been wanting to give the new Dan Wesson a try.

I had 2 terribly inaccurate gp100s so I steer clear of those, but I have had a taurus 66 I managed to trade for my first gp100 that was a true dandy...I understand why the guy made the trade though and miss that 66....my suggestion with guns easily found would be a s&w of any model that is not a j frame...K frame is perfection, L frame is getting biggish. 3" or 2.5" would be great but they are kinda rare to stumble across.

I have a bunch of old S&W revolvers, and my recent 586 lock model shoots as well as any of them, if not better. It's as accurate as my mid 70's model 14...which maybe isn't so surprising, since it has a 6" barrel like my 14. But it's 6" barrel and it's pretty & pristine finish keep it from being the utility gun that it really should be, so I bought a no dash 681. Kind of the ideal outdoor gun with it's stainless finish and fixed sights. L frames could be concealable this time of year, but not so much in warm weather.

My personal feeling? I'd stay away from a polymer .357.

I have a 4 5/8" New Vaquero .357 in stainless, and I like it very much...

...but LANDSAKES, is it heavy!! Mine is much closer to 3 pounds than 2.



Hard for me to pick a favorite out of what I currently or used to own, but I guess I will go with the 3" SP-101 this time.

I only have one 357 so, I guess it's my favorite. S&W Mod. 19-3, nickel with a 4" barrel