3" .357 Lightweight?

[Mot45acp]

Looking for the perfect hiking pistol. In my neck of the woods 2 legged, hogs, and snakes would be the primary purpose.

I don't have a fear of snakes, but sitting on the creek bank fishing or camping, on more than one occasion I've had a moccasin come see what I was doing. Not really aggressive, but more curious than anything. Generally I just let them on their way. But sometimes we scare the crap out of eachother and that's when it can get potentially dangerous. I have been chased by them.

I am looking for a 3" barrel, 6 shot, lightweight 357. First round in the cylinder would be snake shot, followed by defensive rounds. This wouldn't be a high volume gun. Shot to ensure function, and gain proficiency and that's about it.

Closest I've found is the Ruger LCRx, but it's a 5 shot. What other options are out there? I've seen some older out of production Smiths, but none on GB.

 

[Sistema1927]

Kimber 3" K6S seems to tick off all the boxes. It is as light as I would want a .357 to be. Mine is in the middle here.

 

[Mot45acp]

Kimber 3" K6S seems to tick off all the boxes. It is as light as I would want a .357 to be. Mine is in the middle here.
View attachment 1091558

Are they alloy or stainless?

 

[Styx]

Are they alloy or stainless?

Stainless steel... You have the Kimber K6s DASA at 25oz or the 3" Colt King Cobra at 28oz. None are all that heavy to me. Those are really your only options. Most are not interested in feather weight 357 with a longer barrel.

For what it's worth, I like the King Cobra more although the sights on the Kimber is better. The Colt just seems more robust and the trigger is better IMHO. The Kimber has more attention paid to machining, and still has a good trigger. In hand, I can not really notice the 3oz difference much.

 

[amd6547]

3" GP100.
Great shooting revolver. I carry it IWB, and don't find it to be a burden.

 

[Styx]

3" GP100.
Great shooting revolver. I carry it IWB, and don't find it to be a burden.View attachment 1091606

36oz... I agree and carry a 34oz 686+ regularly without an issue, but anything that weighs more than 20 or so onces is like carrying a boat anchor for some folks.

 

[Starter52]

Check out Charter Arms. They made/ make a lightweight .357 five shot revolver that you should look at. Very reasonable priced and a decent woods gun.

 

[Styx]

Check out Charter Arms. They made/ make a lightweight .357 five shot revolver that you should look at. Very reasonable priced and a decent woods gun.

I just looked Charter Arms has a 3" 357mag that is 6 shot. It's about $400 +/-. It's in stainless and black, and is 25oz... The same weight as the K6s but half the price. The 3" k6s are going for $950-$1000.

 

[Tallball]

My Ruger LCR has such a nice trigger and is so easy to carry that I'm happy to settle for five rounds.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I just looked Charter Arms has a 3" 357mag that is 6 shot. It's about $400 +/-. It's in stainless and black, and is 25oz... The same weight as the K6s but half the price. The 3" k6s are going for $950-$1000.

Question: what are the chances this revolver will be shot once with full magnum power rounds then loaded forever more with .38Spl +P because the recoil and muzzle blast is not worth the slight gain in velocity?

 

[Styx]

My Ruger LCR has such a nice trigger and is so easy to carry that I'm happy to settle for five rounds.

Have you fired 357 out of it? I willing to bet that the OP will rethink his plan of wanting to fire defensive powered rounds through a 15oz or lighter revolver.

I have owned a LRC for over decade now. Bullets have jump crimp, the blast and flash is no joke as is the BOOM, and the recoil has left my hand and fingers feeling like I had arthritis.

 

[Styx]

Question: what are the chances this revolver will be shot once with full magnum power rounds then loaded forever more with .38Spl +P because the recoil and muzzle blast is not worth the slight gain in velocity?

You beat me too it lol... I literally just posted the same thing. My guess is the OP has never had that experience. My guess is he will be searching for a 3" K frame or the like that's around 30oz or so when it's all said and done.

I carry 38+p in my lightweight 357 revolvers, and 357 686, GP100, etc size revolvers. On the hip with a good holster and belt, 30oz or so doesn't feel like much to me.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

You beat me too it lol... I literally just posted the same thing. My guess is the OP has never had that experience. My guess is he will be searching for a 3" K frame or the like that's around 30oz or so when it's all said and done.

I carry 38+p in my lightweight 357 revolvers, and 357 686, GP100, etc size revolvers. On the hip with a good holster and belt, 30oz or so doesn't feel like much to me.

Whether it’s long pig or short pig, the bottom line is always the same: shot placement.

However, I have known people who could shoot full boat .357’s as well as hot .38’s from a snubby so it’s not impossible the OP knows what he can handle comfortably.

 

[Styx]

Whether it’s long pig or short pig, the bottom line is always the same: shot placement.

However, I have known people who could shoot full boat .357’s as well as hot .38’s from a snubby so it’s not impossible the OP knows what he can handle comfortably.

I can handle it out of a heavier snubby. I carry a 2.5" 686+ with 125gr JHP. It's 357 out of lightweight snubs that aren't any fun. Even if you want to practice with 357 target ammo, I have had bullets jump crimp and render my revolver useless until I got home and was able to clear the jam. Not only that, regular full power 357 out of a small lightweight revolver will but a lot of wear and tear on it.

 

[Mot45acp]

I have a no lock M&P 340. 13oz .357 with 1⅞" barrel. Yes I have shot it with full power loads. Not the funnest thing to do. Just want a 3" barrel.

This will be a low round count gun. Not range other than to gain/maintain proficiency.

 

[stonebuster]

A 3" S&W model 65 is about as light a .357 as I'd want to shoot regularly. It might work for the OP.

 

[Styx]

I have a no lock M&P 340. 13oz .357 with 1⅞" barrel. Yes I have shot it with full power loads. Not the funnest thing to do. Just want a 3" barrel.

This will be a low round count gun. Not range other than to gain/maintain proficiency.
View attachment 1091635

Looks like your only options in the configuration you desire are around 25 oz, so 10oz more than I assume is your target weight.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have a no lock M&P 340. 13oz .357 with 1⅞" barrel. Yes I have shot it with full power loads. Not the funnest thing to do. Just want a 3" barrel.

This will be a low round count gun. Not range other than to gain/maintain proficiency.
View attachment 1091635

In that case, the only thing I can suggest is a new Colt Cobra.

 

[Mot45acp]

Guess I'll get a second one. Buy one revolver and it starts a "thing" lol.

 

[Armored farmer]

Man, I did lots of things with this one on my belt.
Fish. Hike. Vacation. Ccw....




Just a 5shooter. But chunky enought to help absorb a cylinder full of .357mag

 

[Tallball]

My friend has an LCR in 357. Mine is in 38 special. We are shooting buddies and I've shot 357's out of his way more times than I can count. It's not that big of a deal. The 357 is about four ounces heavier, which does help.

 

[RealGun]

Looking for the perfect hiking pistol. In my neck of the woods 2 legged, hogs, and snakes would be the primary purpose.

I don't have a fear of snakes, but sitting on the creek bank fishing or camping, on more than one occasion I've had a moccasin come see what I was doing. Not really aggressive, but more curious than anything. Generally I just let them on their way. But sometimes we scare the crap out of eachother and that's when it can get potentially dangerous. I have been chased by them.

I am looking for a 3" barrel, 6 shot, lightweight 357. First round in the cylinder would be snake shot, followed by defensive rounds. This wouldn't be a high volume gun. Shot to ensure function, and gain proficiency and that's about it.

Closest I've found is the Ruger LCRx, but it's a 5 shot. What other options are out there? I've seen some older out of production Smiths, but none on GB.

I wouldn't plan on doing that with a pocket gun or every day carry sort of rig. I would use a gun well enough suited to shooting magnums and holstered on a separate belt, probably cross draw. The early reply about using 686 was on the right track, but I would use a longer barrel.

 

[jstert]

i can only shoot 357mag out of a ruger blackhawk. yes i’m a wimp, but that round out of that revolver equals a decent chance of initial and followon hits.

 

[Obturation]

However, I have known people who could shoot full boat .357’s as well as hot .38’s from a snubby so it’s not impossible the OP knows what he can handle comfortably.

It's never been a big issue (for me). I've heard that a lot of folks avoid full power 357 rounds in snubbys and j frames ect., never thought it was abusive . recoil is subjective and everyone deals with it differently and interprets it differently. A majority of inexperienced shooters interpret flash & blast as recoil regardless of actual force being present . like swinging a heavy bat and then switching to a lighter one, recoil is like that. Go shoot a bunch of heavy loaded 44 magnum or bigger and then go back to 357, just about any will be very manageable in comparison.

With that said, i'd sacrifice the 1 round and go for an sp101. You want some mass to prevent crimp jump and a revolver that can stand up to long term use. Most of the j frames aren't super robust if a lot of full power loads are on the menu, I've never owned one but that's the impression I get from shooting them a little . I could be wrong but some are very light and feel kind of fragile.
The k6 is cool too but expensive.

 

[Mike in Western Oregon]

Hi Folks, what about the Smith and Wesson model 60 3 incher? Has adjustable sites, is .357 capable and relatively light at 24 ounces empty. The Kimber 3 inch as mentioned is the competition with an extra round. I am still waiting on the long term reliability and support for that one, as I am a suspicious old fart
Dang- is see the model 60 does not meet the OP's request for 6 rounds.