.357 Double Action

I am moving to Idaho!

As a gift to myself, I finally want to buy a .357 DA.

I want to purchase a new .357 but not a custom one. From what I can see, that Ruger Redhawk with 8 rounds looks as good as any factory revolver and maybe better than some.

Please give me any opinions as to what the best .357 I can buy at the moment is. I’m willing to buy used...

Thanks again for the thoughts...
Greg

 

686

 

Right. Should have started with that.

TBH: I just want it. I can see myself carrying it while fishing, but I just want it to go bang at the range. I have an across the chest holster for my 1911 for outdoor defense cary.

I’d like it between 4” and 6”. I have a 7” Blackhawk that shoots better than I do hands down. I want to get a DA that will do the same.

Greg

 

My 686 is really nice

 

As ECVMatt asked, what is your primary purpose? The Redhawks are BIG revolvers, so if it's a belt/hiking/CCW piece the Redhawk can get heavy, quickly.

If it's a target/plinking/range gun, the Redhawk shines. Same for a static or light-walking hunting piece.

I'm partial to the S&W L-frame as the perfect all around .357, either a 4" or the rarer 5" version for possible CCW, 6" for mostly punching paper or cans and as a walkalong hunting piece.

To me, the GP100 is neck and neck with the 686. It is strong, accurate and the grips can be almost any size due to the grip frame.

Once you narrow it down we can recommend further.

 

Beat me to it.

For the fishing hole, a stainless 686 or GP would be my #1 recommendation.

Congrats on your move, may you enjoy your newfound freedom!

Stay safe.

 

ExAgoradzo - as others have suggested, check out guns with 4" barrels. I tried several guns in the 3" - 8" range several years ago before I settled on a 4" Ruger GP-100. I found that it just had better balance for my hands.

 

I'd say a 4" GP100.

You can do almost anything with 4" 357.

 

The one gun that convinced me to sell all of my DA Rugers was my 66 S&W.

Could not be happier. Carries well, looks good, shoots beautifully and has a great trigger.

I know folk will pooh-poo a K frame .357 but the fact is, 95% or more of the rounds through mine are .38s anyhow.


Todd.

 

I would have a look and feel first you may prefer a N-frame Smith over a K/L or a GP-100 over a Red Hawk, and then there are all the after market grips to consider

 

S&W 66-2 .357. They come in various barrel length.

 

I would get a 3” Ruger sp101 or a 3” Colt king Cobra. Both powerful and light enough for carry while in woods or stream.

 

This is a good tip. I don’t have experience with the various frames of the Smith. I’ll have to find a Cabellas or something to handle all of them to see which fits...
Thanks.
Greg

 

My 3" model 65 is my favorite .357. It's hard to beat the trigger on older S&W revolvers.

 

The new generation of 66s with the front cylinder lockup on the yoke don't have the flat spot on the bottom of the forcing cone anymore. Sure seems like a fix for concerns of the older models.

 

Congrats and enjoy the hunt for your .357.

My personal hunt for a new .357 revolver over the last many months covered several guns that came in and out of inventory, whether online or at local gun shops.

I really wanted a 7 or 8 shot like a S&W 686+ or S&W 327 or the Ruger Redhawk you mention.

Considering the snub nose version of the Redhawk weighs about as much as my 6" barrel Ruger GP100, I figured I'd go lighter. Plus, I never got to feel a Redhawk trigger with its interesting single hammer/trigger spring set up.

Since I already had the GP100, I set my eyes solely on S&W. For me, that meant the aforementioned 7-shot 686+, or lighter 6-shot models like the 66 or 19.

Low and behold a used 66-2 popped up at a local shop while I was paying attention, so I paid my money and took it home.

That 2.5" barreled 66-2 is 33 oz. empty. Definitely lighter than all the revolvers I was looking into save the S&W 327.

Plus, this 66-2 has a double action trigger my GP100 could only dream of having. Single action is closer between the two, but that's because I did a mild trigger job on the GP100 some time ago.

 

I spend some time in southern Idaho. A good state to move to. Good places to shoot too.

I don't think you can go wrong with a Redhawk or SW 627, or GP100 or 686.

If I could find them, I would probably choose based on balance in my hand.

I shoot GP100s better than the others, but that is just me.

 

SP101 Take your pick on barrel length .

 

4" 686+ I bought one on a whim in September. Fine trigger for stock and accurate...

 

Welcome to Idaho...great place to be.

Good luck on your quest for a good .357 magnum. My favorites are the S&W revolvers; specifically the Model 27, 28, 586, and 686. You cannot wear them out.

 

I’ve got a 4.2” Redhawk 45 convertible that I bought primarily as a hunting sidearm. It’s heavy, but a proper belt and holster make a huge difference in comfort. Also have a 6” GP100 that I like very much, but would buy a 4” if I had it to do over.

 

Used: Colt Troopers (avoid the Mk.III but the originals and Mk.V are good) and Model 357's pop up on the used market pretty regularly and if what you want is a clean, accurate, robust range gun that can also handle heavy magnum loads, they're hard to beat - they earned their nickname, "The Poor Man's Pythons." For more "spunk," (???) the older GP-100's and Security Six are good, solid, nice shooting revolvers - but some work may be needed to "work in" the triggers of newer guns. I'd lean towards a used gun with all the kinks already worked out as long as it's not beat up. Even a beat up Ruger is a good gun though considering their support services. After that, a Dan Wesson Model 15 - any of them! they're that good - a Colt Lawman (fixed sight Trooper - avoid the Mk.III but the no-Mk. and Mk.V are good) or a Smith N-Frame police-type issue revolver would top my list of used guns to look for.

New: Ruger GP-100, Colt King Cobra, or Smith 19-9 would be my go-to's. Yes, that massive 5-1/2" Redhawk is impressive - and heavy, 52oz. vs. 40oz. for a 6" Trooper or Model 357 vs. 37.2oz. for the new Model 19 4" vs. 36oz. for the new model Target King Cobra. Trying to hold that monster steady for more than 24 rounds and actually make nice groups is going to give you Popeye arms. And a headache. Use a rest.

 

If you have smaller hands, a Ruger SP101. I think they are available in 4.2" with adjustable sights.

For medium hands, a S&W K or L frame.

A Ruger GP100 is maybe just a little larger than the K, not sure about the L.

A S&W N frame feels best for those of us with larger hands.

The really nice Smiths seem to have the best triggers of the lot... but that will vary a bit from individual gun to individual gun within any of the brands and models.

I've owned and/or shot all of them. They've all been at least pretty good. It really just depends on what feels best in your hands.

To me a good older Smith is generally nicer to shoot than anything I see new, but that's just me.