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.357 Mag options

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J

John Wayne

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Dec 11, 2007
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I'm looking for a larger .357 to shoot max loads through.

Here are the main uses, both what I already do and would like to be able to do:

-Silhouette shooting matches
-IDPA/USPSA
-Steel Challenge
-Sidearm when hunting; for defense against hogs and coyotes or to take a close shot on whitetails


I plan on using everything from 110 gr. up to 200 gr. in the revolver, and would like it to be comfortable to shoot with max loads, though most of what I'd shoot would be considered moderate loads. It just needs to be heavy enough to be comfortable though; no sense in carrying around a boat anchor if you don't have to.

How the gun handles is as important as how it handles recoil. Steel challenge and IDPA will require fast shooting and reloading, and these are good qualities for use on hogs and coyotes too.

Here are the features the gun needs to have:

-double action
-"round butt" style frame
-adjustable sights, with interchangeable front sight (TFO preferred)
-6" barrel
-stainless finish preferred
-shrouded ejector rod
-CT laser grips available

Right now I'm mainly looking at the S&W 686 7-shot, S&W 627 8-shot, Ruger GP-100, and possibly a used S&W 27. Anyone care to weigh in on the pros and cons of each, or suggest another model?
 
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You might want to pick up a used Dan Wesson .357 Maxi. It'll handle any .357 Mag load you can feed it, as well as the much hotter .357 Maximum (about 150% of the energy of a .357 Mag and available from 2 or 3 manufacturers; the casing is 0.6" longer than a .357 Mag but can be reloaded with the same dies). There are currently a couple of these on GunBroker.com. They tend to sell in the $600 to $900 range depending on condition, etc. Great revolvers and a very interesting caliber. No laser grips available, however.

I recently bought a S&W 686 7-shot and love it! Great hand feel, very accurate, producing very tight groups at 10 yds. It'll handle any loads within the SAAMI pressure limits.
 
Redhawk is first choice , ya can get those 200grainers up to speed then !!!

But in reality (Redhawk357 is like hens teeth) in your description I was thinking GP100 all the way !!!

By the way I`m not biased I like all Rugers !!!
 
With the dan wesson you can go with a 8" or longer barrels or as shot as 2". Go to dan wesson forums and there are a few photos there of 12" barrels or change barrels in a couple minutes to a 2" or 4" for protection. No laser grips but you can have any kind of grip profile you want as the grip mounts on a post. Sights change easily and slab side 6" barrel shrouds are a low cost aftermarket indem thanks to EWK. Check grips from a member there too. Great triggers also. These guns are still winning long range match's. New models comeing out this year also. Cz owns them now. But older guns still shoot like new and cost less to get into. No other revolver can do all your looking for with one handgun
 
Another vote for the GP 100.

I love mine. It has handled everything I've put through it, including some pretty hot reloads from a friend. I carry it with me when I'm in the woods, and I really love the heft of it. That extra weight adds a sense of personal security, plus the knowledge that the gun will probably outlast you in age.
 
Nudder Ruger vote - a GP100 is probably the best all around new gun for what it sounds like you are looking for.

I'd say a Redhawk is a close 2nd.
 
If you want a gun that you can use for IDPA, it has to be 4.2" barrel or less. Just so you know.
 
If John Wayne is looking for a do it all revolver then nothing but a Dan Wesson will do. I like ruger just the DW is a better more accurate revolver with all the options he's looking for options. Silhouette, IDPA/USpsa, steel and Hunting with a wide range of grip proflies and size. barrel length and shroud proflie and several front sight designs Only freedom arms can shot with it or beat it at 3 times the cost.
 
I'm going to suggest something a little different, though granted it does not have a round butt frame: a 6" S&W Model 28 Highway Patrolman. These N Frames are plenty durable, and have a shrouded ejector rod per your requirement. If you also want a fast handling gun, the partial underlug of the 28 with it's relatively slender barrel mean less muzzle heft. As a result, my 4" Model 28 is noticeably more lively in transitioning between targets than my comparatively barrel heavy, dimwitted 4" 686.

A Ruger Security Six is another strong possibility for the same reason.
 
I would go with a basic 6" 686 but it will not fly with IDPA. I've played all the games you mentioned and shot a ^' in police matches quite a bit. I have not seen any with changeable front sights and unless the rules changed IHMSA would not allow it unless it was a factory type deal.

You can shoot the L-frame faster than the N-frame over an IPSC course unless you have huge hands. I've won six USPSA National Revolver titles (prior to Miculek LOL) and shot an 25-2 for three of them and an L-frame for the other three. The L was demonstrably quicker for me. You can also get the L-frame cut for moon clips like I have done on my current one.

Greg
 
If you want it to last go easy on those 110-125 gr. bullets. Many people don't believe that those will accelerate forcing wear but I saw what happens to a GP 100 when fed a steady diet of ultra lightweight bullets fired at high speeds. As far as silhouette shooting you'll have a pretty hard time clearing those 200 meter rams with a .357. It can be done but it's like trying to kill a giant with a 2 oz. ball peen hammer.:rolleyes:
 
I'm thinking 627, but I'm admittedly a S&W guy. I just think they're great guns.
 
another vote for the gp 100. best for the money. one thing though, if you are going to be shooting in steel challenge competitions you might want a larger capacity gun, if you miss reloading the revolver is gonna mess up your time a lot.
 
You might want to pick up a used Dan Wesson .357 Maxi. It'll handle any .357 Mag load you can feed it, as well as the much hotter .357 Maximum (about 150% of the energy of a .357 Mag and available from 2 or 3 manufacturers; the casing is 0.6" longer than a .357 Mag but can be reloaded with the same dies). There are currently a couple of these on GunBroker.com. They tend to sell in the $600 to $900 range depending on condition, etc. Great revolvers and a very interesting caliber. No laser grips available, however.

I recently bought a S&W 686 7-shot and love it! Great hand feel, very accurate, producing very tight groups at 10 yds. It'll handle any loads within the SAAMI pressure limits.
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Dan Wesson is certainly a contender but they're kind of hard to come by around here. I think I've only seen one at the range and the owner said he wasn't parting with it any time soon. How do you like your 686 7-shot? It's my understanding that being a 7-shooter, the cylinder indexes on the spaces in between the chambers, making it stronger. How do the trigger, accuracy, handling, and recoil compare to the DW?

BTW, the DW website lists their only revolver for $1169 and states that it is ''chambered for shells up to 6 in." Ought to be a hell of a round! :p

If you want a gun that you can use for IDPA, it has to be 4.2" barrel or less. Just so you know.
Click to expand...

True, I didn't think about that. To be honest though, I'm to the point where IDPA has so many un-realistic rules that it's not fun any more. I listed it mainly to accentuate the fact that fast handling is a characteristic that I value...I have a 4" K-frame I can use for IDPA anyway if I decide to get back into it.


I'm going to suggest something a little different, though granted it does not have a round butt frame: a 6" S&W Model 28 Highway Patrolman. These N Frames are plenty durable, and have a shrouded ejector rod per your requirement. If you also want a fast handling gun, the partial underlug of the 28 with it's relatively slender barrel mean less muzzle heft. As a result, my 4" Model 28 is noticeably more lively in transitioning between targets than my comparatively barrel heavy, dimwitted 4" 686.

A Ruger Security Six is another strong possibility for the same reason.
Click to expand...

I do like the S&W 27/28s, and you bring up a good point about the handling without a full underlug. That's one of the things that got me looking at the 627, in particular. It's interesting that you say your N frame is faster than your L frame, it seems like a lot of folks think the opposite (though to be fair the 686 is offered with a variety of barrel profiles that would affect this).

As for the Security Six, I already have a S&W 13-1. The SS is no doubt a sturdier revolver, but the 13 will handle all that I care to shoot out of it.

I would go with a basic 6" 686 but it will not fly with IDPA. I've played all the games you mentioned and shot a ^' in police matches quite a bit. I have not seen any with changeable front sights and unless the rules changed IHMSA would not allow it unless it was a factory type deal.

You can shoot the L-frame faster than the N-frame over an IPSC course unless you have huge hands. I've won six USPSA National Revolver titles (prior to Miculek LOL) and shot an 25-2 for three of them and an L-frame for the other three. The L was demonstrably quicker for me. You can also get the L-frame cut for moon clips like I have done on my current one.
Click to expand...

I didn't know IDPA didn't allow non-factory sights (but a stupid rule like that wouldn't surprise me). Why should someone not be allowed to compete with sights they actually used, instead of what was offered from the factory? I mainly listed the changeable front sights because of the wide range of loads I intend to shoot, and because a lot of guns come with a black blade front that's hard to pick up quickly. I don't plan on mounting any optics on the revolver.
 
686 with moon clips. With you criteria only IDPA is affected.
I don't shoot IDPA but Steel Challenge and USPSA works for six shot moons.

IDPA is a pain is the ass with rules.
 
The Dan Wesson is the gun you want. You can change barrels for different competitions, they're known for their accuracy even at 200 meters and they are designed to take a lot of heavy loads. I think I can say Dan Wesson double action revolvers have won more Silhouette competitions than any other brand and it's by a very wide margin. Get a used one off of Gunbroker or locally. The new ones won't be out until later this year.
 
There are also dw's for sale at the danwesson forum site at times. Maybe a pistol pack or two and around this area i have seen more than a few at used gun shops and pawn shops for around 400 dollars + or = 50 bucks. I bought both a 15-2 and a 44mag this last year to add to the dw collection and both were under 450. Barrels and shrouds , atleast 6" slab sided can be bought for 160 bucks ,more or less from EWK also. The DW's are worth the time it might take to find one all though it will more than likely be a blue finished gun at those prices. My old one is a 1976 at is still a 95% finish and still shoots like new with around 8000 rounds shot and many many years in the woods hunting. I have a 4", 6" and 8" for the 15-2. I could never pay what cz wants for the new model comeing out but for the shooters that would buy a s&w for that kind of money then no compairison. BUY the Dan Wesson
 
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