.357 Revolvers

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If i had $1250. to spend on a 357 Mag revolver, i'd get the "origional" because it's still the best! The older S&W M-27's are the best built revolvers ever turned out, with the fine checkered top straps,

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Beautiful deep finish,

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And precision actions, that are as smooth as they get!

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They will take years and years of a steady diet full power loads, and just keep on keeping on! There are no factory 357's that compare to the quality of the old M-27's!

Is you want go go one notch down in fine finish and workmanship, get a S&W M-28, it's still better than most others out there, and still every bit as strong as the M-27's.

There are lots of decent 357's, but nothing made today compares to the old M-27's, and they are absolutely worth paying more, to get one!

DM
 
You just cannot go wrong with a 686P--as other posts here suggest. Durable, accurate, well-balanced, good trigger out of the box.

I love mine. It nicely complements my 617 10-shot. I would never sell it.

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There are so many great choices. For the application you're talking about I would get one of the following: Ruger GP100; Ruger Security Six; Colt King Cobra; S&W 686. No preference in the order. Stainless is easier to keep nice if it's going to be out in the weather.
 
All great choices. Go to a gun store and handle each of them and find the one that fits your hands best. Which one feels the best? Which one has the sight you like better.



Just stay away from Taurus.
 
Another vote for the Ruger security six. I got 3. The oldest a 150 series, the newest from the last year of production.
Smiths are good also my model 19 is great.

And contrary to popular belief taurus 605 work very well.
 
I've never had a single problem with the over dozen Taurus handguns I've owned.
I new a guy who shot loads from his 669 that I wouldn't shoot through a Redhawk, much less anything Smith makes. He ruined his hearing with them. His ears started bleeding once while shooting it. I watched from a safe distance with eye and double ear protection.

GP100 is hell for stout. So is the Security/Speed/Police Service Six. I've owned both. I wish I still had the Speed Six. The previous owner had a trigger job done on it and it was fantastic. It was exceedingly smooth and light, yet it never misfired. I wish I knew who did the trigger work on it. I'd love to get a trigger that good on my GP and Redhawk.

A friend of mine has a Smith Highway Patrolman .357. It's nice, but I was not impressed with the trigger.
The only Smith I've ever shot that didn't disappoint me with a piss poor trigger pull was a 610 with a trigger job.
You can get an absolutely fantastic pull on a Smith, but they should have it from the factory for what they cost.
My Taurus 44 mag has a factory hand fitted action and is slick as snot on a doorknob.

If I had a $1,250.00 budget, I'd be looking for a Colt Python. Smiths can't touch the Python trigger.
 
If I had a $1,250.00 budget, I'd be looking for a Colt Python. Smiths can't touch the Python trigger.
Click to expand...

That hasn't been my experience, but i've only had 3 or 4 Pythons... Perhaps i got bad ones? They are now long gone, and i don't miss them one bit.

DM
 
For that much money, you can get a new gun, some ammo, and maybe some reloading gear and carry leather. Get a GP100 or a 586/686, 4" or 6" barrel.

I hear Dan Wessons will take whatever you can dish out, too, but I've never seen one, much less shot one. An L-frame S&W, and the GP100, are designed to do exactly what you're talking about.
 
I must have gotten the good ones. Every Python I have owned or shot has had a very good trigger.
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I have to confess that, for that money, I'd be looking for a Python, too. In fact, that's what I first typed out. But, will they take a steady diet of high intensity loads? Maybe. You hear conflicting reports on that.

If it doesn't, he can't send it back to the factory for repair anymore, and unless he finds a revolver smith who can work on it and has a stockpile of parts, he may not be able to get it fixed.

The L-frames and the GP100 don't have those shortcomings, and they're lots less money.
 
The request was for "a very strong and durable [.357] revolver" that could digest "a steady diet of high pressure loading." The strongest production .357 ever made was the Ruger Redhawk, which is no longer being produced in .357. Unless you're willing to buy used, this leaves the GP-100, the second strongest .357.
 
Although there are a lot of great suggestions already I have a feeling most are too heavy for you to carry all day in the heat hiking. A good hiking gun is one you have with you ALL THE TIME and heavy guns sometimes get left at camp when you are just going down to the water or other quick stuff.

Since you have a good size budget I would suggest buying something lighter like the S&W Model 386 Night Guard. That revolver has a 2.5" barrel, holds 7 rounds of .357 Magnum but weighs only 24.5 oz. IMO it makes a great packing revolver... The M327 NG is also a nice gun but it's built on the larger N frame and is wider because the cylinder holds 8 rounds. Even it might be too much to carry all day hiking.

The M386 NG has a List Price of $979 so it can probably be had for under $750 real prices.
 
I gotta be honest, I am not convinced (after a ton of research on the matter) that the scandium revolvers are anywhere near as durable as stainless steel. Do some reading, you may be surprised. Now the weight saving sure is nice. That seven shot unloaded weighs the same as the SP101 I carry every day.

My opinion is, for a steady diet, the GP100 takes the cake and if you think the weight is too much the SP101 is next best. To me the Rugers are quickly becoming my favorites because they are much more easily disassembled and worked on and I am a do it yourself kind of guy.
 
I purchased a S&W model 60 J frame a couple months ago, I love it. Only put a couple hundred rounds through it though, can't vouch for how long it will hold up yet.

I've only shot a Colt lawman, its trigger was not on par with S&W, but as I said I only shot one.

Lovesbeer99 whats wrong with taurus? just curious, I've never shot a taurus revolver, they did feel kind if flimsy to me when I held one though
 
I'd go with the Python also! I've got a 629 6" that I thought had a smooth trigger, not anymore. I've also got a 6" Python, now talk about a smooth trigger, especially in DA, Smith can't touch it in DA mode!

sixgunner, I don't know if I'd just give my Python to just any "pistol-smith" to work on, regardless of how big of a stockpile of parts he had. I've read about and seen jobs some pistol-smiths have worked on, most look like his biggest assortment of tools are hammers and chisels! If my Colt ever needs work, and Colt firearms can't fix it, it'll just sit in the safe, I don't want anything to do with Mattel looking firearms now that I can afford good ones! JMHO
 
I gotta be honest, I am not convinced (after a ton of research on the matter) that the scandium revolvers are anywhere near as durable as stainless steel.
Click to expand...

Does that really matter? Most of the pressure is being handled by the stainless (or Ti on some models) cylinder and stainless barrel insert. If the frame ever cracks it's covered by an excellent warranty. I've personally got a scandium 357 that I've put well over 1000+ full house factory loads plus another 1500+ various reloads through and it's as tight as the day it was born.

Any time anyone (including S&W) tells me one steel or alloy is "stronger" than another my BS flags go up. There are several factors that can attribute strength to a steel or alloy. How important that strength is depends on the application.

Any gun can experience failures but I have yet to see a catastrophic failure on any Smith frame that wasn't attributable to double charges, hot loads, over seated bullets, poor crimps etc..

Just my experience and opinion.
 
Last autumn, I sold an old friend - and decided a 327NG might join last year's 2 5/8" PC627 UDR. While fondling the 327NG I noticed it is not moonclip ready - and the UDR is - and at only a couple of dollars more at the pusher's. I bought my second UDR - great trigger right out of the box. Another FEDEX Ground pickup for the ill-fitting Eagle boots, just like the one from April. This time - properly fitting grips... and I finally found ot they are too small for my medium+ sized hands. Reasoning that it wouldn't be a pocket gun anyway, larger grips were found to be far more comfortable. The best combination seems to be the $50 S&W Accessory grips #414170000 shown below, although the non-fg rounded Ahrends, bottom, below, are a close second.

IMG_4586.jpg

Sure, at 37.6 oz, it is 10 oz heftier than the 327NG - but it is moonclip ready - and the bright orange ramp front sight is far easier to pick up in any light than the Tritium NS on my 60 Pro. It is uncannily accurate - more soo than it's short sight radii would suggest.That weight would be a comfort when launching real Magnums, too. You could certainly buy one new, add the grips and a holster, and have money left over from your $1200 limit to buy an assortment of ammo.

Stainz
 
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