Best 357 for the money?

[76shuvlinoff]

The sp101 is 5 shot and may be more narrow, the factory grip is smaller. Nice for small hands and better for cc. Not so great for full house loads. My wife has the 4" stainless, great for home and range but the 3" might be a better choice for cc. The DA trigger was tough for her so I put a spring kit in it and it's a joy to shoot. Her groups got tighter and never any kind of failure in over 500 rds now. She much prefers 158g .38s out of it.

 

[Milkmaster]

I recently went through a couple of weeks looking and evaluating potential .357 pistols for purchase. I wanted a full size to shoot with my .357 Marlin lever gun. I didn't want something that would hurt my wrist when shooting like I had experienced with smaller .357 revolvers. The SP101 was a bit small for my hands I thought. I could only get 2 fingers on the grip firmly. The 686 felt good, but I couldn't see the $100+ difference after looking at the GP100. My first thoughts were to get a 3" barrel, but the sights were fixed on the 3" GP100. I ended up with the 4 inch GP100 and am very happy with it. .38's are even easier to shoot with it of course.

 

[theboyscout]

lets say I find another $150, what do we think of the .357 rhino

 

[Skribs]

Personally, I won't buy a revolver not made by Ruger, unless I'm looking for something specific Ruger doesn't make (i.e. .410 shotshell revolver, Chiappa Rhino, something with more than 6 shots in .357, etc).

An SP101 or GP100 would fit your bill nicely.

 

[ROAshooter]

357 rhino....NO...not for me...but for you....after all the good advice for S&W or Ruger..........why not

 

[Bugster]

I have a Taurus Model 627 Tracker in .357 mag. You wouldn't want one like it, it has a 6 1/2" barrel. But they do make one with a 4" barrel, 7 shot. I bought mine for under $500 IIRC.

 

[gotboostvr]

I think the Rhino is neat and seems more comfortable than it looks but I don't think I'd want it as my ONLY 357.

If you're looking to spend that much, I'd look into a 686SSR or a 627Pro

 

[AZAndy]

My only two .357 handguns are an SP101 and a S&W 640. My hands have gotten too creaky to shoot .357 out of either one, but they sure are great for .38.

If you're looking for inexpensive, how about a Taurus 605?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

lets say I find another $150, what do we think of the .357 rhino

I've shot one and while it was fairly nice, I agree with gotboostvr. I wouldn't get one and it be my only .357.

I would much prefer a nice smith or even a nice Ruger.

 

[meatballs]

Ruger GP100s are great.

 

[Milkmaster]

My GP100

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I'm a big fan of inexpensive .357s

I wait for them to come to me - more or less - and then jump at the very first opportunity.

If I were to be actively looking for one though, the Rugers above seem to be the most common for reasonable money but watch for them to be shot out too.

The surplus/trade ins noted elsewhere in the current postings look like good deals as shooters if one is able to inspect them before purchase. I have 4 former Cop guns that look a bit long in the tooth but are very underused and the internals are near perfect... Can't see the finish while you're lookin' through the sights and I've yet to see bluing quality affect a fine trigger.

Taurus is greatly underrated. My wife and I have had 5 new from the box in .38 & .357 and not one stumble, not one return and when I have moved them down the road - I didn't backslide a bit on what I wanted for them due to some perceived, company/product line, wide failings.

Then too there's this below. Watch for one of those goofballs all nervous about the many scary stories they've heard around the campfire about frame locks and MIM internals.... Whhhoooohhhooooo!

I scored this 3 inch 66-6 behind just such nancy-nit-picks. Sure, as a 66-6 it may have some evils but they aren't hovering around the MIMtastic parts or that spooky extra hole in the side.

Todd.

 

[ThomasT]

Believe it or not, I saw a really nice blued Speed Six .357 on gunbroker go for right around $400 a week ago. Had a six inch barrel. I really had to restrain myself, because I don't need another .357, at any price.

So far as I know the speed six never had a 6" barrel. You must have been looking at a security six.

Here is a security six I have on GB right now.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=551919717

Here is a GP-100 I just bought off GB that I haven't got yet.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=550383118

Its an older model with the original grip style that I much prefer over the Houge grip. I have the same gun with a 6" barrel and won a bunch of trophies in the falling plate matches in the early 1990s.

I bought this gun under your budget and it is a far better gun than a Rossi. Keep looking. Deals are out there.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm a Smith & Wesson guy and my first inclination is say a Model 28-2. You should be able to find one under your budget price if you don't mind a little finish wear and tear, but they're not getting any cheaper these days. I've never warmed up the 5/686's for some reason, but that's my personal quirk. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say anything bad about them.

But to tell you the truth, I think the best 357 I ever owned "for the money" was a Taurus Model 65, followed closely by a seven shot Taurus Model 66. Man those were good guns. The fit and finish on them was in the Smith & Wesson class and they shot just fine. These were older guns, probably from the late 80's early 90's or so. Back then Taurus was cranking out some seriously good guns. Or at least the ones I got hold to were. Look for the ones with the original wood grips, then check them out carefully, but I recommend anyone do that with ANY gun you buy, new or used, I don't care who made it.

 

[gotboostvr]

ApacheCoTodd, I do that too. Good deals on 357's pop up now and again and I snap them up.

If I can tell it's not gonna work out to be part of my regular line up, or it does and displaces another I might move one down along the line.

Or if it's a M19 I just clear a spot out for it, cause you can never have too many M19's

 

[ECVMatt]

My favorite .357 is a 5" Model 27, but I lucked into a deal. I really like the Ruger GP series as well. I have a 4" and a 6". They are pretty bulletproof and very accurate.

I sold a lot of guns during my college days and we had lots of problems with Taurus and Rossi. They were great for folks that wanted to just have something to keep around the house, but not so good for shooters. I know that folks might disagree with this, but I feel it's worth mentioning.

Ruger or Smith would get my nod.

Let us know what you pick up.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

ApacheCoTodd, I do that too. Good deals on 357's pop up now and again and I snap them up.

If I can tell it's not gonna work out to be part of my regular line up, or it does and displaces another I might move one down along the line.

Or if it's a M19 I just clear a spot out for it, cause you can never have too many M19's

That sums up my position more clearly.

.357/.38? I "shoot first and ask questions later".

Hasn't failed me yet and given some of the huge successes - I'd have to have several terrible failures before changing my tune on this.

Since I had to take an insurance photo anyhow; here're just the .357s. Some come and go, a couple here are legacy guns but the main thing to take from it is that if I think I might like it and the number's right, I go for it and if priorities change later, it's off down the road with it.

.357 is THE caliber to have and everything else is is relative to it. Derringer to rifle and throw in .38 to boot... It simply can't be beat in a single caliber's range of platforms and is hard to make a mistake with unless a bad gun is overpaid for.

The 340SC in the center is the most recent gamble. The number was right in that I knew I'd be OK were I to not like it for what it is or for what it isn't. In any case, I won't be sayin' ; "woulda, shoulda, coulda..." later. I'll know for a fact.

Todd.

 

[tubeshooter]

I decided on a 3" SP-101 a long time ago for a good general purpose .357 that can be carried if necessary.


I am still satisfied after all these years.

 

[kvtcomdo]

Ruger

 

[gotboostvr]

Apache, exactly.

If it's something I'm intrested in and I know I'll at least break even on it, it's going in the safe.

Is that a M19 with magnas I spy bottom right?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Apache, exactly.

If it's something I'm intrested in and I know I'll at least break even on it, it's going in the safe.

Is that a M19 with magnas I spy bottom right?

Yup, a 19-2 with fat&stickies.

A great example of the very "look while you leap" attitude I have towards .357s.

My wife sends me a crappy phone pic from an estate sale so I call her up:

"So, what's that about?"
"It's a kinda rough looking little pistol here for sale... It's cute" My wife... a service 19 is a cute little pistol!
"OKeeDokee, how much?
"2-"
"OK"
"Let me - "
"Don't put it down, buy it"

Turned out to be a barely shot carry piece retired out with the officer. It'll one day be one of my nephew's pistols.

Todd.

 

[Mr. T]

I own a Ruger GP100 and have had it for years. It's built like a brick outhouse and is reasonably accurate out to 75 yards at least with my abilities. Mine has a 6" barrel and has never failed me. I paid $569 for mine around 15 years ago or so. I have no problem recommending it. If your looking to use it for concealed carry you will probably want to go with the shorter barrel. In my state if you want to use it to hunt with, you have to have a minimum of a 6" barrel.

 

[Paladin7]

A carry revolver, like any other pistol, is a compromise. As a general rule, guns that are easier to carry, are harder to shoot well, because they tend to be smaller and lighter than their full sized counterparts.

If you want a good 357 revolver to actually enjoy shooting, stick with a full size 4" Smith or Ruger. The various models have been mentioned in this post already.

Personally, the most useful and versatile handgun I own is an older Smith 686+ in 4". The Smith 686 4" will allow you to shoot mouse fart wadcutters for target practice, 38 special +P for home/personal defence, all the way up to 357 Magnum loads that can be used to hunt deer/black bear. Shooting 38's won't break the bank, esp. if you handload. This revolver fits my hand perfectly, is easy to shoot well and will last a lifetime. With my handloads, I can consistently hit targets at 100 yards.

You can carry a Smith 686, but it won't be as comfortable as carrying a smaller, lighter revolver that was designed with concealed carry in mind.

Hope that helps... Let us know what you decide.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=552033884

I thought about this one.

 

[MrBorland]

lets say I find another $150, what do we think of the .357 rhino

My opinion? Listen to others' recommendations for a service-sized S&W or Ruger GP100.

I scored this 3 inch 66-6 behind just such nancy-nit-picks.

Nice gun, but as you probably already know, that's a 3 1/4" M66. Bona fide 3" M66s are pre-MIM, pre-lock 66-3s, and quite rare - and priced accordingly .