Concealed carry revolver.

[Shillis613]

Ok everyone. Anyone. I am looking for a small snubbie .357 under $500 I have been looking for a while now. My budget Pretty much narrowed me down quite a bit. Looked at a few Taurus's and a few rugers. Any advice? Not a fan of the lcr my dad has the .38spl and when we shot the plus p loads I thought the stinkin pistol was going to split wide open! I don't mind if it weighs a little. Just want it to be semi cheap and reliable.

 

[pokersamurai]

For that price range I would stick with a used S&W or Ruger. In my opinion S&W and Ruger are simply much better made and more reliable revolvers than Taurus, Rossi, Charter Arms, etc.

I would personally recommend a Ruger SP-101. The SP-101 is small enough for concealed carry, but hefty enough to make range practice fun. It will handle pretty much any 357/38 that you put in the cylinder. You can get them in 2.25", 3", and 4" barrel lengths. I personally prefer the 2.25" DAO model for concealed carry. For $500 you should be able to find one that is very good condition.

 

[Hometeached1]

Welcome to the forum!

I second a used S&W or Ruger.

A SP101 2.25" DAO would be best, followed by a 2.5-3" K-frame.

 

[CajunBass]

Smith & Wesson and Ruger are both good of course, but I've owned both Taurus and Charter Arms also, and liked them. If I were in the market for that type gun, I wouldn't pass one up if the price was right.

 

[Fiv3r]

My edc most days is a 2.25" Ruger SP101. I had an lcr that I rather liked, but it was so light I had a hard time keeping it on target.

The heft of the SP101 really helps with my accuracy. I find that if i feed it 158gr semijacketed soft points that i can actually keep it on target with small groupings at combat distances.

It's a .357 that is actually fun to shoot .357 though.

 

[Shillis613]

Great thank you all.

 

[Shillis613]

Would any of you recommend the lcr in .357? I love my glock but im not sure .357 should be shot out of a plastic gun

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I own and shoot regularly a Ruger Lcr in .38 special . I have no problem with plusP rounds so I dont understand what was meant by it "felt like it was gonna split wide open " comment ? If I was looking for a compact .357 ,an lcr would be on my short list . I already own a SS speed six and a SS gp 100 . A nice sp101 might be nice ! Kevin

 

[MIL-DOT]

I toted a 3" SP101 for a little while, but I found it to be a bigger/heavier hunk o' steel than I enjoyed carrying regularly.
A few years ago, CDNN had one of their trademark killer deals on the S&W 642 Airweight (which ran concurrent with a $50 rebate from S&W!!), so I grabbed one, and never looked back.
I like to pocket carry, using an inexpensive little pocket holster (as per Ga. law), and I can even carry that thing in lightweight, elastic band gym shorts.
There are admitedly nicer, cooler, more lethal options, but given my relatively low-risk profile, I'm pretty content with 5 rounds of Speer .38+P Gold Dots.

 

[angel1216]

Another vote for the sp 101. Built like tanks.

 

[Haywood]

In my experiance shooting full house 357 from my LCR is a challenge. When I shoot 357 I use a midrange reload that replicated the more comon self Defence loads like Corbon. I used to shoot them a lot but, now that my hands are getting old, I have switched to 38 and 38+P. I save the the full house 357 for the heavy guns. I still have thousands of the midrange 357 reloads. I use a few at a time in the LCR but also use them more in the heavier guns. Now my freind who is 6' 4" and has a hand like Sasquatch laughs at me and can handle the hot stuff all day.

 

[antiquus]

The original .38 LCR has the polymer grip, an aircraft aluminum frame (probably 7075) anodized black, and a stainless steel cylinder. The .357 LCR has a steel frame and thicker cylinder walls, and is 3oz heavier for this reason.

Many people, and I'm one of them, think standard .357 from a 2" barrel looses too much energy, and has too much flash and noise to make it worthwhile. There's low flash and slightly lower power loads available in .357, or you could use something like Buffalo Bore's heavy .38+P loads which produce 9mm Luger energies (350ft/lbs) out of a 2" barrel.

The advantage of a revolver is practice can be done with light, cheap and comfortable ammo and the .357 LCR is very comfortable shooting .38 non +P especially with the Hogue Tamer grips.

 

[Waveski]

Recoil , percussion and muzzle flash resulting from the discharge of .357 from a LCR is impractical , IMO. Are you going to get that second shot on target in an emergency? If the emergency occurs in an enclosed space in darkened conditions - bad guy in your house at night - will you be able to see after the muzzle flash explodes from that tiny barrel? How about the eardrums in that scenario?

Just because modern technology makes it possible to contain the explosion of large caliber cartridges fired from ultra light revolvers doesn't necessarily mean that it is practical to do so.

.38+p as far as I am concerned.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I'm a believer that life is a capital budgeting problem. With such problems, list potential expenditures and rank them by what's important to you. In my case, life and it's preservation are high up, so I'll move other things down on the list to let me complete the items high up.

I happened to have the opportunity to explain to a shopper at my preferred outdoor gear store that bargain ammo was no bargain when it was self-defense ammo. Similarly, I don't go bargain hunting when choosing a gun for saving my life...penny-wise and pound-foolish as they say.

With that as preamble, my preferred CC revolver is a S&W 642 Airweight in .38 Spl, loaded with 110gr Hornady Critical Defense ammo, backed up by a couple of speed loaders with the same ammo. My preferred semi-auto for CC is either my SAI XD40sc or my XDM Compact .45 with TAP ammo and a spare mag loaded with same.

I used to ride motorcycles...I always viewed my cabbage as worth at least a good helmet so I wore a Shoei...and laughed at the guys who wore $10 helmets as they were showing me what they thought their cabbages were worth.

FH

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I'd have no reservations about shooting .357 Mag from a "plastic" gun. The Ruger LCR is very sturdy and you'll have no problems. However I would have a helluva lot of reservations about shooting hot .357 Mag ammo in a 15 oz gun! Even .38 Special +P loads aren't much fun out of my LRC.

 

[Lucky Derby]

You want a .357 snub under $500.00.
I would recommend the SP101. Small enough to be not to difficult to carry, yet big enough that it can still be shot using full power .357 without to much difficulty. Alternately I would say the LCR. Easier to carry than the SP101, but not quite as easy to shoot, especially with full power .357.
Really depends on what your priority is.

 

[rich e]

pokersamuria nailed it

If you have $500 to spend don't even think about Taurus or Rossi...You are in used S&W and Ruger territory now. My favorite S&Ws are the K frames. (model 19,65,66s) My favorite Rugers are the security sixes. Do your homework and you'll find out those are some of the best 357s on the market and they hold there value. The larger L frame S&Ws and Ruger GP100s are also excellent revolvers but I don't like the extra weight. I've owed and still have a Ruger SP-101..Its a little tank and can handle 357 magnums just fine.

On a side note. My father has a Taurus model 66 in 357 mag. It has never given him any problems what so ever and is very accurate. I've also owned several Taurus model 85s in 38 special and they were fine. A friend years ago bought a Windicator 357 all steel model. I liked it!!!!! and never heard anything bad about the steel Windicators

 

[WestKentucky]

Look long and hard for a used smith 686 and never look back. Ruger guns are good but your talking about a few dollars difference between a good gun and a truly great gun.

 

[RealGun]

The gun I have that most closely fits what you mention is my Interarms/Rossi 88 in .38 Special, bought used in excellent condition for under $300 from Cabela's Library. I am not one who thinks a true magnum round is appropriate for a small gun (or me).

A possibly closer fit is my SW60 Pro, but it is well over your budget. It shoots 357 but gets fed special ammo in 357 cases, normally carrying Speer Short Barrel 135gr Gold Dot HP. It is not really a "snub" at 3".

 

[RustyShackelford]

Another route.....

Id also look at the stainless steel Charter Arms Bulldog Pug in .44spl. I like the DA only version but the shrouded type has merit if you really want a DA/SA system.
No one really rails against the .44spl as a defense caliber. You can find frangible or regular JHPs in .44spl to carry. Glaser Safety Slugs(silver), Hornady Critical Defense, MagSafe Defender, Speer Gold Dot, Buffalo Bore, Corbon, etc.

Id get a frangible or pre-fragmented .44spl load like a Glaser Safety Slug or maybe the Critical Defense.

If blast & recoil are issues, you can add Mag-Na-Port or get the revolver ported.

Crimsontrace.com markets a red dot lasergrip for the Bulldog too.

 

[Crashbox]

I will also throw in a +1 for a Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum. I've carried one for a few years now and although it is not light, you can run full-house loads all day through it and at the end it will say to you, "Why are you stopping...?"

It is a ROCK SOLID REVOLVER.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Ruger SP101.....

I'm not sure if the Ruger SP series meets the member's described needs but it is a great snub revolver.
My first handgun was a DA only 2.25" barrel Ruger SP101. It's robust & great with +P .38spl loads.
I'd add that it's meant for belt or maybe home defense/vehicle security use(s).
The stainless steel SP101 isn't a great pocket or ankle gun for most shooters.
If a straight out, belt or vehicle carry .357magnum wheel gun is your choice Id buy the 3.16" version SP101.

If a ankle carry/pocket or lightweight style is needed, Id buy a S&W J frame without lawyer lock 642/442/640 or the 638 shrouded hammer.
I came close to buying a new 642(no security lock) .38spl on sale at the start of the summer but changed my mind when I heard the M&P Shield "no thumb safety" model was rolling out soon.

 

[BSA1]

The Ruger SP101 is on the large size for concealed carry requiring good quality holster and belt.

Taurus makes very good handguns but their quality control is spotty.

Smith & Wesson makes good handguns but their quality control is worse than Taurus. Their are lots of complaints about canted barrels, poor finish, frames cracking and so forth.

Taurus will serve you well but don't buy one sight unseen.

 

[Vica]

Here's my two cents: I loved my SP-101, 2.25 but couldn't hit squat, so I sold it for some other purchase; then I bought a Taurus 817 which is a 7 shot 38, but the big brother to this is a 617 7 shot which I have not owned but it is the same size as the 817. The size is similar to a Smith K frame. The 617 weighs 27 ounces (I believe) and will cost about $475 from GB. The Taurus 817 that I mentioned, weighs only 19 ounces and has 7 shots of 38+P. If you decide that 38 +P is adequate, it's a winner. The 817 is harder to find then the 617.

I know there are a lot of naysayers for Taurus, but I've owned S&W's, Rugers and Taurus's and every Taurus that I've owned worked great plus they're guaranteed forever and the current customer service is not as bad as what you may hear. I currently carry a Taurus 856 which is a 6 shot 38+P. I put a Hogue grip on it to increase the grip size. This only weighs 21 ounces, is compact, costs around $375. The big brother to the 856 is the Taurus 605 5 shot 357. I know the argument that 5 shots should be enough for any conflict, but if you have a opportunity to bump it up to 6 or 7 shots, why not. That's why I looked to the 7 shot Taurus 817 38+P or the 617 357.

Having said all this, I owned a Speed Six, 2.75" that I loved but regretfully sold to once again buy something else. And then most recently, I bought a S&W 686+ 2.5" (7 shot) that I took to the range for the first time last night. I think this is my latest favorite. I told my son that I am going to give it to HIS 6 month old son when he makes Eagle Scout.

 

[snooperman]

In your price range the Ruger Sp101 is an excellent revolver. I like mine so much that I carry it each time I am riding my mule around my farm and out doing farm chores . I carry it in a nice leather holster.