Coal Dragger
member
You could try to find a Smith and Wesson model 610. It can be fed .40 S&W or 10mm from moon clips depending on what you can find or what you want to stoke it with.
Help me pick a Revolver for Self defense
- Thread starter BluedRevolver
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230therapy
Member
Agreed. However, as pointed out, some 44 Special loads can be pushed faster than 45 ACP...just not according to Speer #13.
Paging through Speer #13:
45 ACP:
185 Gold Dot JHP (GDHP): 1047
200 GD: 1010
225: 935
230 TMJ: 916
230 GDHP: 893
260 JHP: 847
44 Special:
225 SWC GC: 1043
250 Keith SWC: 1014
200 grain Mag-JHP: 1025 <--functionally same as the 200 GD for 45 ACP
Not that this proves anything, but the reloading data from one manual seems to confirm velocities. Now, we all know that Speer #13 has low pressures, so there's likely room for increases for both 45 ACP and 44 Special.
My THR answer: Buy a 624 and a 625, add night sights, moon clip the 624, buy 10,000 large pistol primers, 5,000 bullets for each, 500 cases and get to work!
BluedRevolver
Member
I shot a Colt Python 6" blued today, and a HK USP 45. The Python had more recoil by a little, but it also had considerably less muzzle flip for some reason. I was shooting some pretty hot .357 too. Double Tap 125 grain gold dots. It was louder, but so was the .45.
357 magnum, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship
357 magnum, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship
Viper225
Member
Now that you have decided on a 38/357 you can start to narrow things down some.
After reading every post above, it looks to me like you are more interested in a Range, Home Defense, and Trail Gun combination more than a concealed carry revolver at the moment. That also helps quite a bit on deciding what will work well for you.
In my 40+ years of packing handguns around, I find a 6" gun to be a little too long to be handy to carry. I believe you want the maximum length of barrel you can pack around handy for accuracy and recoil management. So lets go with a 4" barrel.
You do have several choices in a 4" 38/357 revolver.
You specified a No Loc in a S&W.
I believe my first two picks would be a S&W 686 Pre Loc 4" OR
A Ruger GP100 in a 4".
If you go gun shopping look at the S&W 19/66 in a K Frame 357 if you can find any around.
At some point when you decide to conceal carry, pick up something shorter, like a 2.5" 66 S&W.
Once you get your baby. Make an order with Ray at Lobo and get a holster to carry it in. I would go with an Enhanced Pancake myself. I normally get the Optional Inner Hammer Shield to keep my shirt out of the holster when reholstering. If you are real active, he has a Thumb Break Option also.
http://lobogunleather.com/
You will also want a good quality heavy 1.5" leather belt. I normally buy a (Very Good) solid brass buckel and have my local saddlemaker build my belts.
If you get a very nice buckel, you can recycle it from belt to belt for years.
Ammunition Carrier: I have worked with different ammunition carry options over the years. I probably carry the most (for 38/357) in a belt pouch in a Tuff Products Speed Strip. Lobo can make you a pouch from leather that will last you a very long time.
Don't skimp on leather. This makes all the difference carrying.
That is about all the advice I have for you. I guess if you did not mind a little more weight you could add the N Frame 357's to your list. They would be the Model 28, 27, and 627 in steel guns.
Bob
After reading every post above, it looks to me like you are more interested in a Range, Home Defense, and Trail Gun combination more than a concealed carry revolver at the moment. That also helps quite a bit on deciding what will work well for you.
In my 40+ years of packing handguns around, I find a 6" gun to be a little too long to be handy to carry. I believe you want the maximum length of barrel you can pack around handy for accuracy and recoil management. So lets go with a 4" barrel.
You do have several choices in a 4" 38/357 revolver.
You specified a No Loc in a S&W.
I believe my first two picks would be a S&W 686 Pre Loc 4" OR
A Ruger GP100 in a 4".
If you go gun shopping look at the S&W 19/66 in a K Frame 357 if you can find any around.
At some point when you decide to conceal carry, pick up something shorter, like a 2.5" 66 S&W.
Once you get your baby. Make an order with Ray at Lobo and get a holster to carry it in. I would go with an Enhanced Pancake myself. I normally get the Optional Inner Hammer Shield to keep my shirt out of the holster when reholstering. If you are real active, he has a Thumb Break Option also.
http://lobogunleather.com/
You will also want a good quality heavy 1.5" leather belt. I normally buy a (Very Good) solid brass buckel and have my local saddlemaker build my belts.
If you get a very nice buckel, you can recycle it from belt to belt for years.
Ammunition Carrier: I have worked with different ammunition carry options over the years. I probably carry the most (for 38/357) in a belt pouch in a Tuff Products Speed Strip. Lobo can make you a pouch from leather that will last you a very long time.
Don't skimp on leather. This makes all the difference carrying.
That is about all the advice I have for you. I guess if you did not mind a little more weight you could add the N Frame 357's to your list. They would be the Model 28, 27, and 627 in steel guns.
Bob
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