Looking for a new 357

[omega5]

I'll admit that if you want a .357 mag that can take anything you dish out, the
GP100 is what you need. But, until I can find one at a price that's not in Elon
Musk's range, I'll keep my S&W m66-2 3inch and m60-14 2 inch. Both shoot
great. My wife passed her CCW exam using the 3 inch with .38 wad cutters.
The instructor tried his best to get her to sell it to him. She told him she wasn't
looking for a divorce and that's what she'd have if she came home without the
3" m66.
Dano

 

[ms6852]

The model 686 revolvers from Smith and Wesson have just about one of the lightest double action triggers available in the industry at just 10 pounds and smooth as well. In single action light, verrrry light.

 

[Armored farmer]

Have we reached a decision?

 

[DDDWho]

I bought this new in 1986 for $310 OTD. I have the receipt, box and papers. It is the highest quality gun I own, perfect in form and function.

 

[LightninST]

The model 686 revolvers from Smith and Wesson have just about one of the lightest double action triggers available in the industry at just 10 pounds and smooth as well. In single action light, verrrry light.
View attachment 975859

686 Plus Deluxe for the win ! Great pistol , hard to go wrong with 7 357s .

 

[Random 8]

Have we reached a decision?
View attachment 975889

Yeah, I bought a new tankless water heater. It's great, but a bit lacking past the 5 yard mark. Think it needs a better trigger pull. I'm hoping to get a couple of the Smith models in my hands and see how they feel. Leaning heavily towards a 686, but the upgraded Ruger has me interested. Either way it will wait until overtime season at this point.

 

[lckdnldd]

Either the Ruger GP100 and S&W 686 are good choices. I have shot both quite a lot. I own a 4.2" GP100. It sets in my hands very comfortably. With the over molded Hogue grips recoil is very manageable even with my heavy reloads.

 

[11MikeMike]

I don’t have any other .357 with which to compare it, but I am enjoying my 686 plus, which is in your price range. This one is 5” but I’m sure I’ve seen them in 4.

View attachment 970841

“This one is 5” “ This is perfect!

 

[ms6852]

I bought this new in 1986 for $310 OTD. I have the receipt, box and papers. It is the highest quality gun I own, perfect in form and function.View attachment 975895

I have the 6" no dash , wish I had yours...hint, hint

 

[eamydust]

Many good recommendations, S&W m19 and m686 are outstanding, no one has mentioned picking up a Ruger Security-Six which is a damn nice gun and kinda fits in between the 19 & 686 size-wise, and their built like a tank. Price-wise you can afford a Security-Six and plenty of ammo for the price of one of the S&Ws. You can't go wrong with any of the revolvers mentioned.

 

[Random 8]

Well, I finally got a 686 in my hands. 2 of them actually, in the 4" configuration. One new, one a well used range rental. I even got to compare them side by side with my M66 Taurus. I really like the DA and SA trigger pull of the 686 as well as the feel in the hand. So does the wifey. I really wanted to fire it as well, but Palmetto State hasn't seen .38 or .357 for months, and wouldn't let me try their well worn range gun with even my own cast .38 handloads which I had just fired 100 of in my revolver, despite the fact I was in their store, with my local FFL on the phone, prepared to initiate the transaction and swipe a card right there! Poor business decision IMHO. I think I'll still wait and see how taxes land before I bite, but I think my LGS can put one on order. Still deciding between standard and the PC version, if finances even allow for that option.

 

[Huntolive]

Well for under a thousand that gives you a lot of great options but the first one you consider would be these:
Dan Wesson model 715 or 15-2 both of which have an interchangeable barrel system so you can change out barrels on them for under a thousand you should be able to find a 15-2 with at least two barrel lengths and a 715 with the barrel of your choice

Next for that money I'd say a Ruger GP 100 with a 5-in barrel a 5-in barrel allows you to both hunt deer hogs and fend yourself against black bears and bad guys very effectively and is fun to shoot and has a great near perfect balance and weight distribution and the GP100 5-in can also be used as a hammer or brick to get into your vehicle if you lock yourself out.
Next up would be a Smith & Wesson 686 four or five inch. This is just an all-around decent gun which are usually fairly accurate
But the Dan wessons will definitely be the most accurate of the bunch
There's a guy selling a very nice 4-in and Wesson 715 which is the stainless steel model for $650

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Yes, the S&W M-28/Highway Patrolman is as close to an all around revolver as we'll ever get, the heft and strength of the M-27 with a durable finish.But they've been out of production since 1986 and prices are climbing.
I would look for a Ruger Security Six, especially in stainless steel. Good heft and balance, plenty rugged, my 6" stainless is very accurate.

 

[THEWELSHM]

Model 27 smith or a Dan Wesson 15-2 mate, in heavy vented.

Thewelshm