Seven Shot .357s

[Eightball]

For range guns, anthing goes, although I have yet to be bitten by the 7-or-8-shot revolver bug.

But ohhhh, once you do, there's no other option--you NEED a 7-shot revolver. Not for carry/conceal, but they beat all in just about any other category--range, truck, hiking, etc.

And that 7th shot thing is addicting.

 

[miko]

I've got 5-rd m60, 6-rd m66 and 7-rd m686+.
One round of 357 can make a lot of difference.

miko

 

[Ala Dan]

Just Old School Maybe?

But, I'm a six-shot revolver kind'a guy; unless of course its a five
shot S&W J-frame~!

 

[hossdaniels]

if you mix 6 times in a row, i aint scared by the 7th shot

 

[Seven For Sure]

I had to bring this one back from the dead, I found it doing a search for the 620. I like seven shot's, I like SS and recently discovered I like half lugs. I just got a 5" 60 and I could see it doing some serious hiking and hunting for medium sized game. It points better than any gun I own. It's 26oz unloaded. I'm looking for a custom holster for it right now. I put Hogue Monogrips with the backstrap enclosed on it, it's nice. Anyway, I like odd # chambers and I'll take seven over six any day. Oh how I wish S&W would bring back the 610 in a seven shot. That would be awsome and doable according to my calculations. The 620 should also come with a titanium cylinder option like the 520 has for carry, IMO.

 

[bluto]

I've got nothing against 6-shot revolvers. Love my Python and my S&W M29. My most recent revolver aquisition was a beautiful special run blued 586-7 shot. Performs beautifully. Extremely comfortable. I don't think the slightly larger cylinder detracts from it's good looks.

 

[jad0110]

Why not an all of the above opotion?



I did not vote, as there was no "all of the above" option. I don't own an 8 shot, I almost did when I nearly bought a Taurus 608 about 8 months ago.

Currently I own the following Smiths:

J Frame 642, 5 shot
K Frame K-22, 6 shot (awaiting shipment to my FFL)
K Frame 14, 6 shot
L Frame 686, 7 shot

One day, maybe I'll add a K Frame 19 or 66 - six for sure!

I am personally very comfortable with 5 shots. Many other THR members have said that most civilian SD encounters involve 4 shots or less fired. Technically that is not true. Most of the time (around 80% I think), 0 shots are fired. Of the remaining 20%, something like 90+% involve less than 4 shots. Then there is the tiny portion where more than 4 are fired, and sadly, the good guy rarely escapes unharmed (according to FBI stats). If you are up against that many armed opponents, I don't think you'd want to be armed with ANY handgun, .357 or wonder9. Doesn't matter. In fact, you'd probably be in deep doodoo armed with a Mossburg 500, AK, or AR.

Of course, chances are none of us will ever have to face any such situation to begin with, thank God.

 

[Big Gay Al]

Unfortunately, financial considerations have forced me to sell my Taurus 617B, so I no longer own a 7 shot .357. But while I did, I loved it!

 

[Haywood]

7 Shooter

I have the Taurus 617, 627, and the 608. The 608 is the 8 shot 4" kind of big for CCW but good to carry when campping. The 627 is the 7 shot Tracker 4" it's ok for CCW but the adjustable site can cause a hang up on the clothes and it bites my fat. The 617 is sweet. 7 shot 2" Hammerless DAO good for carry. Hogue Grips, 2 HKS Speedloaders, 2 Speedstrips, it works when I only carry one gun.


Hay Big Gay Al, my brother and his Life Partner lives in or close to Utica, is that near you?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a S&W Model 619 4" barrel 7 shot .357 (same as the 620 but with fixed sights) and I wouldn't sell it for anything!. I like the additional round just because it's 1 more round. Many autoloader fans knock revolvers because of the limited rounds but when they add a 7th or even 8th round people seem put off. Just can make people happy these days I guess. The addition of the 7th or 8th round takes away the knock of limited rounds since most older .45 autos hold 7 rounds.

Also, I had no problem finding a speedloader in 7 rounds. They are available from HKS and have been for a very long time. Part # is 587-A.

 

[19-3Ben]

got a 5 round M60 and a 7 shot 520. i don't do even numbers.

GTKrockeTT- does that make you odd?

 

[sargenv]

There was some talk that we had with Jerry Miculek about S&W offering a 10 shot 357 Magnum Revolver based on the X frame (50 cal revo). Though at this point, I think it's still just talk. It'd make a great revolver for L10 division in IPSC

I also did not vote since there was no "all of the above".

Vince

 

[Cattle_Dog]

Hmm.. I handled a 627 this past weekend in a shop. Seemed to point well and was very cozy in my hands. I also handled the 327 trr8 (the black one w/ rails) it was similar to the 627, though considerably lighter. I am really considering picking one of them up soon.

Though I learned to shoot on old .38's, I have two semi-auto's in the Tupperware flavor- an XD .45 and Steyr M40. The last two times I have gone to the range I used my friend's CZ 75 and rented some six shooters. Since all I have known is "plastic" guns" I was very surprised how much more controllable the all metal CZ was- it was chambered in .40 btw. Now the three revolvers I used were albeit range guns (S&W 686, GP-100, and a Super Red Hawk) just plane shot more accurately for me and also very comfortable too shoot- even the 44 mag

Since then I have been eying the 627and somewhat the 520. The discontinued Pythons, Anacondas, and King Cobras are looking mighty sexy to me these days

 

[texgunner]

I like my "six shooters"

I have a Colt King Cobra, S & W 66, S & W 67, Ruger GP-100. I like mine with six. Except for my SP-101 5 shot.

Tex

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Confederate,

I wouldn't worry about the durability of the 8-shot 627. They are not that much different than other caliber 627s except for the shorter stroke. They are heavily favored for competition, previously came in .38 super which was also a favorite.

Speed in reloading? Why do you think the top competitors use moonclips? All my revolvers have moonclips after experience with the 627. I keep speedloaders only to comply with IDPA rules.

So with an 8 round 627 approaching the capacity of the 1911 it's "I know what you're thinking--was that 5 shots or 6 or 7 or 8? Well do you feel lucky punk?" or something to that effect.

The 8 shot IS a bit of a chunk of steel to carry.

The 7 shot L frames are right in there, too, with the addition of being quicker pointing due to less weight.

The K frame is a real challenge as it moves like an extension of your arm, meaning it is quick but not as stable as the others. The K frame is my fun gun for target shooting because of the challenge. I may also use it for competition just for yucks.

My vote went to the 8 shot.

 

[joneb]

Not that it matters much but S&W even rounders have the notches over the cylinders, from a engineer's point of view a five or seven shot would be stronger.

 

[pedaldude]

cylinder bolt cuts in the 619/620 are between the chambers just like a five shot. It does help a bit too.

 

[TheGrouch]

Six for Sure


I start messing around with a 7- shot and I'll forget to fire the last round.

 

[antediluvianist]

Had a 10-shot .22lr once. The more rounds the better, why not. I'll buy the 10-shot .357 X-frame when it comes out. Not for carrying around at the beach but otherwise fine. 10 for sure, keep your recoil springs.

 

[115grfmj]

sevens my lucky number....

So I just had to go with the 686+

 

[TonyT]

Nightcrawler,
You can have the 7 shot S&W 686 modified to use moon clips. The moon clips provide for very speedy reloads. Look up www.moonclips.com for the conversion and www.ranchproducts.com for the moonclips.

 

[Cattle_Dog]

Wow. Funny how I mentioned the King Cobra several days ago. Walked into a shop today to buy some ammo and there was a King Cobra in great condition with original box and manual for sale. After a long deliberation of 2 minutes I bought it

I guess I gotta wait a little longer for the 627

Looks exactly like this:

 

[MCgunner]

I'd rather have a K frame, which means six shots. If I was going to get an L frame anyway, it'd be a 7 shot if for no other reason than to take some metal out of it for weight reduction. I wouldn't wanna wear an L or N frame all day, big cylinder, heavy, no thanks. Be okay for a field gun, though, worn on a gun belt. I just prefer K frames.

 

[2ndamd]

I am not trying to start a flame war.
But, I my experience with the 7 and 8 shooters is that they go out of timing faster than the six shooters.

But, I do shoot thousands of .357 magnum rounds through my guns every year. I really like to shoot, maybe I jsut wore them out......