The 4-inch stainless DA/SA .357 is the all-purpose revolver. I have a 686 and a GP100; the Smith is prettier, but the Ruger is tougher, and I have no intention of ever letting it go.
I like your post, and mostly agree with you. But what did you mean, "The Six's were dropped well before revolvers were and..." ? Typo?
You're the first I've heard say the Ruger Six Series weren't tough. Forty years later there's still many of them still doing the job. My 1980 Speed Six 2.75" still locks up tighter than my 2015 GP100 and the forcing cone shows less wear too. IMO the Speed Six 357 round butt 2.75" is an excellent choice for a CC revolver and do anything the GP can and less bulky. I believe the GP100 was less expensive to produce and why Ruger discontinued the Six Series. GP100s are great guns with a stronger cylinder locking system but the SSeries were strong & well built.
I'm thinking he meant that single six's stopped being produced before police stopped carrying revolvers. That's how I read it anyway.
Smith and Wesson Model 66 4”. Could not think of too many situations I would feel lacking. I have a 6” also but it doesn’t make a decent carry gun, great at the range and great in the field but not easy to hide.
Your anecdote doesn't change the reason why Ruger discontinued it. It's not a mystery that the GP100 is bigger, stronger, and designed to handle a higher volume of 357 Magnum firings.
My bead-blasted 686+ 4” would work for me. I have several others, but this is the one that I see as my true “do it all” .357. Stay safe.
This is a tough one for me. I think my 4" GP100 SS would be the most logical choice and I love my Model 27's but my most favorite .357 is my old 1/2 Lug 6" GP100. It is blued, so the finish might be an issue, but this gun is just solid. It shoots like a laser, has great balance, and is field proven. If I ever got down to just one handgun, and this was it, I would be well armed and content.
My recommendation does not look spectacular, it is just an old law enforcement trade in S&W model 65.
I don't think I've ever seen a 357 that wouldn't fit the bill. They all seem to do their job about the same. We all have our individual preferences, but I can't think of any I've owned over the years that I didn't feel I could absolutely rely on. Present day favorites are my Smith and Wesson Model 19-9 "Classic" And my 2020 Colt Python. Actually, they're the only ones I've got left after selling off most of my "collection." I wouldn't worry a bit with either of them. Not about the gun anyway. Wait. If I had to carry one, it would be the Model 19. I've got a holster for it. None for the Colt.
Yes I did. I only bought it because it was the first one I saw. Once I got the 4.2" one I never shot it. I just can't really make myself warm up to a 6" gun for some goofy reason. I've got two of the 4.2" ones, but my wife claims the other one. Might as well change my avatar.
This one his been going bang since around 1985 Its been dropped, lost, fanned, and shot for over 30 years
While it may be bigger, stronger, etc., the reason they changed it was, at least according to Bill Ruger in an interview many years ago, was that they didn't make any money on the "six" series of revolvers. As a matter of fact, he said they lost money on every one they ever sold. Rather that was literally true or not, I have no idea, but I took him at his word. The GP-100 was less expensive to manufacture apparenly, so they made a higher profit. As an aside, I always thought the fact that custom gunsmiths had a pretty good little cottage industry going, putting Colt Python barrels on the Ruger "six" guns and making "Cougar's" had some influence on the full lug barrel of the GP 100, just as I alway suspected the same of Smith and Wesson's 5/686 series. One of these days, I'm going to run into a "Smolt/Smython." Always wanted one, but have never even seen one live and in living color.
Just as a point in history, if I recall correctly, the Smolt/Smython was custom built for PPC shooters who used long wadcutter ammo at low velocities. The Colt Python barrel had a faster twist rate than Smith's and helped stabilize the wadcutter better at longer distances. Also the Python barrel was "reverse" tapered, with .357/.358 near the forcing cone and .355 at the muzzle. This supposedly also helped the flight. The reason for the Smith receivers was they had the preferred DA action. I think the 2020 Python retains the 1:14 twist rate while Smith and Ruger barrels are 1:18.
Back in the early 1990s, my needs led me to get a 6" barreled GP100. That gun was taken hunting, plinking, target shooting, and on standby for home defense. The forcing cone is fairly worn on that gun now, so it's delegated to .38 Special and snap cap firing these days. Now, my needs are more concealed carry oriented, so my 2.5" barreled S&W 66 is better suited for that role. It will be carried on occasion, but otherwise babied since it's an early 80s classic. So, if I were to go buy a new gun right now that I didn't feel badly about hurting its finish, I'd pick a new S&W 66 with 2.75" barrel. Or find a cosmetically challenged equivalent. It's interesting that S&W's current construction methods and Ruger's current MSRPs make a new S&W 66 an economical choice these days.
My first true "go-to" .357 was a 3" SP-101. Right now, I guess it would be a 3" GP-100, for the sake of possible carry. I could certainly make do with a Six, Blackhawk or Vaquero as well. Preferably around 4" barrel or so. Or a 686. Lots of things will work.
Either one of these: Or the Blackhawk (middle): That Colt Lawman has survived horrible conditions for days on end in the hunting camp - rain, mud, and dust - and just won't stop running like finely tuned watch. Most of that bluing loss is from blood - not mine, pigs and deer and such. It's wearing it's third set of grips - wet and dank destroyed the original wood, same rusted the screw of a set of Pachy's so bad I had to cut them off - and I have to say I really like these Hogues. Didn't' think I would. Wet and muck don't bother them one bit. So far. Comfortable even with a 200gr. Cast Performance WFN-GC and 10gr of 2400.
If I get another .357, it will be one of these, a Ruger LCRx. I saw a Security Six on sale for $800 or something, which is nuts.
