Armored farmer
Member
My one .357 changes occasionally. Usually between my 2½" s&w 66 and my 4" Python. Both are exceptional revolvers.
Today I will say the Python.
Ultimate 357 magnum revolver if you were going to have ONE?
- Thread starter Stopsign32v
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My one .357 changes occasionally. Usually between my 2½" s&w 66 and my 4" Python. Both are exceptional revolvers.
Today I will say the Python.
Hugger-4641
Member
Ditto on the Python as my #1, GP100 would be second.
shoebox1.1
Member
I’m so glad I bought it when I had the chance. They were out of stock everywhere. I got on a email “notify when back in stock”. I pounced and never looked back. I think next sat I’m going to take it out. Maybe a video will be madeI'm not a big Ruger DA fan, but I've loved that piece since the first time you posted it.
shoebox1.1
Member
That is HOTNESS right there!
Stopsign32v
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I'm not paying $2000 minimum for a Python. I think that is absolutely idiocy especially seeing as Colt's quality control as well as company in whole. Ruger and S&W isn't much better if at all but at least they are sub $1000.
Pudge
Member
Only one? Probably a 3" S&W M65. But why would you care what would be my ultimate? I carry it a fair amount, you said probably not what you'd do. Look at this thread, the only .357 that doesn't seem to get much love is the J frame/LCR, and that's only because you suggested not carrying it. There are K's, L's, N's 6, 7, 8 shots, fixed and adjustable sights, 3" on up for barrel length, single and double action, Ruger, Smith, Dan Wesson, Colt,... there are just so many options that are perfect for someone, you need to find one that you like and know that your affinity is enough to put it over the top, because there's no consensus here.
Ranger99
Member
Police trade in
I wish I'd bought a half dozen of these
when I had the opportunity
Riomouse911
Member
Since this has gun the potential to wear 2”,3”,4”6”,8”,10”12” and 15” barrels... and has three different shroud options with Plain, Vent Rib and Vent Rib-Heavy; a DW 15-2 blued or 715 stainless.
Stay safe.
Stay safe.
mcb
Member
Not a fan of 357 Magnum.
My first revolver ever was a 357 Magnum and the cartridge and gun never grew on me. That 357 Mag Ruger Blackhawk holds down the lower shelf in one of my pistol cabinets with very infrequent trips to the range and almost never for serious work.
My second 357 Magnum was a S&W 627. OF all my revolvers it probably got the second most number of rounds through it second to my S&W 610 but it has less than a box of 357 Mag through it. The 627 is my USPSA competition revolver and gets a stead diet of hot loaded 38 Short Colt.
My first revolver ever was a 357 Magnum and the cartridge and gun never grew on me. That 357 Mag Ruger Blackhawk holds down the lower shelf in one of my pistol cabinets with very infrequent trips to the range and almost never for serious work.
My second 357 Magnum was a S&W 627. OF all my revolvers it probably got the second most number of rounds through it second to my S&W 610 but it has less than a box of 357 Mag through it. The 627 is my USPSA competition revolver and gets a stead diet of hot loaded 38 Short Colt.
Boomholzer
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Focusing on SA/DA, the M19, Python, and the K6 have favor. Is the choice replaceable or self-healing? In a only-one-gun situation I (one) would destroy these things in relatively short time. I was thinking more along the lines of a older M27. I honestly don't know much on DW, Manurkin, and Korth robustness, just the fit-finish-accuracy-timing. From my perspective, it would need to be a full-load workhouse with a more soul then a Ruger (no offence). A 5" barrel makes sense.
doubleh
Member
There you go. I have the same gun only it wears Houge rubber grips. Ugly as a home made mud fence but you forget about their looks when shooting the gun. The stainless clashes with my blued Rossi but my wife tells me I have no fashion sense so I don't care.
v8stang289
Member
It would have to be this one for me. 4" 686-4
tark
Member
The finest revolver ever made IMHO.
Stopsign32v
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I think it is absolutely the best caliber there is. Why?
- It is small bore so reloading is automatically cheaper across the board
- Takes less powder than a 40+ caliber
- Can be loaded down to something a kid can shoot or up to something that can take out large game
It isn't my favorite cartridge...I think that would be 45 Colt. But it is the most versatile cartridge IMHO
Stopsign32v
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Ok ok...Trying to bring up old knowledge from my S&W craze and knowledge.
This is a rather uncommon 686 that came with a gold insert instead of a red like normal. Am I getting warm? I THINK it was a small run for someone like Talo but I don't think it was them...?
v8stang289
Member
Honestly I'm not sure. I got it a year or so ago from a guy on a local forum. Serial puts it around 1994 I believe. The sight insert is a light orange color, I assumed it was either changed at some point or someone used one of the DIY front sight kits to make a different color insert.
P Flados
Member
FYI, I shoot a SP-101 in 327 and a GP-100 in 357. Both are close to 4" for barrel length. For me, the feel of the GP-100 is very much better than the SP-101. I shoot the SP-101 for practice with a CC size gun. I shoot the GP-100 because it is fun.
For a one-gun .357 shooter, (and as a companion piece to a Marlin 1894 carbine also in .357), I'd vote for a Model 66 Smith...and make it one of the early ones. The lighter weight, ~38 oz., is a real boon to all-day carry when compared to any of the heavier models: 586, 686, or any of the "N" frames: 28 or 29. Yet that same weight allows it to handle modern full house loads when necessary. But a close 2nd choice, if you're brawny enough to tote the weight, would be a Smith M27 with a 5" bbl. This latter was Skeeter Skelton's personal choice for a one revolver man, IIRC. I have one, love to shoot it, and it may be the most accurate .357 I've ever fired, but the weight....just too much on the gun belt at age 75.
But back to my #1 choice, the stainless steel construction of a Smith 66 makes 'in the field' maintenance a breeze when compared to a model 19 or any other blued gun. Both are great guns, and for sheer beauty, nothing in a revolver beats a model 19 Smith IMHO, but a SS 66 just makes more sense to me when far from the chimney smoke.
As to barrel length....it's gotta be 4"....long enough for good sight alignment, but short enough for easy concealment under a shirt tail. That same 4" length, also makes for significant velocity gains over a 2-1/2" or 3" tube.
Loads: Heck both my Smith M-66 & 19 do right well with cast LSWC's and 13.5 gr of 2400...a sub-2" load at 25 yds in my guns. And the same load does the same at 100 yds from my Marlin 1894 with a Skinner Peep mounted. That's a pretty fair deer combination if nothing better is available...and offers all the penetration one could ask for in CC applications. For jacketed bullets, I like 158 gr. XTP's on deer and for defense, backed by Win 296 giving me 1250 fps from the revolver and well over 1550 fps from the Marlin. This is a combination made for deer hunting inside 100 yds.
For target panning, any good wadcutter with 3.0 to 3.5 grains of Bullseye in .38 Spl. brass will cut ragged holes, offhand, from 15 yds with a competent pistolero doing the steering. Bump that up to 4.0 grains in Magnum brass and you've got a 1st rate defensive load that'll show 900 fps + on the chrono screens....it's just a mite short of what the FBI was issuing back when they carried 3-1/2" Model 27's at the 4:00 o'clock position.
Stocks: I REALLY LIKE Miculek's DA grips. They're at their best with DA shooting, (who'd a guessed?), but do very well in SA too. Mine are checkered allowing no slippage during a 6-shot string, but do abrade the palms over a morning's shooting. Jerry, as I understand it, prefers the smooth ones which allow him to correct gripping errors while in motion. Another good choice is the Hogue Monogrip...I have a set on one of my model 60 Smiths with a 3" bbl. That light weight gun is no fun with full house loads, but the Monogrip keeps the pain to a bearable level with no knuckle rap.
If it's a one .357 to do it all...make mine a Smith 66...my current one is a 66-2...a former LEO turn-in...that has the smoothest DA trigger I've ever found on a Smith...and padnuh, that's saying something. Pic below: my M-66 in my carry rig here on the farm...Miculek stocks and a home brewed holster.
YMMv, but heck, I'll not hold it against you. Best Regards, Rod
But back to my #1 choice, the stainless steel construction of a Smith 66 makes 'in the field' maintenance a breeze when compared to a model 19 or any other blued gun. Both are great guns, and for sheer beauty, nothing in a revolver beats a model 19 Smith IMHO, but a SS 66 just makes more sense to me when far from the chimney smoke.
As to barrel length....it's gotta be 4"....long enough for good sight alignment, but short enough for easy concealment under a shirt tail. That same 4" length, also makes for significant velocity gains over a 2-1/2" or 3" tube.
Loads: Heck both my Smith M-66 & 19 do right well with cast LSWC's and 13.5 gr of 2400...a sub-2" load at 25 yds in my guns. And the same load does the same at 100 yds from my Marlin 1894 with a Skinner Peep mounted. That's a pretty fair deer combination if nothing better is available...and offers all the penetration one could ask for in CC applications. For jacketed bullets, I like 158 gr. XTP's on deer and for defense, backed by Win 296 giving me 1250 fps from the revolver and well over 1550 fps from the Marlin. This is a combination made for deer hunting inside 100 yds.
For target panning, any good wadcutter with 3.0 to 3.5 grains of Bullseye in .38 Spl. brass will cut ragged holes, offhand, from 15 yds with a competent pistolero doing the steering. Bump that up to 4.0 grains in Magnum brass and you've got a 1st rate defensive load that'll show 900 fps + on the chrono screens....it's just a mite short of what the FBI was issuing back when they carried 3-1/2" Model 27's at the 4:00 o'clock position.
Stocks: I REALLY LIKE Miculek's DA grips. They're at their best with DA shooting, (who'd a guessed?), but do very well in SA too. Mine are checkered allowing no slippage during a 6-shot string, but do abrade the palms over a morning's shooting. Jerry, as I understand it, prefers the smooth ones which allow him to correct gripping errors while in motion. Another good choice is the Hogue Monogrip...I have a set on one of my model 60 Smiths with a 3" bbl. That light weight gun is no fun with full house loads, but the Monogrip keeps the pain to a bearable level with no knuckle rap.
If it's a one .357 to do it all...make mine a Smith 66...my current one is a 66-2...a former LEO turn-in...that has the smoothest DA trigger I've ever found on a Smith...and padnuh, that's saying something. Pic below: my M-66 in my carry rig here on the farm...Miculek stocks and a home brewed holster.
YMMv, but heck, I'll not hold it against you. Best Regards, Rod
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mcb
Member
If you where only going to own one revolver there would be worst choices than 357 Mag. It is a Jack of all Trades, but it is also a Master of None. For any given task one might employ a revolver for there is almost always a better choice than 357 Mag. I am not constrained to only one cartridge/revolver and thus tend to buy revolvers for specific uses and this never seen to find 357 Mag being the best choice for any one task.
Personally I prefer rimless cartridges in my revolvers loaded with full moonclips. That said, I have been on a 455 Webley kick of late.
357 Magnum's bark is worst than it's bite. If I am going to shoot something that high pressure and noisy it's going to be in a caliber that starts with a 4.
I bought my first revolver in 357 Mag because of it's touted versatility but quickly learned there where better cartridges for particular applications.
Stopsign32v
Member
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entropy
Member
4" Python. I miss my 2 1/2" one also, but a 4" would work just fine.
An old one, not a new one, though my Dad likes his. I had his old 4" Python, and traded it for a .44 Redhawk as I believed back then that's what I needed for deer & bear hunting. I'd like to have one again.
An old one, not a new one, though my Dad likes his. I had his old 4" Python, and traded it for a .44 Redhawk as I believed back then that's what I needed for deer & bear hunting. I'd like to have one again.
bangswitch
Member
That's a fine-looking Pre M28 you got there.
twarr1
Member
Ruger Blackhawk 7.5”
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
A moderately loaded .38-40, .41Spl, .41Mag, .44-40, .44Spl, .44Mag, .45Colt, .45ACP will do everything the .357 will without making your ears bleed. I could live the rest of my life without firing a single shot of .357Mag and be happy.
They do make great .44Specials!
fin feather fur has pythons for $1500
https://www.finfeatherfur.com/colt-...get-grips-semi-bright-stainless-steel-finish/
sportsman's warehouse has pythons for $1500
https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...m-425in-stainless-revolver-6-rounds/p/p215545
Personally if I was going to spend $1500 on a 357 I'd buy a s&w competitor
https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/performance-center-model-686-competitor-6-weighted-barrel
Oh, wait a minute!!! I did buy a competitor, but it was only $1100 back then.
Bought it to hit small things 25yds and in. Mainly use it for shooting shotgun shells. We setup 12ga shotgun shells on the bowling pin table and shot them instead of bowling pins. Same rules as bowling pins, the only difference is we use shotgun shells instead of bowling pins. And we shoot @ 50ft instead of the traditional 25ft.
6-shot groups @ 50ft using my 2 main loads for shooting the shotgun shells. The hp's hit hard & make a mess out of those shotgun shells
I'd be taking a hard look at the s&w l-frames.
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