What handgun would you recomend for .357 mag.?

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I've got "statistical clustering" tatooed all over my forehead but...

I bought 3 Pythons in the last year and two sucked. One got traded, the remaining one was determined to be irreparable (just got the phone call today).

Grant Cunningham isn't accepting new work for the time being.

3 Pythons, 1 runs. Clearly this isn't normal but I'd definitely stay clear of any discontinued, orphaned or otherwise abandoned firearm if you're going to rely on it. They do require upkeep and the number of 'smiths you can trust has just been reduced. Frankly, I have no clue where I can send my problem child Python - it's as likely to get its frame flame cut as anything else.

My 686 has offered no grief, and the GP-100 will run forever. Either of these would be my choice.
 
What you got against Taurus? Now I know that back in the day there were a lot of problems with them but all the ones I have shot have not failed me once. I shot two that were owned by a friend, a PT-92AF 9mm and a Model 66 7-shot .357 Mag. The third was one that i just recently purchased about a week ago, a Model 605 .357 Mag. I've fired close to 400 rounds out of it and not one misfire. All shots were kill-accurate out to 25 yards. I don't know why there is all the bashing about Taurus these days but oh well.

Just go at it with an open mind. I've shot Smiths and Rugers and they shoot just fine, although I wouldn't shell out $750 for a Smith paperweight.

Try them all out and see what points naturally, fits your hand, etc.
 
"I had no trouble landing head shots and getting kill shots at 50+ feet."

Try landing head shots at less than that when you've got someone bearing down on you or someone you love and you have limited time to react. Shoot to center of mass. Head shots are for either when they're kneeling before you and you've decided to become an executioner or simply for the movies. Ok, I might shoot for the head if I find out they're wearing a vest but even then, its a long shot. I'm a good shot. I can shoot head shots easily at 25 yds with any of my pistols but that's just for fun. I don't expect to have the time to line up a head shot in a real SD situation and various conditions..

Get the Ruger, good guns and durable. I'm not against Taurus either. Got a Taurus .44mag and its been nothing but good to me. Of course, you had mentioned a hand cannon. If all you want is a hand cannon, look at a .454 Casulle or a .500 SW Mag.

Sam
 
Ruger, Smith and Wesson, Colt, Taurus, and Dan Wesson are all good. Just rent them all and see what you fancy the most.
For me, I like my ss security six and old model Flattop Blackhawk and dont really feel the need for anything else.

One exception would be a 8'' bbl Dan Wesson. My Granddad has one and it is a sweet shooter.
 
For home defense, if I'm limited to new, I would go with the following:

S&W 686 Plus 3"

164300_large.jpg



S&W Model 619

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Nomad101bc,
I guess you didn't see my first post so I'll ask again, what revolver did you shoot at the range that made you fall in love with the .357 Magnum?

I shoot a 4" S&W M686-2 and wouldn't be without it...
 
Marshall,
Why the M619 with fixed sights over the M620 with adjustable sights? I owned a M619 for about a year and I thought it was a great revolver which was very accurate. I traded it in to buy the 6 round 4" M686-2 because I wanted to shoot PPC. (I regret selling the M619 a lot)
 
I did not catch the name of the revolver I was using. It was a blued revolver with a wooden handel but i never looked at a name. I think the Ruger looks like a real winner though good company and nice looking gun.
 
A good python is something else, but as mentioned you pay for it.
Mine feels like a .22 with .38 specials, and i can rip the bullseye out with em. Very accurate. With .357 it er- doesn't feel like a .22 ;) but it is a blast to shoot. The ports shoot out muzzle blast and i get a smile when it fires off a particularly mean one lol. Also very accurate with .357.
I have considered getting a ruger sp101 as a "beater" and a carry gun so i don't have to put wear on the python. I haven't had a chance to try one, but i researched them and am definitely impressed by the reviews and the number of positive things you can find about them. They are also reasonably priced.
 
Any Smith, K, L or N frame. Try a M28 Highway Patrolman in 4". It's my do anything gun. But all of the suggestions on this thread are good ones.
 
I shoot a coupla hundred rounds a month outta my Model 686PP Revolver. Both my sons(the youngest since he was 7) shoot it along my wife. The ported barrel makes for a little more noise, but the reduced recoil makes is a hoot to shoot. I have also taken several deer with it. It is a little big for CC, but if I could own only one handgun this would be it. Nice trigger, nice balance and it fits my hand well. It is also very accurate. Nuttin' wrong with Rugers either.........




164272_large.jpg
 
It would be hard to go wrong with a Smith or Ruger, just do the revolver test in this fourm and you should be alright. If you can handle and shoot as many 357's as you can until you find one that just feels right. That will be the one you will usually shoot the best with. I would suggest a good trigger job as well. You would be suprised what a diffrence it can make at the range. And welcome to the joy of shooting a good revlover, it gets highly addictive!!!
 
Got to jump in on this.

The most accurate gun I have shot was my 686 pre-lock (not sure what the -X was, but I bought it around '99-'01 or so) w/ a 6" Barrel. But I sold it, I just did not LOVE the 6" barrel.

Recently I purchased a 686+ w/ a 4" barrel, love its aesthetics, but have yet to get it to a range, but the dry-firing is amazing (after a S&W Master Revolver Job)! :D

Rugers are built like tanks, rented one at my local range before I made my final decision. The range owner won't rent anything but Rugers because of their durability.

When quality, reliability, barrel lengths, finishes, and price were all too close to call, it came down to the cylinder release button, I like Smith's better, honest. This sounds trivial, but one of the gun gurus here once quoted someone like Jeff Cooper (if someone has that quote could they please let me know) saying there is some connection between loving the look/feel of your gun and shooting it well, or something like that.

In a world where there was no 686 (I recently found out about the 327 and might need to add that to my collection though), its Ruger all the way IMHO.

In short, to me, DA S&W, SA Rugers, and its hard to go wrong any way you go.

My $0.02,
RFB

P.S. I usually forget there is a lock on my 686, I wouldn't use that as a base for a decision.
 
Marshall,
Why the M619 with fixed sights over the M620 with adjustable sights? I owned a M619 for about a year and I thought it was a great revolver which was very accurate. I traded it in to buy the 6 round 4" M686-2 because I wanted to shoot PPC. (I regret selling the M619 a lot)
Click to expand...

All I could see mentioned in the original post regarding usage was Home Defense. For HD I don't see a need for adjustable sights and tend to think they're more of a detriment than a benefit. The only reason I mentioned the 686 Plus 3" was because of the 3" barrel and additional capacity.

I have a 4" Model 13 that I use with a rubber Pachmayr Presentation grip for a nightstand revolver. Great Gun. Wish I could find a 3" version.


dcp_0519.jpg
 
;)Get a cop revolver turn in..Security Six or Speed Six, Police Service Six 357..got mine at the gun show when there were some used guns vendors still around. Now, all new gun vendors with BIG prices. Good luck.
 
:cool:Get a cop revolver turn in..Security Six or Speed Six, Police Service Six 357..got mine at the gun show when there were some used guns vendors still around. Now, all new gun vendors with BIG prices. Good luck.
 
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