What is your best 357 revolver?

[MAUSER88]

GP100 SS w/6" barrel. The strongest revolver I ever owned.

 

[22250Rem]

I own two; a S&W 4" 7 shot 686 and a stainless 4 & 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk. But I can't decide which one is best 'cause I like both of 'em so much. I see a lot of posts mentioning the Ruger GP-100 which is also a thing of beauty and if I come across a nice one for sale at a decent price I don't think I could resist it. Buddy of mine had one years ago and I fell in love with it.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I only have one, well my wife does as I'm a bottom feeder guy. 4.2" Ruger sp101 with spring changes. We both enjoy shooting it and it's her night stand guardian.

 

[lckdnldd]

That's an easy question to answer. I only own one and that's a 4" SS GP100.

 

[fatcpa]

My "best" 357 is my newly acquired S&W Performance Center Model 686 with 2 1/2 inch barrel. The 357 that I like best is my 40+ year old S&W Model 19-3.

 

[barnbwt]

Unica 6, followed by the TRR8, then the MR73 police trade in. DA is by far the best on the Manurhin, followup shots are crazy fast on the Mateba, but the TRR8 is both light and soft shooting, all while holding an extra two rounds.

TCB

 

[Master Blaster]

My 627 PC 5" barrel 8 shot, followed by the 2.25" model 66.

 

[340PD]

This is easy. A 3" 586L comp.

 

[BLU]

340PD: That's a nice looking piece!

 

[Edcnh]

I have two. A S&W Model 27-2 and a Ruger Blackhawk three screw model. The Ruger is a tank and I use it for heavy loads, but it is also quite accurate with 38 specials. The Smith is a used late 60's model I picked up a couple of years ago.

 

[IKE]

I've had eight or ten makes, models and barrel lengths through the years and I'm down to two.

A 4" stainless Security Six that I bought new in 1976 and a stainless 4" GP100 that I bought new last year......I like them both evenly.

 

[Southside830]

I like my little snubby SP101. The factory trigger is excellent. It has a better trigger than my Match Champion.

 

[fatcpa]

My new favorite 357.

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[kvtcomdo]

I'll second that emotion.


Sorry, was agreeing with someone that owns or likes a 3 and 1/2 inch S&W Mod 27.

 

[Havok7416]

I'm going to go ahead and likely make some people mad, but my favorite is my Chiappa Rhino 6".

 

[Lucky Derby]

I'm going to go ahead and likely make some people mad, but my favorite is my Chiappa Rhino 6".

Shouldn't make anyone mad. They may not agree, but mad is a bit much. And if they are mad, who cares.
Enjoy that Rhino.

 

[Catpop]

First choice all round 1973 6" Ruger Blackhawk 100k+ reloads and still strong.
Second, either SP 101 or GP100 depends on application.

Hey do I see a pattern here?

But I do have a Rossi snub, a TC 10" and a Smith K19-5 so as not to be accused of descrimination! Haha

If I could have only one, the Blackhawk hands down. I shoot 100+ rounds a week.
Catpop

 

[larbear]

Model 19 Smith and Wesson. Pull the trigger, it goes bang. Bullet hits the X. no problems. I've had mine 25 years.

 

[bc1023]

In my opinion, the Manurhin MR73 is the best 357mag ever built.

It also stands alongside the Sig P210 as the finest service sidearm ever produced.

 

[wheelyfun66]

Hard to say what is my "best" 357....but here are my favorites...

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Colt Trooper III. 4 inch barrell.

 

[golfnfish]

I've kept two:

Ruger Security Six 4" SS for woods carry. Buffalo Bore 180gr hard cast

S&W nickel 19-3 2 1/2" wife carries. Buffalo Bore 158gr 38spl+p LSWHPGC

Triggers and accuracy on both are great.

 

[medic_guns]

 

[RealGun]

I've kept two:

Ruger Security Six 4" SS for woods carry. Buffalo Bore 180gr hard cast

S&W nickel 19-3 2 1/2" wife carries. Buffalo Bore 158gr 38spl+p LSWHPGC

Triggers and accuracy on both are great.

You know what works for you, but I wouldn't load a Security Six that level. I have a 4" Security Six, and it will never see loads approaching what you describe.

The Security Six is a fine gun, but it is somewhat removed in size and weight from the original 6" N-frame 357s. I don't get crazy with loads for it. I have guns better suited for wilderness use, even in the same caliber.

The 19-3, capable of shooting 357 Magnum at some level, should be good to go, if staying with 38 S&W Special.

 

[WestKentucky]

I currently have 1 357 which is in pieces as a long-term build (probably SBR before I'm done) but it's not the best I have had. I have been a trader before, constantly looking for "that perfect gun" And I REALLY like the 357. I have had in this order...
Taurus 66 6" blued
Ruger gp100 6" stainless
Ruger gp100 6" blued
S&W model 19-4 4" blued
Armi Jager / EMF single action buntline 15"
Winchester 92 rifle ... don't remember length
As well as other guns I never even fired before trading...like a taurus airweight snub, and new vaquero
I have shot many others including pythons, troopers, 686+, blackhawks, contenders, ranch-hand/mares leg, gp100, sp101, windicator, Airweight smiths, and many more.

The standouts are VERY easy to pinpoint. The Taurus 66 was by far the most accurate for me and was very accurate for others. It once hit a tame duck at about 125 yards on water on 2nd shot after first shot hit low because I underestimated range. The 686+ 4" I would easily call the best house gun if a 357 is to serve that role although 7 357s inside of a house will cause permanent hearing damage. The buntline is incredible but falls between the rifle and the revolvers. It's fast, powerful, accurate, but heavy and hard to use as a handgun...but will be SBR before 2016.the gp100s have all been well built guns with terrible accuracy and have been a very big disappointment and have made me very shaky on new products from Ruger. The winchester was too nice and never saw much use as I was scared to scratch it up. Made 400 bucks over purchase price when it sold.

Out of all these the only one I still own or shoot is the buntline, and the only one I miss is the taurus 66. It WILL be replaced.