What's a tough, utilitarian, and durable .357 double action revolver?

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Colt King Cobra gets my vote.

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Some time back my local FFL received a S&W 66 PD marked in trade and he knew I had been looking for a reasonably priced .357 in SS. While it came with "Pachs" and a police issue holster the price was right so I bit. Have to say I thoroughly enjoy it's balance, durability and accuracy (not ignoring the "fixed sight" requirement just guess I'd prefer the option of adjust sights as MY preference). I replaced the rubber with Ahrends rd to square conversion stocks. One day I might polish her up and learn how to take a decent photo. With that said:

SW66-1357.jpg
 
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230therapy said:
Great! Rugers are "tough"! Not really--your cartridges must still be within specification. They will not withstand abuse any more than a Smith & Wesson or Colt will.

Ruger triggers are not that great. A good gunsmith can tune the trigger of Smiths and Colts. Since trigger control is the key to accuracy, especially for rapid fire, the inability of Ruger revolver triggers to be tuned in a meaningful way is a huge drawback. None of this means the Ruger cannot be learned; you just need to know what you are doing.

Get a Smith & Wesson or Colt and you won't be sorry. If "The S&W Lock" is a concern for you, then purchase a good prelock model 586 or 686.
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I would sure hope that a good gunsmith could slick the trigger up on a Ruger as well. IMHO it is very simple.
 
I would sure hope that a good gunsmith could slick the trigger up on a Ruger as well. IMHO it is very simple.
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My GP100 has had the trigger worked on. It only reliably ignites soft Federal Primers.
 
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I've done my own trigger jobs on both a GP100 and SP101, it was not very complicated and my triggers are pretty dang nice, if I do say so myself.

If you want to sent it out just call around for a 'smith that has done Rugers before, too easy.
 
I have a 686+ 6" that is just awesome. Super smooth trigger DA and SA, it is so light and short I can't really describe it. Just great. Very accurate, I put 5 out of 7 shots, 140gr. XTP handloads (but looking at some old load data from back then, I found it is possible, but not likely, I used a 125gr.?) on a sillhouette at 300m firing one handed single action. Yes, 300m. Chrono's 125's at around 1800fps using N110. No recoil, like firing a .22 with .38's, so fun for the whole family. One of my favorite handguns, my wife loves it and says I can never sell it.

The 6" is just awesome, but I wish I had one with a 3-4" barrel for carry. Those new 8 shot Smith revolvers with the scandium frames look nice too, but not with the rail. That might be a good idea for home defense or hunting, but I mostly use them at the range. I have a 340PD also, but that thing has the most felt recoil of any firearm I've ever shot. It is great carry piece, but I like my Glocks better for that. Perfect backup, but I don't feel the need to carry a backup. I do use it during excruciatingly hot days, but we didn't get much of a summer up here this year.

If I only had one .357 or was only going to get one revolver, it would most definitely be the 686+, but maybe with a 4" barrel if I were to carry it. The Pythons are very nice too, but now they are very expensive and personally, I don't like the cylinder release on the Colt revolvers.

Then there is always Korth... I got a thread going about Korth's compared to Smith's and there ended up being a good deal of .357 info that came out on there. Dan Wesson is another really well made .357 and it has changeable barrels.
 
Gp100...

GP100s are as durable and reliable as a medium framed revolver gets. If you can't hit with a GP100, you can't shoot. My GP100 is one of the most accurate handguns that I've ever shot.
 
Dan-O's Gp-100 fits your requirements perfectly. Pretty sure they came in stainless as well. In my humble opinion the GP's are near perfect revolvers and I've never seen one shot out of time. When you compare Rugers new or used to Smith guns you will come to understand what a true value they represent.
 
GP-100. plenty of barrel lengths to choose from. I used to think my SP-101 was rugged, but the GP-100 takes it to a whole new level.
 
Yep the GP100 is a good choice.

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This is my ex-Canadian 3 inch GP. I've done an action job and it's zero-zero (that is no end shake, crane shake, gun locks TIGHT on firing.)

25 yard consistent head shots I do with this gun (on SA) using Walmart 125gr Remington .357 Magnums.

It's my light field gun (my 629-1 is the heavy one.)

Deaf
 
MtnSpur said:
Some time back my local FFL received a S&W 66 PD marked in trade and he knew I had been looking for a reasonably priced .357 in SS. While it came with "Pachs" and a police issue holster the price was right so I bit. Have to say I thoroughly enjoy it's balance, durability and accuracy (not ignoring the "fixed sight" requirement just guess I'd prefer the option of adjust sights as MY preference). I replaced the rubber with Ahrends rd to square conversion stocks. One day I might polish her up and learn how to take a decent photo. With that said:

SW66-1357.jpg
Click to expand...
IMO a 4" K frame S&W is the most ergonomic revolver ever made. No revolver even comes close in terms of pure 'feel' to me, and that includes the legendary Colt Python.

If I had to shoot maximum loads all day long I would choose a GP100 or a 686. if I had to carry and handle a gun and shoot a variety of loads I would choose a 19 or 66.
 
I just skimmed through the thread and don't have much additional info to add. But I'll add my voice in favor of the GP100. I have a stainless 3" fixed-sight model, as well as a 4" adjustable; I put a smaller "fixed-sight grip" on the 4", as I like it better. Hard to pick between the two for a "favorite." Don't think I'll part with either of them any time soon.
 
ive shot the gp 100 , and found it a great revolver..
the quality looks good to me , dont think they wear out so easily !
but..... what ...... idiot stamps the whole safety instruction on the barrel of a revolver ??
 
Elkins45, bingo. I like the fixed sight ones myself because I always/only shoot 158 in either special or magnum. No, I haven't had one yet, but a 3" Model 65 is my holy grail ccw.
 
Any of the Colt 357s - especially Python, if you can find a shooter (have a Colt man check it out). Pythons shoot with great balance and with Pachys will help to withstand well Buffalo Bore +p +p (great ammo, but THAT in +P +P ! Have a hand surgeon standing by). They also are superb in accuracy.

Or here's something different on Gunbroker: The Coonan 1911 .357 Magnum:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=254762575
 
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