What's Your Favorite S&W .357 Revolver?

[billybob44]

Different tools for different jobs.....

As a retired Auto Master Tech I can tell you-depends on the job...

Small jobs=10 MM in most cases.
Larger jobs=13 MM
Larger yet= 15 MM

As you know, a 10 MM wrench/socket will NOT remove a nut with a 15 MM head..

Same goes for firearms:

For me:
Bench or hunting-S&W 27-2, 6"
Out to dinner with the Wife-Ruger SP-101, 2.25"

I have more than several in-between...

My all around favorites:
S&W 681. 4"with a VERY Slick action+Crimson Trace Laser grip.
S&W 19-3, 4" with a VERY Slick action.
Ruger GP-100, 4", Half-Lug, with a VERY Slick action.

As you can see, for ME My all around favorites are mid-frame size 4" .357's, for most uses.

You will be well served with most any 4" barrel .357 Magnum from:

Smith&Wesson
Ruger
Colt (If you can find+have the $$$$)

Hope this helps...Bill

 

[xXxplosive]

My Model 19..........with a Behlert trigger job.

 

[anothernewb]

Mines a tie between a 4" model 15 that's got the sweetest trigger in existence, or my 6" 19-5 that just seems to balance right. Whenever I shoot that thing, it seems to gravitate to the center of the target on it's own.

 

[billybob44]

Definately my 27-2.

And please, enlighten us youngsters what that "bump" is for.

+1 on the 27-2....

The "Bump" is the trigger over travel stop. As RC noted, some models used a pin inside of the rebound slide spring.
If you know what you are doing, you can adjust this "Bump" (stop)...

 

[X-Rap]

My favorites have to be the 19/66, over the years I've had a couple handfuls of them and the ones I've got now won't get away. I've had many Smiths over the years and still have my share in J-N frames and they are by far my favorite revolvers.
Not much of a long barrel guy anymore, my longest shooter barrel is a 5" 44 Classic with a 6" Reg Model being a safe queen.
All the rest are between 2 & 4 inches.

 

[rondog]

Since I only have one .357, I'll have to say my 6" 586-8. Years ago I owned a pair of identical 6" 19-4's that I loved dearly and miss terribly, but sometimes ya just gotta sell things to pay bills..... But I do prefer the long 6" barrels for target shooting, I'm not interested in carrying big revolvers for CCW. I'm considering a chest rig to carry the 586 in for deer hunting though.

Definitely a fan of the orange insert front sights and white outlined rear blades too.

 

[340PD]

586L comp.

 

[longknife12]

Both 4 inchers, M19 and a M28. 19 has Smith o/s grips and 28 sports a original Smith o/s combat grip (Bill Jordan era). Both have polished trigger jobs. Both are -2's
Dan

 

[bannockburn]

Wanted to add that the two runner-ups to my favorite .357 would be a Ruger Security Six and a Colt Trooper Mk.V, both with 4" barrels.

 

[joem1945]

686 / 6" is my favorite. The pre loc 27 is a safe queen. Looks new and I'll keep it that way.

 

[BobWright]

I developed my pet loads in .357 Magnum using a Ruger Blackhawk. One of my loads used the 173 gr. cast SWC of Keith style. One day I was going to try these in a friend's S&W pre-Model 27. Loading them into the cylinder, the bullets protruded from the front face of the cylinder. Same problem with his Colt Python. They did work in a Smith Model 19, but I didn't care to shoot my handloads in a Model 19. When the Model 586 was introduced, I tried them in that gun, and they worked.

For a double action .357 Magnum, I believe the L-Framed Smith is the best to come out yet, and remains my favorite in the DA .357 Magnum field.

Bob Wright

 

[25-5]

Combat Magnum 4". I have mostly N frames in larger caliber, but I just like the damn thing.

 

[Iggy]

3 1/2" Model 27. Accurate enough to use out to any reasonable handgun range.

 

[DM~]

4" M-19 blue, with out a doubt...

DM

 

[grter]

Although I have limited experience with revolvers except for gun range rentals I would say the 6 shot (I did not have good accuracy with the 7 shot maybe a glitch?) S&W 686 with a 6 inch barrel (stainless.) I like long barrels and some weight on .357 magnums.

I find the trigger pull to be quite good, the firearm in general accurate and easy to control. The balance in my hand was good too. My groups were better with it.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Only own one, a Model 27 with a 3 1/2" barrel. Butter smooth action an accurate as all get out.

 

[BYJO4]

I prefer my 686 no dash 6" barrel over my 4" version, my 627, and model 66 snub. For some reason I like the feel of a 6', the grip size fits my hand perfectly, and I shoot it better than the others. The 627 handles recoil of heavy loads best but the N frame is just a little large for my hand.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

My favorite to carry is my 3" unflutted Talo 686+

My favorite to shoot is my PC 686 Competitor.

 

[USSR]

Have to agree with rcmodel, either a model 19 or 66 - pinned and recessed, of course.

Don

 

[420Stainless]

Model 19 blue & Model 66 stainless I guess.

At least thats the two I have kept around for 40 years.

rc

Probably would be mine too, but when I went shopping for a 66 I found out just how much their owners love them. Found a 3" 686+ and never looked back. Still, it looks downright homely next to my blue Model 19 (I haven't owned it for 40 years, but it is older than that).

 

[homers]

686 with 6" barrel

 

[tomrkba]

S&w 327 trr8

 

[stubbicatt]

I like my 586 L-Comp. The "Goldilocks Gun." Not too big, not too small, just right. Good heft, round butt, just a great little revolver. It's my daily carry piece.

 

[jolly roger]

My Highway Patrolman 4 inch and my 3 inch Model 65..I would kill tho for a 3 1/2 model 27..

 

[I6turbo]

1982 model 6" 686. I've never handled any other handgun that suits me as well or operates as... orgasmically... DA or SA.