Which .357 mag would you choose?

[BBDartCA]

I'd go with the DW if its a 14 or 15 series. They are very accurate and the trigger is great. Plus if you can always buy a shorter barrel if you want.

 

[easyrider604]

There are gazillions of S&W 19s out there. I don't know about DWs with the 12 inch barrel.

I'd go with the DW now. Buy a 19 later.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't see a footlong wheel gun that often, hence, I'd like to be the guy that owns one.

Seems to me that you just answered your own question.

Persoanlly I can't imagine a 12 inch barrel on a handgun, but you said you'd like to be the guy that owns one, so go get it.

If the choice was between a 4" Dan Wesson and a 4" Smith & Wesson, it would be a closer race, but in the end the S&W would win. I've owned a couple of Dan Wesson 22's over the years, and they're good guns, but the S&W is a lighter, trimmer, more "elegant" piece.

 

[BADUNAME37]

A S&W 686 or a Ruger SP101

 

[hardluk1]

I guess some guys never could see there selves shooting long range handgun matchs. Thats what that 12" barrel is for . It only takes 2 mins to change barrels too a 4'' or 6'' for trail duty. 12" for fun at 200 yards bang'n steel.

Hard to compare the strenght of a DW revolver to a under designed model 19. A gun designed for many 38's but few 357mags.

Or look for a ruger double action revolver. newer and way stronger than the S&W too probably for a better price also.

 

[skoro]

I'd get the S&W, because I really like k-frames.

 

[zoom6zoom]

A DW 12" barrel with vented rib sold on Gunbroker last month for $575. That's JUST the barrel assembly, not the gun. Buy the DW, sell the long barrel, and buy a shorter barrel AND the Model 19.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO while there's nothing wrong with a Dan Wesson revolver there's nothing like an old K frame like the M19. I would go with the .357 "Combat Magnum".

 

[788Ham]

Get yourself a Ruger SP 101, fine shooting revolver, a pancake holster, you're ready.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Get yourself a Ruger SP 101, fine shooting revolver, a pancake holster, you're ready.

Really??? An SP101???
Oh c'mon, if you wanted to recommend a Ruger replacement for the M19 at least talk about a Six-Series revolver or the GP100.

 

[Fishslayer]

Ya know, you can buy barrels/shrouds in different lengths for the DW.

http://www.ewkarms.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=15_16

FWIW I'd go for the M19 other things being equal. I don't have a 6" K frame.

 

[Stainz]

I have a 6" 66-6, so I'd likely look for 'Curtain #3'. I certainly have no need for a handgun with a barrel over 6" in length. YMMV.

Stainz

 

[DWFan]

The Buffalo Bore 180gr WLN load fired in that 12" barrel M15-2 will have nearly .357 Maximum ballistics. (1475-1480 fps in an 8" barrel) A factory 12" barrel model is possibly even rarer than the 15" barrel model. The 4" and 6" shrouds are easily found and still not that expensive. EWK has them with special 1:12 twist barrels and you can get the barrels separately.

 

[Steve CT]

Buy the DW, you can put any barrel length on it you want from 2-1/2" up to beyond your 12", and have a more accurate (yes, more accurate) revolver than the S&W. As noted, you can sell that 12" barrel for enough to buy 3 or 4 shorter DW barrel assemblies.
Personally, I wouldn't care to shoot a 12" revolver, but only the DW will give you the option to easily change barrel length.

 

[surplus-addict]

I would choose neither.

I would choose the S&W 686 of course. It's the gun Gordon Freeman uses in Half Life

Kidding aside, I'd go with the Dan Wesson. I've shot S&W's and Dan's, and I REALLY like Dan Wesson revolvers.

 

[KennyFSU]

The versatility of the DW is appealing. Although I'd like to know about how smooth their DA trigger feels compared to the Smiths.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'd like to have something fun yet accurate for the range, will only be using .38 spl loads (well maybe a magnum every once in a while lol).

Then the M19.

The DW is tougher than a K-frame, no question. But if you don't need a gun that can shoot buffalo bore heavy loads all day, every day, the S&W is lighter, more manageable and more pleasant. The P&R guns also represent a level of crafsmanship no longer seen in production guns.

Dan Wessons are fine revolvers, but for your intended purposes, I'd take a nice K frame every time.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Get the Dan Wesson because if you decide you want a 6" you buy a 6" barrel and shroud. If you want a 2" you do the same. If you want a 4" you get one. Etc....

You then have to decide heavy shroud or light shroud, vented or non-vented etc. etc.

The DW gives you options to grow in the future. The 19 is a 6" and you are practically stuck.

 

[sixgunner455]

Get both!

Seriously.

You must have a S&W K frame. The 19 is the quintessential .357 magnum, to my mind. It is a shooter, it feels good, it is accurate. A 6" barrel isn't too long to pack around. It's a workhorse that feels and looks like a Thoroughbred.

The DW is something rare that you really want. You said so yourself, you want to be the guy who owns it. So get it.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

No, I have to disagree. The quintessential 357 magnum is the N frame or the Registered Magnum. The 19 is an long afterthought. Not a bad gun, but certainly not the same as an N frame 357 Magnum like this one:



1939 Registered Magnum with the box.

 

[griz1]

S&W model 19

 

[Checkman]

Colt New Service Shooting Master with 5" barrel. There you go.




But seriously I would go with the S&W Model 19.

 

[sixgunner455]

Peter - that is a gorgeous gun! Drool-worthy, to be sure.

But. N-frames don't really fit me, at least for double-action shooting. Single action is fine, but I like to shoot double action. K-frames are perfect for me, and fit the hands of a lot more people. The 19 is a packing, fighting, hunting gun, and they made a heck of a lot more of them than those gorgeous registered magnums.

 

[sixgunner455]

double tap