.357 options

[74novaman]

I currently own a marlin 1894c lever gun and a Taurus snub nosed .357 for pocket carry. I really love the idea of a larger revolver in the same caliber. So I have some questions for revolver gurus.

Barrel length: I already have a snub so I was thinking 4 or 6 inch. Any advantages to one over the othr?

sa/da: I like the ruger Blackhawks just for the ability to shoot 9mm As well with the extra cylinder since I don't currently own a gun in 9mm. But it's only single action. Is this really that big of a deal? My snub is dao so I have zero experience with single action revolvers.

Thanks for any thoughts!!

[Weg]

You should be able to get a good deal on a used .357 as I always see them in gunshops. I have a 6" GP100 and really think highly of it. As for barrel length, I wish I would have bought a 4" as I would be able to conceal it better if I ever chose to carry it. I have 4" .38's that shoot as well as my 6" GP100, do i'm not really sure how much more accuracy it would give you vs. a 4". When it comes to single action vs. double action that is a no brainer in my opinion... get a double action, you can shoot it single action if you want, and reloads are much faster with a swing out cylinder.

[The Annoyed Man]

If all you were going to do with it is hunt, I would say go with the 6". But I think the 4" is better for all around use.

[wally775]

I have had both and liked each action and length equally well.
If you like the lever gun and may want to think about Cowboy action
shooting then you may do well to consider the single action.
I had at the time 9's and still do. I soon tired of changing the cylinders out and just
kept the .357 cylinder in the gun.

I have hunted with both barrell lengths and both actions in the .357.
Hunting is almost always a single action program.
As far as barrell length is concerned in hunting, anything you are going
to hunt with a .357 you can do so with a 4" barrell.
I love the single action. That said, I currently do not have one in .357.
I also have no .357 in anything longer than 4".

As far as versatility goes the 4" and the revolver win hands down.
As far as what you want then I say whatever floats your boat.

Just my opinions.
Good luck.

[74novaman]

Thanks for the advice. Cowboy action might be interesting...looks like a 4 inch blackhawk might be the way to go!!!

[garcia946]

I love my GP100 4" barrel stainless also have a S&W model 65 also
but hands down the GP100

[RECIT]

If you get a Ruger GP100 or a S&W 686 in whatever barrel length you like get a DA/SA model and you have the best of both worlds. I don't think the Blackhawk is the best choice other than Cowboy action. The S&W and the Ruger can both have a scope mounted for hunting, single action on either is good enough for hunting by far, either could fit the role of a night stand or truck gun easily. Carrying a 4" model is no biggie its concealing one that is tough unless its OWB with cover. I have a S&W 686 6" and love it, I also have two 3" J-frame S&W and they are all great. My Mom carries a 3" Ruger Speed Six and it is a real dream to shoot. I actually like it better than my 6" 686 when target shooting. But I only get to shoot it when I go visit my parents (which is several times a month...)

[Dirty Bob]

If you want a belt gun that's fairly easy to carry IWB or OWB and shoots like a bigger gun, I like the 3-inch Ruger SP101. I personally find it to be the best compromise in weight, size, and shootability in a .357 Magnum. I found the stocks too small and use a hard nylon Hogue Monogrip. It makes .38+P into something fun and relaxing to shoot. I haven't tried full-house .357 yet, but for a carry gun I prefer the controllability of +P.

YMMV, but I think the SP101 deserves a look. The fixed sight GP100s also have a following and can be hard to find.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

[jamisjockey]

4" GP100. Its a tank, great shooter.

[aaangel]

have you checked out the new Rossi.
http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details ... umbseries=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[The Annoyed Man]

If you get a Ruger GP100 or a S&W 686 in whatever barrel length you like get a DA/SA model and you have the best of both worlds. I don't think the Blackhawk is the best choice other than Cowboy action.

Agreed. The Blackhawk is a fine pistol for its intended role, but a DA/SA revolver is a better all around gun. I have a Model 29 with a 5" barrel which is just about perfect for me. One of the really satisfying things about it for me is the quality of the single action trigger. It is quite light, and it breaks like a glass rod. I've fired a couple of different SAA replicas as well as a Blackhawk, and the Model 29's single action trigger gives nothing away to any of those guns. It is simply superb. At the same time, the double action pull is heavy enough to be safe, but not so heavy that a person of average hand strength can't pull it, and it is smooth and free of any kind of grit - unlike a lot of DA semi-autos. A single action only revolver can be a lot of fun, but if you're looking for an all around, general purpose revolver, a DA/SA gun is the only way to go.

And because I like to brag, here's a picture of my 29. I made the mistake of releasing the rights to Wikipedia's Model 29 page a few years ago, and it has appeared in other places around the web since then, but this is my actual gun.

[Griffen]

If you want a belt gun that's fairly easy to carry IWB or OWB and shoots like a bigger gun, I like the 3-inch Ruger SP101. I personally find it to be the best compromise in weight, size, and shootability in a .357 Magnum. I found the stocks too small and use a hard nylon Hogue Monogrip. It makes .38+P into something fun and relaxing to shoot. I haven't tried full-house .357 yet, but for a carry gun I prefer the controllability of +P.

YMMV, but I think the SP101 deserves a look. The fixed sight GP100s also have a following and can be hard to find.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

I second the SP101. Mine is in a 2.25" barrel, and its a dandy little noisemaker. .38s are comfortable, but the .357 loads are a real treat. I also added Houge grips due to the size of my hand, and it made a difference.

[74novaman]

I second the SP101. Mine is in a 2.25" barrel, and its a dandy little noisemaker. .38s are comfortable, but the .357 loads are a real treat. I also added Houge grips due to the size of my hand, and it made a difference.

I already own a snub nosed .357 so the 4 or 6 inch gp100 is more appealing to round out the arsenal. Thanks for the thoughts!

[texjames]

I have three .357 revolvers, A S&W 686 6 inch, Ruger Security Six i think its 2 inch and a S&W mod 63 police 4 inch, normally these are .38 spl.
I have had them a long time.Back in the 1980's.My favorite is the 686 as its only used for target shoot'n and i don't take it out too much anymore
since semi-auto handguns seemed to take over the world and i took the bite as well. But the Smith 686 is one accurate son of a gun.My favorite
target loads are 38 spl with Speer 148gr HBWC and 2.8gr Bullseye...gets a nice big hole pattern at the indoor range.Of course the full load
.357 mag loads are real fun too.I load a Hornady 125gr HP/XTP with 8.6 unique.That would be a great defense load but the wadcutters work too.
You don't see many people shoot'n revovers anymore much like ya used too do ya?
The reason i bought this gun is the Texas Highway Troopers used to carry the before they went to the Semi-auto's.

[mr surveyor]

I don't consider the 3 inch version of the SP101 to be a "snub". Although a 4 inch barreled .357 is what I would consider the ideal all around, "could only have one" revolver, I opted for the DA/SA 3" SP101 for ease of concealed carry (my daily field carry) and ability to effectively hit a deer sized target at archery distances. Part of my bias for the SP101 though is due to it's perfect hand fit. Not many revolvers will fit my longitudinally challenged fingers, and the pharmaceutical engineers haven't developed viagra for fingers yet

All of my firearms have to fit my practical side... even the ones that may be conisidered "fun guns". So, if I had any revolver with more than a 4 inch barrel, it would also have to effectively serve duty as a house, yard or truck gun, or be scoped and set up specifically for hunting purposes. The GP141 would potentially be concealable, and the 4 inch barrel would definately lend itself to some hunting duties, whereas the GP161 with 6" barrel wouldn't be very concealable but would make a great hunting handgun. Just another tiny advantage I've found with the Ruger revo's over S&W, is the fact the Rugers can be detail stripped (other than the trigger group itself) in a matter of minutes with nothing more than a screwdriver to remove the grip.

It's really nice to see the revival of interest in the wheel guns lately.