What's your idea of the ultimate .357?

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The first handgun I ever used for deer was a 6” 27 at 9yrs old, and while I have taken a couple dozen deer with 357mag since then, it has never been a cartridge for which I ever really cared very much. Compared to the 44mag or even 41mag, the 357mag just isn’t so impressive...

I spent about 20yrs of my life in search of the “ideal whitetail revolver,” working with all sorts of magnum and super magnum cartridges, and believe I finally found it a few years ago - I’m very close to what I consider ideal today, with one more “Gen 2” version planned soon.

My current Gen 1 “ideal whitetail revolver,” which I consider to be the Ultimate 357, is a 7.5” Ruger Redhawk, reamed to .357/44 Bain & Davis Mag, with a Leupold 2-8x up top. I do plan sooner than later to transplant another reamed .357 mag cylinder into a Super Redhawk with a custom barrel, likely 10-12” plus a brake, done with a Bowen GP44 style nosejob and a Bayside Custom freefloat tube around the barrel with an ARCA Mount. In the current 7.5” barrel, I can push the Speer 180grn up over 1900 without breaking a sweat, up over 2000 before I start getting excessive pressure signs. It was built with supported shooting in mind, but it does balance surprisingly well for off-hand shooting. The intent for the revolver was 250yrd deer hunting, although I have not yet found the opportunity to reach so far after deer with it.
 
Comes in blue steel also, S&W 581.

A 4-inch 681/581, ie fix sight L-frame in 10mm Auto would be the ultimate combat revolver. 357 Magnum power in a shorter fatter cartridge that works with robust moonclips. That gives me shivers just thinking about how sweet that would be.

insert <homer-drool.gif>
 
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Probably the best one size fits all .357 I have would be a Rossi Interarms era 971. This is a stainless 6 shot with a 3 inch bbl. (The Taurus era stainless versions are called 972's.) This would be followed closely by a S&W model 13 I acquired recently. The S&W has a 4 inch bbl, so it would be less concealable, which is it's only disadvantage. They're both smooth working accurate guns.

They aren't as solid as my old Highway Patrolman or as well made and accurate as my 6" 586 Classic, but neither of those are remotely concealable. The Rossi and Model 13 are infinitely better than those super light weight 5 shot .357's when chambered with stout loads.
 
I'm a huge fan of .357. Its one of the most versatile cartridges out there. However, while I have carried one in the past, I find the shorter snubs stoked with .357 to be overly blasty and concussive. I think the .357 really shines when you push it out of a 4+" barrel, preferably 5.5" to 7". It really makes those intermediate weight bullets scream and put some stank on the target.

I don't think I have an ultimate. The 686 is probably the most classic. The sp101 is a dream to shoot compared to the lightweights. The gp100 is an affordable tank. The blackhawk really tames the round to the point you can easily control your shots. The python just looks so dang cool.

To answer your question...all of them:)
 
I have the S&W 27 in 8+" & all it is good for is back yard shooting, too long to carry & [ in my opinion ]
not enough for deer hunting, that's my 44 mag work in model 29 as well as concealed carry while deer
hunting. Because bear are everywhere here now even around our house. I know a 357 can kill a deer
& I have a 357 rifle but if I have larger stuff, why not use that instead of seeing how low in caliber can go.
However for concealed carry I do use a 6" Colt Peacekeeper when we can wear coats in wintertime, then
in summer a 4" Colt Diamondback in 38spl.
Any of my 357 mags would not work as an ankle carry, to heavy.
I have several 357 mags in S&W for backyard & I can't tell you why I carry the Colt. I actually like
S&W better, it must be the Pac Grip.
 
Agree. They are pretty and that is about it. The rubber variant of the Monogrips I prefer though the frame backstrap does feel harsh on the hotter loads. I like what Ruger does with the full rubber grips.
 
A 4-inch 681/581, ie fix sight L-frame in 10mm Auto would be the ultimate combat revolver. 357 Magnum power in a shorter fatter cartridge that works with robust moonclips. That gives me shivers just thinking about how sweet that would be.

insert <homer-drool.gif>

Would that hold six rounds, like the S&W610? Now a seven shot cylinder can fit in the 'L' frame.
 
Would that hold six rounds, like the S&W610? Now a seven shot cylinder can fit in the 'L' frame.

Yeah no problem getting 6-shots of 10/40 in an L-frame. S&W has made the 646 in the past. It was a 6-shot 40S&W L-frame. I think the only reason they did not make it 10mm was the 646 used a titanium cylinder (and they made the 610). Had they used their regular stainless steel it could have easily handled the slightly higher pressure of 10mm Auto. I have a S&W 610 and its a fine revolver but for a combat/carry revolver it is simply too big. The big N-frame tames the 10mm Auto very nicely but the L-frame is all the bigger you really need for 6-shots of 10mm. It would be very similar to the new GP100 in 10mm Auto.
 
My 2 favorite .357s are my Winchester 94 Trails End rifle and my S&W 327 Night Guard. My Night Guard is the 2.5” version that came out in 2012. It’s my favorite revolver. It’s big, ugly and a pleasure to shoot. It’s lively when firing full house magnums but it’s not punishing. I can hit what I aim at regardless of .38, .38+P or .357 ammo.

I do like my S&W 19 and my 60 Pro but I love that 327NG. I have been considering a TRR8 or a 627 but funds inhibit that venture for now.
 
The rubber variant of the Monogrips I prefer though the frame backstrap does feel harsh on the hotter loads. I like what Ruger does with the full rubber grips.
Yes, plus with the Rugers you can go all the way to the Tamer Monogrip, which is really effective.
 
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Howdy

To me, the ultimate 357 Mag is the S&W Model 27. I would love to get my hands on a registered magnum, but so far have not found one I could afford.

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You won't get an argument out of me on the 27! I have an 8 3/8" that might be the Perfect target .357. Like yours it came with the Magna grips. I have Altamonts mounted for shooting. While I’m a 3” K Frame Freak, the Mod 27 or even 28 are hard to beat as target guns.
 
IIRC, "ultimate" literally means "final".

I just won a Gunbroker auction for a 6" S&W Model 28-2 yesterday. Apparently that is my "ultimate" 357 revolver, at least for the time being. :)
 
As an adjective ultimate does mean final. But as a noun it means more like best or most of a kind. So whether or not your new revolver is the ultimate one you ever own, I hope it is the ultimate in revolvers. :)
 
My favorite shooter is a 2 3/4" S&W M66-8 -- mostly a range gun but drop in the hip pocket of my Carharts if I stop to walk the dog on the way to the range.

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S&W M19-3. This is a replacement for one that was stolen - originally obtained in the mid 60s.

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Bought this about 10 yrs ago for when I couldn't shoot the big stuff anymore. FA M97.

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Paul
 
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