Guns that tame the .357 Magnum

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I have zero interest in firing 357 Magnum ammunition out of a small framed revolver such as a S&W J frame or the Ruger LCR. Therefor I have zero interest in owning one.

For the record, I don't reload 357 Magnum, although I reload plenty of 38 Specials. I usually have a few boxes of factory 357 Mag on hand for when I want to shoot some.

My K frame S&W Model 19-3 tames the recoil of 357 Mag ammo pretty well because of its Oversized Target grips.

model19-301_zps8ac05206.jpg




But I much prefer the mass of a N frame revolver when shooting factory 357 Mag ammo.

Such as this S&W Model 27.

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Or for a bit less money this Model 28-2 with its six inch barrel.

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Or this Model 28-2 with its four inch barrel.

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Here is a photo comparing the size of the N frame Model 27 at the top, and the K frame model 19 at the bottom. The N frame gun is bigger and weighs a bit more. The larger grips of the Model 19 help control the recoil even though the gun is lighter. More to grab onto. However, I have no problem putting a box of 357 Magnums through the Model 27 with its standard Magna grips.

Models1927.jpg




Here is why the Model 27, on the right, is heavier than the Model 19, on the left. The cylinder of the Model 27 is bigger, with more metal between the chambers than the Model 19. A larger cylinder means the frame is larger to house the larger cylinder.

cylinders.jpg
 
I personally dislike 357 Mag for a variety if reasons. That said if your going to go up to an N-frame for 357 to tame the recoil at least get an 8-shooter. I understand the historical significance and collectablity of the 27/28 but if your buying for reasons other than collectability get a 627 and do 357 Mag right in an N-frame, 8-shooter Then get some moonclips, 38 Short Colt brass, and go shoot some USPSA revolver division.
 
For a hunting/range toy...........L frame wins, and the older Pre lock at that.

J frame .357 mag? In a scandium.............so light you don't know it's there.
Buddy has one, mean little rig.

I'd like one for carry.

Had a Model 60 that was great, but a little chunky and I wanted more oomph.
38+P in it was no big deal. IMHO usable for a fun range gun.
 
BTW, I consider a 6" Python NOT a heavy gun.
Carried 629's for years.
Pretty comfy the Python.........but IMHO kinda light.
But the .357 mag aint no boomer.
Have shot 19's, 66's and Ruger Security Sixes.
A bit more trim and with Hogue rubber grips, comfy enough.
Just don't care for em.
For me revolvers gotta be small or big, not "in between".
Just personal pref.
I have a Combat Commander that has done most of my CC.
 
I’ve owned .357s from a 3” SP-101 to an 8-3/8” N-frame. Yep, the bigger the revolver the less the recoil. We talk about controlability problems with the .357 and the solution is to use .38 Special ammunition. But doing this reduces the terminal effectiveness of any hits. Based on my experience, the best solution is lots of meaningful practice.

BTW, Dirty Harry never used a .357. He stated that he used .44 Special ammo in his M-29, but the recoil demonstrated on screen is far greater than what Special ammo would produce. Clint is quite the actor.


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My favorite .357 revolver, the Manurhin MR73, does an excellent job of taming the recoil of the .357. The revolver itself is somewhere between a K frame and L frame in size and was designed to very durable with full power .357 loads.
 
I don't have control issues w .357 magnums.
Do have a problem w N frames and double action.
I can shoot Desert Eagles just fine, hands not overly big, but they are thin and get a good wrap.
N frames just too big for me to run DA.
Hold right and thumb left, I can rip em pretty good that way ;)
K frame is about perfect size for DA work.
A hefty diet of magnums can wear em out.
Most folks proly not shoot that much.
Have seen it happen
Some folks shoot enough that barrels, or even whole guns, might just be considered consumables.
Got way more $ than I do LOL.
 
"I currently own a 6 1/2" Blackhawk that handles it even better..."

That is my personal favorite as well. Don't grip it too tight and let it roll up a little with the recoil. Shooting 357's with it is NBD.
 
I'm not exactly sure what is meant my "taming" but here is my take. Anyone shooting full bore .357 loads through J frames is just asking for a lot of misery and nothing gained. There are +p loads out there that will equal and in some cases give better performance defensively than full bore .357 loads and are tame to shoot and easy to control even in a J frame. Now if you are looking for a full bore .357 magnum load for hunting, then go to a 6 or 8 inch barrel and it will "tame" the load. That's the only full magnum loads I shoot and through my 8 3/8" 686 and model 27, they are not harsh to shoot and easy on the hands. That leaves the medium size guns and the only reason that I can personally see that would call for a full .357 magnum load is if you are carrying a 4" barrel gun hiking or hunting and want a backup for bear or other large animal. Then I would carry a N Frame gun which is obviously heavier and put a little money into a really good holster or a shoulder holster. Now there are always those (usually in the under 30 group) who think that everything they have must be a "magnum". That ego will go away with age like a lot of other things. I've shot thousands of rounds through many different handguns through the years and now days, I limit 95% of my shooting to .38/.357 revolvers and I use them for defense, target and hunting. I was taught by a wise old shooter to choose the load for the situation that you are going to be in and then choose the right gun to fire it. The only other thing to consider is to make sure you have the correct grips that both fit your hand and in the hot load situations maybe a rubber type that will help absorb the recoil.
 
I have no interest in shooting full power 357 Magnum loads these days. If I want wrist snapping recoil, I'll drag out the 460 XVR.

In general, handgun weight and the barrel length make a difference in whether a gun is reasonable/comfortable to shoot. I have a 3" N frame 44 Special that I do not like to shoot with standard 44 Special loads but my 4" 44 Special N frame is very pleasant to shoot. This can be applied across the various gun frames, barrel lengths and ammunition.

I load my 357 Magnum to about 950-1000 fps with 158 gr SWC these days and am quite happy with it in 4-6 inch K and L frame guns. They are pussy cat loads in my Model 27 N frame 357 Magnum.

I'm even happier shooting 148 WC loads in my 38 Special K-frames. (There is something special about shooting 38 Special in a gun chambered for 38 Special.)

My 950-1000 fps 357 Magnum loads are not too objectionable in an 3" Model 60 that I have but +p 38 Special loads are uncomfortable in 2" Airweight J frame guns.

I'm happy with my choices but do not let that sway anyone who likes to shoot the full power stuff. I used to be there myself in my younger years.:)
 
I don't have control issues w .357 magnums.
Do have a problem w N frames and double action.
I can shoot Desert Eagles just fine, hands not overly big, but they are thin and get a good wrap.
N frames just too big for me to run DA.
Hold right and thumb left, I can rip em pretty good that way ;)
K frame is about perfect size for DA work.
A hefty diet of magnums can wear em out.
Most folks proly not shoot that much.
Have seen it happen
Some folks shoot enough that barrels, or even whole guns, might just be considered consumables.
Got way more $ than I do LOL.


^^^This sounds like it could be set to music, a Country Western tune. Or perhaps a late 50s style Rockabilly number.

OTOH, I have seen with my own eyes a 14 year old girl, physically smaller than me, and I'm 5.5" 140 lbs., shoot a full ICORE regional with a N-frame and actually do well. All this of course being DA work.
 
I shoot mostly 44 magnum and 480 Ruger. When I switch over to .357 magnum it doesn't seem like a lot to me. Easy to shoot. I've got to admit that the guns are full size revolvers,Colt Trooper and GP100 both 6" but a .357 magnum in a LCR is a bit much.
 
My 4" GP 100 357 (40oz) and 5" GP (43.5 oz) handle 357 magnums very well. I didn't realize how well until I recently bought a SP101 model 5720 357(26 oz). Arthritis and the lighter weight of the SP make it unpleasant to shoot 357 for me at least with a wood grip. I put a rubber Hogue monogrip on the SP since I shot it last. The GP 100 snubs are about 36 oz and I don't want to carry around another 10 oz. so for my CC it will be the SP probably with 38 spl+P. IMG_1395.JPG
 
Im not sure what I'd use it for, but I'd really like a 686 Competitor in my safe.
I don't compete. I just really enjoy shooting it. Joy is use enough I say.

There is a 629 Competitor I am very tempted by also. the problem is finding a holster if you want to carry it.
 
I don't compete. I just really enjoy shooting it. Joy is use enough I say.

There is a 629 Competitor I am very tempted by also. the problem is finding a holster if you want to carry it.

I've got both a 4" 686 and a 5" 629. They both shoot beautifully and when called upon carry well for what they are.

Other than "I want it" I dunno what I'd do with a Competitor or a V-Comp. One day I'll walk into a shop or catch a deal in the local classifieds and make one mine.
 
It's just physics. A heavier gun will reduce felt recoil pretty much proportional to the weight. That's especially the case with revolvers, where there isn't a big difference in bore height (they're all high) or grips (you can replace the stocks to fit your hand).
 
My experience has been that grip design is one of the most important factors in recoil mitigation. Not necessarily the grip materials, but the shape and how well it conforms to the hand. I have some rubber grips that don't work well, and some wood ones that work very well. Much of this has been the result of hit-or-miss experimentation.

However, I found that my 3" Kimber K6S, with the stock smooth wooden grips, has been a pleasant surprise. I put a set of the CT boot laser grips on it, and it is a bear to shoot. Those have gone back in the box, and I will probably end up selling them at a loss, since the original grips are so much better for shooting.
 
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