If you could have only one .38 / 357...

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If only one, it would be the Detective Special since I shoot it well and don't mind carrying it. I love the .357 Magnum, but prefer carrying semiauto type handguns for more powerful output than the .38 Special.
 
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It's not very practical but it would have to be my New Vaquero. I can't think of any .357 (I've owned a few) that I like shooting more than the Ruger.
 
You can't have just one 357. As far as favorite to take to the range and practical use it would have to be the M&P 360. It's super accurate, small and light.

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If one...and "only" one...

Then I'd take the Ruger Blackhawk convertible.
It will shoot 357 mag, 38 spl "and" 9mm all out of one gun.
True it's a single-action six-shooter...but I already have high-cap auto pistols anyways.
But for a survival gun or whatnot, I want this one and am shopping for it right now actually.
 
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Back when you could actually go into a gun shop and buy a factory fresh Python, I broke the firing pin on one dry firing it. That kinda put me off of Pythons.

The one 357 do-all for me is the new SP101 4". Long enough in the barrel for hunting (either as a stand alone or backup), while being just small enough for CC.
 
GP-100 4 inch
or
686 4 inch

Why 4 inch? Because I get 1305 fps out of it with a 158 gr LSWC and slight less with a 185 gr Beartooth Bullet.
 
Which would it be? Looking for a grail gun, in the .38 special / .357 magnum catagory.

Is everyones gun, the Python?
A S&W Registered Magnum or it's successor the Model 27...

IMO that was the peak of revolver manufacturing... (although the Python was extremely close)
 
I don't have one, but if I only coould have one it would be a 4" Ruger Security Six
 
Well for me I would be happy with a S&W 13 with a 3" barrel or a S&W 27 with a 3.5" barrel or a S&W 686 with a 3" barrel, I don't know if S&W made a 3" 586 as that would be preferred. I guess I am just a dreamin :)
 
if you had said 357 ("only") grail gun, as in out-of-production collectible class
I suspect there would be a lot more votes for the Colt Python or a S&W model 27 or pre-27, or maybe a classic Dan Wesson

but for me, 6" barrel S&W 19/66 is '"it", in 38/357
Like a lot of folks, I don't run a high round count of 357s thru my pair of 66s
They do see a lot of 38 sp range fodder, and I think of them as pert near perfect 38+P revolvers
(perhaps like someone else above, I mostly reserve my 357 ammo supply for lever action carbines)
 
It depends if I get to have guns in other calibers if it's my one and only I'd want my 2 3/4" Speed Six although my 2 1/2" 19 or 2" SP101 would work too. If I get to have a dedicated 38 also I'd opt for my 686ssr, while I could make due with a Colt trooper/python or Ruger GP/security or any Smith K,L or N frame.
 
If I were to recommend a 38 Special it would either be a S&W M14 or the S&W M15. If I were to recommend a 357, I am not sure what I would say as I get all the fun I need from the 36 caliber bore with the 38 Special.
 
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