Looking for a new 357

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Random 8

Random 8

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I'm not really up on what's available for revolvers past and present. The wife and I currently own 2, a snubby Taurus, forgot the model number, and a 6" Taurus m66. They are very utilitarian guns, but serve their intended purposes well. I'm looking for something a little more refined that bridges the gap between the 2. Something with a 4" or so barrel. Uses will be camping/woods carry, with probably a lot of casual shooting with cast. 38/.357 mid power load and practice to proficiency with. 357 158 full power loads for bad things. What would the hive mind suggest for under $1000 new or used?
 
Handle a Ruger GP100 and a S&W 686. Buy whichever one feels better in your hand. They are both excellent choices. I personally like the Ruger because I have small-medium hands and the length of pull is shorter on the Ruger. However, I would gladly take a Smith in a second.
 
I think you can find a S&W M19 for $1000. It's a good K frame revolver with a 4" barrel. (Blue)

The M686 is a little heavier being a L frame revolver but a very solid and classy gun. (Stainless)
The M66 is the stainless version of the M19 and is a K frame. Another great revolver.
 
I like the GP100 but you might need to do a trigger job on it. The one I messed with was terrible out of the box. I left all the springs stock and only block sanded and polished the internals to get a great trigger.
 
My 5'-2" wife loves her S&W Model 586 with a 4" barrel. She shoots mostly hot 38 Special loads in it.

If you want the stainless version, it is the Model 686.

The Model 19 or 66 are k-frame S&W 357 Magnum revolvers. They have the same grip frame as the L-frame guns but are a bit trimmer and therefore a bit lighter than the L-frame guns.

The current manufacture models have been redesigned to better handel full power, 357 Magnum ammunition. If one gets a used Model 19 or 66, I'd limit the amount of full power ammunition that I out through the gun.

Heavy use of full power ammunition can split the forcing cone on an early production Model 19 and 66.
 
You can get the S&W M586 for about $900 new. It's a L-frame .357 Magnum and you can get it with a 4" or 6" barrel, with all the modern accoutrements S&W builds into its firearms. The L-frame is only slightly larger than the ever popular K-frame (the Model 19 is a K-frame), and it has a full underlug extractor rod shroud.
Model 586 | Smith & Wesson (smith-wesson.com)

Ruger makes an outstanding revolver also, but I'm less familiar with their revolvers as I am with their semiauto pistols. For wheel guns, I like S&W, and prefer their older guns made in the 1960's to about 1982. Those however, are starting to bring premium prices ($1000+) for high-finish guns, but you can pick up very serviceable models with a little more visible finish wear for mid to upper hundreds of dollars. I have three .357 Magnum S&W, all made between 1973 and 1980. For a gun such as you are looking for, I'd go with an N-frame, like a Model 27 or model 28. The heavier frame is easier on the hands when shooting full power magnum loads, and you're not concerned as much with concealment. You can find them with 4" barrel fairly easily. The K-frame Model 19, or its stainless brother the Model 66 are great guns for primarily shooting downloaded magnums, or .38 Spl +P loads, and are fine for limited use with full power magnums, as long as you stay away from the lightweight 110 and 125 bullets. For size comparisons, top is a N-frame Model 28, 6" barrel. It is the "plain sister" to the Model 27. Satin finish and not as many options available, but otherwise identical. Middle is a K-frame Model 19, 4" barrel. The L-frame guns are closer in size to the K frame, but larger than the K, smaller than the N. Bottom is a Model 66, 2-1/2 inch with a round butt frame. This is probably the size you're used to, from what you mention in your post. DSC01935.JPG
 
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Soooo....follow up question. Looking hard at the SW 686. Is the performance center version worth the extra bux? Looked at the Ruger GP 100 before I got the Taurus 66 and did not like the grip at all.
 
Used Charter Arms Bulldog made in Stratford, CT from the 70s or 80s. Often under 350 and very, very good quality for the money not too mention Charter has great customer service.
 
I've never cared much for the 5/686 models for some reason. Good guns that's for sure, just a personal quirk I suppose that I don't care for them.

I like Smith and Wesson's Model 19. Which "dash" doesn't matter. I've owned them from a "no dash" from the early 60's to a -9 from a couple of years ago. They're all good. If I was going to buy one to shoot a lot, I'd just get a -9 and not worry about what kind of ammo was safe to shoot and such. If something happened to it, and I wouldn't expect it to, I'd send it back to S&W and let the fix it on their dime. Anything older is out of warranty and parts are hard to find anyway.

I really like mine. I save the "old guns" for safe queens pretty much.

20180628_165025_zpstwbanri2.jpg

And of course there is the Colt Python. Probably more expensive than you mentioned, but I'll toss them out anyway. I paid the retail for mine ($1499.00 each) but that was about a year ago. I understand they're going for more now, if you can find one.

I'm pretty fond of them too. They handle magnums quite well. Good, solid, beautiful guns.

2snakes_zps9uqnymyx.jpg
 
I recently picked up 686 4" for a fair price locally...Damn fine trigger for out of the box pistol and accurate as well...
 
If youre looking at the Smiths, unless you just gotta have the bling of the Performance Center, Id save the money and put it towards ammo, assuming you can find any.

Smiths really dont need trigger jobs, and the best thing you can do with any of them is, forget they have a SA notch on the hammer, and learn to shoot them DAO.

Id also avoid any that were ported, or having one ported, especially if youre shooting lead bullets. I have a Lew Horton 696 that came Mag Na Ported, and really wish they hadnt. I had a 29 Mag Na Ported back in the 80's when they first started doing them, and pretty much instantly regretted it.

If I were looking at whats available today, Id probably go with one of the 686's, 2.5" or 4". Ive had a couple of the 2.5", and both were accurate and easy shooters. I currently have the "Plus" version. If youre going to be shooting it a lot, and with full power loads, Id go with the L frame over the K frame.

Personally, Im not a big fan of the newer "classic" line. Im sure they are good guns and shooters, but they arent "classic".

I really like the older K frames, and have a number of them in .38, 38/200 (38 S&W), and 357. Great guns, great shooters, and they have "the lines".

I also really like the N frames. A 4" Model 28 or 27 is a beautiful thing. :)

Fair warning here, the bad thing about S&W's is, they are very addictive. The Lays tatter chips of revolvers. Once you start, you cant stop. :)
 
Biblethumpncop said:
I would also take a look at the Ruger Blackhawk 357/9mm convertible. It comes with 2 cylinders which allows you to shoot 9mm in one cylinder and 38/357 in the other.

https://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/models.html
Click to expand...

THIS^^^^^
For what you want the gun for I would take a good look at the Blackhawk. It's single action and simple to operate and you have the option of 3 different cartridges; .38 Special. .357 Magnum and (mm (in another cylinder - so you would have to carry a cylinder along).

As much as I like my S&W guns I also like the Ruger single action revolvers. Tough as nails and very reliable.
 
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Pat Riot said:
THIS^^^^^
For what you want the gun for I would take a good look at the Blackhawk. It's single action and simple to operate and you have the option of 3 different cartridges; .38 Special. .357 Magnum and (mm (in another cylinder - so you would have to carry a cylinder along).

As much as I like my S&W guns I also like the Ruger single action revolvers. Tough as nails and very reliable.
Click to expand...

I have a Blackhawk in .41, and the wife absolutely will not shoot it even with powder puff cast loads. She simply despises the whole platform so a BH is out of the question as this gun needs to be for both of us to use. If it were only up to me, I probably wouldn't even own a double action revolver.

Also handled a new Ruger GP100 today, and they seem to have improved the grips, but the DA trigger seemed very 'grabby', even compared to my Taurus M66.
 
Random 8 said:
I have a Blackhawk in .41, and the wife absolutely will not shoot it even with powder puff cast loads. She simply despises the whole platform so a BH is out of the question as this gun needs to be for both of us to use. If it were only up to me, I probably wouldn't even own a double action revolver.


Also handled a new Ruger GP100 today, and they seem to have improved the grips, but the DA trigger seemed very 'grabby', even compared to my Taurus M66.
Click to expand...

I do understand. In that case my vote would be S&W 686, if you are looking at new guns.
 
Not too many bad choices.
My favorite is the new Python. Followed by the old version.
Then the 586.
Then the Trooper.
Then the 65/66.
Along with the 19.
Then the 27.
Security Six.
The GP-100 is a solid gun, another good choice.
Though some will rail at the suggestion, I rather liked my son's Taurus 66 7 shot when he had it.
 
I've had a lot of .357's, first being a Blackhawk in '76 with my paper route money (I was 10). Still have it. S&W's I've had J, K, and L frames. The two I like the most are my 66-2 4" and my Kahr K6 2". I think a K6 3" would be about perfect for me.
 
I have Smiths, Colts and Rugers, all are great guns. If I had to go with one gun from now on I believe it would be the GP100.
OZ2H3of.jpg
Steve..........
 
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S&W 686, or a GP100 for a full sized tank of a gun that'll handle twenty lifetimes of the hottest .357 you care to run.
S&W Mdl 19 for a bit easier carry on belt, though not quite as durable as a 686 or GP100 when it comes to full house .357's.
 
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