Not much into .357mag, but if . . . S&W 627.

[Orion8472]

I've never really been a revolver guy. Just now got my first one [as mentioned in my previous thread]. Mostly my reasons for NOT doing a revolver was because of the limiting 6 round capacity of the cylinder. Cowboy Action is the exception, obviously. But when I saw that there WERE some 8 round cylinder revolvers out there, that started to change my mind on them.

Taurus has the Model 608 that I like the looks of. . . . but then some people say to stay away from Taurus. Even saw a youtube video of one being fired at an indoor range and the barrel blowing off.

Smith & Wesson has the 627. Not quite the design I like, but not bad. S&W quality gives it a huge "one up", however.

So, will I get one? Maybe. At this point, I'm not really sure. The .357mag is a potent round, . . . and the .38 Special is available for a bit cheaper and less recoil shooting. However, . . . I think I would like to get one eventually. . . UNLESS a manufacturer comes up with a 7 round .44mag. . . .which I will want to get.

Thoughts/comments?

 

[Salmoneye]

I hear that 6 rounds "isn't enough" a lot...

I will never feel 'under-gunned' carrying a .357 with 'only' 6 rounds...

 

[Orion8472]

Oh, don't get me wrong. It isn't about being "undergunned". I want to make that clear before the thread continues. I have nothing but respect for the .357mag round! It is more about how often I'm stopping to reload while at the range. Sure, it is only two more rounds, but still, . . . less turnaround time. Of course, . . .there IS some argument that could say, "I wish I had had even one more round....". Unlikely [even with the UNlikelihood of ever even needing it for self defense].

Again, this is less of an issue with the Cowboy Action style gun. Unloading and loading it is part of the magic on those types of revolvers!

ARE Taurus revolvers ones to stay away from? I was on their site and saw the 7 round Raging Judge Magnum. That's quite the hoss!

 

[Cocked & Locked]

S&W 627-pc

Two extra .357's in the wheel ain't a bad way to roll.

 

[2zulu1]

627s should last forever, I like the M686P and also have the scandium alloy N-frame M327 TRR8, 35oz. The 8 round moonclips can be carried in a shirt pocket if needed, but I prefer the short canvas pouches for belt carry.

 

[Stainz]

I essentially replaced my JM 5" PC627 V-Comp with the 4" 627 Pro, top - below, 5/08, shortly after it became available. It includes a moonclip ready cylinder, a spring-loaded front sight, and a decent trigger. I changed the OEM grips and front sight (.250" tall HiViz 'Classic/DX' style). When I found the rerelease of the 2 5/8" PC627 UDR was available, I bought the first one (4/10), then sold the JM 5" PC627 V-Comp and bought a second UDR (10/10), as a 'house' gun! I keep moonclips and 5starfirearms.com speedloaders loaded with Remington R38S12 +P 158gr LSWCHPs - my preference for defending the home, etc.

I wholeheartedly endorse either revolver for protection, whether you keep +P .38's or real .357 Magnums loaded. In steel plate challenge - with very mild homebrew 125gr JHP in .357M cases - they are nearly equivalent except for the 'searchlight' HiViz fiber optic spot I put on my 4" 627 Pro - it makes for a rapid target acquisition. Fun revolvers - the PC627 has an MSRP currently of $1,049.95 vs the 4" 627 Pro at MSRP of $989.95 - $60 - pretty close.

Stainz

 

[Bushpilot]

+1 Salmoneye, even with OP's the explanation... I have never wanted a revolver with more than 6 chambers in the cylinder, except for maybe a 22. I don't want the bulk of a bigger cylinder and have personally never found reloading a DA revolver to be much of an issue at the range. I have never seen the video the OP refers to but I doubt the "barrel blowing off” the Taurus was the revolvers fault." Usually when a revolver comes unglued it's because of the ammo, the user or both.

 

[788Ham]

"IF" you only have 6 rounds in the .357, and "IF" the unlikelyhood of needing it for self defense comes into play, more than likely you won't need to worry about reloading! "IF" you place your shots where needed, more than probably, you'll only need 2 at the most. Like Cocked & Locked, his has the 8 round wheel, his choice to buy and shoot, but again, if placed in the right spot of his aggressor's "cease & desist" spots, he'll not need his other reloader! JMHO

 

[Orion8472]

Bushpilot, the video never really went into the determing of why the failure happened. I, personally, wouldn't be scared to buy a Taurus revolver.

Just wanting to [again] let people know that I was not putting down revolvers that hold 6 rounds. Just my own preference. I wouldn't be carrying a revolver anyway.

 

[Salmoneye]

Most of my 'carry' is done with a 1st gen G19, but when I am around home or camp, I usually have a .357 on me...Hunting, it is a .44 mag SBH on my hip...

I do not worry about reloads since I read some stat that said most SD/HD situations are no more than 3 rounds fired...

I know I can hit where I aim with either the Glock, or whichever .357 I am wearing at the time...

I firmly believe that confidence in your ability with whatever firearm you choose, is more than half the 'battle'...

I hope to never have to prove my theories...

 

[Orion8472]

True.

Actually, . . . if I were going to get into a more modern revolver design, I may be more inclined to jump up to .44mag. . . . then most of the time run .44 Special in it. I already have a few "9mm/.38 caliber sized barrel" pistols and may go with the bigger hole.

 

[forindooruseonly]

My problem with the S&W 8 round revolvers is how they look. I wish they offered one that had the look of a plain 586 with an full underlug barrel, or a plain 27. It's like they tried to make them all look like race guns, and my preference is for something a little more subtle. Other than that, the idea is appealing.

 

[rcmodel]

while at the range. Sure, it is only two more rounds, but still, . . . less turnaround time.

You might become a better shooter with more time between strings to let your mind and muscles relax while reloading.

rc

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I too found an 8 round cylinder desiarable but the cost prevented me from picking one up. I ended up getting a 4" S&W Model 66 and have never looked back. I carry two extra speedloaders on the belt for woods carry.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I too found an 8 round cylinder desiarable but the cost prevented me from picking one up. I ended up getting a 4" S&W Model 66 and have never looked back. I carry two extra speedloaders on the belt for woods carry.

That's a great choice. I like .357's of all varities...my favorite caliber.

S&W 4" 66-5 pre lock factory round butt




Python



S&W 19-2



S&W 27-2



And my two most carried .357's...S&W 66-no dash, and Ruger SP101






Sometimes, but not often, I do carry the 627 8-shooter.

 

[CraigC]

It is more about how often I'm stopping to reload while at the range.

Do your autojammer magazines load themselves??? When you factor in the time it takes to load magazines, which for me has always taken more time per round than revolvers, it's really a wash. Factor in a little skill at manipulation and one can easily burn through 500rds of ammo in about two hours, even with the "slow to reload" single action revolver. As shooters, putting bullet holes where we want them is not the only skill we should aspire to obtain.

 

[19-3Ben]

Do your autojammer magazines load themselves??? When you factor in the time it takes to load magazines, which for me has always taken more time per round than revolvers, it's really a wash.

I'm a wheelgun fan, but it is fun to go to the range with 4-5 already loaded mags rather than loading while on the firing line. Can't really do that with a revolver.

But I still love both platforms for what they offer.

 

[Orion8472]

CraigC and rcmodel, the point is well taken. That was one of the reasons behind me getting the New Vaquero. That "taking your time" idea . . . rather than the burn through a magazine, put another one in, burn through it.

Likely, I won't be getting a .357mag anytime soon. I'm going to take a good long time getting to know the New Vaquero and have fun with that round [.45acp].

This thread is more about what I was looking at online. And that Raging Judge Magnum Ultra Light is alluring! But yeah, probably won't be getting one of those either.

 

[Notoast]

If I knew I was going to a gunfight I'd want the extra rounds, but as far as range time goes, the time I'd spend cleaning the extra 2 charge holes after shooting an 8-shooter would probably exceed the time I'd save over reloading my 6-shooter a few more times.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I tell the young turks at work when they chide me for carrying an "old-fashioned six-shooter" that you only need more than that if you're going to miss a lot. They tend to get quieter around qualification time for some reason.

Rangemaster: "I'd like to point out that 100% of the revolver shooters shot perfect scores!" Well, that's be three of us in a sea of combat tupperware.

ECS

PS. If you run out of ammo, a 4 inch 686 makes a more credible club than combat tupperware.

 

[rcmodel]

Elm Creek Smith, funny how that works isn't it!!!

I tend to think there is a lot more Spray & Pray going around then there used to be.

So sad!

rc

 

[Orion8472]

I've never been one for "spray and pray". As I see it, precision is far more valuable. Even when it comes to a pistol that holds a lot of rounds in the magazine, I still make sure my shots are going where I want them to. In fact, sometimes I get a bit irritated at youtube videos where guys pull the trigger as fast as they can. All I can think of is, . . . where's that bullet going, and how much money did they just blow through.

 

[Cactus Jack Arizona]

I watched that video of the Taurus 608 barrel blowing part from the gun. Something was miss, I think, in the round fired. There was no flame or smoke leaving the front of the barrel like there was in the first shot of the video. Does Taurus have a lot of timing issues with their revolvers?

 

[Bushpilot]

I watched the video too. The fact that there is no video of the prior shot (there is a shot fired then a cut in the video and then the shot where the gun lets go) makes it more difficult to figure out just what went on there. The previous shot could have been a squib and just drove the bullet into the barrel creating an obstruction but without being there or examining the gun who knows...

 

[wanderinwalker]

I get an absolute kick out of seeing people get extra excited by the idea of an 8-shot .357 <snubbie> as a possible pocket gun option! That`s a pretty good clue somebody is new to the revolver game.

Anyway, to the original question, depends on your hand size. My hands can just barely get a solid grip on an N-frame S&W. (That 8-shot .357 is the exact same size as a 6-shot .44 FWIW.] Otherwise the 7-shot 686 is another solid option, using a grip frame that fits quite a few more hand sizes.

But then, I`m not too worried about having only 6 in any of my revolvers either. Be they .22s, .38/357s or .44s...



Left to right- M-18 .22LR K-frame, M-19 .357 Magnum K-frame, M-586 .357 Magnum L-frame, M-629 .44 Magnum N-frame.