Snub-Nosed .357s, What's The Best Barrel Length?

[Confederate]

When I bought my first handgun in 1978, it was a 4-inch Ruger Security-Six. It was like buying my first car. I knew very little. And that's when I made my initial mistake. I bought a gun magazine. Gun writers had all the answers, right?

Right??

That's before I knew that gun writers never tested a gun they didn't like. Before I noticed their glowing reviews of guns that had full page ads in the same issue as their write-ups. And those gun writers said that .357 Magnums really weren't "magnums" unless they had barrels of at least six inches. That's when I made my second big mistake. Gun writers, I later learned, on occasion, and not very often, could be wrong; and in this case they weren't entirely wrong. Ammunition technology, being what it was, favored the longer barrels back them. But still, 4-inch .357s were nothing to be sneezed at. And barrel length is still being cussed and discussed to this day.

Thanks to new powders snub-nosed .357s are more popular than ever, and I must admit I've been bit. But what's the optimum barrel length? Ruger likes 2.75-inch while S&W favors the 2.5-inch. Some agencies put in orders for 3-inchers with Ruger and now they seem very popular. So what is your choice for a perfect snubby .357?

I don't know about you, but make mine a 3-inch.

Ruger 3-inch Speed-Six


...​

 

[wankerjake]

I like the 2 1/4”

Sold my 2.25 SP101 for a 3” because the internet said to, didn’t like it, went back to 2.25

For anything the 3” bests the 2.25” in, the 4” bests that. For the virtues of shortness, 2.25” bests 3”

I realize I’m in the wrong

 

[fxvr5]

Thanks to new powders snub-nosed .357s are more popular than ever, and I must admit I've been bit.

Of which new powders do you speak?

Word is, which I can't confirm, that powders that show the highest speeds in regular barrels also show the highest speeds in short barrels. That means something like 296/H110/2400 in the 357 Magnum, and they've been around forever.

 

[Pat Riot]

I had a S&W model 60 Pro. When I bought it I thought I had the perfect kit gun and woods carry gun. It had a 3” barrel. It weighed 23 ounces. Great to carry. Blazing hell and recoil with full on 158 grain .357 Magnum rounds. It was great with .38 +P loads. But it locked up. I sent it to S&W. They sent it back saying the ejector rod needed more threads. Turned out they lied. They turned the barrel shroud to un-jam the gun. I sent it back 3 more time until the halfway fixed it then I sold it. I do not recommend thst gun.

I thought 3” would be perfect for .357.

I have a 327 Night Guard with a 2.5” barrel. It’s a very impressive flame thrower and fun to shoot. Not the perfect barrel length.

I have a 6” model 19. I really like it for .38 and .357.

I also owned 2 Ruger Vaquero .357’s with 5.5” barrels. They were great for .357.

I have not owned a 4” .357 but I have shot them. I also liked the ones I shot.

So, my first choice for getting everything out of the .357 magnum would be a longer barrel. At least 4” and preferably 5.5” or 6”.

I know you asked about snubbies, but I wouldn’t bother with .357 in a snubbie. Too much flame and too much recoil.

 

[Hal]

"Best" for me is 2 3/4".
That's what S&W went with on the M69 .44 mag "snub".

Thankfully S&W came out with that.
I was close to having to settle for a Ruger Alaskan - 2.5".

Not that the Ruger has anything wrong with it - other than not being an S&W.

 

[Buckeye63]

Best ballistically for a 357 is a 6 inch .. my brother carries a Ruger Security Six 6 inch barrel in 357mag off and on for the past 30 + years , In a custom leather slim-jim holster that rides high ..
Different strokes for different folks ...
I have found I like a 3 inch barrel,but I do like how easy my LCR357 carries .. but my LCR327 has parked it .. lately my Charter Pro 357 6 shot with a
3 inch barrel has won out

 

[Goes211]

I have a 3" model 65 that I love.

 

[Tallball]

To shoot, 6" is good, or maybe even longer. One of my 6" N-frames or K-frames will put any of my centerfire semiautomatic pistols to shame at the range every time... in my hands (I'm a revolver guy).

But there's no way I'm going to try to CC something with a 6" barrel. I prefer something closer to 2".

I used to have a 2.5" Ruger SP101 in 357. It was NBD to shoot in that caliber. If I had one with a decent trigger and a DAO hammer I would carry it sometimes.

My friend has a Ruger LCR in 357. Shooting it in 357 is fine. 38 special is easy. (It's about four ounces heavier than the 38 special model.) I would carry it if I had one.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I tried a snubby.357 years ago, a Colts Lawman 2-1/2”. It was uncontrollable and little more than a handheld flashbang with anything more than a +P Special load. I swapped it for a.357 4” then swapped that for a .357 6” which I still have. To me- YMMV - a firearm is only interesting if it is practical. Snub magnums are not. 4” is the shortest I can recommend. For close work stick to .38Spl and juice them up to practical for you.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I have 4 snubnose guns 3" and shorter. Out of all of them I like my 3" the best. IMHO anything over 3" is getting out of the realm of what is considered a snubby.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I use an LCR 357 with a 1.8" barrel, nice pocket pistol. I load my own 357's for the range and use 38 +Ps for self defense (both have about the same feel when I shoot them).

 

[stonebuster]

Confederate, I love that 3" Speed Six. Looks like a USPS model. "Best" is nearly impossible to define and comes down to a personal choice of what works for the individual for the intended purpose.(IMO) A snub's purpose is usually CC so I'd say the best is the one you will carry and shoot the best. I shoot the 2.75" & 3" Speed Sixes better but the SP101 DAO 2.25" carries and conceals the best so I'm working on my accuracy with the SP. The extra 10 ounces of the Speed Sixes make 357s much more controllable than the SP. I'm also working on comfortable carry options for the Speed Six 2.75". So far IWB in a Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake has been the most comfortable. The USPS and NYCPD must have felt the 3" was the "best" because they could've just got the regular 2.75" Speeds instead of having Ruger build them a 3" special contract run.

 

[chicharrones]

My reason to own a .357 magnum snub nose is not because I'm going to exclusively fire .357 out of it. It's because I want the option to fire .357 out of it if for any reason I've run out of .38 special while away from the house.

Conversely, my 6" barreled .357 magnum revolver and 16.5" barreled .357 lever gun will be fed .357 mag unless I'm somewhere and ran out of .357 mag.

Ammo versatility is pretty much the whole reason I ever got into .357 magnum in the first place.

 

[chicharrones]

But what's the optimum barrel length? Ruger likes 2.75-inch while S&W favors the 2.5-inch. Some agencies put in orders for 3-inchers with Ruger and now they seem very popular. So what is your choice for a perfect snubby .357?

Currently offered S&W .357s that drew my interest were the 60 with the 3" barrel, the 66 with a 2.75", the 686+ with a 3", and the 327 with a 2" barrel.

Seems like some of these are snubbies in barrel length only, considering the remainder of the dimensions.

 

[bangswitch]

So what is your choice for a perfect snubby .357?

I don't know about you, but make mine a 3-inch.

IMO, a true snub-nose is the shortest barrel offered by the manufacturer, mainly for concealability purposes. From a shooting perspective, I don't feel much difference between a 2-1/2" barrel and a 4" barrel when shooting the same ammunition, and out to 10-12 yards I have similar groups. I carry my snubbie most of the time now as my EDC, a M66-1. The other one in the picture is my M19-3. ​

 

[Pat Riot]

My favorite carry gun is my S&W 442. Not a .357, but a .38. I had bought the 60 Pro to carry loaded with .357 and I did often. It was very accurate with Hornady American Gunner .357 Magnum 125 grain. https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/handgun/357-mag-125-gr-xtp-american-gunner#!/

Firing that load was quite invigorating, to say the least.
I was going to buy an S&W 360PD, just because it looked like a good idea. Luckily a guy let me shoot his with some target .357. I fired one round, put it down on the bench and thanked him. WAY to much recoil
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-360pd

The 60 Pro was 23 ounces. It was lively but packed a punch. My wrists can’t take that any more. The sharp snappy recoil caused me some problems now.

 

[rwilky78]

I like the 2 1/4”

Sold my 2.25 SP101 for a 3” because the internet said to, didn’t like it, went back to 2.25

For anything the 3” bests the 2.25” in, the 4” bests that. For the virtues of shortness, 2.25” bests 3”

I realize I’m in the wrong
View attachment 984264

If your in the wrong then I'm right there with you. Love my 2.25" SP-101.

 

[Riomouse911]

If I have to go snub with anything more than a .38 I prefer the 3” guns. Shorter barrels just aren’t fun for me at all.


3” M-13 and 2.5” M-19 .357’s.


3” GP .44 Spl.


3” DW 15-2.

Stay safe.

 

[golden]

If I were going to carry a .357 snubnose, I would want the longest barrel possible. My one snubnose .357 is a RUGER Speed Six and I was shooting it at the range 2 days ago and it shoot very well with PACHMAYR round butt grips and a 2 3/4 inch barrel. I shot 158 gr. fmj and 125 gr. +P sjhp ammo and finished off with 110 grain WINCHESTER jhp .357 ammo.
With this medium weight gun, I find all these loads fully controllable and accurate.

However, I would prefer a longer barrel, if I could get one. I was issued a 3 inch barreled S&W model 13 when I graduated the academy and started to work armed. To me, the longer the barrel, the better with magnum loads.
Last week, I shot the more powerful 125 grain REMINGTON SJHP out of my 6 inch barreled S&W 586 and it was like shooting 110 grain .357 out of the 3 inch model 13.

Jim

 

[wcwhitey]

View attachment 984311 Confederate, I love that 3" Speed Six. Looks like a USPS model. "Best" is nearly impossible to define and comes down to a personal choice of what works for the individual for the intended purpose.(IMO) A snub's purpose is usually CC so I'd say the best is the one you will carry and shoot the best. I shoot the 2.75" & 3" Speed Sixes better but the SP101 DAO 2.25" carries and conceals the best so I'm working on my accuracy with the SP. The extra 10 ounces of the Speed Sixes make 357s much more controllable than the SP. I'm also working on comfortable carry options for the Speed Six 2.75". So far IWB in a Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake has been the most comfortable. The USPS and NYCPD must have felt the 3" was the "best" because they could've just got the regular 2.75" Speeds instead of having Ruger build them a 3" special contract run.

The concept for the NYPD using some 3” guns was that they liked to offer 1 gun which could be used both in and off duty. 3” being more concealable and still qualify as a true service revolver. Not many made it to the field. The vast majority of NYPD revolvers were Smith and Wesson and a few different Ruger offerings depending on the era. Never, ever in .357 though.

 

[Confederate]

Of which new powders do you speak?

I long ago stopped hanloading, but I was speaking of powders and other components developed since the late 70s and early 80s. But at the same time cops with 4-inch magnums were stopping bad guys with one-shot, gun writers were saying that if you weren't shooting from 6-inch barrels, you weren't really getting "magnum" performance (and I can't attest whether they wrote these things when they were sober or not). Since then, advances in technology have resulted in powders that are optimized for shorter barrels. I remember one magazine publishing 125gr JHP average velocity being 1,337 fps from a 4-inch barrel. Now you can get quite a bit more horsepower out of the same bullet weight and barrel length from factory ammo.

But there's no way I'm going to try to CC something with a 6" barrel. I prefer something closer to 2". I used to usually carry my LCR, which is around 2", and lately I've been carrying a 2.5" snubby.

Ah, yes, but there was a time when longer barrels were about all one could get in black powder days. It's amazing where you can pack a long barrel when you have to! (Especially to keep your powder dry.) Some gunfighters carried bulky guns in the pockets of their overcoats, and switched them to under their belts as necessity dictated. Once ammo went from black powder to the cartridge, holsters became popular, as did gun control. And ever since we've lived in polar opposites. Those who want to have guns and those who want to take them away. Thus, discretion in carrying guns became the norm.

IMO, a true snub-nose is the shortest barrel offered by the manufacturer, mainly for concealability purposes. From a shooting perspective, I don't feel much difference between a 2-1/2" barrel and a 4" barrel when shooting the same ammunition, and out to 10-12 yards I have similar groups carry my snubbie most of the time now as my EDC, a M66-1.

Beautiful S&W 66, but why would Smith make the barrel so very short and yet leave the grip sticking out so far? Wouldn't it make more sense to turn the grip back toward the frame?

..

 

[chicharrones]

Beautiful S&W 66, but why would Smith make the barrel so very short and yet leave the grip sticking out so far? Wouldn't it make more sense to turn the grip back toward the frame?

..

At least it has a round butt.

For whatever reason, even a full size square butt snub nose revolver has a certain amount of appeal to me.

Not a .357, but still a K frame.
http://www.harryviezensfineguns.com...-masterpiece-with-2-inch-barrel-new-with-box/
https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2017/04/sand-burr-gun-ranch-model-15-4/

Alas, I don't have one though.

 

[stonebuster]

The concept for the NYPD using some 3” guns was that they liked to offer 1 gun which could be used both in and off duty. 3” being more concealable and still qualify as a true service revolver. Not many made it to the field. The vast majority of NYPD revolvers were Smith and Wesson and a few different Ruger offerings depending on the era. Never, ever in .357 though.

Thanks. I always wondered why the extra 1/4" on my NYCPD 3" was chosen over the 2 3/4" version. The 2 3/4" wouldn't qualify as a service revolver. Good info.

 

[fxvr5]

I long ago stopped hanloading, but I was speaking of powders and other components developed since the late 70s and early 80s. But at the same time cops with 4-inch magnums were stopping bad guys with one-shot, gun writers were saying that if you weren't shooting from 6-inch barrels, you weren't really getting "magnum" performance (and I can't attest whether they wrote these things when they were sober or not). Since then, advances in technology have resulted in powders that are optimized for shorter barrels. I remember one magazine publishing 125gr JHP average velocity being 1,337 fps from a 4-inch barrel. Now you can get quite a bit more horsepower out of the same bullet weight and barrel length from factory ammo.
..

I have a 1977 Remington catalog showing a 357 Mag 125 grain SJHP bullet going 1450 fps from a 4" vented barrel, and 1675 fps from a 8-3/8" barrel (possibly not vented). This is one of the earlier catalogs I have that shows a 125 grain bullet. The earlier ones show only a 158 grain bullet (but I don't have every catalog).

Which powders are optimized for short barrels? If powders have been optimized for short barrels, then they would produce more speed than the old powders 296/2400, as I mentioned above. Which powders do that in short barrels? Can you point me to a source? I'd love to try them. I reload and have several barrel lengths to use. Thanks.

 

[AK103K]

At least it has a round butt.

For whatever reason, even a full size square butt snub nose revolver has a certain amount of appeal to me.

Not a .357, but still a K frame.
http://www.harryviezensfineguns.com...-masterpiece-with-2-inch-barrel-new-with-box/
https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2017/04/sand-burr-gun-ranch-model-15-4/

Alas, I don't have one though.

The 2" SB model 15's with the adjustable sights look better to me than the 2" SB model 10's. Something about the sights seems to make them more acceptable for some reason.

I have a SB model 10 snubby, and I really don't know why, other than I heard this faint voice calling my name as I was driving by a favorite stop in my old stomping grounds, and there it was when I walked in. Basically, NIB shape and the price was right. A sucker born every minute.

It doesn't get shot much, but luckily, I have a couple of 2" RB's to take up the slack.