My gun shop guy has a mint little Kimber stainless 357 and a nice mint Smith Scandium 357 both are mint guns , I have a lot of holster rigs for J frame guns , upside down shoulder rigs , Desantis speed scab , belt rigs , I think may fir both guns , which one should I get ???????? are Kimber 357 good to go ????

I can't really tell you what you should get, but if I were in your position I would choose the Kimber over the scandium gun even if I had to get new carry gear for it, only because I don't care for the Airlites. They go a little too high on the power:weight ratio than I'd like, and there are restrictions about what kinds of ammo they can use. Also, you didn't say if it has a stainless steel or titanium cylinder; the Ti cylinder seems to require a little more care when it comes to maintenance.

I'm assuming you're talking about the Centennial scandium guns, the 340 series, as there are other types of scandium J-frames, though I believe they're not as common. I prefer enclosed hammer J-frames.

Everything I've read suggests the Kimber is a very solid gun.

The Kimber should be mint since they can be had for $725 brand new.

Since you did not mention the Smith model we can not look at how well they held up over time.

I may go with the Kimber . the Smith has the Ti cyl. I passed up a older one of the scandium guns for 299 a few weeks ago it was dirty and had carry wear on it .

If you intend to carry .357 you may want to skip the scandium framed Smith.

There is just not enough weight in that little revolver to handle any Magnum type recoil.

That Kimber gives you 6 rounds as well. The Jframe gives you 5.

The Kimber Revolvers are supposed to be good little guns. I can't say up or down, I have never shot one, but the build quality on them looks real nice.

Kimber gets a bad rap, but they really are a good gun company.

I had a Stainless II 1911. I never had a single issue with it.

Build quality was great, tolerances were perfect, accurate.

I gifted it to a friend of mine for Christmas that did not have a 1911.

So I can recommend Kimber as a brand.

Be warned that the Kimber probably won't fit in a J frame holster. I carry mine in one designed for a Ruger SP-101.

The Kimber would definitely be my choice between the two. You get an extra round and it's heavy enough that mild .357, like Golden Sabers, are not too punishing. Standard #10 speedloaders work with them, if you already have some. I have maybe a thousand rounds through mine, and am impressed with its accuracy. There are a lot of nice touches on it, like recessed chambers, and the sights are replaceable and easy to see.

Like Andy said go with the Kimber. I have both the Kimber is so well-made so accurate and has such a nice trigger pull it’s hard to beat. Now you will have to deal with the extra weight but the extra round off sets that.

Of those two, +1 Kimber for all the reasons stated.

I like to shoot what I carry and those lightweight 357s just aren’t fun anymore.

Has ANYBODY heard of any "teething troubles" with the Kimber? Seems odd for a brand new design to be so perfect.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I have a Smith 340 sc,, carry it often. I love it , remember the SC’s aren’t designed to be shot often and can be handful with Magnum rounds for some. I reload and I use mild 158 grain LSWC 357 magnum loads and can hit everything I shoot at from 7-10 yards and that is the range that counts for a carry revolver.
I pocket carry mine the most and don’t leave home without it.

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Kimber K6s for the win! Shot one a lot in 357 and it is very accurate, fast, and controllable. SP 101 or Colt DS holster works for this gun. Have a Kimber and I will take weight and smoothness of action over a Smith J frame anyday. Plenty of sight options and grip options. Look to Altamont for the enhanced grip. Mine came with rubber and are ok but I like the Altamonts.

I like to practice with what I carry... The Smith is a nightmare to shoot even with the lightest loads. If you are young or a bull you could do it..
I carry one sometimes as it is the smallest gun I can fit in my pocket now. If I was the OP and he seems to carry other than pocket I would purchase the Kimber..

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NRA Benefactor

I like the way the Kimber indexes the cylinder. That is very early in the DAO trigger pull, the cylinder “snaps” quickly into position. Then the remainder of the trigger pull has no movement of the cylinder. It also seems to offer slightly more or at least a different resistance once it hits the wall immediately before releasing the firing pin. In that way, it is almost able to be predicted snd controlled sort of like single action.

I personally would choose the 3” model if contemplating using 357. That extra barrel length will get extra velocity making the extra recoil actually result in additional performance. I suppose an increase would also be seen even if using 38 ammo. The added length also gives longer full length ejection rod for using longer 357 ammo for more positive ejection.

Most seem to say other than the added weight for the longer barrel. Concealing or printing is not really an issue.

I haven't heard of any, and haven't had any myself. It's my understanding that Grant Cunningham was a consultant on the design, so maybe that helped. The internals are fairly S&W-like, so it's not like the lockwork is some new unproven idea. The main difference is that the cylinder locks earlier than with a S&W.

I went and looked at the both of them . I came home with the Kimber 357 I did not need it because I have a 2.5 older 66 and picked up a mint 36 no dash in two piece box for 349 , I could not let it at the shop for that . I tried some of my J frame holsters and they do not fit the Kimber but have some other to try . This kimber has the bright finish and a set of fact Kimber rubber grips that kind of look blue . Looks good . I just need a gun fix and it was it .

I have box full of K frame speed loaders and have a pretty stock of 38 ammo . I looked it up and the gun had about all good reports . They hit it right with this one .

Early last fall I bought a K6-S. It's become my primary CCW. I really like it.

Many thanks for your helpful reply. Who is Grant Cunningham?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Neither, sorry, my vote goes to a Ruger SP101. Can take whatever you throw at it for what I think would be far longer than either of the others.

Mine has a very good, smooth DA pull and excellent SA pull despite what some Ruger haters say. Don

If only between those two, buy the Kimber. Although I would go with a K or L frame first, the latter if standard mag loads will be shot often.

There is no longer a reason to keep S&W at the top of the revolver list. Their current offerings just don't beat the competition anymore in my opinion.

A highly regarded revolver expert. Before he retired from smithing he was considered one of the best revolversmiths. I think at one point his waitlist was over a year long. He now focuses on teaching and writing. He's written a few books on revolvers and teaches revolver-focused self defense shooting. It's been a while since I've followed it regularly, but he has a pretty good blog, worth checking out, imo.

Personal security training and advice - www.GrantCunningham.com www.GrantCunningham.com

I just went through a box off holster rigs and some for my J frames , like Safari land or maybe a Desantis would not fit , but I have a Galco , and a Smith Wesson , plus a brown leather shoulder rig that fit perfect . I am good to go .

The Kimber K 6 shoots great with the 38 rounds I fired , very smooth and worked great with plus P.

Its not a like for like response to your answer but I did a mini series of video's comparing the K6 to the S&W 640, not a scandium revolver.
Mini Series -- S&W Model 640 Compared to the Kimber K6s - YouTube

I would chose the K6

While I agree that having more wheelgun choices is a good thing, I have to point out that your theory doesn't match well with the fact that lately Ruger appears to be trying to copy some S&W designs. They recently came out with the 8-shot Redhawk .357 snub...which is a clumsy, heavy looking copy of the 627PC snub. Now they are touting a 7-shot GP100...which for all purposes is Ruger's knock-off of an L-frame...much like the 686 Plus. S&W has to be doing something right.

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Libertad o Muerte

I have been packing it in a Black leather thumb brake , you do not know you have it on . I like Smith and Ruger but this Kimber they got right .

To me I mainly consider a colt, s&w or ruger in a revolver. For a ccw revolver my number one choice for a short barrel is a ruger security six or police service six in a 357/2 3/4” barrel in stainless. I put the pachmayer presentation rubber grips on it.

I carry my ruger police service six time to time. There’s no history behind the ruger or kimber but I give ruger the edge they been manufacturing revolvers for decades now. If anyone remembers my posts I’m not a short barrel magnum guy. But the 2 3/4” security six, police service six I can live with it.

FWIW, the Kimber’s backstrap and trip are too square, making it uncomfortable for me to shoot magnums.

I have a 340pd and 2 Kimber K6s'. In dress slacks, a 340pd is hard to beat. I am in and out of my vehicle all day long. Sitting in my car, at a meeting, etc. When I am wearing jeans and a dress vest, or something more casual, which I am old enough to get away with nowadays and I own my own company, I carry one of my Kimbers IWB.

I have the DCR and also the lasergrip model with nightsights. I tend to carry the lasergrip model when I know I will be indoors a lot and use the FO sighted DCR on days when I am outside more. Oftentimes, even when I carry the K6s as a primary, the 340pd will ride in an ankle hlster as I do not even notice it there because of its light weight.

I have to stick with either 158 grain SWC or Gold Dot .38+p in the 340pd, but in the Kimbers, I carry Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP +p .38 Special or Sig 125gr .357 loads, which are both easy to shoot. I love my Kimbers. I will buy a 3" soon as well.

Interestingly, the slim wood boot grip of the DCR Kimber is the easiest to control with hot rounds. The lasergrip on my other gun is not near as comfortable under recoil. It does not keep me from carrying or practicing with it just as much, but that little wood boot grip that the Kimber DCR has is just perfect for me.

If I had to choose one, it would be the Kimber. The sights are amazing, the trigger just works for me, the accuracy is great, it is just hefty enough to shoot quickly and accurately with heavy loads. I like the 340pd, but I LOVE the K6s.

I had the K6s, and a Scandium SW and gotta tell ya, the K6s was better as a regular shooter. The Scandium frame is a real beater. Then
again the 340 etc is not designed to be a range run, the K6s handles that task much better. When i first got my K6, they were pretty high without NS's. I ended up with a SW 640 Pro with Wilson Spring kit. By the by, the J frame holsters as mentioned will not fit the K6. The K frame speedloaders I tried to use would hang up a little so I modified them a little to where worked a lot better.

What do you mean, "Smith & Wesson or Kimber"? Is this a trick question?

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Wut up wi'that?

I've been a .357 magnum fan for 25+ years (I've owned 7 Ruger GP100's and 3 SP101's) and had the chance to shoot a Kimber K6 .357 revolver about 3 weeks ago...I've shot a lot of .357 magnum revolvers over the years...and all I can say is, "WOOOOOOOOOOOW"! on the Kimber!

Accuracy = It shot to point-of-aim...consistently!
DAO Trigger = VERY Nice! Smooth cylinder rotation, a nice short 'set' point (when the cylinder locks-in)...and then from there, onto a clean, crisp break!
Felt Recoil = Managable...and one would be able to shoot repeatedly at the range!
Grip = I would probably want one with a small place for the pinky finger...but that's a personal preference!

Q: Would I feel comfortable CC-ing and shooting a small, 6-shot revolver for home / personal defense?
A: Absolutely!

Between the two you are comparing, for concealed carry duty...I would recommend the Kimber K6 in a heart-beat!

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Amishman44

Nope. I have a 2" and 3". Both perfect. Really, it's not an entirely new design inside. The internals look very much like a a Smith centennial, perhaps a bit cleaner / smoother. Only minor differences. Also, it's timed to index hard and fast early in the trigger pull. Makes it very easy to stage shots for almost single action accuracy. The fit and finish is excellent.

Fits in most Colt D Frame (Detective / Cobra) holsters. Trigger guard is a bit long for some, but not so much that it's a problem. I use a TT Gunleather holster made for the Kimber and Colt holsters. EDIT: I carry my 3" in a K Frame holster.

The Kimber K6s would be my choice. I have plenty of J frames, and the only one that holds 6 rounds, is my 632-2, in 327 magnum. Ammo is expensive and more difficult to find. I've had the Kimber for 14 months, and have been happy with it. I couldn't find a holster to fit and finally bought one from Kimber. The holster is made by DeSantis.