Carry 357 Recommendation Anyone

357 Recommendation

vegasgunhand said:

A 3" model 13 or 65 round butt, would be a very good carry .357. DEA issued one for several years to their Special Agents.

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A 3" Model 13 or 65 would get my vote too for a .357 Magnum. Since I first shot a .357 Model 60 J-frame I've never liked them. I like the 3" K-frame as you get a full-length ejector rod, not a short one like you get with the 2.5" Model 19/66. There's lots of good .357 Magnum loads out there today, but I still like the 125 gr. weight in a hollow-point and be sure to get a load with flash-retardant powder.

Rebel Soul said:

Can you carry a 686? Heck yeah! I ought to know - because I do.

Now I don't carry a 4 inch - that's pretty big. But I do carry a 2.5 inch 686 plus. I have a nice OWB pancake holster, a sturdy gun belt and carry at 4 o'clock position - no problem. 7 rounds of .357 magnum? Well, that explains itself.

So many guys carry full size 1911s and seem to get a free pass but say you carry a 686 and people act like its a Mossberg pump or something. It cracks me up.

A 19 or a 66 is a fine option if you can find one - but the fact is they aren't really all that much smaller. From memory I'd say about 1/8th of an inch in width and about 3.5 ounces in weight. With good gun leather you'd have to be the princess and the pea to feel the difference. They even wear the same grips.

This is my opinion - and what works for me. If you like the 686 - go for it. ANY gun with ANY heft to it is going to require good leather - so remember that's crucial. Plus, it gives you an excuse to buy a different gun for pocket carry when wardrobe or situation precludes your big gun.

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I definitely agree strongly with Rebel. You can definitely CCW a 686, and I often do. However I love the balance and slightly lower bore axis of a 3" k-frame, so I would say the IDEAL belt carry 357 is a 3" model 13 or 65 both pictured below


Now if you are talking POCKET carry, then we are obviously talking J frame and my preference there is the Centennial style.

I have been packing weapons for over half a century(started with the US ARMY at 17). I developed some rules for myself that seem to work well for me. Any handgun 16oz or less may be pocket packed, with a holster of course. Over that pound it is a belt gun, on or inside. With the proper belt, holster, ammo carrier combo (note that I started with the belt), one can CCW almost anything. I make a weight exception for the little guns in winter when they may be packed in an outside heavy coat/jacket pocket, I will carry a heavier gun than the pound limit-with a pocket holster of course. When I was a uniformed LEO I had the left pocket of ALL my uniform coats, jackets and pants made of leather, then used a pocket holster. Still do for my civvies, pack a BUG or off duty for primary off hand use. Of course that means you must train with your off hand-sometimes more intensively then your strong hand. I have an off hand belt holster in addition to a strong side holster for most of my primary and all of my secondary weapons. I am getting to the "hang it up" stage in life, but that does not mean hanging up my handguns. It just means I must conceal them more carefully. Still going by the same rules. God thing too as I took a round in my strong arm a few years ago and the pains get worse with age, but I have a perfectly excellent off hand for serious social discourse. Note I do not use the term "weak hand", it creates a bad concept for my students I do not think that one should consider any part "weak" particularly if it can hold and fire a weapon.

It most certainly can be done. The key is a good holster and belt. Don't skimp here. Then dress around the gun.
I had dinner tonight at a Mongolian BBQ. On my hip was a 4" M624 in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake held up by a Beltman.net belt. Works really well.

Andy Taylor said:

It most certainly can be done. The key is a good holster and belt. Don't skimp here. Then dress around the gun.
I had dinner tonight at a Mongolian BBQ. On my hip was a 4" M624 in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake held up by a Beltman.net belt. Works really well.

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Yeah, but how was the BBQ?

I carry a 386 night guard series almost daily and its excellent and comfortable. For deep concealment I opt for the 340pd with crimson trace. I've tried the 686, gp-100 wiley clap, python 4" and have found all to be concealable but too heavy after 8-9 hours.

I conceal carry revolvers daily. I also have several to include a couple 4 Inch 686's.
I prefer to carry in a Pancake at 3:30 - 4:00 O'Clock on the belt. This positions the muzzle over the top of my Right Back Pocket. A 3 Inch barrel is right at the top of my pocket. I can still access my back pocket where I carry my billfold, but just barely.
So I consider 3 Inch to be my maximum year round concealed carry barrel length.

WINTER: Also consider that you may end up in a situation where you need to come out of a heavy long cover garment. The longer barrel is a problem in this situation unless you come prepaired with a long wind breaker or similar long garment that you can keep on.

Lots of spot on observations above. The Steel J's like the 60, 640, and 649 are good choices, as are the Ruger SP101's. I have owned 49's, and 649's over the years. I have both a 2.25, and a 3-1/16 Inch SP101 at the moment.

Then we have the next step up the K Frames, and the Six Series Rugers. I have several K Snubs. I have a 2" Model 10, a 2 Inch Model 15 Combat Masterpiece, a 315 Night Guard, and a 3 Inch 66-2. I have no problem carrying any of them.
The 315 Night Guard should have been the Ultimate Lady Smith. Light Enough to carry, and Big Enough to shoot well.

Next up we have the L Frame Size revolvers. The 3 Inch 6 Shot 686-4 has been my Grail Revolver since I found a reasonably priced 3 Inch 66-2 to add to the herd. I do not have a 3 Inch 686, but I do have a 3 Inch Willy Clapp GP100, as well as a RARE LE Distributor 3 Inch Bright Stainless Adjustable Sight GP100. This Baby may have replaced the 686-4 6 Shooter on my Grail List.
The 686/GP100's with a 2.5 - 3 Inch barrel are still carryable, but starting to get a little heavy on the belt. I do not find the weight to be a problem, but I read about others who think they are too heavy. A few Light Weight L Frames are to be found also such as the 386 Night Guard, probably the Ultimate Concealed Carry L Frame.

Then we have the N Frames, such as the 3 Inch 625, 3 Inch 610, 3.5 Inch 27, the Blood Works 627, and the Night Guard Revolvers such as the 310, 325, 327, 329, and 357.
I have a 310 Night Guard, which is a 2.75 Inch 10mm/40 S&W Airweight N Frame. How I would describe carrying an N Frame Night Guard would be to compair it to a 2 - 2.5 Inch Steel K Frame. With the reduction in weight it just seems like the Revolver is a couple sizes smaller. The 357 Magnum 327 Night Guard may well be the Top Dog in an N Frame Concealed Carry Revolver.

SHIELDS UP, Prepair for Rock Bombardment
If I were advising a friend on what revolver I would recommended for concealed carry in a holster on the belt. It would be an SP101, based on Value, Features, and Shootability.
The SP101 has a pinned on Black Front Sight. The Black Sight is hard to see combat shooting, However the Pinned On Part means you can change the sight easily.

I would recommend a change of Front Sight to either a Gemini Little Wonder Fiber Optic or a 24/7 Tritium for after dark carry. Red or Green Fiber Optic ?? Good Question. I have a Red on my 2.25, and the Green on my 3 Inch. No Wrong Answer.

The SP101 can really be helped with a Trigger Job. A little stoning, and buffing, plus a Wolff Spring Kit and a Shim Set.
I have done several GP100 & SP101 trigger jobs. I prefer to work on a Ruger SP101 over a S&W J Frame.

And last an Altamont Letts style Grip Set with Fish Scale Fancy Inserts, and the Fancy Rubber grip body. The Grips are purely for looks, not much of a functional upgrade. The grips change the SP101 from being another SP101, TO "What Do We Have Here".

The SP101 is a 5 Shot. We all know this. What most are not aware of is the F Model Jet Loader Speed Loader.


The picture is of a F Model Jet Loader in a Kydex belt carrier. Also shown is an HKS Model 36 speed loader.
The F Model Jet Loader is a Concealed Carryable size Competion Grade Speed Loader. It is a best kept secret that everyone who carrys an SP101 should know about.

Source: Power Custom, and Pistoleer. Power Custom is a little lower priced.

Just My 2 Cents

Bob

Pennsylvania is an open carry state. When walking in the woods with my dogs I sometimes carry a 686 with a 4" barrel or a 28-2 also with a 4" barrel. They get carried in a Tom Threepersons holster. In the winter time wearing a coat, I can get by carrying them almost anywhere.

I would recommend a 640. I carry a Magna-Ported 640 with Hogue Bantam grips in a Don Hume pocket holster. It is the only gun I carry for long periods comfortably. It is especially nice in the summer while wearing shorts.

Groo here
My two carry revolvers are a ported SP101 2in and
a M-60 Pro 3in.
Both are thin and easy on the belt, the SP101 will shoot all my loads
including my 180/200gr hunting loads [ a hunting backup gun]
But for SD I lean to the M60 Pro, the 3in barrel works well
with my carry load [125gr rem express 357mags] and I can hit
"Out there" with it.

IMHO carry what ever you're comfortable shooting. I carry a variety of guns. For this discussion though I'll stick with the wheel guns. In .357 I carry either a Model 19 2/12 or 686+ in 3 inch. My summer carry usually is a 642 a Airweight .38 inside the waist band.The 357s are carried in a couple of different holsters. You need to find what is comfortable and works well for your needs.

You can't get much better than this for a carry gun. Nothing fancy for ammo. Old school 158 grain Federl JHP. If you still have a problem after 5 rounds then you better have a bottle of holy water and a wooden stake handy!

I occasionally carry a 686 plus 4" in an Old World leather holster with a shirt or jacket over it. I don't have a problem with the right holster and belt.

the 649 I think for all year round carry would be your best bet....you can practice with 38 special and carry 357...

Irn-Bru said:

Recently bought a 649-3, and been carrying it for about a month now. I have to say, as far as revolvers go, this has been the most comfartable carry I have had. I did rotate between my Shield and my Ruger SP101, but this hasn't left my side since I bought it. Great little carry gun if you ask me.

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I just picked one of these up too, the difference is negligible between this gun and my LC9. I would way rather have 5 rounds of .357 magnum than 8 rounds of 9mm, in most cases. I picked up a Galco king tuck, it seems like is a decent holster for the J-frame.

The .357 I carry is a 19-5 4 inch in a TT Gunleather convertible OWS/IWB. I usually carry it IWB and have no trouble concealing it.

If I feel that a concealed .357 is in order, I go with my 60-15. It's light and compact, I like the adjustable sights, and can hit pretty well with it at distances farther than the usual self-defense ranges.

The Speer short-barrel load is pretty tame in this, and if there's the threat of 4-legged problems, I load it with 158 gr flat points. I figure felt recoil will be the least of my problems if I have to touch one off.

For many, many years I carried a large revolver off duty, if I was carrying a large revolver on duty. By large revolver I mean a 4" Mod 29, a 6.5" Mod 29, and for and while [do not let SuperMan see this, but he does know it], a 4" Mod 58 in 41 Mag, a 6.5", later a 6" Mod 25 in 45 ACP.

Early on I just used "Mexican Carry" ie. no holster, and later the excellent Milt Sparks Summer Special, and later still the Galco 6.5" IWB holster.

I learned early on to buy ALL of my pants 2" bigger in the waist to make room for the gun.

I prefer BIG gun, as I value MY life.

I just dress around it...

I have a 686...

You can carry a 686 if you are the determined type. I'd get something smaller.