Best 357 mag snubnose
 

I am looking to buy a snubnose revolver in 357 mag and was wondering what models I should consider. The only requirments that I want the gun to have is a 3inch barrel or smaller and be in 357 magnum. Will mostly use the gun as a kit gun when I go on camping/hikes/fishing/ and other various outdoor activities. One major thing is that I dont need to be able to carry it in a pocket since I have a Kahr and a Ruger LCP, so the weight is not that big of an issue.

It would be hard to beat a 2 1/2" K-frame.

I have a stainless model 686 that I use as my woods gun. I personally love it it shoots good and is not very cumbersome to carry.. I hope that Helps.

The current model 60 is a great choice for a true concealed carry snub in .357 magnum. It can be carried as a pocket gun but it is not too light for the actual shooting of .357 rounds. I have the 60-9, which is the Lady Smith, and it can be had for less compared to other M 60 revolvers due to the name.

for a small frame gun go with the 5 shot J frame 60, 640
for a meduim frame go with the 6 shot K frame 19,66 or L frame 686

Model 19/66 or the three inch 13/65 with fixed sights and bull barrel with a round butt. Best fighting revolvers ever made, bar none.

Here is my favorite two in that catagory. A nickle 2 1/2" python, and a S&W 66-3 3" ported, trilijon sights with many goodies by the performance center, 1 of 300 for lew horton.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...946_edited.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../Guns138-1.jpg

Can't argue with that.

I would be inclined to go with the 2 1/2 inch 686 Plus. It's well balanced, light enough for all day carry in a good holster, and that short barrel will be loud enough to scare away most predators.

BTW, I have determined that longer barrels are distinctly quieter than short barrels. With a 2 1/2 inch barrel and a full house 357, the result will be a damned LOUD handgun, make sure you have ear protection handy when carrying it. Otherwise, your ears WILL be ringing.

I couldn't agree more. You just have to choose between fixed or adjustable sights. Get grips that fit and feel good in your hand. As you will be using this while hiking, camping, backpacking, etc., might I suggest a cross draw or a shoulder holster? Easier to get to if need be while wearing a backpack. -Ed.

Kahr fan ?
 

Greetings and welcome to the forum. When looking for a 3" or thereabouts compact 357 Magnum you would be looking at a model 65 or 66.
These have gone through the roof lately with prime specimens bringing $500. to $800. on the auction sites these days.

Rightfully so, these K Magnum wonders are fantastic to shoot, and easy to carry.
Find one, buy it ,and you'll not regret it.
Good luck ,,Allen F.





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One for each hand and one for a back up! Thats the way to go!!! Very Nice !!!!

The 3" and 2.5" 66's are hard to beat. Regards 18DAI.

I like somethig a bit smaller than the "K" frame. Years ago I bought a 2.5" 66 and found it was just as easy to pack my 4".

I recently found this 640-1. It seemed a bit on the heavy side at first, but with the Spegel Boots it balances nicely in the hand. It shoots +P and +P+ like a much larger revolver. With the Remington 125 gr. JHP this baby shoots point of aim up to 20 feet.

I carry it in the Don Hume JIT and it rides close to the body and on a good belt isn't even noticed. If you are looking for an accurate, concealable revolver with .357 capability one of these is your ticket.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC01090.jpg

This one is pre-lock and forged. It took a few years to find!

my vote goes to the 686 snub...i have carried one for a long time...great gun to shoot and carry

I know this is the S&W forum, and while being a huge S&W fan, I think the Ruger SP101 with either the 3" (probably better for a kit gun) or 2 1/4" barrel is the best .357 snub available.

I've got a 19-3 2.5" that I tend to favor. Of course, so does my wife...she took it away from me and uses it as her night stand gun.

A 2 1/2 or 3 in Mod 686 sound's just like what you're looking for,and you can CCW the thing too if you wish.

But like scooter said a 2 1/2 or 3 in .357 with full-house loads makes quite a racket,also has a hell of a muzzle flash if you miss and you're close enough you can set the target on fire! It's sorta a pocket flamethrower :D

I recommend the 640-1 with the 2 1/8" barrel. They are however, hard to find.

good enough for the FBI
 

M-13 3" perfection

640-1.******

For a good kicking around the woods gun a 60-10 "J" frame or a 2.5" or 3" 66 are hard to beat. I really like the lack of weight of the 60-10, but carry my old 3" 66 which used to be my CC weapon as I can shoot it rather well and it's been with me since 85 when out hiking or camping.

Wish the eyes worked as well as the revolvers!

3" 66-10 stainless and factory ported
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...08/NewToy2.jpg

3" 66-2 with Ahrends (My All Time Favorite Handgun, Period)
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...8/DSC01027.jpg

True. They're only beaten by the 65-5 Ladysmith, which doesn't have those superfluous adjustable sights. :D


(Thanks again for setting up that trade last year, 18DAI. :))

I am partial to the 686, but I have to admit I like the 3 inch 66 as well. Heres my 686-4

http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/DSC_0677.jpg

I LOVE my 19-4 2-1/2" pocket flamethrower. Trigger and action job from S & W custom shop made all the difference in the world. It's now the best shooting, most accurate revolver I have for CC.

Class III

The old classic Model 19 is hard to beat:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46...leftside-4.jpg

S&W 66 for sure

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640-1 with Barami Hip Grip; best for SECURE concealed carry on your belt, without need for a holster.
Used this for 10-15 yrs now.
Sonny

K frame Models 19 or 66 L frame 586/686 either way you will have a winner

For the purpose, I'd go with 3" GP-100, 3" 686 or possibly 2-3/4" Speed Six in stainless. 640 and other J-frames are very fine guns but it sounds like weight and concealment are not your priorities.

Mike

As much as I hate to say it in present company, my favorite was a Ruger Security Six with a 2 3/4" barrel. The thing was built like a tank and took whatever loads you could run through it. I sold it back when I needed the money, and if I ever get the notion and the cash, I may try and buy it back.

I have a three inch models 65, 66 and a 686 CS-1. I find a 66 three inch the most useful. Its small enough to carry off duty in any weather ( in a proper hoslter it hides great under a T-Shirt. Its good enough for recreational target shooting out to 50 yars with quality 38WC ammo. I can loaded with std 38Match WC or Std 38's or 38's or +P or +p+ or Med.Vel Remington 125 357 magnums or full power magnums. Its a great outdoors gun loaded with full power 158 .357's. I would not feel naked with it even on duty ( woth 3-4 speedloaders on my belt) since I shoot a revolver better than 99% of the Department shoot their Glocks. The is just not much that a good Three inch model 66 will not do. In my safe that one is the winner. A VERY close second is my CS-1, its just heavier. A third would be my Jovino 3" model 629-1. I can have it loaded with anything form mild 44 specials all the way up to 240grain 44 magnum. It has a full extractor. It hides well under a lose shirt in hot weather.

Smith and Wesson blue runs through my viens. And, I usually carry a 3" 65. But, for a snub nose .357 Magnum, I think the Ruger SP-101 is very close to the top of the heap. It is the smallest and lightest gun I can shoot full house magnums through without feeling like my hand is going to shatter.

For your "outdoor" adventures, and with concealed carry not intended, a stainless 3" adjustable sight model should satisfy all of your needs. I think the M60 was available in that configuration, which would be a better choice than the M66 only if weight were a consideration.

I guess I'm a dirty turncoat too, for as much as I like my 2.5" 686, I carry a 3" Ruger SP101 far more as a "kit" gun. It's just lighter, almost as easy to shoot equally well, boat anchor tough compared to the S&W K-frame 357s for shooting all the full house loads you ever want.

The 3" 66 is the best but are hard to find, so I'm building me one out of a 619.

Hey All,here is my main carry,a custom model 65 357mag.Lower pics are before custom,and after custom
Job was Done by Mike Adams.of Mike Adams Customs


http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/1...10442gv.th.jpg

+1 on this response. I love my Smith's, but for actual small-frame carry in .357, I go with the SP-101 2" for the reasons cited above. With the extra weight, and good grips, it's actually comfortable to shoot in .357.

I've got a few J-frames, and really like them, but the SP 101 just seems like more of a solid platform.

Being as the question is what is the 'best' snubnosed revolver, I would say a 66 2 1/2 inch. Stainless for rust protection when carried concealed, large enough to handle full load ammo, and small enough to hide, even if stuffed in a waist band. But, as stated early in this thread, a 3 or 4 inch will carry and conceal nearly as well, and have the standard advantages of any longer barrel- muzzle blast reduction and sight radius. JMO

The last gun of any manufacture that I will ever let go is a S&W M66 2 1/2".
I lust for a lot of them I don't have and I am really attached to a lot of them I do, but that is the one. That is the one.

For me the Md 65 3" heavy barrel, round butt with Pachmayr grips fills the exact bill ... stainless, 3" bbl with an extractor rod long enough to eject the 357 mag cases, and no un-needed adjustable sights to hang up on, or get damaged if the gun is ever dropped (like I did with my 3" Md 66 & broke off the rear sight on a boulder ! ... got it fixed and sold it way too cheap :( ) .... I carry the Remington 357 mag 158 gr SJHP in my Md 65-3 ... shoots very accurately exactly to point of aim with the fixed sights ... anyhow, that's my vote & I'm stickin' with it ! :D

My choice in this category was the 7-shot 686 with a 3" barrel.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...6_left_640.jpg

I also considered models 60 and 66, but ended up with the 686 for its more robust design. I shoot a lot and I want to have the piece of mind that the gun can take the pounding. I am not implying the smaller framed guns would not work just as well, I am just talking about my perceptions.

I am partial to the 3" shrouded-barrel fixed-sight M65LS:

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...65LSFamily.jpg

"I prefer to travel in the company of a Lady."

Noah

While all of the guns mentioned do fill the bill, and I have most of them, I usually carry the M65-LS. It shoots to point of aim with all heavy bullets. As with many others I prefer the 3-inch barrel, which has the longer extractor.
John

NO PC-13!?
The ultimate carry revolver should have fixed sights and be as reliable as all ....

PC13!..

2.5 inch model 66 for outdoors, 2.5 inch model 19 for the range.

I hava Model 19 nickel 2 and half in. Im very happy with.
Purchased 1972 when FBI started using them.

If I had your specific requirements...

I'd get a 640 Pro or a 686 snub.

Then to make it more svelte, add magnas and T-grips.

I personally owned a 686 snub. It was a lemon and sold it.

However, it WAS a nice gun for size and weight.

YOU DID SAY SNUB RIGHT?
 

ALL the guns mentioned are real nice but many a bit big imo. when I think of a snub, I'm thinking 5 shot, with some wt and durability to handle and control a large diet of full power 357 loads. my pick a Ruger sp101 3" with the hammer, since not cc'ing, in s/s. with some good smith work they can be every bit as smooth as a S&W. and the extra wt a + for mgt and control of recoil. for now with hand issues and a brace the Ruger speed 6 2 3/4" bbl with big pachmayer grips works well, I don't worry about getting a ding, taking it anywhere, and comes in handy for testing reloads, but big for a true "snub".

My every day carry revolver is a 649 in a ISWB Holster. They are not the best of looking guns but can be carried in any pocket or holster without fear of snagging the hammer on clothing. It can also be cocked and fired if desired.