Best .357 for carry?

Rangerpat · #51 09-20-2010, 08:53 AM

I carry the S&W 340PD for the same reason others have mentioned, very light weight and snag free design. I carry 38 SPL+P 125 gr. Gold Dot HP for around town and .357 mag ammo for the woods. It only weighs 12 oz. so you hardly notice carrying it. MY opinion is 5 shots is all I need to stop and get away from a bad situation. I have replaced the lock with the PLUG on it.

44 Deerslayer · #52 09-20-2010, 05:31 PM

I carry this 686-4 from time to time.

ArmyCop · #53 07-29-2013, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herknav

I have thinking about going to a .357 for carry. I am leaning toward the 686+ with a 2.5" barrel. I would like a 3" barrel, but I think the 686 only came in 2.5 and 4. Thoughts?

All the ones I have found have the ILS, which I'm not interested in. How rare are the pre-lock models, and what are they going for?

If you like something else better, I am interested in your rationale. I'm not tied to the 686+, but like the extra shot over the old models. Having said that, I know that the 19/66 has a strong following, but I am pretty unfamiliar with the other .357 S&Ws out there.

Thanks in advance,
Herk

The 686 Plus does come in 3" barrel. I almost bought one for concealed carry but at the last minute decided on the S&W Model 60 Pro with 3" Barrel. Youtube has reviews on it. I expecially liked the ones Yankee Marshall and guns&gear or gunsandgear had about it.

What did you finally go with?

KyleHines2005 · #54 07-29-2013, 10:25 AM

I carry a 19-4 Nickel for high visibility at night. Fits comfortable, but still looking for a good left handed IWB holster. Any suggestions out there?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

Cpo1944 · #55 07-29-2013, 10:38 AM

First let me say I am a S&W fanatic, but the Ruger LCR has got to be the perfect pocket pistol.

BigBill · #56 07-29-2013, 11:16 AM

I have my original '76 ruger police service six in 357mag with its 2 3/4" barrel in stainless it's been an awesome performer for all these many years. I picked up an older ruger security six in blue in 357mag with a 6" barrel in like new condition for $199. I jumped on it. I prefer the rugers to hammer on with stout magnum loads because of no screws to come loose or stretch. I like my s&w too. I need a s&w m27 New in nickel soon.

Sixgun100 · #57 07-29-2013, 12:09 PM

Torn Loyalties....
3" Model 65
3" GP-100
Love them both!

ladder13 · #58 07-29-2013, 01:53 PM

3 inch 65, the cat's meow.

BigBill · #59 07-29-2013, 02:32 PM

I like to collect and shoot the S&W handguns but I CCW the rugers revolvers for eons. Now that my S&W M58 is discontinued it was my new
CCW handgun. I may get another revolver in 357mag. The other guns I have have gone up so high in value now as collectables it's not worth hurting them. It feels like I'm starting all over again.

Which s&w snubbie is the best one here?

My second choice would be a snubbie in 38 special.

JTMcC · #60 07-29-2013, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anton Chigurh

"I wonder how many people can really control a .357 snubby."
Not many.

That's just goofy, there are a lot of people who can and do, for fun, relaxation and more serious reasons.

Lot's of more violent revolvers out there than a short .357 (steel). People control those too.

J

Henry O · #61 07-29-2013, 07:18 PM

I pocket carry a 640 Pro Series. Great revolver. Still a little hard to find but worth the search. If I cannot get it done with the five shot capacity I am either running, carefully, ever so carefully, in the opposite direction or the other guy has moved my life story to the obit column.

JeepinSoldier · #62 07-31-2013, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladder13

3 inch 65, the cat's meow.

I agree. I conceal carry the 65-5 on the bottom daily and open carry it in the mountains. Perfect balance with the 3" barrel and great feel with the uncle mike's grips. Simple fixed sights, all weather stainless. Heavy enough for accurate shooting and light enough to carry. Absolutely wonderful double action trigger. .357 punch with Speer 135 grain Gold Dot short barrel loads.

The pinned and recessed 65-2 on the top is a range only gun that lives in the safe next to a 3" Model 13.

slabside2 · #63 08-01-2013, 04:37 PM

The 340pd yea I know it's a handful but a carry gun is something that you will carry all the time and carrying a big heavy gun becomes a pain in the butt and it's left at home or in the car. And when you carry a pound and a half or so of steel on your belt all day you can't wait to take it off. I think this true for most people. Not all but most.

indiandave · #64 08-01-2013, 04:57 PM

I like my model 60 with a 3inch barrel. I put Pachmayr decelerators on her. This really makes it easy to shoot. I shot it as well as a 4 inch K frame.

Frank V · #65 08-01-2013, 06:19 PM

I'm kind of like JeepinSoldier.
I think the 65 would be fantastic. The round butt makes them easier to conceal, they don't print as badly as a square butt.
I really don't like full length underlugs, when you carry one daily why put up with the extra weight? If I'm going to pack around extra weight it's going to be more ammo or a bigger gun!
That & I think the only underlugs that looked right are on the Python & Diamondback!

rwsmith · #66 08-01-2013, 08:42 PM

The 686 might be a tad big and heavy for comfortable carry unless you don't mind that sort of thing. The 'k' frames are more manageable. The difference being that you can't shoot a lot of full powered loads through the k frame, but for a carry gun who needs to do that, anyway? My 686 is a great home protection and range gun.