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Best .357 for discreet carry...

PALADIN85020

PALADIN85020

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I know the J-frames in .357 have been all the rage for discreet carry recently. But have you fired one? And did you like the vicious recoil? How fast can you get off an accurate followup shot?

I believe that more weight is needed, coupled with acceptable size for concealment.

My personal choice is this Model 66-2, made in November 1983. While I also have a pinned and recessed Model 66-1, I don't use it much because of its collector value. This one is for serious business. Nelson Ford gave it a premium action job, and I went to work with Mother's Mag Polish to give it a glistening shine. It will definitely be noticed when and if drawn. My favorite Ahrends concealment stocks went on it - I find that they fill the hand and don't print at all when properly holstered and covered with a tail-out shirt. This one can be fired comfortably and repeat shots can be both quick and accurate.

The .357 has been shown time and time again to be a superior self-defense round - and I think this particular gun is the best compromise among the factors of accuracy, recoil management, concealability and handiness.

I also like the fact that it doesn't mess up the environment with ejected cases!

Your mileage may differ...???

John

SW_66_SNUB-POSTERIZED_zpsknb9fgkj.jpg
 
I'll second your nomination. My EDC when I am not toting my duty gun is a 2" 66-4. I also have a 66-2 that is a "safe queen", but will see some carry in the event it is needed.
 
I'm with you PALADIN85020. I think they have reached the point of too
light in small revolvers. Besides the punishing recoil we have the danger
of an occasional crimp jump and the titanium cylinders are susceptible
to erosion from the too hot gasses.
I prefer Model 60 .357 and Ruger SP101 .357. A little heavier but better
for the reasons you said.
I also prefer the concealed hammer. In the case of my Model 60 I had
the hammer bobbed.
 
My expert LEO armorer/SWAT friend tells me that the 357, although an excellent round does not achieve its full velocity with a short barrel, and we might be better with modern ballistics with a Model 940. I do not pretend to know firsthand; still, I suspect a 357 near miss even would still unnerve a rational assailant no matter what barrel it came out of and a hit would end the encounter. Very nice looking firearm, thank you for posting.
 
I purchased a 640 Pro but have not qualified with it to work it into carry status, as of yet. I now have the holster lined up and the next time the rangemaster holds a qual. it and I will be there.

I have tried the Gold Dot Short Barrel .357 in her and I didn't notice that the recoil was bad. I couldn't imagine putting any full house loads through it though.
 
I have owned a 2 inch 66 for a number of years.
Have shot A wide range of factory and hand loads in this 66, usually with the heavier bullets.
It does have some recoil and tends to torque.
Recently I traded for a 649.
It recoils quite a bit when shooting 357s.
This recoil don't really bother me that much, but I believe that for a defense weapon you should be deliver fast on target follow up shots.
Right this minute my 2 inch 66 and my 649 are loaded with 38+ P.
 
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I have a LCR357 and a SP101. Full house 357 is more than I can take at 65 years old. You young strong guys may be ok with it. In something with the weight of the SP101 I could take some self defense loads because they were midrange. I stick with 135 gr. Speer Gold Dot 38+P. NYPD likes them so that's good enough for me. That being said, I carry J-Frames these days. Today it's Two 442s
 

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The ruger security six or police service six with a 2 3/4" barrel is probably as small as I'd go in 357 mag. She can shoot and has shot full magnum loads since 1976. I'm not fond of shorter barrels but for the 90 degree weather.
 
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I know the J-frames in .357 have been all the rage for discreet carry recently. But have you fired one? And did you like the vicious recoil? How fast can you get off an accurate followup shot?
Click to expand...

To answer your questions. Yes, Hated it, and could not. Even shooting HOT 38 special ammo in my M 640-1 can be a challenge after 10 or so rounds.

I'm lucky enough to have three 2 1/2" K frames. M 19-3 blued, M 19-4 nickel finish, and a M 66-1. As the nickel finished gun has some small challenges, it's the one I carry the most, and feel well armed with it.

I believe the round butt K frames are the ideal discrete carry revolvers. Small and light enough to conceal, but feel like a real gun in my hand.
 
65

I carry a 66-3 2 1/2 in barrel in an S&W 21-32 holster. Rear sight blade scuffs my inner arm below the elbow at times. A 65 with gutter sights would help with the scuff problem and might let my eyes acclimate the target better in a quick draw and shoot situation. Something to think about if the S&W addiction dictates what you carry.
 
I carry a 686 Plus 2.5" OWB, when appropriate. For discrete, deep cover, a 640 2-1/8".
 
In a full house 357 Magnum 686+ 3"in a pancake holster. Anything smaller is a 38 spec only.
 
PALADIN85020 said:
I know the J-frames in .357 have been all the rage for discreet carry recently. But have you fired one? And did you like the vicious recoil? How fast can you get off an accurate followup shot?

I believe that more weight is needed, coupled with acceptable size for concealment.
Click to expand...

John,

I myself have come to the conclusion carry the biggest gun you can carry, however recoil is recoil and there isn't much you can do about it. Sometimes you just have to wait to the muzzle comes down again.

Having said that I still want to have fun with my gun at the range, in order to get comfortable with a .357 magnum you need gun 40 oz or better. I myself draw the line at under 2 lbs and loaded just over.

My new Governor will put down anything I need it to in my neck of the woods.
And it's like shooting rubber bands across the room for me.

And yet when I own a Ruger LCR .38 special at 13.5 oz. it was pure brutality. Yet my 642 at only 1.5 oz heavier felt good.
But .45's are unlike any other round in which they don't recoil in so much the same manner. My 642 was good for about 80 rounds a secession but I can go over 200 rounds with a .45.
Go figure.

I want nothing to do whatsoever with any magnum or + P loads.
 
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I carry a M640-3 with a set of Pachs 3 finger grip that takes care of the Hormany Self Defense 125gr. .357 factory loads.
I also go to the range with the same rounds I carry. No problem. The larger grip and a ClipDraw with a tee-shirt no print either.
 
I carried a Model 66 with 2.5 inch barrel, bobbed hammer, Tyler grip adapter and dished trigger guard as my personal sidearm for years. Even competed with it for awhile. It got a lot of attention when unholstered at the range. My son now carries it and I carry a S&W 325. Hard to beat a 66.
 
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