Model19man
Member
For your use a Model 586 or Model 686 pre - hillary hole would be fine. Either one will outlast you.
357 mag revolver a steady diet of full power loads
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If your intention is to load the .357 to its full potential in a normal revolver, you’ll need an 8-3/8” barrel Model 27. The barrel length will be less important in lighter loads.
Handloading is often as much fun for me as shooting. The .357 is a great choice for a beginning handloader. I’d suggest, at least at first, that you stay away from the fast burning powders. The old .357 “standby” powders are Unique and 2400, with good reason. Those, or equivalent powders, are a good places to start, depending on the type of load you want. Thinking about what you want your load to do is excellent advice. Good luck with your decisions.
Handloading is often as much fun for me as shooting. The .357 is a great choice for a beginning handloader. I’d suggest, at least at first, that you stay away from the fast burning powders. The old .357 “standby” powders are Unique and 2400, with good reason. Those, or equivalent powders, are a good places to start, depending on the type of load you want. Thinking about what you want your load to do is excellent advice. Good luck with your decisions.
lppd4
Member
I would get a new Python or a pre lock 686/586. A S&W with a lock would not enter into the equation
In my view, any of the L-frame revolvers would do nicely, as would the N-frames.
S&W recently released the 357 Model 20 (a fixed-sight revolver with a 6" barrel) but it was a limited run. If you can snag one of those I'd be all over it.
If you are interested, I have a 5" model 27 that I believe was brought over from Germany in the 1960s and I am in general very pleased with it.
There is a thread on it here.
Model 27 5"
I'm certain that you will enjoy whatever revolver that you get.
S&W recently released the 357 Model 20 (a fixed-sight revolver with a 6" barrel) but it was a limited run. If you can snag one of those I'd be all over it.
If you are interested, I have a 5" model 27 that I believe was brought over from Germany in the 1960s and I am in general very pleased with it.
There is a thread on it here.
Model 27 5"
I'm certain that you will enjoy whatever revolver that you get.
IMHO it doesnt matter if you buy a K, L, or N frame
The ammo is what matters
If you are going to be blasting top loaded lighter grain ammo with powder such as H110 or other magnum powder you are going to get flame cutting
I shot this one a good bit before trading it off. A ton of 125Gr bullets with a max load of H110 somewhere in the 21-22Gr region
This is a pic of the forcing cone on my 586 L Comp before trading it away. It tumbling bullets at the end and accuracy seemed not great.
Since trading this one off I have switched to shooting heavier bullets in the 158-174Gr. I still shoot them loaded up all the way and have blasted thousands. My forcing cone on my M66 still looks new. Guns are still very accurate
If you shoot magnum loaded light grain bullets you are going to get flame cutting
The ammo is what matters
If you are going to be blasting top loaded lighter grain ammo with powder such as H110 or other magnum powder you are going to get flame cutting
I shot this one a good bit before trading it off. A ton of 125Gr bullets with a max load of H110 somewhere in the 21-22Gr region
This is a pic of the forcing cone on my 586 L Comp before trading it away. It tumbling bullets at the end and accuracy seemed not great.
Since trading this one off I have switched to shooting heavier bullets in the 158-174Gr. I still shoot them loaded up all the way and have blasted thousands. My forcing cone on my M66 still looks new. Guns are still very accurate
If you shoot magnum loaded light grain bullets you are going to get flame cutting
My 3 inch 686-6+ has been an excellent shooter. The IL has been no problem so far. I don't care for the looks of it, but it is what it is. I also have a 5 inch 686-6+ that I haven't shot yet. Maybe I can get to the range today. The L frame is my favorite S&W frame size. If I could own only one 357, it would be a 686.
Wow those grips are gorgeous on the 3" 686. Who made those?
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I'd suggest looking at a NEW Colt Python or a USED M586 bioth of which are stellar revolvers. Of course both are also available in stainless, but from everything I have read, the new Python is quite the gun (and no hole in the frame). You would also get a warranty whereas if you buy a used M586/686 there won't be one. The vintage M586/685 are also great revolvers as long as you know how to properly check them out prior to purchase.
Sorry the late reply. Thanks a lot for the further sixgun recommendations and further information about reloading. i have also already enrolled myself into a reloading course. It will start in March. I also start checking out all the new recommendations on the new and used market.
@gerhard1 Thanks for sharing your post of the model 27. It was a interesting read.
I have to admit the model 27 would also be my first pick.
Like I said in the entry posts I love the aesthetics of the early smith and wesson revolvers. I am a history buff too so owning the first 357 mag revolver every would be awesome.
@gerhard1 Thanks for sharing your post of the model 27. It was a interesting read.
I have to admit the model 27 would also be my first pick.
Like I said in the entry posts I love the aesthetics of the early smith and wesson revolvers. I am a history buff too so owning the first 357 mag revolver every would be awesome.
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The Model 27 is certainly a durable 357 Magnum revolver, the frame, barrel shank, and cylinder are over-built for the caliber. I would look for an older Model 27 as S&W's current production firearms seem to have a higher incidence of quality control issues.
cd228
Member
It might be easier if you tell us what's available. I know Franconia.de, but I don't know any dealers in Austria.
ColumbusJBR
Member
Look for an N frame or L frame S&W. I prefer the older ones without the IL.
OR go for stout and get a Ruger Blackhawk!
If anyone has worn out a .357 Blackhawk, I'd say they were trying to. They aren't the prettiest, but they are BEEFY.
@stansdds Thanks for your recommendation. I will look into older model 27s for sure.
I will also look at the 357 Blackhawk. The blackhawk revolver are nice.
@cd228 The availability in Austria is quite good. It is easy to get new sixguns from s&w and Ruger. from time to time also new Colt Python pops up.
On the used market, many S&W, Ruger, and Colt revolvers are in the wild.
I will also look at the 357 Blackhawk. The blackhawk revolver are nice.
@cd228 The availability in Austria is quite good. It is easy to get new sixguns from s&w and Ruger. from time to time also new Colt Python pops up.
On the used market, many S&W, Ruger, and Colt revolvers are in the wild.
While the Ruger Blackhawks are certainly fine guns, they are a SA only design.
That puts them into a whole different category than the S&W or Colt revolvers that can be fired in both SA and DA.
That being said, the one recommendation that seems conspicuously absent from this thread are the Ruger Redhawk SA/DA revolvers.
I don't own any, and don't have any first-hand experience with them. I'm just curious why no one has suggested them as a viable alternative to the comparable DA/SA S&W and Colt revolvers.
Do the Ruger Redhawk revolvers have some kind of inherent design or construction flaws that would make them a poor choice for a 357 magnum revolver?
That puts them into a whole different category than the S&W or Colt revolvers that can be fired in both SA and DA.
That being said, the one recommendation that seems conspicuously absent from this thread are the Ruger Redhawk SA/DA revolvers.
I don't own any, and don't have any first-hand experience with them. I'm just curious why no one has suggested them as a viable alternative to the comparable DA/SA S&W and Colt revolvers.
Do the Ruger Redhawk revolvers have some kind of inherent design or construction flaws that would make them a poor choice for a 357 magnum revolver?
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"---------------and hasn't had its sideplate off in at least two decades."
The first thing that popped into my mind was "Are you bragging or complaining?"
In the for what it's worth department, here's what S&W has to say about removing the sideplate: "If a revolver is used daily, it should be oiled every month, and this is best accomplished by removing the sideplate--------."
Now a simple extrapolation will tell you the schedule for a revolver that's not used daily, but to view the fact that the sideplate hasn't been off says a great disservice has been done to your gun.
The bottom line goes like this: It is not possible to properly clean and lubricate a S&W revolver without removing the sideplate-----and I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I hear about folks who think different.
Ralph Tremaine
Edited to add: Removing the sideplate (and removing every single piece under the sideplate) is child's play, and the only way to properly clean and lubricate a S&W revolver.
The first thing that popped into my mind was "Are you bragging or complaining?"
In the for what it's worth department, here's what S&W has to say about removing the sideplate: "If a revolver is used daily, it should be oiled every month, and this is best accomplished by removing the sideplate--------."
Now a simple extrapolation will tell you the schedule for a revolver that's not used daily, but to view the fact that the sideplate hasn't been off says a great disservice has been done to your gun.
The bottom line goes like this: It is not possible to properly clean and lubricate a S&W revolver without removing the sideplate-----and I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I hear about folks who think different.
Ralph Tremaine
Edited to add: Removing the sideplate (and removing every single piece under the sideplate) is child's play, and the only way to properly clean and lubricate a S&W revolver.
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That is good question. The Ruger Red Hawk would be also available next to the Black Hawk, the GP 100 and the Security Six.
I could do some more research in the meantime and I will be able to try out the a ruger black hawk, security six, a used model 27 and a new smith and wesson model 586 at the range soon.
Could ask around and some members were nice enough to let my try their six shooter soon.
Souvergn41
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The first thing that popped into my mind is that there is a third possibility (that you may have overlooked). That would be "neither of the above".
In some cases, saying that the sideplate on a particular revolver has never been removed is neither a brag NOR a complaint.
It is a simple statement of the facts.
FWTW...
Those are culina grips I have a set just like them. John makes awesome grips
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