Buffalobillcody
Member
Just curious what everybody thinks the best 357 carry revolver is, not just best conceal but overall
Best 357 to carry?
- Thread starter Buffalobillcody
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Pef
Member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2011
- Messages
- 957
- Reaction score
- 1,516
Well, for "overall," we have to compromise. Need for close in and also some ability to shoot at a distance. Needs to be for carry, so rust resistance is a positive. Needs to have a round butt for carry.
66-4 3" Round Butt.
66-4 3" Round Butt.
Last edited:
alde
Member
I think the best all around .357 for carry is model 640. It is small and has just the right weight so as to be light enough to carry and heavy enough to shoot. They are just plain cool too.
Goblin
Member
Second the 3" 66, followed by the 2.5".
SeamasterSig
Member
That's easy: a 4" model 66. The same gun that legions of LEOs depended on for decades. Coincidentally, I just happen to own a 66-2, which I sought out specifically for concealed carry, as a woods gun, and as an all-purpose 357/38 revolver. A 3" 686 would be slightly easier to conceal and can safely shoot bucket loads of hot 125 grain JHPs, so it's easy to understand its popularity. But it is also heavier than a 4" 66, has a shorter sight radius, and lower expected velocities. Call it a close second place winner 
Hang-Fire Hank
Member
HOW ABOUT THE 65 ?
No one's yet mentioned this 3" HB, RB, fixed sight, stainless, 6-shot, K-Frame. For close up defense & concealed carry weight, it's superb. I was impressed to watch Hickock45 shoot this small front sighted rev at considerable distances. The 65 is far less expensive to purchase than either a 2 1/2" or 3" model 66, so there's another advantage. I have all three, so guess which one I'll wear concealed in the morning to exercise at the range?
Hank M.
No one's yet mentioned this 3" HB, RB, fixed sight, stainless, 6-shot, K-Frame. For close up defense & concealed carry weight, it's superb. I was impressed to watch Hickock45 shoot this small front sighted rev at considerable distances. The 65 is far less expensive to purchase than either a 2 1/2" or 3" model 66, so there's another advantage. I have all three, so guess which one I'll wear concealed in the morning to exercise at the range?
Hank M.
The OP DID say ".357 carry revolver," so I'm going to go with my new loves, the 340 M&P. Light enough to fit in a pocket and to carry a pair. No worry about drowning when stepping in a puddle with these little chickenpluckers on your person.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
dwever
Member
Classic29
Member
My favorite carry 357 is my old 3in m13. Yeah the blueing is worn and she wears goodyears but she's a handy lil thing.
RobertJ.
Member
You know, if you pose a question to ten shooters, there's a possibility you're going to get ten completely different answers!
In this case, though, if I was going to pick the perfect .357 for myself, and money was no object, I'd go with the 3" Model 66. Why? Full length ejector rod, stainless because it resists corrosion better than blued, and, adjustable sights. I'd like to be able to zero it to the load I'm shooting. I used the "if money was no object" caveat, because those I've seen were somewhat out of my price range. I should have bought one years ago!
Right now, I have a 2.5" 19-5(the 2.5" Model 19 was my grail gun when I was a kid), and I carry it occasionally. My EDC is a Colt Detective Special, also blued. When you carry a blued handgun all the time, you should really get used to cleaning it all the time. It's my laziness that would make me want stainless!
In this case, though, if I was going to pick the perfect .357 for myself, and money was no object, I'd go with the 3" Model 66. Why? Full length ejector rod, stainless because it resists corrosion better than blued, and, adjustable sights. I'd like to be able to zero it to the load I'm shooting. I used the "if money was no object" caveat, because those I've seen were somewhat out of my price range. I should have bought one years ago!
Right now, I have a 2.5" 19-5(the 2.5" Model 19 was my grail gun when I was a kid), and I carry it occasionally. My EDC is a Colt Detective Special, also blued. When you carry a blued handgun all the time, you should really get used to cleaning it all the time. It's my laziness that would make me want stainless!
UncleEd
Member
Forget ".357" even if gun is designed for it when thinking about close-in self defense.
But consider what others have said about K-frame and J-frame Smiths or even a Ruger GP 101 or the LCR, both comparable to the K-frame or J-frame respectively.
But consider what others have said about K-frame and J-frame Smiths or even a Ruger GP 101 or the LCR, both comparable to the K-frame or J-frame respectively.
Murdock
Member
You cannot go wrong with a 4-inch M66.
You indicated "overall" as well as carry. I have a 6-inch 19-3 in nickle (OK for woods and range, too long otherwise), a 2.5-inch M19-3 in blue (too pretty to carry; probably shouldn't have bought it. Sigh.), a 3-inch M66 (getting pretty close now; stainless wears better than blue) and a 4-inch M66.
Carry all the time? The 3-inch. But when general use is in the mix it has to be the 4-inch. If I were to go someplace where only one revolver could be taken, the 4-inch M66 would be a no-brainer.
You indicated "overall" as well as carry. I have a 6-inch 19-3 in nickle (OK for woods and range, too long otherwise), a 2.5-inch M19-3 in blue (too pretty to carry; probably shouldn't have bought it. Sigh.), a 3-inch M66 (getting pretty close now; stainless wears better than blue) and a 4-inch M66.
Carry all the time? The 3-inch. But when general use is in the mix it has to be the 4-inch. If I were to go someplace where only one revolver could be taken, the 4-inch M66 would be a no-brainer.
Arik
Member
640 pro. 2.2 (2 1/8) barrel. Night sights
Arik
Member
Why for about the 357?
You can still get a J frame S&W 357 in the 640 and 640 pro. Can still use 38spl but with the ability to use 357 you open up more options.
The one I've been carrying most since 1988 3 inch 66.
Have developed a fondness for my "Kit gun" a 3 inch 60-10.... think micro-686
Have developed a fondness for my "Kit gun" a 3 inch 60-10.... think micro-686
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
- Messages
- 27,660
- Reaction score
- 21,288
It's a philosophical question, similar to "what's the best car with a V8?" . Depends on your needs, situation, experience, body build, clothing, means of carry, recoil tolerance, etc.
Plenty of good ideas above, but for a steady diet of full .357s for practice I would probably opt for a 3" K frame 65 or 66, or (gasp!) a 2" Ruger SP-101.
. Depends on your needs, situation, experience, body build, clothing, means of carry, recoil tolerance, etc.Plenty of good ideas above, but for a steady diet of full .357s for practice I would probably opt for a 3" K frame 65 or 66, or (gasp!) a 2" Ruger SP-101.
Kframerbluvr
Member
I am partial to fixed sight K and L frames, therefore my ideal general purpose .357 would be a round butted 581 or 681. That being said, being a predominately suburban/urban dweller, my belt revolver is a 4" six shot S&W or Ruger .38. If I needed more horsepower in a revolver, my 3" M29 would come out to play with reduced loads. Full power .44 in this gun is not really fun...
