Information needed about different frames for a new .357 future buy.

[Rgpracer]

Hello from Kansas
I am fairly new to revolvers although I have a colt 38 Detective Special.
I am retired military, active CC holder.......and want my first S&W 357.
Ok, nuff said about that, now to the meat and taters,
..... in reading ALOT about S&W's, all these frames sizes are cool, I am a fair sized handed guy, (6'1", 225) and think the K,L or even the N is what I want.
Ok, all that to ask this, there are soooooo many models of each frame, THAT is the confusing part to me. I have not found the significance of each of the models.
Is there a sight out there, or a place on this wonderful sight that can break that down for me?
N frame 629, 625jm and on and on....
L frames
K frames....lord what have I gotten myself into??

Thanks for letting me ramble and helping me spend my money.

Ray

 

[Bumpus13]

For .357 magnum:

N frame - Model 27's are the Cadillac, but Model 28's are nice too (budget 27)

L frame - My favorite size... Model 586 (686 is the stainless version)

K frame - Bunch to choose from, but my favorite would be Model 19 (66 is the stainless version)

J frame - Not gonna lie, this size in .357 spooks me a bit. Never tried one.

 

[LPD256]

Rgpracer-Welcome to the forum. I live in ICT. We'll have a little time over the holidays and will spend a little quality time at Range 54. You are welcome to be my guest. They have rentals in all sizes and I have a selection as well. I'm happy to spend some time with you. Just send me a private message.

 

[shakyshoot]

There are a lot of subtle differences between models. Full lug, half lug. Fixed sight, adjustable sight. Heavy stainless frame to super light scandium frame. 6, 7, 8 shot, etc, etc. The Smith & Wesson site is as good as any for giving an overview of the sizes, weights, etc. I think the best place to start is to just go to a gun shop and fondle some different models. That will at least give you an idea of the feel of a K frame vs L frame vs N frame. Better yet find a range where you can rent a few.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Figure out what you want to DO with it, then find the best one (for you) that will fill that function.

I'm in Kansas too. Where is ICT?

 

[Narragansett]

For .357 magnum:

N frame - Model 27's are the Cadillac, but Model 28's are nice too (budget 27)

L frame - My favorite size... Model 586 (686 is the stainless version)

K frame - Bunch to choose from, but my favorite would be Model 19 (66 is the stainless version)

J frame - Not gonna lie, this size in .357 spooks me a bit. Never tried one.

This is a pretty well rounded answer, along with the others. First off, you will get about all the information you want off of this site, and your post will get many responses.

the first good question, is.......What do you want to do? Hunt, punch holes in paper, shoot plates at say 100 yards, CC? That is the starting point. Next I guess might be stainless or blue? You will have no problem on this site finding people that will help you spend your money.

Assuming you want to hunt or target shoot, and your stated size, my personal suggestion would be an " N " frame, which is the largest frame size.

Are you looking for new, collectible used, or a quality shooter grade?

Personally the J frame 357's scare me a bit too. They are a handful, and will not fill the bill for hunting, and distance shooting, but you will know it when you touch one off.

The model 27 is the Cadillac in a blued N frame or nickel if that is your fancy. Many options such as target triggers( wider), target hammers ( again wider), and target stocks. In this configuration the gun is referred to as a 3 T model. many different barrel lengths out to 8 3/8". I might say 4 and 6" are most common. Shiny highly polished blue finish. The most costly of the 357 N frames. Many nice ones come up for sale on the want to sell forum on this site. You can also place an ad for what you are looking for on the Want to Buy ( WTB) forum on this site.

For me personally, I like the M28. Basically a M27, but with less options. Magna grips, 4" and 6" bbls are the standard along with service triggers and hammers. The finish is a dark matte blackish blue. The most common model is the 28-2, and they are easy to come by for less money. You can change the grips to factory or custom targets.

i am sure there will be a lot more answers coming your way wwith pictures, but we need more info from you.

Below are my 3 model 28's. All fine examples of a quality N frame.

 

[growr]

The REAL answer is to buy one of each frame size and then add to that!

Randy

 

[Sevens]

Yeah, without knowing the details of what you wish to do with it, we can only take shots in the dark. But I will still try based on simple basics.

If you want a great, versatile .357 Magnum that is mostly just to shoot at the range and have at home for defensive use, I believe there are two fantastic choices beyond the others.

Model 686, 4-inch barrel
Model 28-2, 4-inch barrel or 6-inch barrel

Here is why I suggest these two...
These are durable and enjoyable to shoot. The K-frame sized .357's are not only not as durable for lots and lots of heavy .357 Mag ammo, they tend to pound your hands with each and every shot. This is subjective, of course, and the grips/stocks and ammo has a large say, and recoil hits each person differently.

I think that a 6-inch barrel is a better looking revolver, it looks more "proper" to my eyes and less stubby, but I have no doubt whatsoever that a 4-inch revolver handles better, tends to balance better and does a fine job while shooting. In the case of the 28-2, the 6-inch is not overly large or unwieldy and balances well, but in the 686, the 6-inch is muzzle heavy and does not balance nearly as well as the 4-inch.

I suggest the 686 and not the 586 because the 686 is more common and there are more fine deals to be found. I suggest the 28-2 over the Model 27 for the same reason -- the 27 & 28 are very similar but the Model 27 is a gorgeous and finely finished item while the 28-2 is very dull, spartan and carries a much lower price.

I find either of these revolvers to not only be BETTER .357 Magnums than the K-frame guns (19, 66, 13, 65) but MUCH better, much, much better, and that isn't often a very popular opinion. I've owned two Model 19's and still have a Model 66 and they have carved out their place, but when it comes to handling .357 Magnum (and yes, still enjoying .38 Special also), I believe the 686 and 28-2 are so much better than any K-frame.

J-frame .357 Magnums are small 5-shot, almost always snub-nosed revolvers and they are awful to shoot with full .357 Mag ammo. They are an advanced platform, they almost shouldn't even be discussed for someone's "first .357", my opinion of course.

Lastly...
BUY USED. Get a clean older revolver, they are simply better made than the new ones and you'll find one cheaper as well.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

L frames are excellent range guns
J frames are excellent carry guns
And K frames are more than excellent at both.

 

[Sevens]

Okay, I just re-read your post. It occurs to me that MAYBE you weren't looking for a suggestion as much as help figuring out the models.

J-frame is smallest frame, typically snub, typically 5-shot, hard to shoot well and heavy recoil (in comparison)

K-frame is medium frame... original .38 Special frame that may not ever have actually been intended for .357 Mag but with the urging of some key folks, S&W capitulated and chambered some K-frames for .357 in the mid-1950's. The K-frame .357 is a "jack of all trades and master of none in my opinion

L-frame came out in 1980 to better compete with the Colt Python and to address .357 Magnum pounding/weakness of .357 in K-frames, larger frame and larger cylinder, more mass, but SAME grips size as K-frame

N-frame is the original frame size for the first .357 Magnum in 1935, and the same frame size as the old .44 Special and later .44 Magnum. It's the larger frame, a larger grip/stock size, but most of the N-frames do not have the full, long, heavy barrel underlug first made famous on the 686, which is reminiscent of the Python, though lacking the vented rib

Beyond that is the X-frame, which is home to the .460 and .500 S&W Magnum revolver rounds. When they developed these guns... they stuck with the grip size that works, best, the K/L grip size. The actual revolvers are massive and heavy, and only those two chamberings are currently offered

 

[reddog81]

Are you looking for new or used or either? Knowing that will help us provide some guidance.

For K Frames the most common guns are the model 19 and 66. The 19 is blued and the 66 is stainless.
In L Frame the most common .357 is the 686. The blued version is the 586.
In N Frames the most common ones are the 27 and 627.

There are numerous versions of the 686's and 627's. There are different packages available such as the pro series or performance center guns that have various barrel, sight, and number of rounds. The S&W website has a nice interface for filtering on the different calibers, frame sizes, price points, etc if you're looking at new guns.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Welcome aboard. Bumpus gave you a pretty good run down. The S&W web site has very good info on it. Assuming you are planning to carry it often I would go with a L-frame, though you are big enough you might be able to hide and heft a N-frame all day. I own at least a couple of each and if I were to carry one I would go with a 686 7 shot snubby, though a Model 19 snubbie is also not too shabby. Good hunting and ENJOY. (As noted above you can always go with one of each.)

 

[Rgpracer]

Bahahaha ha, you guys are killing me with info overload....and I love it.
I think this is an awesome (yet mind numbing) lot of info.
I am very detail oriented and love research.
24 years in the service, mostly on fighters as crew chief/flight chief, drag racer and now stock car crew chief! I have learned that S&W is as maticulous as I am to details, and see that a lot of my new friends probably are also.
I am not hunting with this new firearm, just a hole popper, short and long
range.
Thanks for all your advise and comments.......you all have proven one thing......this is gonna be FUN!!!!

 

[Rgpracer]

Ps.......my carry (for now) is a Glock 26, want to sell my Glocks (yes, I have a couple) and donate money to my new S&W. My firearm of choice to shoot is my 1911's, (and yes, I have several of those also), but want to start adding S&W,s to my collection to shoot.

 

[LPD256]

Figure out what you want to DO with it, then find the best one (for you) that will fill that function.

I'm in Kansas too. Where is ICT?

ICT Is Wichita. Where are you.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The N frames are the heavy duty ones, so to speak, the K and L frames more designed for shooter comfort, ease of carrying. The first 357 Magnums were in the N frame-today's M-27 and M-28, they will hold up to steady shooting of magnum rounds, the K-frames have been described as 38s that will shoot 357s.
As noted, a wide range of models, as a general rule 4" for CCW, 6" for everything else. Comfortable grips are a must, S&W grips do not suit me, all mine wear Herrett's or Pachmayrs.

 

[shocker]

I am not hunting with this new firearm, just a hole popper, short and long
range.

The longer barrel 6" 686 would be my first suggestion. Would handle the hottest 357 rounds without punishing your hand with recoil, long sight radius makes for accuracy. Plus the long barrels don't command a price premium.

Second suggestion - a 4.25" new 66 or new 19 if you want a little more compact gun.

 

[LPD256]

R-I sent you a PM. I went back and reread your question. The Model numbers started I about 1957. For perspective, your Colt Detective Special is the Colt equivalent of a J-frame, size wise.

The K-frame was the cop gun of the .38 special era at S&W. Millions of Model 10's were issued. When Smith started the numbering system, they would add a dash(-) and number to mark changes to the Models going forward. The Model 19 Combat Magnum came out because Border Patrol Agent and gunfighter Bill Jordan wanted a lighter .357 carry gun. So the first one would be a Model 19 no dash. Then later a 19-1, 19-2, 19-3, etc. versions were made with 4 inch, 6 inch, and 2.5 inch barrels. All lengths were available with blue or nickel finishes. Some came with Magna or service stocks.Some came with checkered Target stocks. (Larger). Some came with Presentation stocks that were non checkered and highly polished. As with all things S&W there are multiple versions of each stock used at different times. There were multiple versions of front and rear sights, target triggers and hammers (wider), MIM and case hardened, and blah, blah bla.....point is many variations in each model.

Any model that begins with a 6 is generally stainless steel. Model 66 is a stainless K frame Combat Magnum available in many versions, but again 66 no dash, 66-1, 66-2. Etc.

L Frames were a stronger slightly redesigned version of th K- frame.

The original S&W .357 magnum became the Model 27 again offered in 27-1, 27-2, 27-3. These are N frames. Offered in nickel or blue with multiple variations. The 28 Highway Patrolman was a more spartan version of the 27. The Dirty Harry .44 Magnum was basically the same gun, different caliber in Model 29. The stainless version is a 629.

Point of all of that is there are multiple versions of each Model offered. So we 'll explore a few soon.

Jh

 

[seldon14]

A good basic rundown of frames and models.

www.luckygunner.com/lounge/guide-sw-38-357-revolvers/amp/

 

[LPD256]

A good basic rundown of frames and models.

400 Bad Request

The inter web google machine is a wondrous thing. Thanks for sharing. Here's a couple 66's I took out last night to play with.