Point me to a recommended Model .357 mag

[KeithNyst]

You mentioned 100 yards, at that range the 8 3/8" barrels have a huge advantage, and don't forget the Dan Wesson's super accurate at the longer ranges.

'

Gray wolves came within 100 yards of me the last two years while bow hunting. 4 years ago, I had two pass within 30 yards while walking rifle hunting; they avoided me and kept going. I would never fire at one unless it was coming at me, closing in with apparent intent.

 

[SeamasterSig]

I am the OP. Today I had a chance to handle 4 Rugers: SP101 4.2", GP100 6", GP100 4.2" and the GP100 Match Champion 4.2". I certainly now understand all the comments on the 4" ... just felt and balanced better than the 6". The Match Champion is a very nice pistol.

I have not found a S&W (19, 66, 586, 686) to checkout. Not in a rush. All the feedback has been very helpful.

With any luck you'll find a gun shop that has both Rugers and S&Ws on the shelf for direct comparison. You'll probably find that a S&W generally weighs a bit less than a Ruger of comparable overall size and lug length and typically also has a somewhat smoother trigger. The trade-off is that Rugers have a reputation for being built like tanks (which shouldn't matter unless you plan on firing a lot of very hot ammo or just fancy the idea of a "hand tank" vs a "hand cannon"). Regardless of which has the better trigger out of the box, a lot of range time/dry firing or a trigger job will smooth it out even more.

And once you decide which one you want, don't hesitate to check out the online marketplace Gun Broker if you can't it locally. I looked for a long time locally for a pre-lock M66 before breaking down and buying a 66-2 online. Oh, and that reminds me if you haven't figured out already: S&W also has so-called dash numbers attached to the model number indicating incremental changes in production, i.e. 66-2. With a little Googling you can easily find a list of modifications associated with the respective dash numbers for a given model.

 

[qrachel]

3 or 4 Inch 686

A nice 3" 686 would be a great back-up gun for a bow hunter on the hunt for deer. The shorter barrel with make it an easy carry and if you watch Hickcock45, he has some great video on the 3" barrel 686. The 4" wouldn't be bad either.

Let us know how this tale turns out, and good hunting.

Cheers,

Rachel

 

[Elliot45]

I looked at the Ruger and it's a great gun but I opted for the 686+ Pro with a 5" barrel. Because S&W uses a slab barrel on this model, it isn't as heavy as a 6" 686 with a full lug barrel but I get a longer sight radius than the 4" barrel. It does hold 7 rounds, is stainless and has Hogue finger groove grips so it is durable. Because it is in the Pro series, the trigger is better than what is standard on the regular 686's. I did opt to replace the Hogue grips with Rosewood grips as I like the way they look but for your purposes I would just leave the stock grips on. I also opted to replace the Patridge front site with a fiber optic site for quicker acquisition (not shown on my pictures). It is a very accurate gun and handles the .357 load just fine. Also, this gun takes moon clips with makes reloading a snap and in your situation it wouldn't hurt to have one loaded up with 7 more rounds in case you got in a bad situation with the wolves. Good luck on your choice. Regards, Elliot45

 

[handejector]

Many opinions are posted.
That's good.

Feel free to state yours, but remember others get to state theirs.
We have a simple topic here.
I should not need to come back and referee this thread.

from the rules-
2. Remember- opinions will differ. Get over it. State your opinion calmly, and allow others to state theirs. Discussion will be fine, but there is no need to take a thread into a verbal fistfight or shouting match.

 

[paragain]

I would carry the 686/586 but I don't think that there has ever been a recorded wolf attack in the lower forty eight states. Stand to be corrected but that what I think read not long ago.

 

[paragain]

I would carry the 686/586 but I don't think that there has ever been a recorded wolf attack in the lower forty eight states in the last 50 years. Stand to be corrected but that what I think read not long ago.

Research shows that there have been three verified attacks in North America in the last 102 years, all in the early 1900's.

 

[Kho]

I am the OP. Today I had a chance to handle 4 Rugers: SP101 4.2", GP100 6", GP100 4.2" and the GP100 Match Champion 4.2". I certainly now understand all the comments on the 4" ... just felt and balanced better than the 6". The Match Champion is a very nice pistol.

I have not found a S&W (19, 66, 586, 686) to checkout. Not in a rush. All the feedback has been very helpful.

Thanks, Keith

I've had a 4" GP100 for a few years, to which I've added a Hi-V iz fiber optic front sight. At the time I bought it, I compared it to a 4" 686 and just liked the balance of the GP100 a little better. The 686 trigger may have been a little better but mine has smoothed out nicely.

I shot a Match Champion recently. The trigger is better than my GP100's, when I bought it, but not as good as mine is now. And it does come with a fiber optic front sight, which is nice. The weight and balance of the MC is a little different from the standard GP100.

I also owned a 6" GP100 more recently but traded it in for a 629 .44 mag. I did not like the balance of it compared to the 4".

That being said, as SeamasterSig noted, try to find a shop which has S&W and Ruger models that you can handle side-by-side.

 

[BB57]

Research shows that there have been three verified attacks in North America in the last 102 years, all in the early 1900's.

Agreed.

It's those bloodthirsty bovines you have to keep an eye on.

Sarcasm aside, you're far more at risk from two legged animals than you are four legged animals, particularly in wilderness areas where some of the umm...industrial pursuits...are less than legal.

 

[raylan007]

M686 price is a bargin

There's a NIB 6" 686 six rounder on Gun Broker going for just over $600 at the moment. A 6" model 66 or 19 with the half lug might be easier to carry and balance better, though.

I can't imagine who would be selling a NIB M686 for $600 but when there is a glut of them on the market prices do go down. That would be a hard proposition to beat, even cheaper than the new M66 and more than sufficient due to wolfs basically being fearful of humans.

 

[kamloops67]

The recoil of a sp-101 with federal 158 gr 357 ctgs is not unbearable at all this little hand cannon is engineered in a way that seems to absorb recoil without a lot of muzzle flip
The sp will fit in your coat pocket as well where the 4" k/l will not
Personally I prefer s&w for shooting and looking at but don't discount the little sp 101
It will carry easier than a 4" k/l as well
Yes I own and shoot examples of both the ruger and s&w

 

[BigBill]

A s&w m27, m27-2 or m28. 6" barrel has you covered past 100yds. I prefer the N Frame. A decent m28 should run around $695. With four speed loaders should work. A s&w m58 4" in 41mag would be good too.

Remember if you shoot a wolf get the leader. Then you have some time to get out of there till they figure out who the next leader is.

 

[at_liberty]

You're projecting your own likes and feelings on to others. Many owners of light weight and ultra light weight guns shoot full house magnums. You (and I) may think they're crazy, but that doesn't stop them from doing it.

In any event, these .357 Magnum guns are really well built high quality items. The engineering is amazing, when you think about it. (The small ones even more so). Which was the only point of my "embarrassment of riches" post.

I was just making an observation based upon many comments I have read here and elsewhere. I maintain that what I stated is true. I don't believe I have ever written that someone SHOULD do something. I also don't think opinions always need to be qualified as such, when offered in a venue that is inherently sharing of opinions. I have never said anyone else was crazy to do differently than I claim to do or suggest.

 

[MXP]

I have been happy with my 6" 686 (6-shot version). It is a very accurate gun. I shot 50 round with Magtech .357 FMJ at 25 m distance........with one hand.......as you can see.....left hand. This is difficult......try that

 

[BB57]

This is true for me as well. The Sp101 is just too big for a 5 shot gun. It fits in the same holsters as a 6 shot Colt. I carry my GP, more often than my SP, but my Jframes see the most carry. A five shot revolver should fit in your pocket, if a good holster/belt is required, I want something bigger.

I don't understand this statement. My 3" SP101 fits in the same holsters I use for my Model 60s.

They are about 0.3 pounds heavier than a steel J-frame of the same barrel length, but it doesn't affect the holster fit.

 

[BB57]

This is my 3" Model 60-15:

This is a 30 round group fired at 25 yards off hand with the 3" Model 60 pictured above. The 9s are my fault:

This a 10 yard group fired with a 125 gr .357 Magnum load developing 1250 fps in my 3" Model 60:

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I also own a 3" SP101. It's .3 of a pound heavier than the 3" Model 60, but the extra metal in the frame and forcing cone makes it even more pleasant to shoot with .357 magnum loads, and it should tolerate a frequent diet of .357 Magnum loads better than the Model 60:

It's also a tack driver at 10 yards with the same .357 magnum load:

It also shoots similar 25 yard groups to my Model 60, just about 3" lower with 125 gr bullets (the fixed sights are regulated for 158 gr bullets).

----


Both the 3" Model 60 and the 3" SP101 make great pack/tramp around in the woods, or concealed carry guns as they offer a great balance of power, accuracy and portability.

Personally I like the trigger and the overall feel of the Model 60 better than the SP101, and I prefer the excellent adjustable sights on the J-Target frame, but the SP101 is the stronger pistol, so it's a toss up which one I'd say is better.

 

[BB57]

If you want a bargain .357 Magnum, the Ruger Service/Police/Security Six series is hard to beat. The are K-framed sized revolvers built with about 4 oz more metal and are designed to accommodate a steady diet of .357 Magnum ammo, unlike the Model 19 and Model 66.

You can find a 6" Security Six like this for around $400-$450:

You can also find a K-framed size 4" Police Six (fixed sights) or Security Six (adjustable sights) for around $350-$400 in excellent condition. Below is a Model 10 above a Ruger Police Six for comparison:

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If you have another couple hundred in the budget you can get a 6" Model 19. It's great fun at 50 yards and shooting offhand, I can keep about 95% of the rounds on an 11"x7" plate at 50 yards. It's a nicely balanced revolver with a long sight radius capable of fine accuracy (although my 6" Security Six shoots just as accurately for less $).

 

[sailsguy]

My first choice would be the 686. But, you can find nearly unused Ruger Security Six models with 4 or 6" barrels for $350 - 550. Might be worth looking in your area if the 686 is harder to come by for you or too expensive.

 

[Watchdog]

I bow hunt. The last two years I've had encounters coming out of my stand with gray wolves coming within 100 yards.

What sort of "encounters"? Do you mean you simply saw some wolves within a hundred yards of your stand? All Jack London stories to the contrary, wolves are extremely wary of humans...I'm surprised you even saw them (you must've been downwind), and seriously doubt they'd be a threat to you, unless you just happened to run up on them when they're on a kill or protecting their young. But I really can't imagine accidently running up on a wolf or some wolves...they'd know you were in their area before you even saw them.

But if you're dead set on a .357, just about any ol' 4-inch will do. Or an even shorter barrel. Find one you won't worry about getting scratched or dinged up, decide on a load for it, and a way to carry it...you'll be all set to scare those pesky ol' wolves away.

 

[RudyN]

I would go with a 686, but a Ruger
GP100 is good also. I happen to have both.