Thinking about a snub....

[Cellar Hound]

Not sure yet, but thinking about adding another snub to the collection. I have a Ruger LCR .357 but may want a Stainless Steel piece. Two thoughts... an older (pre-lock) S&W or a new Ruger SP 101. Needs to be 2-2.5 inch barrel and would like it to be a .357 (however .38 would work). Please share your thoughts on any or all listed above. Thanks.

 

[Candrews86]

You can't go wrong with a 66 2.5", maybe I'm a little biased to S&W but you should expect that here

 

[da gimp]

it's very hard to find a dealer who stocks holsters, replacement or custom grips or speedloaders for Ruger revolvers/handguns.. & this has always been the norm. It really helps to try on a holster for CCW before buying.. the same with grips... This is another reason why a stocking dealer is so important for our hobby/avocation guys.

Since Colt's difficulties arose it is now true for them too... Which leaves you 1 sole well made , readily available revolver maker. .. S&W, who makes a variety of revolvers, J,K, L, N frames with & without hammers to let you choose from.

 

[crazyphil]

I have had both the Ruger SP-101 and the S&W Model 60 stainless
in .357. You may have heard that the Sp-101 is built like a tank,
and it's true. If you plan to shoot a lot of .357s it would be a good
choice. It does require a good trigger/action job. Between the two
I like the Ruger. (Sorry for the blasphemy here on S&W forum).

But if I had to make the choice you are trying to make, I think I would
go with S&W's 640 stainless .357.

 

[joeintexas]

The only one I can comment on is the Ruger SP 101 in .357 magnum. I have two of them and they handle the .357 round fine. Like Crazyphil said, the trigger is not a Smith & Wesson trigger. It is workable but not nearly as smooth. Keep in mind too, it is a fairly heavy revolver, works just fine in a holster but a bit heavy in the pocket, for me anyway.

 

[crazyphil]

it's very hard to find a dealer who stocks holsters, replacement or custom grips or speedloaders for Ruger revolvers/handguns.. & this has always been the norm. It really helps to try on a holster for CCW before buying.. the same with grips... This is another reason why a stocking dealer is so important for our hobby/avocation guys.

Since Colt's difficulties arose it is now true for them too... Which leaves you 1 sole well made , readily available revolver maker. .. S&W, who makes a variety of revolvers, J,K, L, N frames with & without hammers to let you choose from.

I've never found it difficult to find holsters for the Ruger SP-101.
Below left to right:

Price Western Leather's version of Chic Gaylord's speed scabbard.
DeSantis Speed Scabbard.
Simply Rugged's Silver Dollar pancake.
KD's Eagle Defender.
FIST's IWB.

The SP-101 also fits well in holsters made for Colt's Detective
Special.

 

[326MOD10]

I picked up one of the S&W 640 trade ins (on the first time around) from the Michigan State Police that were on Centerfire Systems for sale.

For the price you can't beat it. I had a fiber optic sight put on the front and buffed out the scratches and it is a sweet revolver.

Someone had posted they were back in stock but I just checked and it appears as of now they are not. However they came and went pretty regularly the first time so you may want to check that sight frequently to see if anymore pop up.

There is a thread here about them when they came up and it may have had the most comments of any I have seen here.

 

[VaTom]

Consider a pre 1982 (pinned barrel) K frame 2". Model 64. I have had my 64 since 1976 when I purchased it for off duty concealed carry. Retired now and still one of my favorites. Never a problem with it. Just took it to the range last Wednesday.

 

[BAM-BAM]

It always comes back to ....... how are you going to use it?????

Concealed carry? Open woods carry?

Lots of .357s or mostly +P.38s???

Carried a lot but shot a little????? Home defense and range gun?

Would a 3" gun work? As it gives you a longer sight radius and full length ejector rod.

My favorites are: my,
3" 66 but hard to find and about $1000+ these days.
3" 65 fixed sights..... not a big issue in a carry gun
3" 60-10 ....... .picture a micro 5shot....... 686

I started with, and still have; 2 1/2" 19s and 66s but gravitated to the 3" guns.

 

[Naphtali]

Not sure yet, but thinking about adding another snub to the collection. I have a Ruger LCR .357 but may want a Stainless Steel piece. Two thoughts... an older (pre-lock) S&W or a new Ruger SP 101. Needs to be 2-2.5 inch barrel and would like it to be a .357 (however .38 would work). Please share your thoughts on any or all listed above. Thanks.

Perhaps I have missed something. Ruger's LCR 357 Magnum's metal is stainless steel.

If you are dissatisfied with its size, SP101 is a step toward [slightly] greater size plus substantially improved durability.

If you seek comparable size, function, and probable durability in an all-steel revolver, S&W 640 is the clear choice.

If you merely have a serious itch to scratch, enjoy.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have owned 7 or 8 J-frames over the years and still have a 36-2 and a 49 no dash. I have an ex B-I-L that swears buy SP101 in any caliber. I always thought his actions were gritty and crude. But none of these are competition guns, they are EDC pieces and need to be on you! Not at home, not in the glove box, ON YOU!

Show me a perfect condition handgun, and I'll show you a gun nobody trusted with their life!

When my F-I-L walked my bride down the isle, he had a nickel pre 49 Bodyguard, tucked in his cummerbund. She is 61 now and I escort her everywhere with the 49. She has been protected by S&W since she was 6 and her dad joined the Columbus PD. It is hard to mess with success, so I'll not stop carrying a J-frame. I do add a 220 or 1911 at times though!

Ivan

 

[Cyrano]

This is my concealed carry gun, a 638. I don't think you can beat the availability of both single and double action as well as streamlining for pocket carry. Mine, unfortunatly has the lock. I painted the front sight with blaze red fingernail polish, and put matte black fingernail polish on the rear sight to prevent glare. I put Spegel grips on it and they are a great improvement. It kicks a bit with +P so I had the grips made without checkeering to cut my hand. It's very effective protection, with Speer short barrel 38 Special +Ps.

It's been so long since I was dating I can't remember much about what it was like, but I don't think I'd have dated a girl with matte black fingernail polish.

 

[joeintexas]

I considered the Charter Arms lite but have pretty much decided on either the 638 or 642, both are priced within a few dollars of each other. Outside of the hammer being enclosed or partially enclosed I don't see any difference in them. Am I missing something?

 

[Cyrano]

I considered the Charter Arms lite but have pretty much decided on either the 638 or 642, both are priced within a few dollars of each other. Outside of the hammer being enclosed or partially enclosed I don't see any difference in them. Am I missing something?

Thag's about the only difference. The 638 can be shot single action or double action; the 642 is double action only.

 

[31FordA]

I think the SP-101 is a terrific revolver, I've been carrying a 2.25" version as my primary for work for years. I carry a 340 M&P as the back up for the 101, since they both use the same speedloaders. The SP-101 replaced my 3" GP-100 as my primary. It is a very durable revolver, comfortable to shoot with .357 ammo, and the trigger smooths out with use. I have shot perfect requal scores several times with the SP-101, loaded with 125gr .357 Golden Saber. The 101 rides in a Bianchi 5BH.

I currently own 4 SP-101's, including my Dad's 3" SP-101. Dad thought the 3" SP-101 was the perfect revolver. All 4 of the SP-101's have Hogue mono grips. The Hogue is, in my opinion, a must have for the SP-101. The guns only flaw is the factory grip.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Let's say for CC my main one's are a M 640 & M 638 now.
Yea, I'm a 1911 guy and love my S&W 44's but can't CC that well.
Hey, to each his/her own but at my age I like KISS....

 

[KalamazooKid]

Another vote for the 640. Mine is a 640 Pro Series and the weight and balance make it a pleasure to shoot. Mine's relatively new and not what I'd consider "broken in" yet, but love it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Farmer17]

I have no desire for a short barreled .357 since it looses so much velocity and has a lot of bark and bite, though I admit the M-19 and Colt Pythons look pretty cool. I see S&W 442 and 642 .38 Special revolvers for sale on line pretty often for under $350 bucks which is one of the best values in the gun industry in my opinion. With plus P ammo they should provide ample power and still be fairly controllable for a 15 oz gun that will fit in most pockets.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When Speer came out with the Gold Dot line engineered for short barrels, they gave snubby carriers everywhere a new confidence for EDC. The 38 Special +P with the 135 grain HP is fantastic from these 1.5 to 2 inch barrels. In addition to my 2 J-frame pocket pistols, I have 4 K-frame 2" barreled 38's, and a stack of K-frame 4" 38's. It is easy to find ammo that shoots good from 3 inch and longer 38's but the Gold Dot is the current king of the snubs!

Ivan

 

[fdw]

Everyone should own a snub and 357...

I got a used SP-101 from Cabelas a while back and have been extremely pleased with it. I keep Corbon DPX 38+p in it but enjoy the occasional box of 357s through it at the range...