why I always keep a 357

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Pugsters always kept her model 65 close.

 

[sdb321]

.357 FOREVER

.357/686 SSR/640 PRO- PURE JOY TO SHOOT!!!!!

 

[KEN L]

I bought my model 19-4 S&W .357 long ago. Must have been at least
40 years ago. Got it new. Added the McGivern gold bead, and the
Jordan Herrett's stocks. Here, Left to Right, it shows off some of it's
favorite holster rigs.

Heiser 713 (made for Colt's OP, but works ok in the Model 19.

Seventrees Combat Speed Scabbard with "dog ear"

Barranti Ranger with "dog ear"

Oliver Ball floral carved with "dog ear"

Thad Rybka's T3P with "dog ear"

Well, you certainly know how to dress for any given occasion!

 

[crazyphil]

Well, you certainly know how to dress for any given occasion!

Thank you. I guess that was a compliment.
It's not important who we are.
It's just important who they think we are.

 

[Warren Sear]

The single most useful gun to me would have to be a K frame 357 magnum. These two will leave only from my cold, dead fingers...

 

[Mule Packer]

The .357 is definitely a great caliber. Although I usually pack my old Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt when I take the pack string into the hills, I have a few .357's that I occasionally carry and shoot.

One is a Ruger SP101 with a 3¼-inch barrel. The other two I would've probably never been able to acquire had it not been for a dear, generous friend. One is a Smith and Wesson Model 27-2 with a 6-inch barrel. The other is a Model 19-4, nickel-plated with stag grips and a 2½-inch barrel. Those two are definitely two of my top revolvers. I still drool whenever I take them out. They're not only beautiful guns, but they are dead-on accurate.

I also have a Marlin 1894 Cowboy Ltd. in .357 with a 16½-inch barrel. When you couple that with one of the .357's, you have what I would consider an ideal package.

By the way, I noticed that the OP, Doc Holliday 1950, is new to the Forum. Welcome to the fire, Doc. I don't think you'll find a nicer bunch of folks than you'll find here.

 

[BAM-BAM]

My Dad got his first .357 in about 1939; a Colt New Service which traveled to King's in Calf for sights and action job....... his primary duty gun for 39 years.....................( now a family heirloom)

I got my first in the very early 80s a 6" 686...... soon traded for a 4" that I had roundbutted and action tuned...... still have that gun and a few more .357s with 21/2,3,4 and 6 inch barrels on J,K,L and N frames..........

If I could have only one...... it would be that 1985/86 4" 686.... the most useful utility/general purpose revolver made IMHO..... Dad "borrowed"it for a decade to use as his house/bedside gun after he retired and moved to the cabin.


Like MulePacker and les.b I've got .357 carbines;first a 20" Rossi, which was replaced by a 16" Winchester Trapper; added a stainless Ruger 77/357 16" w/ a 1-3x20 Weaver scope a few years back..........................it's been written on the internet (so it must be true) that a heavy .357 out of a 16inch barrel brings the round close to a 30-30 in terms of muzzle energy...........

A great combo for roaming in Penn's Woods........................


Ya I kind of like .357s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ChiefsSpecial]

I'd rather have a .44 Magnum.

How about a .41 Mag? I've been thinking of getting one. Seems like a good compromise. Can't afford a Smith, tho. I've been looking at a Taurus snubbie.

 

[Warren Sear]

Mule Packer, I definitely agree with the 27-2. I am lucky enough to have recently covered that base, too.

I still like the K frame size for its portability.

I have plenty of guns in other calibers; pistols and revolvers, but a 357 Magnum "takes the cake", hands down IMHO.

 

[NCW Ray]

I still have my second duty gun I carried, a Mod 27-2 3.5" barrel. Love that revolver and caliber. It will be passed down to my son.

 

[jtcarm]

Ruger 3-screw Blackhawk here, first CF handgun.

Let's see, it's still in my safe along with three M-66s and a 2 3/4"Security Six.

About as many others have come & gone.

 

[forrestinmathews]

I'm going with the joy of handloading this cartridge, its efficiency with a pound of powder, and the ability to trim the split case down and reuse it. That is why I keep one around.

 

[AZretired]

My first revolver, in 1970, was a 4" 1967 Colt Python. I had no bloody idea what I bought or had. A fellow LEO sold it to me
just around Christmas time. Since then I've always thought that
the 357 in magnum was it for me. I could use full bore 357 ammo
or 38/38sp+P ammo equally as well. That baby has been retired.
I finally found a revolver very close to that Python in the S&W
686plus 3" 357 in magnum. It, to my surprise, takes the full 357
ammo as easily as the 38sp+P ammo. Shoots true & is very well balanced & I can carry it concealed. I'm no expert, just someone who enjoys the excercise. The only one that I shoot against is myself.
Does anyone out there feel the same???

My first was a Colt Trooper Mk2
Since then I have never been without at least one.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[iPac]

357mag chambered revolvers are my mainstay too.

 

[Old cop]

I own two, a 6" Model 19 & my EDC, a 340PD loaded w/+P.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I have four, and two are my rocks: 640 Pro and M&P 340, both filled with Barnes 140gr lead-free hp magnums.

One of these days I might take the 1954 Highway Patrolman and the 1999 60 Lady Smith out for a spin, but they'll never replace the Centennials as my protectors.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Pugsters always kept her model 65 close.

South paw?

 

[American1776]

I like 357 magnum. I think it's right at the threshold of excellent stopping power and still being easy to shoot.

For big bores I like the .41 magnum.

My model 57 next to my model 686p.

6 shots of .41 magnum vs 7 shots of .357 magnum. That's a hard choice

 

[TravisPNW]

I finally found a revolver very close to that Python in the S&W
686plus 3" 357 in magnum. It, to my surprise, takes the full 357
ammo as easily as the 38sp+P ammo. Shoots true & is very well balanced & I can carry it concealed. I'm no expert, just someone who enjoys the excercise. The only one that I shoot against is myself.
Does anyone out there feel the same???

Yeah I got the same gun last month... my first Smith. I went to the range and fired about 50 each of the 38's, +Ps and Magnum loads. I share the same opinion about it shooting true and being very well balanced. I had no discomfort at all after the session. I'm extremely satisified with the purchase and can't wait to get back to the range.

I buy quality ammo online that has good customer reviews and just ordered some 38 rounds in bulk as well as some SD +P rounds and a few more boxes of Magnums. I've read a lot lately about some people preferring the +Ps for carry/SD. I'm still on the fence about it but it sure is great to have the option to shoot both.

I'm expecting my CPL any day. I did the app/fingerprinting on the 5th and was told it takes 3-4 weeks.

Love this gun!

 

[mrchuck]

I carry a S&W model 60 .357 2.1"bbl 5 rounds.
I am used to muzzle blast so it does not disturb me.
I have my own area close to here where I sight in if necessary.
Recoil is not a problem for me.
Nor is the significant blast report. So what.
It carry's nicely in a waistband holster, and I carry a small flat plastic shell holder with 6 xtra rounds in my pants pocket.
This works out perfectly for me when I am in line at a grocery store or in Wal-Mart.
Just an old harmless LEO, 80 yrs old this coming Aug 19th.