compact 357 Canadian revolvers

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Iamduck82

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whats the most compact revolver we can have legally? i prefer 357 simply because i have other firearms in that caliber and i have no interest in going to the big boy calibers like 460, 500, 454, and 44...

i've looked at the S&W 686 Canadian, Ruger SP101/GP100, Alfa Project, and Chiappa Rhino. Are there any alternatives? any feedback on these revolvers?
 
In 357, probably the ruger sp101. The model 66 K frame is the smallest offering from S&W. not familiar with Alfa.
 
S&W Model 60 is a 5-shot and has a smaller frame. I had one in stainless with a 5" barrel and the bird's head grip. I swapped out the wooden grips for a set of Hogue rubber grips. A very comfortable gun to shoot although I never did put anything in .357 down the pipe. I have lots of experience shooting .357s through full-size frames but I was reluctant to shoot .357s through this small frame. I would have preferred a 4.2" barrel but don't know if such a thing exists.
 
stratosonic said:
S&W Model 60 is a 5-shot and has a smaller frame. I had one in stainless with a 5" barrel and the bird's head grip. I swapped out the wooden grips for a set of Hogue rubber grips. A very comfortable gun to shoot although I never did put anything in .357 down the pipe. I have lots of experience shooting .357s through full-size frames but I was reluctant to shoot .357s through this small frame. I would have preferred a 4.2" barrel but don't know if such a thing exists.
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IIRC,
The M60 is a J framed revolver. It is.38spl only. Do not shoot.357 through it!
It's the stainless version of the M36. Isn't it a 12(6) gun? I thought the longest barrel length was 4" on those.
 
No, he's right - I have a friend who had a .357 J Frame, now that memory has been jogged. It wasn't 12.6

I remember seeing one on the exchange several months back as well
 
Mark-II said:
No, he's right - I have a friend who had a .357 J Frame, now that memory has been jogged. It wasn't 12.6

I remember seeing one on the exchange several months back as well
Click to expand...

S&W did make a J-framed .357, but they repeatedly stated it won't stand up to a regular diet of .357; it was built for carry, not target shooting!
 
I have the GP100 in 4.2" stainless. It is pretty hefty and the trigger distance and grip angle make it "just right" for my big hands. Most of my friends find it about 10-20% too big for their hands. I have no experience with other .357 handguns. I just love the Ruger though as it doesn't flip too much with the nice weight. Try one out if you can. Must be LOTS of guys with SP101's and GP100's in Grande Prairie to let you have a test drive. :)
 
Mark-II said:
No, he's right - I have a friend who had a .357 J Frame, now that memory has been jogged. It wasn't 12.6

I remember seeing one on the exchange several months back as well
Click to expand...

I think a remember that one. A bit fugly for my tastes.

here found a picture
2Mvc-012f.jpg
 
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gdawg said:
I think a remember that one. I bit fugly for my tastes.
Click to expand...

Friend told me the triggers on the J frames tend to be sub par as well. I've a big hand, so a round butt K-frame is as small as I go.

Small .357's also heat up fast and fierce with hotter loads

But I love my 66 for single action, and the 4.2" 686 is nice and stable for DA
 
For compactness the SP101 or the K framed Model 66 are your best options.

Mind you if you actually shoot .357Mag ammo then you'll find that these guns will beat up your hands pretty good. Also they are not really intended for a steady diet of .357Mag and trying to shoot them that way will result in them being beaten up and becoming a bit loose for lockup after a while. But if you're like most of us and shoot around 20 to 40 times more .38Spl than actual magnum loads then the guns will last for many years and then be suitable to hand down to the next generation.

If you truly want to shoot full power magnums on a steady basis then stick with the Ruger GP100 or the S&W 686. Or even find a blued S&W Model 28 Highway Patrolman. That big burly gun will laugh at the strongest of .357Mag loads.
 
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