Wife wants a 357 magnum. 4.25" or 6"??

Tinman204

Tinman204

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I recently bought my first pistol, a 1986 LNIB pre b cz75. It fits me like a glove and is a fine firearm. I'm super happy with it! I own way too many long guns but my cz75 is my only pistol. I have very limited experience with hand guns in general.

My wife has nerve damage/weakness on her left arm and thus a hard time racking the slide on the cz and finds the grips a wee bit fat for her hands.

So we started checking out revolvers, they fit her better and she has no problem cocking the hammer and loading them.

She wants a 357 magnum, probably a 686 or a gp ruger of some sort. Weve been looking at revolvers and really can't decide which would be better for her? She likes the look/ feel of a 4.25" gun but I think a heavier longer barrel may be better for absorbing recoil when not shooting 38s.

I want her to enjoy shooting bigger guns without punishing her. Would a longer barrel help with recoil or am I out to lunch. And yes I handload so I can tone down 357 so it's nice for her to shoot but I know she'll want to shoot a load that's fairly stout. That's how she is..
 
Basically, a shorter barrel translates into more felt recoil. My GP100 with the 4.2" barrel was far stouter with the same ammo as my Smiths with longer barrels. Barrel length and resulting weight does make a difference. Good for her to like shooting stout loads, every woman I have shot with hasn't been crazy about shooting full power .357's.
 
What about a 9mm revolver? I enjoy large calibers, but would rather shoot 10mm or .45ACP than .357 Magnum. .38 Special is OK, but a 9mm revolver shoots softer.

I’d have her try the .38 Special/.357 Magnum before buying.
 
gdawg said:
You could split the difference and get a 686 with a 5" barrel
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5" is my favourite revolver barrel length...I owned a Performance Center 686 in this barrel length and it felt just about perfect. I'd recommend a 6" over a 4.25" if there is any interest in shooting magnum loads, and either a 686 or GP100 to have a heavy barrel to help with muzzle flip. .357 Magnum rounds recoil a surprising amount, and revolvers have a real "punchy" recoil characteristic since there's no moving slide to lengthen the recoil impulse.
 
If she likes the 4.25" piece, get it for her. Since you're "rolling your own", you can drop your bullet weight a bit, or leave out a couple of grains of powder and easily make up for the marginal difference in recoil in 1.75" of extra barrel length.
 
Thanks for the info guys.

As for a 9mm revolver I dont think that will float her boat.. She'll shoot it and use the word "chinsy " to describe the round.

My buddy has a super nice blackhawk in 45 colt which I think would be a great large caliber/ low recoil choice but she wants a 357 bad so that's that..

I'm.thinking a 6" with a heavy barrel is the way I'll go for her. I know if I buy 4.25" shes going to try it and then say it hurts after AMD not want to shoot it any more..

I'm a big dude so if the gun was for only me to shoot I'd be looking for and old model 29 in 44 mag or something like that. I tend to like the old Smith's most but she really likes stainless with a big honking barrel lol!!
 
My wife is small and the 4.25” 686 is much easier for her to balance than any of the 6” ones I have. The longer barrel does help with the recoil but she does far better with the shorter one. She has and can handle any of the top end magnum ones I load but prefers 38 or mid range 357 magnum loads but far prefers shooting 38 wadcutters and usually outshoots me with them.
She also found the 686 fit her hand much better than the Ruger.
 
Tinman204 said:
she really likes stainless with a big honking barrel lol!!
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What about a 686 with an 8 3/8" barrel? :)

wNPhawK.jpg


(not my pic)
 
I second, or third a 5” barrel length. IMO, the perfect balance in a Smith. I got a 627 PC that gets a ton of use.

When you get sick of shooting “snappy” .357 loads, move to .38 HBWC.

If you want to spend, then get a Python 6”.
 
"I second, or third a 5” barrel length. IMO, the perfect balance in a Smith. I got a 627 PC that gets a ton of use.

When you get sick of shooting “snappy” .357 loads, move to .38 HBWC."

I agree with this. I have a S&W 627 "eight shooter" and like it very much. Handles hollow base wad cutters, 38 special and any sort of 357 magnum, including the 200 grain ones I load for my carbine.
 
GP 100, 4.25” for balance, is extremely easy to shoot 38 sp or reduced 357 mag loads ( different powder ) The gun has weight to it for full house loads but not forward heavy. Still shoots pretty soft in my opinion.
 
I much prefer a short barrel, but she is the one that has to shoot it.
357mag is not fun for me, she should go to range and ask if she could try out some.
I have a 6 in 686 stainless, but I shot 4 in colt and smith .
 
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