357 revolver length

Leavenworth

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As any of you know I’m considering buying a 357 revolver . I will probably only buy one in this caliber as it shoots .38 as well . So my question for you revolver Gurus is this .
What barrel length should I focus on as I’m wanting it for SHTF ,Combat in case of a SHTF senario , Home Defense and possibly Target Competition ? Is there a happy medium ?
Thank You
Leavenworth
 
I've got a 6in S&W M-19 & a Ruger Blackhawk with a 7.5 in barrel. Great for accuracy but maybe a bit too long to draw and shoot compared to the 4.2in barrels that some makers are shipping to Canada. A happy medium to me would be a 5in barrel straddling the line between both worlds, just don't know how many are out there. The Ruger GP100 .357 comes in 4.2 in (110 mm) 5 in (130 mm) 6 in (150 mm).
 
Dan is with me, My most used is the short ones 19-2, 4 in, a 686 ,3 in , but I have picked up a real nice 14-2 (or3) 6 in that is a super gun , it has the standard barrel, I don't like long full under lug barrels, too heavy unless it is a blue Colt Python, they feel lighter to me. A 5 in is a nice size, but not too many guns in that length.
I know lots of young guys that like heavy barrels, but I an use to short barrels and shoot them better,( sometimes)

The model 14 and 19 are the same gun, other than case length
If you are shoot a lot of heavy loads, 357, than get a heavier frame, Ruger ,27, 686.s-w,
 
You can just get a Dan Wesson 15-2 and change the barrels in about 1 minutes . They came with 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 and 15 inch . They also have the nicest trigger I ever tried .
 
Depends on the licence you have.

Most modern revolver types can be had now with restricted length barrels, which are 4.25 inches in length.

Colt, S&W, Taurus, Alpha Proj and some others are mid price range and very serviceable as long as you spend the time and ammo to learn how to use them properly and effectively.

There are single action revolvers as well that might actually suit your purposes better and usually have better trigger pulls and the process of cocking the hammer will settle you down when stress starts to take over. Stress causes most people to make fatal errors, to themselves or someone else.

There are lots of 12-6 revolvers coming for sale at very reasonable prices. Purchase one and get it sent to a smith that will install a restricted length barrel. Price will still be about the same as a new made revolver but the older models are usually butter smooth in function/fit/finish.
 
Dan is with me, My most used is the short ones 19-2, 4 in, a 686 ,3 in , but I have picked up a real nice 14-2 (or3) 6 in that is a super gun , it has the standard barrel, I don't like long full under lug barrels, too heavy unless it is a blue Colt Python, they feel lighter to me. A 5 in is a nice size, but not too many guns in that length.
I know lots of young guys that like heavy barrels, but I an use to short barrels and shoot them better,( sometimes)

The model 14 and 19 are the same gun, other than case length
If you are shoot a lot of heavy loads, 357, than get a heavier frame, Ruger ,27, 686.s-w,

Well, If you have a prohib license. I went 4.2" with mine as I shoot PPC. I can shoot standard matches, and with a barrel <5" I can also shoot service pistol. It is as accurate or more accurate than all of my seimis. Lots of fun. Went with a GP100 based on price and the trigger.
 
As any of you know I’m considering buying a 357 revolver . I will probably only buy one in this caliber as it shoots .38 as well . So my question for you revolver Gurus is this .
What barrel length should I focus on as I’m wanting it for SHTF ,Combat in case of a SHTF senario , Home Defense and possibly Target Competition ? Is there a happy medium ?
Thank You
Leavenworth

For heavy combat, as you describe, and sh*t hits the fan scenarios, I recommend a revolver or any handgun with a bayonet attachment.
You will thank me later, once you'll need it.

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For general work, 6 inch with out the full length lug. Too heavy in a 6 inch. 4 inch is handy but can be lot of muzzle flash and bark. 7.5 long barrel are fine for silhouettes or long aimed shots, but can be hard in and out of a holster.
A strong medium frame 5 to 6 inch plane barrel should work.
Ruger stainless 6 inch no lug, Colt trooper, Smith Wesson L frame, some older out of production ones can be nice value. Or heck get a Python.
 
I haven't tried one, but If some one wanted a neat gun, I think the new python would be worth looking at , I think Harry C has one.
Good price compared to the real good (Old) ones. The Dan Wessons are great, hard to find.
 
I used to carry a 4" 686 and a 5" Model 10 as a duty gun. Both were very accurate and completely reliable. I bought myself a 4.2" 686 and love it. I find it balances better than my 6" Model 19.
 
I have a 6 inc gp100. It’s nice at the range but I couldn’t imagine carrying it (if it was legal) with that long of barrel.
 
For a SHTF revolver, I would argue that it would be hard to beat a S and W TRR8. I recently bought one in the EE. 8-round .357, scandium N frame with 5”. Perfect balance IMO and weighs less than a smaller-frame 4” revolver. And since it’s Performance Centre tuned, it’s butter smooth and crazy accurate. Upper and lower accessory rails for optics/light/laser. And a great MadMax look about it that screams end-of-the-world lol. Cheers!
 
I haven't tried one, but If some one wanted a neat gun, I think the new python would be worth looking at , I think Harry C has one.
Good price compared to the real good (Old) ones. The Dan Wessons are great, hard to find.


Too bad Colt doesn’t offer a Royal Blue version, I’d be on it like a duck on a June bug:p
 
You might also consider which ones you can get speed loaders for. Terribly embarrassing to round out of "bang" when things are still on-going.

With an eight-shooter, moon clips work well.

I have a GP100 and a S&W 627.
 
1st. of all 4" is Pro-hib, so over that for sure. My best choice for overall work is 5" to 51/2". Less is getting close to
Pro-hib & over that is too specialized for most work. In an auto. the Colt 1911 is 5" & best overal for most work.
 
Too bad Colt doesn’t offer a Royal Blue version, I’d be on it like a duck on a June bug:p

Right on, SS is so old school. I had a nickel one , hated it as you did not dare touch the thing, mind you it was a communitive, which are stupid. ( It was a trade in, as the owner thought the same way. ( think fake gold Win)

Guess I should have said mine are 12-6 guns in my last post, I just thought most reading about handguns would know that. Sorry.
 
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