Buying first .357 revolver... need a bit of guidance

SQUAREHEAD1

SQUAREHEAD1

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Looking to buy my first 357 revolver, I have owned and still own many semi automatic pistols most of them SIGs, German ones, many years ago I owned a Smith and Wesson model 19… Sold it two decades ago.
My gun technician tells me that I should look for older Smith and Wesson‘s, that the new ones are not built nearly as well as the older ones, over 10 to 15 years old…
I’m just trying to get peoples opinion on this, or what would you suggest would be the best 357 to shoot at the gun club, targets between 15 and 40 yards… my revolver of preference would be the Smith & Wesson model 686 or 686 plus. I have looked at the Performance Centre stuff but he says to look for older guns.
Thanks for any suggestions from your experience, guys…
Have a wonderful weekend,
KEITH
 
Will you mainly be shooting full power .357 mag or mainly .38 special with the once or twice a year .357 mag?
Are you looking for absolute accuracy or general revolver?
Barrel length?
Will you be rolling your own ammo or store bought?
Many factors influence feedback as I have learned.
Most .357mag can't handle a constant diet of .357mag.
 
I'll be monitoring this topic, I started to look for .357s, as the wife (for some unknown reasons, but OK), think we should get one lol!
I'm looking at S&W 686 and Ruger Gp-100. Havenèt looked at second hand, and Ièm afraid, as I own pistols but no revolvers and it seems like extra things that can go wrong, like timing and forcing cone crap....
 
sixty9santa said:
Will you mainly be shooting full power .357 mag or mainly .38 special with the once or twice a year .357 mag?
Are you looking for absolute accuracy or general revolver?
Barrel length?
Will you be rolling your own ammo or store bought?
Many factors influence feedback as I have learned.
Most .357mag can't handle a constant diet of .357mag.
Click to expand...

Accuracy is the most important to me, I want stainless steel, I don’t mind spending some money, I would like a gun that will handle a regular diet of 357… I think I would prefer a 5 or 6 inch barrel…
 
Snider shooter said:
I have a 686 made in early 90's with 8 3/8 barrel. Modern SW's do not have the same quality of finish nor as good trigger as the older ones. Still decent guns but I like the older ones better.
Click to expand...

Wow, that’s mighty kind of you to sell this one to me, what’s the price my brother?:cool:
 
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Ruger GP100, usually always a few on EE, definitely will not break the bank and will last. Going to the range with it a few times a year, it will last forever. S&W also have the new model 19's out as well that can shoot full power 357's all day long.


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Get a GP100 if you want a "gun that will handle a regular diet of 357". After the novelty wears off and your extremities quake at the prospect of full house .357 loads get yourself a S&W 66 and shoot .38 special.
 
I have a GP100 that I did not shoot much (or very well). One day I included it with some handguns getting trigger jobs. Suddenly it shoots very well, on a par with my old Smiths.

And built like a tank.
 
The new S&W 4.2" model 66's & 19's are still "K" frame revolvers that occasionally see .357 magnums. A steady diet of magnums will loosen & beat up these guns. Its an old story but S&W brought out their new "L" frame revolver to address the all the wear problems with "K" frame tevolvers firing magnums.

As a newby, buy a six shot S&W 586, or a 686, 6" barrel revolver. Ruger's GP100 is just as good or better and both can handle magnum loads before you call it a day.
 
I went with a 686 Competitor from the S&W Performance Center for my first (and only, so far) revolver. Very happy with it. Trigger is really nice on it IMO. Only thing I didn't care for were the sights, although I was able to swap those out...My brother has the TRR8 which is also pretty cool (and a lot lighter than the Competitor).
 
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+1 on GP100, I love it! I have small hands so I changed the grip. The big rubber grips it comes with did not handle well for me. With the smaller grip, it is absolutely perfect.
I shoot mainly 38 Special, and half of a box of 357 at the end (sometimes whole box). The first stage is heavy, makes it a challenge. But the second stage is very light, great to shoot.
Takes a bit of getting used to if you are a pistol guy. I find the sights are different than the "natural" angle I would hold it at. But that is real of all revolvers I tried, not GP100 specific.
I got it with the shorter barrel, something like 4 and 3/4"? Not the 6", but long enough for our laws.
 
SQUAREHEAD1 said:
Accuracy is the most important to me, I want stainless steel, I don’t mind spending some money, I would like a gun that will handle a regular diet of 357… I think I would prefer a 5 or 6 inch barrel…
Click to expand...

Performance Center 627. Built for accuracy and the N-frame will handle a steady diet of 357mag.
 
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