mmcintyre1220
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Tillsonburg, Ontario
If it help my girlfriend is a very small woman 5ft nothing. She loves shooting my 4.2 686 and shoots it very well. I personally would go with a 4.2 or 5.
Wife wants a 357 magnum. 4.25" or 6"??
- Thread starter Tinman204
- Start date
calvin in keoma
Regular
To the OP, I think a five inch 686 would be the best option. I can speak for the 686 as I have shot many rounds through it, and I always enjoy it.
Damn, Guess I can't get a .44 now.
Damn, Guess I can't get a .44 now.
The wife used to shoot my Colt Trooper mkIII 8 inch barrel until I retired it. She is small and has small hands, handled full power 357 loads no problem. It was in no way too heavy a gun, 357 magnums a medium frame so it's very manageable even with a long barrel. The longer barrel will take the recoil so go with the longer barrel. I just bought a gp100 6 inch to replace the colt so she could shoot it. Longer barrel is the way to go. Imho.
Corey
From a woman's perspective.....
If your wife likes 'stout' loads and long barrels, it sounds like her tastes are similar to mine. I have a S&W 686 with a 6" barrel and love it - it's pictured in my avatar.
I am 5'7" with a slight build and have NO problem with the heavy loads or barrel. I also love my Uberti 454 Casull - never underestimate us. LOL
If your wife likes 'stout' loads and long barrels, it sounds like her tastes are similar to mine. I have a S&W 686 with a 6" barrel and love it - it's pictured in my avatar.
I am 5'7" with a slight build and have NO problem with the heavy loads or barrel. I also love my Uberti 454 Casull - never underestimate us. LOL
I would go with the GP-100 4.25" for her in stainless. You can do, or have done, a trigger job that will give you an amazing trigger that the smith boys would love to replicate. The issue with the Ruger's is they tend to be kit guns. They are good on average but can be outstanding with a little TLC. The difference in recoil between a 4.2" and 6" is not going to make much difference to her if she is recoil sensitive. A full powerhouse the .357 can be pretty harsh no matter the barrel length. With 38 spl loads at factory levels or less as tame as a mouse. The 4,2" GP-100 will balance better than the 6". I would avoid the new smiths. To hit and miss on QC and when they miss they miss badly.
Take Care
Bob
Take Care
Bob
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Obviously the OP hasn't been married that long. Or if he has, he hasn't been trained yet. If the wife wants a 4.2 inch barrel .357magnum but you know a longer barrel would be better for her, you give her a 4.2 inch barrel.
If you give her a 5 or 6 incher and she doesn't like it, then it's your fault. If you give her a 4.2 incher and she doesn't like it well she can't blame you as you gave her exactly what she wanted.
In end you might have to buy a second revolver to make her happy. However on the plus side, you will have yourself your very own .357 magnum with a 4.2 inch barrel. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
If you give her a 5 or 6 incher and she doesn't like it, then it's your fault. If you give her a 4.2 incher and she doesn't like it well she can't blame you as you gave her exactly what she wanted.
In end you might have to buy a second revolver to make her happy. However on the plus side, you will have yourself your very own .357 magnum with a 4.2 inch barrel. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
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I have the 6" GP100 and I'll tell you it's awesome, and felt recoil is low especially with the rubber grip present, but this is a heavy revolver. If she's a small girl, it's not for her.
I'd take her to a store where she could handle both and see what she likes.
I find the 6" full lug front heavy and have always considered the 4" revolver to be the best especially for carrying in the field (I realize that ATC may not apply to your wife).
I find the 6" full lug front heavy and have always considered the 4" revolver to be the best especially for carrying in the field (I realize that ATC may not apply to your wife).
Due to your lack of experience with pistols, i would recommend you go try a few revolvers first. Go to your local range, most will havee 38/357 to try.maybe due to physical limitations shee won't be able to shoot too many 357 at all. If racking a slide on a pistol is tough (I'm guessing she tried on your 9mm, which is resonable easy to do). I can imagine what the recoil on a 357 will do.
I've been looking at S&Ws in 460..if I'm going big I might as well go really big.. Although my buddy has a 44 mag super blackhawk hunter in stainless hed let go. I bet that would shoot some stout loads!
I'm a sheetmetal worker by trade so I have big forearms and large mitts..
That's why I'm asking about 357s as my felt recoil vs a small womens is completely at opposite ends of the scale. I also have a very strong grip due to squeezing snips 8 hours a days for the last 15 years.
