Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns What revolver handles hot 357 best

Light fast bullets are harder on forcing cones than heavier bullets. A S&W L or N frame will hold up very well with a high volume of shooting.

Exactly. 158 grains is what I shoot light weights need not apply.

Ruger,true but they have no soul!

Even an avid shooter would have a hard time wearing out a Smith 686, 28 in a lifetime.

I would rather have the superior trigger, lighter weight and less bulky frame dimensions, better looks and handling of a Smith&Wesson even if I have to buy two to get me a lifetime of .357 shooting.

I wouldn't shoot a steady diet of hot loads in the J frame size pocket revolvers, early K frames and various non-US guns. The latest K frames are supposed to be redesigned for durability; of course N & L frames are fine for any sane loads. I'm not a fan of Rugers but they sure seem to be stout.

I keep looking for a used Ruger Match Champion to show up. (with some of the new worn off of it.)

Really like the balance on that piece, and I'd say a man could shoot all the 357's his heart desires with it.

Freedom Arms FA-83! It will eat loads that would grenade anything but a T/C Contender. The only downside is the price...

The FA-83 is built like a bank vault door. Look at some of he loads John Taffin recommended for the FA-83 (also called the 353 Casull)

Craig beat me to it, the FA 83 is far and away the strongest production 357 revolver.

Everyone has a different concept of a hot 357 load. An FA or contender can digest a steady diet of 60,000 psi loads. I'd also venture to say any of the 44 mag sized SA rugers would be in the same neighborhood. I just couldn't imagine running those loads through a Smith.

Rarely mentioned, the last Colt incarnation, namely the Trooper MK V and the King Cobra, are pretty close to the Ruger GP/Sec Six for frame and cylinder strength and beats both by miles in the DA application.

The Mk III's are too, were it not for crappy triggers and hammers...DA's suck on 'em too.
About the right size for a 357.

I think cone erosion would eventually eat up most of them, even the 44 framed guns, before the rest wore out.

I bought one of these last year for a great price. I've shot several thousand max 357 loads through it - no hiccups, no issues. I really like them.

gp100