Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Snub nose .357

On the contrary, I practice quite often with that little biter, I get to walk out my door and shoot,And if I should say so myself I am quite proficient with it in 38 special and 357 magnum. I have owned it for just about 15 years, I couldn’t begin to tell you how many rounds I have out of it. I am A bit of a revolver whore, especially J frames.I come from a Law enforcement family, NYPD, including myself, short-lived :-) I grew up shooting revolvers and 1911s. And I concur detective specials are very special.

Nice weapons.. model 60 3” 357 is my everyday weapon or mr wife’s 2 1/2 “model 66.

A 3 inch barrel would be as short as I would want in a 357.

Didn't realize the stark difference in frame size til you see the 60 & 66 side by side...
Adjustable sights would be a big benefit. 6rds over 5 is big too.
Never handled a Ruger DA revolver for some reason. Grew up with nothing but colts, mostly pythons and a bunch of my uncle's carried Smith's.
Just picked up a really nice detective special on here for my dad as a gift and he loves it.
A 2" python would be badass.

S&W has some fine pieces that will cover this job, but don't forget that Ruger has some pretty nice guns that are still available with a little search. As Steelhead mentioned the Security Six 2-3/4", the Speed Six 2-3/4", and also the Service Six 2-3/4", I still have two of those models and love them. But the Ruger SP101 3" is a fine revolver as well. I've got a few of those including a custom from Gemini Customs, so you can have it your own way, including sights.

I've handled tons of snubbys, but I've yet to see a Dick special in 357. Not that I feel like the 357 gains you much in a snub but that is what the OP asked about

That’s because Colt never made one. And never will.

Like CaribouJack mentioned, the Ruger Security Six or Speed Six in the 2.75” version are great snub nose carry guns! As is the SP101 with the 3” barrel. You can pick up a clean used one for a good price in the $450 to $500 range if you hit the pawn shops or gun stores, and even on GunBroker if you’re patient. They are built like a tank, and are a little on the heavy side, but you’ll never wear one out, and I’ve never seen one fail to go boom when you pull the trigger. And the extra weight makes the recoil easier to handle with the stout 357 mag loads, and they are a joy to shoot with 38 specials. I’ve owned a bunch of them over the years, and they were accurate and reliable too.

That being said, my all time favorite snubnose 357 magnum is the S&W K frame Model 66 with the hard to find 3” barrel.
Mine wears a set of the rubber Hogue Boot Grips, as the Factory walnut grips are a little small for my big hands. It’s definitely the Cadillac of snub-nosed carry Magnums.
But since S&W didn’t produce many of the 3” versions, the prices have gone crazy high in the last 5 or 6 years. I saw two that were new in the box at the Tulsa Show this weekend. One was priced $1600 and the other was marked $1750 !!! And I also saw a couple of used beaters that were priced $1150 & $1250. That’s more than I care to pay for one, and why I highly recommend the Rugers.

I also saw a Model 65 with the 3” barrel at Tulsa priced at $750 and it was used. That version has fixed sights, but is other wise the same gun as the Model 66. I’m damn sure glad I got mine when they were still reasonable.

I've had two 65's and currently have a 2" M10. Someday I'm going to get a 2.5" 66 or 19 since I prefer adjustable sights. I've had Rugers too and they are good revolvers for sure but at heart I'm a S&W guy.

Too lazy to look back through all the posts, but has anyone mentioned the Kimber K6S?

No. Do you have one? If so, what is your impression of it and how many rounds do you have through it? I've handled all the K6S models and Kimber's erratic quality control has kept me from buying one so far. Hopefully they can get it together because the K6S triggers are great and the sights are light-years ahead of the standard S&W snub-nose sights.

It gains you 350 fps.

That's a good video. All of Paul's are good though.

I fondled one in the gun store the other day. I didn't like the way the grip frame fit my hand. I had to contort my grip quite a bit to get the top of the backstrap into the web of my hand. The revolver felt like one I wouldn't be able to adequately control the recoil. Other than that is seemed well made.

The new Colt Cobra looked and felt cheap, but felt like I would be able to shoot it better than my model 36.

I have the SW360PD Jframe in 357. 5 shot, 11.5 ounces empty. Great to carry, painful to shoot full power loads. 38 specials are OK.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/model-360-pd

Colt Magnum carry.

Exactly

I want an exposed hammer. I rarely shoot any DA revolver in DA.

An exposed hammer is a requirement of mine also.