Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Your favorite barrel length for a .357 revolver?

All around I’ll take a 4 inch. Hasbeen

I have 357 magnums in
2"
2-3/4"
3"
4"
4-5/8"

It's difficult for me to pick my very favorite but 3" is right up there near the top for concealed carry and walking (hiking)
Camping and such probably 4" or 4-5/8" So either a double action or a Single action.

I ‘ll state, “It depends what you want to do with it.”

Primary hunting gun ? ( not back up to a rifle): 6” ( maybe 5”).

Personal protection ?: 3-4”

All-around? : 4”, 5”


I sold my 6” S&W 586 and 686 revolvers. I kept my Ruger gp100 4” stainless. Kept my 3” S&W 65.

That 4“ gp100 is tough to beat for any of these applications

I like 4 or 5" barreled handguns, and for me, the 357 is for self defense.
So 4".

But longer barrels are easier to shoot well, and recoil less,
if I found a M-19 underpriced it would come home. With any length barrel.

Have a 4" Python.
Would love an 8 3/8". That will never happen at today's prices.

I'm going to have to go with 4" as that's all I've ever had, a blue Python from back in the day and a blue first gen Colt Trooper bought a few years ago, I cant imagine a better length, very usable velocities are easily attainable, from mild to wild.

I'm a "Dan" fan so with my removable barrels ---2-1/2" thru 10" I think I've got everybody beat!

For my uses (hunting/plinking) the 5" range is about perfect for everything from 22lr to 44mag. If I wanted to use one for personal defense, I'd be all over a 3" S&W 686.

"Dan" fan here too. They can't be beat.

My M19 is set up like your top revolver and is the most shootable CF revolver that I own.

My 4 inch Security six is a close second.


if I could find a factory S&W K frame with 5" barrel it would be the best ...

3" can't be beat.

David

I think the finest revolver Smith and Wesson ever made, was a 5 inch model 27. That said, for all around use, I like a 4 inch barrel on Smith's L frame.

I’ve got a 3” model 60, a 4” model 19 and a 5” model 60 and I like ‘em all.

Five inch is best for large frames. Four inch is OK esp. mid size frames.

Really, I think one needs all lengths from 1 7/8" to 8 3/8". Different frame sizes and models.

Colt, S&W, Ruger, Dan Wesson and Korth.

The .357 Magnum and the various minor .38 siblings deserve the wide range of choices available.

I have three .357s: A model 66-2 and a 686, both with 4" barrels and a (pre-27) 357 Magnum with the 3 5/8" barrel. I wanted the 686 and bought it new, thinking with the extra weight of the underlug I would like the shorter barrel. I found the 66 recently in a pawn shop and they made me a deal I couldn't refuse. Took it home, cleaned all the crud off and it's a gem now. I got the 357 Magnum from my Dad when he quit shooting. None of these are for sale!

I used to have a model 19 with a 6" barrel and now wish I hadn't sold it, though it needed a new hand and I didn't know where to get it fixed. Right now I'm looking around for a 6" barrel, and I'm not too picky whether it's on a K, L or N frame. I also would be all over a 5" barrel if it happened along!

6" K-Frame.

I have .357 Mag revolvers
360 2"
686 plus 3"
627 pro 4"
I like them all but if I could only choose one ( I would really hate too) but it would be My 686 plus 3"...... for My purpose it can do it all.....Hb

To me the most intimidating, shock and awe length would be the 8 inch.

I like the the 6 inch models for targets and hunting and the 4 inch for carrying. If I had to choose one it would be the 6 inch.

4" for a one gun for everything kind of revolver. Otherwise length as suit the purpose.

among others in the K frame 19's, i have a 2 1/2, a 4 and a 6inch. the 4 and 6inch are new in the box with all the papers and the wax paper.
have never had the heart to shoot them.
I have another 4inch 19 that i have fired thousands of rounds through, it was my carry piece while on a sheriff's department. it still looks like new.
i don't know if it is pertinent or not, but my current fascination are 41magnums. for running around the desert/mountains, i prefer the six inch barrel. little better sight radius for me, little more velocity.