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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,752
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,752 |
My current .357 is a S&W 620, a 7-shooter L-Frame with the composite barrel like on the X-Frames. Cost me all of $350 LNIB at Gander Mountain years ago. It's a fine piece, and has stuck when others have moved on. The single-action pull is just stellar.
Until recently it had Pachy Compacts, but the last time out it just felt a bit too lively in my old hands, so I put on a set of the polymer Jordan grips, along with a couple patches of grip tape. Oughta calm it down a bit.
The L-Frames are my favorites too. I admire the Rugers, but the Smiths are just a cut above I think.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,040
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,040 |
My current 357's are a 4" Colt King Cobra, early 1990's not the current version and a 2" Colt Magnum Carry.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559 |
My current 357's are a 4" Colt King Cobra, early 1990's not the current version and a 2" Colt Magnum Carry. They made very few of those Magnum Carry revolvers. They were wildly popular but, shortly after its introduction, Bill Clinton pressured Colt to stop production (along with the, also wildly popular, Mustang, and all their other popular concealed carry handguns) to avoid being targeted by his administration, which was determined to stall the concealed carry trend growing across the nation at that time. Clinton likely threatened, among other things, to cancel the government's contract with Colt to supply the military with the M16/M4 rifle. Colt, having cooperated with him, kept the contract till 2013.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,040
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,040 |
Yes, the Carry magnum was only made for one year. The 380 Government Model was also dropped but I am not sure of the reason, I heard it was due to copyright infringements with Kahr Arms but that is only hearsay on my part.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559 |
Yes, the Carry magnum was only made for one year. The 380 Government Model was also dropped but I am not sure of the reason, I heard it was due to copyright infringements with Kahr Arms but that is only hearsay on my part. They dropped all handguns popular for concealed carry about at the same time, only keeping large frame double action revolvers, the Single Action Army, and the 1911s in production.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,756
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,756 |
Yeah, my vote also goes to the mighty L frame model 686 as the very best .357 Mag revolver, I have owned more .357 revolvers than i can remember and there are many good models including the excellent Ruger GP100 (My second choice).....Hb
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559 |
Don't you wish you had one, EE? 
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,245
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,245 |
I don't know handguns a bit EE, but my pre-27 N frame and first gen Trooper as fine as frog hair too me, if anything out there is more fitting, I don't have the talent to recognize it.
Trump Won!
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
I don't know handguns a bit EE, but my pre-27 N frame and first gen Trooper as fine as frog hair too me, if anything out there is more fitting, I don't have the talent to recognize it. I'd feel well protected by either of yours. The two 357's currently in my stable are my wife's Magnum Carry above (which I didn't even rate) and my 28 pictured earlier, which is simply a no-frills version of your gun.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,697
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,697 |
This one shoots to POA with .357s and is a lot of fun to shoot. Not a bullseye gun, but it does well on pigs and one careless coyote. Bob ![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/xd6nQp8.jpg)
Last edited by RGK; 01/23/20.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559 |
This one shoots to POA with .357s and is a lot of fun to shoot. Not a bullseye gun, but it does well on pigs and one careless coyote. Bob Nice. Gen II?
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,081
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,081 |
RGK, when I think .357 magnum that's not the first revolver that comes to mind, but that is a beautiful SAA. That's my favorite barrel length. How's the recoil compare to your M27 S&W?
Last edited by SS336; 01/24/20.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,245
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,245 |
I don't know handguns a bit EE, but my pre-27 N frame and first gen Trooper as fine as frog hair too me, if anything out there is more fitting, I don't have the talent to recognize it. I'd feel well protected by either of yours. The two 357's currently in my stable are my wife's Magnum Carry above (which I didn't even rate) and my 28 pictured earlier, which is simply a no-frills version of your gun. Thanks EE, bet yours are good runners too, I have to say the old Trooper on ones side with four speed loaders in a Carhartt left side pocket doesn't feel all that bad as far as SD/CCW goes, I carried that 8-3/8ths barreled pre-27 a few times in the woods this year, nothing got close enough for me to try it out on, that Bianchi leather holster TheKid gave me for it soaked up no less than a dozen coats of jojoba oil all last year, it's a fine, fine holster for that old revolver.
Trump Won!
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,873
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,873 |
IMO no 357 says Business like a 3 1/2” N frame. But the Ns really aren’t great due to OAL constraints with their short cylinders.
I prefer Magna stocks due to having skinny hands and that discounts the Ks for me if lots of shooting is in order with magnum loads.
The L frames are a great compromise and I think they’re pretty close to the Goldilocks of 357s. Good cylinder length, lugged barrels add enough weight to tame recoil, and the grip frame is a good size for my hands. I’ve been thinking of picking up a 4” 686 of late though it would be hard to abandon my heavy loaded 38s as field guns.
Never been a Ruger DA guy. Aside from the Speed, Service, and Security series it’s always seemed to me that they were overbuilt for little reason in some areas and often crudely finished. The lack of parts and factory service for the Security lockwork guns is a turnoff as well. Lack of Magna style stocks and no other options is a dealbreaker for the GP and SP for me too. Now talking SA the 357 Blackhawk is an excellent package of affordability and durability, I don’t see ever selling the 4 5/8 I have.
Maybe I’m a snob or maybe I’m jaded from working as a gunsmith for a while but I’ll pass hard and completely on anything Taurus or Charter. Ditto Rossi, Llama, and any other budget brand I’ve ever encountered. Bingo, pretty much feel the same way. Love the 2.5 &4" M19's for shooting don't bother with 125 gr hp hot loads, the Keith style 168 gr swc (358429) is the best in the K & L frames. Just picked up a near new M13-3 3" rb blued for a song and it is easily the best carry revolver I've ever had and I really like my 2.5" 19. I like the N's also but the damn cylinders are short for using 357 brass and the above bullet unless you seat them to crimp above the front driving band. Can't really imagine what those 168's won't deal with in good loads. MB
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,697
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,697 |
RGK, when I think .357 magnum that's not the first revolver that comes to mind, but that is a beautiful SAA. That's my favorite barrel length. How's the recoil compare to your M27 S&W? It snaps a little, but not too bad. Definitely rolls up in your paw. Bob
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,688
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,688 |
Funny. I own 357's in a 2 1/2" Security Six, a 4" M66, a 3" SP101 and two old Ruger Flattops and none have seen 357's fired in them during my ownership with all but one bought a couple of decades ago. That said, my favorite is this Ruger with special order factory grips. ![[Linked Image from hosting.photobucket.com]](https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/aa437/boxhead61/Guns2011018.jpg)
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,559 |
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