Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Looking at small .357 Mag. revolvers...

It really depends on what manufacturer of 357. Most is fine recoil wise, but take some hot stuff, even in a heavy gun and it gets noticeable real quick

Seek out a Dan Wesson 15-2 or a 715 (pic below). Available with a heavy vented barrel or lighter. It also gives you the option of adding longer barrels.

Great choice!

I had one of those back in the 1980s, along with three barrels for it, the eight inch one having a scope mounted on it. Pretty cool concept.

Very cool! I hope you like it.

I’ll I carry a SW 360 scanadium in the woods when I walk the lab. Super light for hiking, but painful at the range with full loads. I also have the 329PD and that is also great to carry, and not as punishing with full 45mag loads.
Both are good shooters with MIM parts.

I know some people with the kimbers that are big fans. You should at least check one out.

Most versatile handgun I own.

Took my 340 PD out this morning.


It does okay with the Buffalo Bore standard pressure 38 Special non +P 150 grain hard cast.


10 yards, 5 shots in probably 6-8 seconds.

That is great shooting Sam.

Ed, that low power 38 Special is a helluva lot easier to handle the the 357.

My SP-101 is my limit for 357's and I still don't enjoy it. Funny, my oldest son can just shoot a handgun and has shot the very gun I mentioned with 125 gr 357's off hand at 50 yards inside 6 inches. He has always had "some natural ability". When we lived in Midland he was maybe 10 and shot my M29 Smith loaded stout at the silhouette range knocking most things over. Recoil never was an issue. When we all headed to Africa for our "last family vacation" in 2012 he wanted to use my peep sighted 8x57 Mauser. When we headed to the check out range the two PH's looked at one another... After a few shots they were good to go. He taught himself both 6 and 12 string guitar as well as banjo. His King of the Hill entry is classic. Really the absolute genius of the three and his brothers would agree with that.

Mine is the S&W 640 stainless Centennial, hammerless .357 Mag. Of all the handguns I've ever owned, this is singularly the most difficult to shoot well. But it is just what I want for self defense and I will never sell it.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/RCQyD5cV/163690-sw-On-White-Right-69421.webp[/img]

Ed, that is interesting.



Great minds and all that come with it...lol



I will say the revolvers are fun to shoot, just maybe not 357 in the lightweights!

I’ve got a few light weight 357’s. It’s hard for me not to like the Ruger SP 101. I like the 3” and the 4”. I can say for sure that the stock grips suck. I use Trausch grips (very difficult to find) Pachmayer and the Hogue grips. Got to watch that middle knuckle.

I also am convinced the Ruger Speed Six in 2-3/4” , and the Security Six same barrel, are amazing guns. Any of these will take care of you all your life. Pass it down to your kid.

If you are open to something else, I like the Charter Arms 44 Special.

I have a 360pd and with full 357 mag loads it's brutal. I'd rather shoot my 329pd with 310 grain cast loaded hot than shoot 158g factory 357 in the 360 pd. I usually carry a 125g golden Saber 357 round in it that's not loaded hot. It's just over a 38 +p and it's enough in the little scadnium.

My 3" SP 101 is much heavier and easier to shoot. It shoots great and is manageable with hot loads. Sometimes it seems a bit too heavy and my wife doesn't like to carry it. I think a 357 3" lcr might be a good balance of lighter weight and shoot ability. A 3" lcr might make a good trail gun.

Bb

I'm with ya.'

I'm not enough of a masochist to enjoy shooting any short barreled .357 Magnums.

Too small, you give up controllability. Barrel too short, you lose velocity and pick up a lot of blast. 2", may be about as well off with a +P .38 Spec.

IMO, the .357 FA 97 is about as small as I want in that round. I'm shooting full house 170 gr. and 180 gr. loads, needed a taller front sight. FA knew exactly what was required and supplied it. Swapped it out with an Allen wrench.

This gun is super accurate, very controllable and easy to pack. Not cheap, but worth it.

FA's generally shoot with the best custom revolvers and even though expensive, generally cost less than a high end custom. FA is hard to beat, based on performance.

DF

Dirtfarmer, that is a beautiful gun you've got there. Might have to try out a Freedom Arms one of these days. I've only got one single action revolver to my name. It's a Ruger Old Vaquero .45 Colt.

Thanks, it shoots as good as it looks. My Smith 19 has a 4” barrel and is a good shooter, not that hard to control.

My point was, I don’t have any desire for a 2”, small .357. I have short barrel .38’s, including +P version like the Ruger.

Taking that sized gun up to .357 is, IMO, a lot of blast and recoil for the added performance. +P loads are pretty hot.

Just me. I’m sure some will challenge that.

DF