Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Finest 357 Mag?

Please qualify that statement for me Eremicus. I own a Python 4" and I have a M19 6" that was completely worked over by Austin Behlert.

FINEST .357 ?
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A new DAN WESSON 715 revolver from CZ USA.

Hands down FREEDOM ARMS

Not if one prefers a double action

Nothing made today, though some pretty nice guns out there, can remotely come to the Pythons I have owned. I am hoping to own another someday, sold my last one to buy the Kimber Pro Carry Crimson Trace edition handgun that is my daily carry piece. Have a S&W model 66 357 coming back to me from my Daughter who had it while iving in Calif next week and they are a really fine 357 and about the right size for that caliber IMO but oh how I miss my Pythons.

Phyton are very slick

The finest ones that have ever been made are probably the Registered Magnums of the '30's. The last one I saw was $4200

If one defines "modern day" as current production, S&W is still building 27's out of the Performance Center, and an 8 shot version in the N frame. S&W has excellent quality control, but pesky design decisions, like the silly lock. The smaller K, L, and J frames .357's all fill a niche, depending on what you're doing.

Freedom Arms very likely has the highest precision of anybody today, but it's a single action, which doesn't work for me, for anything that might shoot back.

I also prefer handgun calibers that begine with "4", but if I was buying a .357 today, I'd probably look at an early 50's N frame, with 5" barrel, which is smooth, strong, and great handling. Early Pythons are also something special, but if I bought one it would be for general use, plinking, snakes, etc. I would not shoot anything heavier than current factory loads in it.

About 20 years ago S&W did run some 627's with 6 shot unfluted cylinders and full lug barrels. That's probably the strongest (and heaviest!) .357 revolver out there. I'm not sure today I'd shoot any Keith-equivalent loads in a .357, no matter how beefy the gun.

Korth has the finest price tag, but it's certainly not the finest .357 in my book. I'll take a S&W 27 or Python over a Korth any day of the week.

I would have to disagree with your assertion that the Smith's were the more accurate. How many Colt's were made to wear S&W barrels?

This whole thing about Python�s having delicate lockwork is just more BS promoted by gun writers who don�t know what they�re talking about. Yes, you can damage a Python�s lock work, but only if you�re an idiot hell bent on doing such a thing. If you shoot a Python like a Colt�s revolver with a steady straight back pull, your Python will last every bit as long as an L frame Smith. Try staging the DA action, and you�ll do damage to the lock work. But doing so comes from mis-use, and you can�t blame the gun for an owner who doesn�t know how to use it.
And a Python is a very durable gun, and can take a lifetime of full magnum loads with no problems at all. Remember, the Python is built on the .41 frame, and there were a few .41 magnum Python�s built (oh, talk about the dream gun), it�s stronger than most .357�s.

Fotis,

I think S&W makes the best DA revolvers though I'm not a fan of the locks they put on them these days.

I like the older Model 19's and 66's a lot, especially for carry, but the 5" 27-0 takes accuracy and shootability to a level that very, very few handguns do.

Mickey
I was just fondling one of those short barreled m19's in my collection today. I put a set of fake horn grips on mine to ghetto it up. The only issue i would have with them is they don't work well with speed loaders unless you get the 3inch barrel which allows a longer ejection rod.
I carry the shortie with 158grain gold dots and feel pretty comfortable with it, although in recent years i am a subscriber to the "4" rule.

Thank you for all the input gentlemen!

RoninPhx brings up a good point that I had completely forgotten about, in regards to ejector rods and barrel lengths.

I can very clearly remember the first time my dad let me shoot his new 4" Model 19. We were up in the foothills and he did not quite have his ear plugs in yet. I bet he remembers it too, since he was a little too close to his kid.

I think Ayoob reported one case where a Python broke because the owner, who was in a close range gunfight at the time, was jerking the trigger as hard as he possibly could. Luckily, he made the first shot count, and survived. The bad guy didn't. Other references report a tendency to get out of time with hard use. To me that's a moot point, if I had one it would get moderate use as a collectible/fun gun, and I'd be unlikely to shoot it hard, or with hot ammo.

If you want a truly finely fitted 357 at an affordable price, a pre-1960 S&W Model 27 would be the way to go. I got this one for less than half of what a Python would bring. This specimen was made in 1958. The Elk grips are by Patrick Grashorn, who posts here as "Executioner." The polish is so fine you can shave by your reflection on the side plate



The 2.5" K-frames, while not as finely fitted and finished as the N-frames (though early 4" and 6" K-frame 357's were very finely finished indeed), are still excellent guns and well worth having. Few revolvers balance as well in the hand as a round butt 2.5" .357 magnum K-frame. Here's my Model 66 no dash wearing Pachmayr Gripper grips.



If you can live with shooting hot 38 specials rather than full on .357 magnums, a clean Smith and Wesson Heavy Duty 38/44 is a good choice. This one is as mild-mannered as they come, even with a 158gr LSWC over a stiff charge of 2400.

EGADS man! You have some ROCKIN nice handguns! Some of the finest Smith's I have seen in one place.

Forgot to add: if you don't mind losing some velocity, a 3.5" Model 27 can be really nice and almost as finely balanced as a 2.5" K-frame. Almost, however. Much depends on how big your hands are. My hands are just a tad small for the best feel on this revolver with these grips; for fast work with full-house magnums I prefer the 2.5" K-frame. Here's my 3.5" Model 27-2, late 60's vintage with an aftermarket McGivern-style gold-bead front sight.

Thanks, I got my start in handguns and have recently gone back to them after a foray into rifle-looneyism Haven't quite kicked the looney-ism, though, just transitioned to lighter caliber rifles. My last few S&W's were funded by Winchester Model 70's in 375 H&H

Despite really liking Smiths, Colt King Cobra....