Best 357 revolver

[Pandaz3]

Shot my Charter Arms Pitbull 45 ACP today ten rounds (All double action) were enough to know it is accurate enough and hard on me!

 

[orygun]

Just to help put things into perspective. The Python was a "Carry" and "Work" gun for Police Officers, so was the S&W when we bought those.

The Python, a vent rib on a 4" barrel. How absurd, but it's just the coolest fluckin revolver. That's a nice one you have there. The S&W ain't to shabby, either.

 

[orygun]

This is the one I wish I had back.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

Truth!!!
Wish I'd invested more in them then. I have never owned a snake gun, and at this stage I probably never will. To me, the Colt Diamondback is the very picture of a perfectly proportioned, perfectly beautiful revolver!
Also, IMHO, S&W's revolvers aren't as quality as they once were, and Ruger builds to a better standard than they once did! Again, just MHO!
This darned thread has got me hankering to replace my beloved S&W 686 6"! I've got enough autoloaders for the rest of my days, but only three revolvers left!

View attachment 319757

Here's one of them. S&W .38spl (+P), 3", "J" frame.

Here's another one that actually puts my post in the right category.
A S&W m 66-3 .357 magnum.

 

[WillaminaOR]

Just to help put things into perspective. The Python was a "Carry" and "Work" gun for Police Officers, so was the S&W when we bought those.

It was my understanding that the Trooper was the work/carry gun for officers and the Python was the upscale revolver for those that wanted something fancier? I recently bought a Colt 357, seems like a nice handgun. I'm still waiting to put it on paper and see how it shoots, maybe tonight.

Bryan

 

[Cigarlvr313]

I will agree that not every Police Department issued Pythons and that the Trooper was probably more widely used but some departments did in fact issue Pythons and lots of Officers chose to purchase them because at that time a "working man" could afford one. That was really all I was trying to say. The Trooper is an awesome pistol, as is the Lawman, the 357, the Diamondback, Police Positive..................I love all of Colt's Revolvers and yours looks very very nice! Here is an interesting article that mentions the Python and it's place in Law Enforcement if you are interested.

The Best Revolver Ever Made? Colt's Python-Review - GunsAmerica Digest

 

[SynapticSilence]

This is the one I wish I had back.View attachment 319804 View attachment 319807

Me, too. I have no idea what possessed me to sell mine.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

To really get the full potential from the .357 Magnum you really need to go over 4" barrel length. This site is great: BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .357 Mag Results

Here is their muzzle energy graph by barrel length for different popular ammo. Tells a very interesting story. . .

View attachment 319631

I chronographed my Remington #1 rolling block chambered for .357 Mag with a 28" barrel at 1800 fps.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

View attachment 318342 Great cartridge! What its primary use? This will help determine proper barrel length. Mine's for CCW. My favorite is the S&W 66 2.5"

Love my S&W model 66-2, 4" in .357 Mag.

 

[Patrickffbritt]

No sure if it's been mentioned but I handled Kimbers new .357 the other day. Very similar in size and weight to an sp101, but with a six shot cylinder and an excellent trigger. Only downer were the black sights but that's just a pref thing
Was hard not to cough up the $800.

 

[eliduc]

I only own one - a 6" gp100 ruger, so thats my answer. Wish I had a colt and SW to compare it too...

I would also say 6" unless you are planning to conceal it.

I love my GP 100 but trying to conceal it would be like trying to conceal an anvil.

 

[eliduc]

No sure if it's been mentioned but I handled Kimbers new .357 the other day. Very similar in size and weight to an sp101, but with a six shot cylinder and an excellent trigger. Only downer were the black sights but that's just a pref thing
Was hard not to cough up the $800.

Yeah. That's the other downside.

 

[tac]

Best?

Korth.

tac

 

[BillGabby1]

Simple answer I own a S&W model 19 K frame 3rd revision with 4" barrel. Extremely hard to beat, the 686 is basically an update of it. A couple of inches longer will give a few extra FPS, but back in my day if you carried a gun all day in a patrol car, only a 4" fit the bill.
You can't go wrong with a good Smith!
A few years back they started being PC and added a locking feature and some other un-needed additions. I would look for a good used gun made prior to that time. That is one thing I would spank S&W for doing to really good firearms!

 

[BillGabby1]

Any of you big boys ever pack a S&W Highway Patrol, great gun but heavy as heck which is why they went out of favor with LE.
I owned one for a while and passed it along for something lighter.

 

[Alexx1401]

Simple answer I own a S&W model 19 K frame 3rd revision with 4" barrel. Extremely hard to beat, the 686 is basically an update of it. A couple of inches longer will give a few extra FPS, but back in my day if you carried a gun all day in a patrol car, only a 4" fit the bill.
You can't go wrong with a good Smith!
A few years back they started being PC and added a locking feature and some other un-needed additions. I would look for a good used gun made prior to that time. That is one thing I would spank S&W for doing to really good firearms!

Sad what lawyers have done for the gun makers. The damn Mag safety on my MKIII is a PITA and to me is totally stupid. It's on my list of things to do. Remove it.

 

[mpmax]

When I started in law enforcement back in the 70's I had a 4" model 19 Smith. After a couple of years I started carrying a 6" Colt Python. It was like having a cabine with you. For rural law enforcement it was the ticket, other deputies carried 6" PPC revolvers.
Today I still have a model 19-3 around the house. View attachment 515975

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

 

[jbett98]

Here's my best. Only 18 rds fired through it since 1982.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Ohhh boy......