what 357mag?

[sk330lc]

   I've been thinking hard on getting a 357 mag Revolver, for hunting Close range deer and hogs.  I don't know enough about revolvers. To know what I want or need for that matter..  I have over 10 diff. calibers in T/C Encore and Contender Pistols .but thought it would be nice to have more than one shot.    I think somthing with a 6 to 8" Barrel would do it. Which would have a nicer trigger pull, a double action or a single action.    Can you all recommend what I need?  Thanks

[highwayman]

ruger gp 100

[Jerry Lester]

Ruger Blackhawk all the way in my opinion.

[safetysheriff]

for hunting hogs, as dangerous as they can be, i'd prefer a .41 mag' caliber at least.   and i'd make it a Ruger because of how rugged and reliable they are.   

i think a 180 gr' bullet out a .357 Mag' might be decent hog medicine, but i've never taken a hog with such a bullet.   i'd prefer a bigger hole and a heavier bullet, really.    hogs can turn the tables and tear up a hunter.    i'd go with a hard-cast bullet for the hogs; and i'd go with a JHP for the deer.

Ruger's website should be able to tell you what they've got available in their revolver lineup.   BUT, Paco Kelly's article re: 'the boaring years' on his www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/boaring_years.htm  will give you a good idea what worked for him.    a Ruger single-action in .357 BlackHawk can be very heavily loaded (pressure-wise) to hop up the velocity of a heavy bullet in the .357 Mag'

take care,

ss' 

[Old Griz]

I, too, would like something a bit larger for boar - .41 or larger. That said, a .357 will do the job at close range. Rugers are built strong and are very dependable. I have several and love them. However, my choice in this situation would be a S&W 686. The DA revolver is a smart choice. You might need a fast second (or third) follow up shot, and if you are new to revolvers, you can do this quicker with a DA rather than a SA. The only thing I have against Rugers are the horrible triggers. A GP100 would need a trigger job. The S&W will be smoother out of the box and not need anything done. Something you may also think is trivial is the hammer. The Ruger DA hammer is quite a bit rougher on your thumb when cocking it. It's not a problem with their SA guns however. I know these are small things, but all my hunting guns are either SA Rugers, or DA S&Ws or Colts.

[buck460XVR]

I too agree, that out of the box, a 686 with a 6'' barrel is hard to beat for a .357 hunting handgun. Been lookin' at pickin' up a second one or even a 629 myself. Even as many as are sold new, it's hard to find a good one around here used......must mean something, eh? Guess I'll have to buy new.

[bobg]

           Seeing that you said 357 mag. If that is your choice go with the Ruger GP100. I love mine.
                       bobg

[OLDHandgunner]

One of my favorite 357 mag's that I own is a S&W 586 in 6". It is one of the most accurate of all my 357's . (With both 38's & 357's.)

[S.B.]

   I think somthing with a 6 to 8" Barrel would do it. Which would have a nicer trigger pull, a double action or a single action

Sounds like you're asking about a S&W model 27? The original .357 magnum revolver.

[safetysheriff]

           Seeing that you said 357 mag. If that is your choice go with the Ruger GP100. I love mine.
                       bobg

mine was EASY to tune.   i pulled the springs out and replaced them with a couple Wolff units and a light polishing of the sear/trigger.     Great accuracy makes the strength of the Ruger all the more advantageous over a Smith in my opinion.

i polished the sear and trigger with 600-grit wet or dry machinists paper.   it's cheap and it's effective.   Naturally, one must not change the angles at which the sear and trigger mating surfaces come together.

to each his own, however,

ss'

[wallaby]

Hard to beat a six inch 686 for close work.  Never hunted hogs but I think the .357 in one of it's many forms should perform as needed.

[S.B.]

safetysheriff, I've never wanted to use lighter springs in any handgun I am going to hunt with. I would always wonder if it was going to go bang,  when the moment of truth, was at hand?

[Is64.8]

Go hold one of each S&W double and Ruger double or single actions.  Or better yet shoot all you can to pick out what's best for you.

I personally prefer Ruger single actions.  While I own several in .357, I don't hunt deer or hogs with them.  I use .45 Colt and .44 Mag for that, but use the .357 for many other things.

Seems like Jerry Lester hunts everything with .357.  Ask him specifically about how well the .357 works.  He has the experience.

[safetysheriff]

safetysheriff, I've never wanted to use lighter springs in any handgun I am going to hunt with. I would always wonder if it was going to go bang,  when the moment of truth, was at hand?

SB'

www.gunsprings.com (wolff springs website) says that the hammer spring on the gp-100 is factory standard at 14 lbs.   the trigger return spring is 12 lbs.    i bought the whole kit and replaced the hammer spring with one that is either 10 or 12 lbs.   the trigger return spring i put in is either 8 or 10 lbs.    it made a difference when shooting double-action primarily.   

when shooting a d/a' as a single-action the longer hammer arc/fall helps pick up energy to touch off the primer.    BUT, i admit, i still want reliability in double-action mode so i didn't put in a 9 lb hammer spring which you get with the kit.

i haven't had a problem with the revolver since changing springs.

take care,

ss'

[S.B.]

I've used light spring kits when I was shooting IPSC but, don't like to use them for hunting.

[sk330lc]

Thanks Guys!!  You have given me several models to go handle and see how they feel ..  Thanks for all the great help Again !

[sixshooter_45]

I love this one and it is very accurate, very nice trigger.

[MtJerry]

Ruger GP100

I like mine ...

[safetysheriff]

if Ruger had made the cylinder and frame on the GP-100 a little bit larger, and chambered it in .41 mag', they'd have made the perfect mid-siized revolver, in my opinion.    it would have been the perfect packin' pistol for the bulk of our hunting in the Lower-48 States.    i like the .357, but the handloading of a .41 mag' makes it even more versatile, to me.

what a beautiful revolver.   

great pics', too.   

ss'   

[S.B.]

safetysherriff,  I agree too bad the ammo companies don't listen?

[teddy12b]

I've read a lot of good comments on the ruger GP100 and smith 686 revolvers.  I've held both and the smith feels better in my hands, but you can get the same feel by putting some hogues on the ruger.  Good luck deciding.  There are plenty of good choices to choose from.

[cattleskinner]

You mean kinda like this .  I really like the GP100, with these grips(Hogue grips, sorbathane I think they are called...they are really soft at the top of the backstrap).  I put a set of Wolff springs in this and have dry fired the heck outta it since I have gotten it, and don't see the need for a trigger job.  I think I might go to work on it and sand off the warning label next, and add a different set of sights on it.  Only thing I don't like about these pistols(357) in general is the darn muzzle blast can be killer with full loads.

[Is64.8]

No mention of the Ruger Vaquero, original or Newly redesigned (mid-size frame)?  My original Vaqueros and Bisley Vaqueros in .357 have not been shot much since I picked up the New Vaqueros in .357.  They have proven to be accurate for me and have a great feel in the hand and on the hip.

I am (very) partial to Ruger single actions of all flavors, but the ones I'm carrying the most in Mississippi during non-hunting season are the .357 and .45 New Vaqueros. 

[poncaguy]

I have a 6" SS 357 GP 100 and a 5 1/2" Blackhawk 45 Colt with the 45AP Cyl. The perfect handguns for me, both very accurate and a lot of fun!

[sk330lc]

Hey all , thought I'd let you all know, I went with the Ruger GP100  ..  My Local Gun shop Got a used stainless one in. It's in like new condition with a Scope mount and a Tasco 1.5 to 4 x 28 scope .  I put about 100 rounds through it to day and Love it...  I might have to Loose the scope though..   I would rather have open sights.   All and all I'm Very happy with it!

Thanks again for the help!

[S.B.]

I've got a neice's husband who put a Bushnell red dot scope on a GP100 and is very happy with it. Uses it for deer.

[ratgunner]

Hey all , thought I'd let you all know, I went with the Ruger GP100  ..  My Local Gun shop Got a used stainless one in. It's in like new condition with a Scope mount and a Tasco 1.5 to 4 x 28 scope .  I put about 100 rounds through it to day and Love it...  I might have to Loose the scope though..   I would rather have open sights.   All and all I'm Very happy with it!

Thanks again for the help!

Well you made the right choice,now if you wanna sell the mount and scope let me know.

[blhof]

Hey Dan Wesson is still in business/ made by CZ.  The most accurate out of the box and your choice of 6', 8', or 10' 357,41 44 or 445.  Check them out too..

[Lloyd Smale]

one in 44mag!!!