Author Topic: BEST 357 EVER? (Read 41104 times)

m-g Willy · « **on:** September 29, 2007, 08:27:25 AM »

After shooting all these guns over the years I think the S&W 27 with 6" barrel has got to be the best357 ever made.
The Dan Wesson would be a distant second place.
What gun do you think ranks #1 in 357?

Willy

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2007, 08:51:35 AM »

My first ever .357 Magnum was a S&W 19 with 6" barrel. I used it for target practice, competition and hunting and won my first ever competition and trophy with it. I went on to own several of them over the years. When S&W came out with the SS version the Model 66 I went to it as I really do prefer SS over blued handguns. All my .357 Magnums are now made of SS not blued metal. I added it to the list along with the Model 19 as they are the same gun other than one being blued and the other SS.

canon6 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2007, 08:56:22 AM »

My first 357 was a model 28 Highway patrolman, 6 inch, and is still my all time favorite handgun.I is the plain jane version of the model 27 . Doug

Ahab · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2007, 11:46:42 AM »

Quote from: canon6 on September 29, 2007, 08:56:22 AM

My first 357 was a model 28 Highway patrolman, 6 inch, and is still my all time favorite handgun.I is the plain jane version of the model 27 . Doug

Yup, that was my first DA too. Great gun but the blued 686 I have now pretty much equals it. Yes , I know, 686's are SS, but this one came from the factory blued.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2007, 12:03:11 PM »

Graybeard, glad you added the 66. That was my first handgun and definately my all time favorite. Sure wish I still had it. Although I do love my Dan Wesson.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2007, 05:32:17 PM »

Quote from: GRIMJIM on September 29, 2007, 12:03:11 PM

Graybeard, glad you added the 66. That was my first handgun and definately my all time favorite. Sure wish I still had it. Although I do love my Dan Wesson.

WHAT??? NO Model 66? I only got a pair myself.

hemiram · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2007, 10:37:33 PM »

I've had over the last 30 years a bunch of .357's, and I like the Dan Wessons best. I had a Colt Python for a while, and it was really
pretty, I couldn't see carrying it, and I got offered a lot more than I paid for it, I sold it and really never missed it. I had a couple of Model 19 S&Ws, they were OK, but I always sold them and kept the DWs instead.

I had four DW Model 15s between 1979, and the late 80's, and stupidly sold them off to by PC parts over the years. I have two of
them now, a near mint 715, and a well used, but in good shape 15. Both were pretty cheap, compared to a 686, the equivalent
S&W gun. Like about half the price.

Some people don't like the trigger, I do, and I like the S&W triggers too, they're just different. I like the fact that I can
fix about any problem, and there have been very few, with the tool and wrench and in a couple of minutes, the gun is back to
100% again. I can't do that with an S&W, let alone a Colt. I don't think any other gun would have survived a split barrel
after a squib was followed up by another shot, let alone be back shooting in about 20 minutes! I had to have the gunsmith
pound the wrecked barrel out of the shroud, but after he looked it over, I put a new barrel in, and shot a box of rounds through
it without a hitch. Only evidence of the blowup was a slight bulge in the shroud, and you really had to look for it. Inside the shroud,
it was obvious something bad had happened inside. A friend of mine bought that gun and shot it for years, but instead of telling me
he wanted to sell it, he traded it in at a gun store on a Sig 226 instead. They stole it, of course. I would have given him $50 more
than they did for it without a second thought.

I had a very nice early S&W 28, and I will get another one of these days (or a 27), but the DW 15 and 715's got me back shooting again.

Swampman · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2007, 01:32:54 AM »

The Ruger Blackhawk is the best ever IMO. I don't guess I can change my vote.

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2007, 02:34:23 AM »

OK how's that. I added the S&W L frames and two colt options plus giving you a DA and SA choice for Ruger.

m-g Willy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2007, 04:10:54 AM »

OOPS!
Don't know how I forgot to add the L frame S&W in the poll.
Thanks for including them Graybeard.

Willy

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2007, 09:40:34 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on September 29, 2007, 05:32:17 PM

Quote from: GRIMJIM on September 29, 2007, 12:03:11 PM
Graybeard, glad you added the 66. That was my first handgun and definately my all time favorite. Sure wish I still had it. Although I do love my Dan Wesson.

WHAT??? NO Model 66? I only got a pair myself.

I had to sell it for lawyer money when I was younger. I have a 686 that shoots pretty well, if I happen on a deal I'll probably get another 66.

papajohn428 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2007, 12:59:03 PM »

I bought the 686 not long after it hit the market, and my PD Range Officer immediately dubbed it the "Poor Man's Python". He was a Colt guy and ragged about S & W's, but I could match his scores with my 4" 686, so he finally shut up. The triggers were comparable, the balance was identical, and the grips were too subjective to count against either one. I've owned several other 357's, but my next 357 will be a 4" 686!

PJ

bigdaddytacp · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2007, 01:23:26 PM »

I would depend on "best" for what?

?....the old "papered" Mod pre 27 SW was hand fitted and registered and a thing of beauty.and high in money value.....big and heavy for 357.......the Mod 19 was a lot of power for the size and my old blue 4" from the late 60's is a old friend that rode many a shift with me and never let me down.....the Colt Python is pretty and when worked over by a Colt man can have a great trigger action and the tight barrel and twist make them very accurate.....I still have a blue 6in. that was my Distingished match gun and has a smoooth trigger action and Elliason sights with handmade custom Hogue stocks made back before he was famous.....the L frame Smith cost less than the Colt Python and was easier to get a non stacking trigger action than the Colt and when tweaked -timed a good one would shoot with the Python at less money....the Rugers are tough DA and good value for the money.....theRuger SA is a tank in 357 and will take all kinds of abuse.......I never shot Dan Wessons other than a few rounds at a range with a borrowed gun but they sure owned metal sil. game for years.......the Freedom Arms 357 is kinda rare and a good one is like a fine watch crossed with a bank vault........the Mod 27registered or Python in Royal Blue would be my choice all around....the 19 for size vs power and L frame 586 dressed out for money vs performance in a DA........good luck and good shooting!!

poncaguy · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2007, 03:54:52 PM »

My GP 100 and my Dan Wesson............really hard to choose between them.............

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2007, 06:18:21 PM »

My Model 66 is a jim-dandy item and I'd trust my life to it any day but that 8 shot 627 out of the PC shop I keep handy near my computer desk can shoot WAY better than my old eyes can see. Its a heckuva great gun and I'd never hesitate to recommend it.

Cayoot · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2007, 04:44:19 PM »

I love the 686!!!!
But I have a "dumb" question for you guys:
I have a real love for the old deep blue and walnut. Thus, I just bought a M28-2 from a fella on one of the forums.

What is the difference between the 28 and the 27?

Thanks much!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #16 on:** October 02, 2007, 08:55:09 AM »

none of the above. The marlin 94 would be it. A rilfle barrel is about the only way to get performance worth me bothering with out of a .357. Just a noisy 38 special out of a revolver to me.

Wiking · « **Reply #17 on:** October 02, 2007, 10:12:21 AM »

I got a 6" 686 in stainless steel with Uncle Mike rubber grips. It's one of the old models, with the firing pin attached to the hammer. I bought it used for 500 bucks. I barely cleaned it the first 6 months I had it. It shoots great, always works and looks fairly good as well!

Tom C. · « **Reply #18 on:** October 03, 2007, 06:44:10 AM »

I picked the S&W 27-2 from the list, but I think the updated version, the 627-5PC is really the one. Stainless, 5” N frame, with a beautifully smooth action, superbly accurate. Then throw in 8 shot as a final advantage.

odoh · « **Reply #19 on:** October 03, 2007, 11:33:16 AM »

Hmm-m-m, lotsa talk re S&W's but at the moment, the Ruger DA's are ahead in the poll's.

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** October 03, 2007, 11:39:27 AM »

If you can live with the excessive weight, and heavy triggers the Ruger DAs aren't bad. I've owned some but I wouldn't own another. They are just way too heavy.

poncaguy · « **Reply #21 on:** October 03, 2007, 02:45:27 PM »

My trigger has been smoothed and Wolff springs installed and the weight of the GP100 really tames the recoil. My Dan Wesson has an excellent DA pull and is very accurate ........8" barrel.........

warrior1 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 07, 2007, 04:24:29 AM »

if you are talking personally , the gp100 4" or 6".i've got a 28-2 4" that basically takes up space.

m-g Willy · « **Reply #23 on:** October 07, 2007, 02:59:18 PM »

Quote from: warrior1 on October 07, 2007, 04:24:29 AM

if you are talking personally , the gp100 4" or 6".i've got a 28-2 4" that basically takes up space.

If you want to make room for some of them rugers I'd be glad to help you out by taking that worthless model 28 off your hands!

Willy

Graybeard · « **Reply #24 on:** October 07, 2007, 06:00:35 PM »

Quote from: odoh on October 03, 2007, 11:33:16 AM

Hmm-m-m, lotsa talk re S&W's but at the moment, the Ruger DA's are ahead in the poll's.

Not really. The way the poll is set up there are three seperate categories of S&W revolvers but only ONE category for Ruger. So you must add up all three S&W categories if you want to compare apples to apples and that puts S&W ahead by a bunch.

RBishop · « **Reply #25 on:** October 09, 2007, 05:44:17 AM »

No doubt in my mind. COLT PYTHON!!!

Dee · « **Reply #26 on:** October 09, 2007, 05:46:42 AM »

Hands down for me. 4 inch Model 19 or Model 66. Carried em both, outstanding.

jlbeebe · « **Reply #27 on:** October 11, 2007, 09:07:01 PM »

I had a S&W mod 686 once upon a time. Wish I had that one back. My dad always told me to never sell any of my guns. Too bad it took me 40 years to learn that lesson.

Dee · « **Reply #28 on:** October 12, 2007, 03:32:43 AM »

Quote from: Cayoot on October 01, 2007, 04:44:19 PM

I love the 686!!!!
But I have a "dumb" question for you guys:
I have a real love for the old deep blue and walnut. Thus, I just bought a M28-2 from a fella on one of the forums.

What is the difference between the 28 and the 27?

Thanks much!

Fit and finish, and usually grips quality. The 27 was ahead on these aspects, but the 28 is a good (but equally heavy) 357mag. Sometimes the barrel length on the 27 could be found in a length not found in the 28 as I recall. I could be wrong on this issue, as it has been awhile.

warrior1 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 13, 2007, 12:21:38 PM »

well from my standpoint my gp100 4" shot circles around the the 28-2 . but at last i got rid of that particular smith.
i will admit my 29-3 ,i know a 44 mag, is starting to get my attention,especially since i took off the b square mount and put a new rear sight on it.

Poll

What was ,or is the best 357 ever made?

Author Topic: BEST 357 EVER? (Read 41104 times)