Best Contender barrel length for .357mag & .357max. handguns

[kody]

 
    As stated above; if I were to get either caliber in handgun form ,what are the best options in barrel length. I have just read a piece about shorter barrel lengths performing better and am interested in 2nd [and more] opinions.  Thank you ,kody

[luckydawg13]

if i was going to have a new barrel made i would go with a scoped 12" barrel
but thats me

[Junior1942]

If I was going to have a new barrel made I would go with a scoped 10" barrel
but that's me.  And I like redheads.

[streak]

I have one in the 10" configuration set up for " sillywet" shooting with scope and special mounts!!

[buckeye509]

FWIW. I've had 357 Max barrels in 10, 14 and settled on the 12" and have no regrets.

[Flynmoose]

I chose 12" barrels for my G2 and Encore. The 357 Mag barrel is very accurate on the G2.
FM

[John E Davies]

The 357 Mag barrel is very accurate on the G2.

Really? Did you mean the Max? I have read some really bad things about the inaccurate oversized chambers in the Mag barrels. I would post a link, but it goes to the website of The Gunsmith Who Will Not Be Named......

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

[Keith L]

I have a number of good shooting barrels that the internet experts say won't shoot.  Often those critical have something for you to buy to make things work.

[Lonegun1894]

I really like my 10" .357 mag barrel.  At least for me, it balances better than longer barrels, but you do sacrifice the longer sight radius, so they have a disadvantage there if using iron sights.  However, mine shoots very accurately and has no trouble staying on a paper plate or a coke can at 100yds with my cast bullet loads when I am having at least a halfway decent day.  I was somewhat hesitant to get one after reading all the bad reports, but .357 Mag has always been one of my favorite calibers so I took the gamble and am very glad I did.  In fact, If i can ever come up with the extra money, I would love to get a second one to mount a scope on as my current one has irons and shoots so well that I hate to mess with a good combo. 

[kody]

  My thanks to all of you responders. There were some differences of opinion but the upshoot was to stay with the shorter barrels. My reason for asking was based on that opinion.  kody

[Flynmoose]

Quote
Really? Did you mean the Max? I have read some really bad things about the inaccurate oversized chambers in the Mag barrels. I would post a link, but it goes to the website of The Gunsmith Who Will Not Be Named......

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I can only go by my own experience and the 357 barrel has always been accurate enough to hit my small swinging steel target at 100 yards using 38 spl or 357 mag. The brass has never seemed oversized and reloaded with ease. I have a 20" 357 barrel from the T/C custom shop that is accurate with 38 and 357s as well, just lucky I guess.
FM
 

[trex1310]

The 357 Mag barrel is very accurate on the G2.

Really? Did you mean the Max? I have read some really bad things about the inaccurate oversized chambers in the Mag barrels. I would post a link, but it goes to the website of The Gunsmith Who Will Not Be Named......

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I have a 10" .357 mag barrel that is very accurate with 180gr gaschecked
hardcast bullets. I preder the 10" over the 14" in .357 mag. According to
your un-named source (initials M. B.) all of the T-C barrels are defective in one way or
another. His barrels are superior (they are), but they also cost $200 more
than T-C barrels. It just depends on what you want to do with it.