tj3006
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,966
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Post by tj3006 on Dec 22, 2020 7:57:08 GMT -5
Double or Single action. I Agree with Jerry Miculek, My Favorite all around Revolver cartridge is the .357 Magnum. I have owned many many of them through the years. Pythons Model 19s New and old Model Blackhawks. The 1st hand gun i ever bought in about 1981 was a 6"model 686. I have never owned an n frame, that I can recall. But my Favorite all around General purpose .357 Magnum is My 5" GP 100 Davidsons edition. It Has great balance is built like a tank, Smooth in double action crisp and light in single action, More accurate than i can shoot it. It's weakest point is concealability. Unless you are wearing a trench coat it is Shoulder holster or inside the pants only. (if you are as small as I am.) I have a Chest rig coming from Mike that i plan to use as an under the arm vertical holster around town.
But it is a winter only set up. But there is nothing in Oregon, a hand gunner could not do with that gun. Clearly it is light for Elk Hunting, But It could be done in a pinch. With a Hot loaded 180 grain Bullet, a head shot would probably Kill just about anything. In Grizzly country, I would take something bigger, But even then a squarely placed head shot stands a good chance of saving your behind, Squarely hitting a moving Grizzly's round head is not a challenge i would welcome. But I think i will test MY GP against my model 19 this weekend. Both are great guns, But I would load any listed load or shoot any Factory loaded round through the Ruger without any hesitation. Not so the K frame ! ...tj
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Post by bigbore5 on Dec 22, 2020 8:15:55 GMT -5
My favorite da 357 is my first gen gp100 4". Second is my edc sp101 now that I fnally have it's action polished and broken in. From the factory sp101's triggers are a disgrace. Lock timing needed tuned too. I like the 3" barrel and adj. sights. Going back I am seeing a bunch of single action in this da thread so I am adding my overall favorite which is a 6" barrel fa 353 casull I picked up this past year..
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Post by x101airborne on Dec 22, 2020 8:22:07 GMT -5
My SP101 snubbie will be one of my very last weapons to go. I absolutely love that thing. I like my Security Six for general use around the ranch and plinking. The Redhawk in 357 seems to me to be too much steel for a medium bore cartridge, but it sure surprises you on the range. Like the OP, the Smith and Wesson revolvers are very artistic and a joy to shoot; but they dont get the same loads as the Rugers.
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Post by kings6 on Dec 22, 2020 8:59:22 GMT -5
I know I will get roasted for this but I never appreciated the 357 for the great cartridge it is. I killed my first Oregon Blacktail buck with a 38 Special then jumped right to the 41 mag. I had a python for a year or so but other than that, every 357 has been purchased with the intent of getting converted to something else. I don’t even have any 357 reloading components, dies or bullet molds if I found a first magnum to put in the safe.
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Post by paul105 on Dec 22, 2020 8:59:55 GMT -5
New S&W M66-8, 2 3/4" - the one on the right in the picture below: Paul
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Post by contender on Dec 22, 2020 10:06:51 GMT -5
Picking a favorite is like trying to pick a favorite child. Not gonna go there. I have some Rugers, both SA & DA,, Smifs, and just agreed to buy a DW pistol pack. Nope,, not gonna go there.
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Post by randominator on Dec 22, 2020 10:32:06 GMT -5
My favorite double action 357 is my Dan Wesson model 15 that I purchased new in 1984. It came from the factory with a 6" VH barrel and I later added a 8" V barrel that I drilled and tapped for a scope. My favorite single action 357 is my 6 shot BFR with custom grips. Just started load development on this one, but so far accuracy has been outstanding.
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Post by domino300 on Dec 22, 2020 10:47:11 GMT -5
I'm like Robb(king6), have never appreciated the 357mag. Growing up I had a cousin who had a S&W 28 and liked to flaunt it. Bought my first 41 mag in the early 70s and have a couple dozen now. Only 357s I have are 357 Maximums.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Dec 22, 2020 11:38:45 GMT -5
This is the only 357 Magnum revolver ( out of 6 ) to survive my big sell off... so it must be my favorite... it was my FIL's & used to belong to a buddy of his, who was the state champion service revolver shooter for many years... this was his service / competition revolver, & it has the best double / single action trigger of any double action revolver I've ever handled... I mostly cherish it, don't shoot it often, and only under nice conditions, & when I have the time to properly clean it & put it away properly... shooting it always puts a big smile on my face... other than that... I did keep my 1st ever revolver... an early 4" Stainless GP-100... rather than sell that one... it turned into my 10mm Rimmed
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Post by ezekiel38 on Dec 22, 2020 11:47:11 GMT -5
My favorite 357 and I've had dozens of them since 1968 which was a 6.5" Blackhawk. My favorite brand is Smith and Wesson but that would be the 4" 586/686, six shot, but at the present time I am on the prowl for one. I carry a Kimber K6s 3" DA/SA and it is a great shooter. My field 357 is a Ruger Match Champion and it is a pleasant full house 357. I need a Bowen rear sight for it as I have a Novak front sight with a tritium ampule in it.
I've had several of the coveted N frames but always traded them off as the caliber seemed too small for the frame size. The L frames are perfect.
Carrying a 357 as a full time LEO as a patrolman, Deputy Sheriff, I used the 357s for dispatching road kills and those old Federals usually handled that job with aplomb. Saw enough wounds created by 357 to give them great respect. I really enjoy my Ruger 357 M77/357. Ihave a Leupold 1X4 mounted on it and it likes the heavier weighted slugs.
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Post by jfs on Dec 22, 2020 12:39:21 GMT -5
My 3 1/2" M-27.....
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Post by wheelguns on Dec 22, 2020 14:11:16 GMT -5
Here are my 357’s. The top is my 5” gp100. This is my favorite for now. It balances great, and shoots even better. I keep this loaded in my gun room. It is my back of the house gun. The sights are a stock gold bead front with a bowen target rear. They are adjusted for my self defense load, which is 6.5gns of unique with a 158gn mp large hollow point. It is hard to miss with this. The next is my TGW blackhawk. This gun has not found it’s place yet. I put a red dot on it because it now fits my simply rugged 41 mag holster, and because I thought I would take it deer hunting. The only problem is that I can’t seem to go deer hunting without my 41mag, my 45 colt, or my 480 ruger. It is a great gun, and also shoots “lights out”. It will find a place, it ain’t goin anywhere. Finally, is my 6” ss gp100. This gun sits around more and more, since I got the 5”. My current plans are to make it a 3” 41spl, not unlike magnum wheel mans 10mm rimmed. I guess we will see what happens with that. I like the 357, but it is not my favorite
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Post by Lee Martin on Dec 22, 2020 16:38:43 GMT -5
I have a lot of .357's, but this one is my favorite. It has gone everywhere I have since 1995. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"
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Post by bigbrowndog on Dec 22, 2020 18:26:15 GMT -5
I have owned several from 2.75” to 8” and while they do make very good home defense or personal defense guns, I’ve never really warmed up to them in the field unless the 357 was followed by Maximum instead of magnum. When using one in the field it has always been as an EDC gun and I’ve really preferred guns used for medium game to start with a 4. Although as a GP gun for ranch use I can find no fault in the caliber, I just prefer more weight in my projectile. If I was to pick one as a favorite it would be a blued version of Lee”s that I let go a long time ago, wish I hadn’t done it, but I did.
Trapr
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Post by oddshooter on Dec 22, 2020 19:33:53 GMT -5
My second love was the 357 magnum. I probably have more of them in the vaults than any other caliber. I just loved the incredible range it had from powder puff to full blown firebreather; 700fps to 1500fps velocity. 124gr to over 200gr bullets. And then there's the 38 special rounds. Oh my.
It wasn't until silhouette captured me that I needed more gun. When you get past 100 yards, you really need a touch more velocity. That's why they invented the MAXIMUM !!!
357's, I love em all: Colt, S&W, Dan Wesson, Ruger, United Sporting Arms, Marlin, T/C, Arminius, Weirbach, and ... Each one has its own unique look, feel, and character.
The Colt SAA is cowboy awesome. The model 19 is a perfect fit for me, but the 27 is just so outstanding it always gets a nod; and then there's the 13oz 360PD that is more than a handful of pain, but it goes on every walk. The Abilene is pure joy to shoot. The others are what I just call having FUN.
Of course, now, the 32's are pushing for shelf space in my heart as well.
Is this a great country or what !!! Prescut
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