bamagreg
.327 Meteor
Woodstock, GA
Posts: 851
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Post by bamagreg on Dec 23, 2020 21:02:13 GMT -5
My first revolver was a 6” Ruger Security-Six back in 1979 when I was 18 years old. It was used and I think I gave $150 for it. A year later I sold it and bought a Like-new Colt Python for $375! I’ll ever forget it, my dad thought I had lost my mind! I had worked all summer hauling hay to earn the money. I had become addicted to Guns & Ammo and Shooting Times magazines and that started my lifelong love of firearms.
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Post by tracker on Dec 23, 2020 21:27:15 GMT -5
My favorite 357 is a 5 inch model 27. Along with being pure awesome, at least part of the reason Is because it was the first revolver I ever got. Had it since the 1970s.
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Post by 45MAN on Dec 24, 2020 9:49:51 GMT -5
IN HIS BOOK "THE CUSTOM REVOLVER", IN THE CHAPTER ON "REVOLVER CARTRIDGES", HAMILTON BOWEN OMITS A SECTION ON THE 357 MAG BUT DOES COMMENT ON IT IN THE 32-20 SECTION. PARAPHRASING MR. BOWEN"S COMMENTS ON THE 357 HE BASICALLY SAYS IT IS A GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT CARTRIDGE BUT A MEDIOCORE BIG-GAME CARTRIDGE, NOT A SUPERIOR SMALL GAME AND/OR VARMINT CARTRIDGE, AND IT LACKS CHARM. THOSE OPINIONS PROBABLY PUT INTO WORDS WHY I ONLY HAVE A PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP WITH THE 357.
I HAVE PLENTY OF 357's, AN EARLY COLT NF 7 1/2 INCH, A 4 INCH NICKLED PYTHON, 2 LIBERTY RUGER BLACKHAWKS, A RUGER BISLEY, A 2 3/4 INCH SS SECUITY SIX, AN OLDER 5 1/2 INCH SS REDHAWK, 4 MODEL 27's IN VARIOUS BARREL LENGTHS, AND A 9 1/2 INCH FA 353, BUT PICKING A "FAVORITE" IS HARD TO DO WHEN THERE IS NO LOVE OR AFFECTION FOR THE 357. FOR SMALLER STUFF I PREFER MY 32's FOR BIGGER STUFF I PREFER MY 45 COLTS. I NEED MY 353 BECAUSE IT IS MY PRACTICE REVOLVER WHEN I AM PREPARING FOR A HUNT WITH MY FA 454's, SINCE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO WORK UP A LOAD THAT SHOT OK IN MY SECURITY SIX IT NOW GETS SOME USE AS A GUN FOR AROUND CAMP, AND, JUST FOR FIELD CARRY WHEN OUT AND ABOUT AT MY RANCH, OR SOMEWHERE IN SOUTH TEXAS, MY S #'ed 5 INCH BLUE MODEL 27 IS PREFERRED, BUT ANYMORE I RARELY STEP DOWN TO ANY 357 FOR FIELD CARRY. I GUESS IF I HAVE A SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE IT WOULD BE THE 5 INCH MODEL 27 (SKEETER's PREFERRED REVOLVER).
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Post by oddshooter on Dec 24, 2020 10:15:38 GMT -5
He omitted a section on 357 magnum? Huh?
It lacks "charm". Oh goodness, gracious.
Well if you really don't have a good reason, I guess that's as good as any.
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Dec 24, 2020 10:34:48 GMT -5
After most of a lifetime with Contenders, a Python, a 27, a 19, a 65, 4 Security 6's , 3 FA 353/83's, a DW, a couple Redhawks, a GP-100, and scads of Blackhawks, I find myself with 2 favorites, that might leave you aghast: A 10" Contender, and a Flat-Top N.M. Blackhawk. Stainless 4-5/8" barrel preferred.
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scotth
.30 Stingray
Posts: 214
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Post by scotth on Dec 24, 2020 11:12:49 GMT -5
of all the 357 i have had i really like my match champion with adj sights
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Post by bradshaw on Dec 24, 2020 14:52:22 GMT -5
He omitted a section on 357 magnum? Huh? It lacks "charm". Oh goodness, gracious. Well if you really don't have a good reason, I guess that's as good as any. Prescut.... with my limited vocabulary there isn’t much room for “charm.” Nevertheless, an ability to shoot .38 Special and to instruct with .38 Special may bring charm to the apparently hermaphrodite .357 Magnum. Just because I don’t shoot gaboons of .38 Special through .357’s doesn’t mean I haven’t. Nor does it mean the cartridge could be erased from my development as a marksman. Somewhere between mosey-along .38 Special and full-tilt Three-Five-Seven loads lurk both accurate and practical----a fair compliment to the intrinsically accurate .38 Special and intrinsically accurate .357 Magnum. David Bradshaw
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Post by Stump Buster on Dec 24, 2020 15:55:53 GMT -5
PARAPHRASING MR. BOWEN"S COMMENTS ON THE 357 HE BASICALLY SAYS IT IS A GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT CARTRIDGE BUT A MEDIOCORE BIG-GAME CARTRIDGE, NOT A SUPERIOR SMALL GAME AND/OR VARMINT CARTRIDGE, AND IT LACKS CHARM. Sounds a lot like many folk's opinion of the .223 Remington. My very first handgun was a S&W 66 that I foolishly let go of, likely to buy something I also no longer own. That revolver shot like a laser. One of life's regrets. Since then, I have acquired a handful of 357's that sit in the safe now (both revolvers and carbines). Most of them have significant sentimental value, so I wouldn't feel right about picking one as a favorite. I will say, my favorite 357 shooter, as of this writing, is a stainless 6" GP-100. I still have a hankering for a blued NMFT and I want to throw a python barrel onto another GP-100 I have in the safe at some point. The 45 Colt is still my favorite revolver cartridge and I'm just now exploring the world of the 41 Magnum, but like Mr. Skeeter, I'll always consider the 357 Magnum a 'friend".
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Post by oddshooter on Dec 24, 2020 16:13:56 GMT -5
David,
The 357 mag, in the guns I have, has been the most accurate of all my calibers.
I apply the same process when I tune all my revolvers and make all my handload rounds. I don't think there's a large difference in my gear quality between calibers. There is however quite a bit of difference I see on my targets, the real arbiter. The 38/357's have just been the most accurate with several dozens of bullets and powder combinations. My expectations are much higher when shooting that caliber. Under an inch at 25 yards bench rested or I'm not happy. I've had many lots half that size in 357 mag. My 32's are a work in progress and my 44's are between 1" and 2". I've had some great groups shooting 45 Colt, but haven't had the consistency of my 357's. I always thought it was just me.
I haven't really thought there was a better "intrinsicly accurate" caliber. It seems that if you can get all the variables to play together, you get an accurate revolver. The orchestra needs to be playing the same tune to make music no matter what the instrument.
My 357 Maximums seem much better at distance.
I just got my first 41 Magnum in a Seville and I am anxious to see if it is as accurate as so many claim. I'm waiting to get the components, but I've waited on Starline for 3 weeks so far with no estimate as yet.
If any of you guys have a few extra 41 mag cases, I would be most grateful to purchase them or trade you for New when I receive my starline order.
Prescut
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Post by Stump Buster on Dec 24, 2020 16:20:19 GMT -5
I'm waiting to get the components, but I've waited on Starline for 3 weeks so far with no estimate as yet. If any of you guys have a few extra 41 mag cases, I would be most grateful to purchase them or trade you for New when I receive my starline order. Prescut Prescut, I just ordered and received 100 Starline 41mag cases from Cabela's website (got a gift card for my birthday and they had the brass in stock). They delivered quickly. I'd check there asap.
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Post by oddshooter on Dec 24, 2020 16:45:57 GMT -5
Thanks StumpBuster,
I snagged several hundred cases from Cabelas.
I even grabbed some XTP's since Xtreme and a couple of others were out of stock. I'd rather shoot cast but beggars can't be chosers.
This should get me started.
Prescut Sorry for the thread drift, returning you now to the 357 mag, favorite gun.
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,104
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Post by edk on Dec 24, 2020 17:41:28 GMT -5
After most of a lifetime with Contenders, a Python, a 27, a 19, 4 Security 6's , 3 FA 353/83's, a DW, a couple Redhawks, a GP-100, and scads of Blackhawks, I find myself with 2 favorites, that might leave you aghast: A 10" Contender, and a Flat-Top N.M. Blackhawk. Stainless 4-5/8" barrel preferred. Loaded to the limit with a 180gr bullet the 10" Contender is a formidable tool - no doubt about it. Probably not something Mr Bowen had in mind when discounting the .357 as a suitable medium game round.
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Post by 45MAN on Dec 24, 2020 19:21:59 GMT -5
edk: BOWEN MADE HIS COMMENTS IN A "REVOLVER CARTRIDGES" CHAPTER IN A REVOLVER BOOK. PUT ANY REVOLVER CARTRIDGE IN A 10 INCH CONTENDER AND YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.
AS A REVOLVER CARTRIDGE, IN FACTORY LOADS, THE 357 HAS BEEN HELD BACK BY THE SMALLER FRAME GUNS IT IS CHAMBERED IN AND THE SHORT N FRAME 357 CYINDERS.
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Post by nolongcolt on Dec 24, 2020 19:34:04 GMT -5
Colt blued Border Patrol.
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,104
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Post by edk on Dec 25, 2020 7:58:37 GMT -5
45MAN: That was the point of writing that the 357 in a Contender was probably not something Mr Bowen had in mind. Same would hold true for a Contender carbine, a Marlin levergun, etc.
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