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Post by rexgigu on Jan 17, 2021 18:38:29 GMT -5
My favorite .357 Magnum revolver is a very-early-Nineties Ruger GP100, 4” fully-lugged barrel, stainless steel, adjustable-sights. It was my personally-owned duty handgun, one night in June 1993, when it fired the only line-of-duty defensive shot, of my career. The original-pattern factory grip being a perfect fit in my hand, and the reach to the trigger being perfectly natural for my index finger, had already made this a favored handgun. The positive experience in a life-or-death event added an additional factor to the equation.
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Post by sixshot on Jan 17, 2021 20:08:17 GMT -5
My first center fire revolver was a 357 Blackhawk, bought in the late 60's for $87, new in the box & shortly after I bought a new in the box model 28 S&W 357 for $93. Sounds cheap but I was in the military & only making $65 every 2 weeks. It was my part time job in a sporting goods store that allowed me to start buying a few six guns. I shot thousands of Keith 173 gr bullets through that model 28 257 using 13.5 grs of 2400 in 38 special cases & took many Texas bullfrogs, armadillos, possums, turtles, raccoons, snakes, skunks, badgers, ground squirrels, rock chucks, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, deer, mountain lion & alligator gar. I've never been without a 357 magnum or a Keith mold.
Dick
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Post by tinkerpearce on Jan 18, 2021 2:23:14 GMT -5
.357s have come and gone; Dan Wesson, Colt, S&W, Taurus... This is the one that has stayed. Astra Police. Fantastic trigger, enough mass to take the sting out of even the hottest loads, not too big for CC.
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Post by Burnston on Jan 18, 2021 2:55:05 GMT -5
Late to the party, as usual, but no less interested. I've found that I need that margin of error previously touched on that larger calibers provide. Yet, after giving it some thought, I own more .357s than any other one caliber, one being a rifle. I have killed larger than wise game with 160gr bullets, but admittedly it's only been in a pinch. The 280(ish) pound hog below took seven before he quite fighting, but it was more of a running fight than it was a hunt. In a still hunting context, the m28 (incidentally, Mr. Meyer, a Highway Patrolman) would have been up to the task, no doubt. I much prefer my N frame .357 as opposed to my K frame m19 (still a fine pistol,) as it closer emulates the larger caliber platforms I am used to, and allows a few more options in the loading choices. I'm easing in to the caliber in a Blackhawk platform after getting this Old Model back from John Powers, and I prefer it to the N frame, though I've yet to find a load I can use as effectively as that which I've found with the Smith. The New Frontier front sight on the Ruger us an especially satisfying modification. I prefer other calibers, but I am not foolish enough to discount the .357 as an effective general purpose round. There is simply too much proof to the contrary.
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woody
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,116
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Post by woody on Jan 18, 2021 7:52:06 GMT -5
Work buddy, retired cop from 25 years ago. He says there are many more survivors of police shootings than there were back in his day. The difference? They all carried 357s 25 years ago... Or they were better shots!!!!!
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tj3006
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,965
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Post by tj3006 on Jan 18, 2021 16:51:39 GMT -5
I look with interest at the lovely little, OM Blackhawk By John Powers, As he is Currently in position of my Om Flat to 4 5/8ths .357. It was already a very good revolver but after a action job, a gold bead front sight, Color case and reblue I think it might be my favorite woods gun. I have a NM 6.5 inch .357 that may well be heading in the same direction !
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gregs
.30 Stingray
Posts: 454
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Post by gregs on Jan 18, 2021 22:27:14 GMT -5
What's not to like about the 357. Got a Gen 1 GP100, had a DW Pistol Pac 2.5 - 8", a 65, 686 and a 627 x 8. Only one missing is a 2.5" M19 or 66.
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Post by tdbarton on Jan 19, 2021 13:18:07 GMT -5
Work buddy, retired cop from 25 years ago. He says there are many more survivors of police shootings than there were back in his day. The difference? They all carried 357s 25 years ago... Or they were better shots!!!!! Not to derail the thread, but I would chalk all of that up to significant advancements in medical technology/treatment/resources.
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450ak
.30 Stingray
Posts: 458
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Post by 450ak on Jan 19, 2021 15:18:03 GMT -5
After killing a fair amount of antelope with my 45/310 Keith I decided to try the 357. Col Wesson killed the first head of big game on the pitchfork ranch with the brand new 357. My tag is south of there so I dug out an 8 3/8s 27. Load is 358156 HP cast from a Lyman mold. Velocity is almost 1400. Doe was walking left to right at something less than a hundred yards. First shot went through her shoulders, her head and neck dropped to horizontal. She kept walking. Shot her through the neck which collapsed her. Both bullets exited. Damage in chest cavity was significant. Got some grip and grin pics, miss Dawn went for the pickup and began skinning and quartering. Killed lots of smaller stuff with 357 and that was a fun hunt, but will probably use my model 69 next time I’m drawn. Used to get a resident doe tag easily but not nowadays.
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hombre
.30 Stingray
Posts: 119
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Post by hombre on Jan 20, 2021 22:01:02 GMT -5
My long barreled S&W 686 has the best double action I have ever experienced. It has that free spinning cylinder that locks up just before the trigger breaking, just a bowling pin toppling animal with my hand loads of 158 gr. JHP and a stiff dose of 296.
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Post by bradshaw on Jan 20, 2021 23:45:43 GMT -5
My long barreled S&W 686 has the best double action I have ever experienced. It has that free spinning cylinder that locks up just before the trigger breaking, just a bowling pin toppling animal with my hand loads of 158 gr. JHP and a stiff dose of 296. ***** FREE SPIN usually indicates the cylinder rotates both clockwise and counter-clockwise when the stop is disengaged. I know of no double action revolver with this feature. David Bradshaw
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Post by oddshooter on Jan 21, 2021 14:09:39 GMT -5
Free spinning pawl on a SW 686 sounds perfect. I had the Performance Center do an action job on mine and it is the sweetest DA I've ever felt at just over 7 lbs.
Prescut
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Post by golfswithwolves on Jan 22, 2021 13:46:24 GMT -5
There just is no perfect shot, animal or human. I was second or third on scene to yet another cop shooting. Male officer stopped what turned out to be a bad guy wanted for murder. It went kinetic almost immediately. Bad guy was huge, got cops duty weapon, cop literally on his knees begging. With his own gun in his face he heard a huge bang, thought he was dead. Turns out a female officer, who no one liked, pulled up, saw the scenario, got out a dropped the guy with a spine shot from at least 40 yds. Cop saved in an instant. You can look this one up; Cobb co. Ga, female officer arrests dirt bag in apt complex where she lives. A week later, same female cop off duty, pulls into parking space, steps out of car. Who's there? Dirt bag. Sticks stolen .357 cop gun against her chest and pulls trigger. Massive contact wound. Hole in her heart all the way out her back the size of a silver dollar. She draws off duty piece and caps the guy. Center mass. He lives. She holds on until back up arrives, loads her in patrol car and off to ER. She lives. Back on duty less then a year. Bad guy goes to prison. Two different shootings, similar weapons. Difference? Bad guy 1 gets severed spine, drops like a rock, can't pull trigger of gun in cops face. Back up officer blows his spine out his chest, fight over. Second shooting? NO idea how she took a 125gr Federal through her heart, at contact range, and stayed on her feet, holding suspect until back up arrived. Is a 357 a good social piece? Hell yeah! Is it 100% effective? Nope. Neither is a 41, 44 or 45. Man or animal, no difference. Miami shootout with Michael Platt and William Matix proved that. A .556 through the heart didn't stop Michael nor did a 357 through the heart of a heroic female Deputy. A goat?? Hell he don't know he's supposed to be dead. I've seen deer and men take solid hits and keep running. Seen a dude in Iraq with five AK rounds in his torso on his feet and talking. Pissed off more then hurt. Gun fights are like women. You think you know them until they're pissed off, then you see what you've got. Biggest bullet moving as fast as you can handle, placed as accurately as possible where it'll do the most damage, will at least buy you time to get to something bigger to shoot them with. Hopefully. Those female cops are tough! God bless all law enforcement officers.
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Post by taffin on Jan 22, 2021 22:33:59 GMT -5
My first center fire revolver was a 357 Blackhawk, bought in the late 60's for $87, new in the box & shorty after I bought a new in the box model 28 S&W 357 for $93. Sounds cheap but I was in the military & only making $65 every 2 weeks. It was my part time job in a sporting goods store that allowed me to start buying a few six guns. I shot thousands of Keith 173 gr bullets through that model 28 257 using 13.5 grs of 2400 in 38 special cases & took many Texas bullfrogs, armadillos, possums, turtles, raccoons, snakes, skunks, badgers, ground squirrels, rock chucks, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, deer, mountain lion & alligator gar. I've never been without a 357 magnum or a Keith mold. Dick Most Interesting Dick! Those were also my first two .357 purchased in 1956-1957. Could hardly ever find the .357 Magnum brass in those days, however I use the same Keith bullet/13.5 grains #2400/.38 Special in the same amounts. The first Gun Diamond Dot every shot was that Highway Patrolman pre-28.
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Post by junebug on Jan 23, 2021 1:09:59 GMT -5
I have an old 3 screw Blackhawk that I traded into years back . When I got the gun the barrel looked like the inside of a sewer pipe with no visible rifling, not much finish on the outside either. I cleaned strips of lead the length of the 6.5 in barrel from that old gun. Those old round nosed 38 special loads leaded the barrel so bad, and apparently it was never cleaned. One of my better shooting revolvers now with a good cleaning. Well worth the $40.00 INVESTMENT.
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