Buy a new 357 Magnum (Which would you buy?)

[6mm Remington]

Smith & Wesson, Ruger, or Colt would all be nice. I would handle and try and shoot (If Possible) each of them to see how they fit and feel in your hands.

I would go with either a 3" or 4" barrel as well for a much better carry pistol that you would have on you and actually use.

 

[thomas89]

@thomas89, what do you like the most about it? Are you shooting both 357 and 38 special when you are shooting it?

Just a smooth all around pistol. Balances well, crisp trigger in single action, smooth pull in double action. Hard to explain. I’ve shot both .357 and .38, I like the option to hunt with the 357, but the .38 is way more enjoyable in the 6” one I have.

I have quite a bit of experience shooting both Ruger Blackhawk and Redhawks in .41 and .44, the Colt is far smoother than both.

 

[Dan O]

My choice would be a S&W 627 PC model based on the N frame, 8 shot with a 5 inch barrel. Lipseys has a L frame 686+ mountain gun, it's a 7 shot 4 inch barrel weighing 35 oz and does not have the safety lock. For carry in the mountains this would be my choice of a 357. The 627 8 shot would be an option but a little heavier and a little more money.

For many years I carried a S&W Model 66 4 inch for my duty weapon. I really liked it, it was accurate and light weight. The issue with the 66's were a steady dose of heavy 357 loads sometimes cracked the frames. This was the rumor I've heard from various magazines but I've never seen it in person. Still have my Model 66 4 inch and a Model 66 2 1/2 inch round butt. If I didn't want the higher capacity heck I already own what I'm totally satisfied with.

 

[F250]

S&W 686 with a 4” barrel. Duty gun I carried for years. Accurate and reliable.

 

[TN2shot07]

@TN2shot07 I thought about mentioning the airweight and I have felt it, but never shot one. To me, it and the 357s are different animals. Are you saying it wasn't fun to shoot, even with 38s?

It wasn’t any worse than shooting something like a compact 9 with 38s, it was a monster with 357 though.

 

[WNC2500]

It’s not one of your options and I know some people don’t care for them but I had a Taurus 66 in 357 that was a great gun. Super accurate, shot a lot of rounds through it without ever a problem.

@Bhoesl The 66 was one of the guns that was on the videos I watched. It was usually middle of the pack of the "Top 7" or "Top 10" revolvers

 

[44hunter45]

Tough choices. Since "use" is the operative word, a 6" stainless GP100.

I have a 4" Security Six I bought on my 22nd birthday, 1984. It started life "Ruger Rough". After literally thousands of rounds through it, it is fairly silky.
I used to sit in front of the TV at night double action dry firing it. A lot of those bands I hated on MTV took one to the face.
It is still tight and a better gun now than when I bought it.

I love high end wheelguns, but almost nothing takes a steady diet of pink mist handloads like a Ruger.

 

[WNC2500]

Not on your list, but how about a 5” S&W PC 627? It would be heavy, but recoil would be negligible.

On your list, I would go with a Python because, after a 627, that is the 357 wheel gun I think is most interesting. I will probably never get either. The 357 I do see myself getting is a Marlin 1894. I think one of those would be blast.

@BAKPAKR, the Marlin 1894 would be a sweet and fun shooting 357 for sure!! You need that one.

 

[pabearhunter]

SIG 357.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Tough choices. Since "use" is the operative word, a 6" stainless GP100.

I have a 4" Security Six I bought on my 22nd birthday, 1984. It started life "Ruger Rough". After literally thousands of rounds through it, it is fairly silky.
I used to sit in front of the TV at night double action dry firing it. A lot of those bands I hated on MTV took one to the face.
It is still tight and a better gun now than when I bought it.

I love high end wheelguns, but almost nothing takes a steady diet of pink mist handloads like a Ruger.

https://www.gunsprings.com/

M*CARBO

Precision CNC Machined American Made Firearm Performance Parts. Superior Aftermarket Firearm Performance Parts Manufactured by Combat Veterans to meet strict Combat Ready Expectations! M*CARBO - MILITARY CARBINE BROTHERHOOD. A COMMUNITY OF VETERANS, POLICE OFFICERS AND 2ND AMEMDMENT PATRIOTS!

www.mcarbo.com

I've installed spring kits in several revolvers & autoloaders. You don't have to live with mass-produced roughness. Polishing some surfaces with a felt Dremel tool & flitz can help too.

The wolff springs sweetened up my 686 that was already well used. Slick as snot now, with a light, crisp single stage pull.

Colts generally need nothing out of the box, being show-pony's with a violent streak.