Which 357 snubby?

[Smitty of the North]

I wish mine were only crickets instead of these screaming locusts I got goin' on all the time! I just saw a tv advertisement for some over the counter med they've got out. I wonder if this stuff does any good?

Same here. It's a "cacophony" of sounds that I live with.

I got some of that stuff, but I'm afraid to try it. It's probably some drug that deadens the brain, and I'm a little shaky in that department.

SOTN

 

[elmerkeithclone]

I'd say mine are more like locusts too. Maybe with a waterfall in the background and a 40 mph wind blowing through a forest of dry leaves.

I have been cutting firewood as my main source of heat since I was 13 and 5 Macs and two Stihls later I am still cutting wood. We raced go-carts for several years too and setting clutches and carbs in the garage required high rpms....it was deafening. Could still hear that motor scream hours later. When I was a kid I had speakers in the back window of my 66 Sport Fury as big as microwave ovens and they were always cranked so as to rattle the windows on the houses as I drove by. I know I should have been knocked in the head for that. Sometimes my wife yells at me too. It all lead up to me now saying "what?" all the time. My guns had nothing to do with it....they couldn't have....they are my friends!

 

[ruffle]

Have been a big fan of the older Ruger Speed Six .357's in stainless, with a 2-3/4" bbl. I've owned three of them now, counting the one I bought a decade ago or so for my wife.

My first two had silky smooth crisp action straight out of the box, and for a ramp-sighted 2-3/4" bbl, at reasonable range, they were surprisingly accurate.

Ankle gun, inside waist-band gun, night stand gun, fanny pack gun; it's a fine specimen, and often one can be found in good condition, and at a reasonable price.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Have been a big fan of the older Ruger Speed Six .357's in stainless, with a 2-3/4" bbl. I've owned three of them now, counting the one I bought a decade ago or so for my wife.

My first two had silky smooth crisp action straight out of the box, and for a ramp-sighted 2-3/4" bbl, at reasonable range, they were surprisingly accurate.

Ankle gun, inside waist-band gun, night stand gun, fanny pack gun; it's a fine specimen, and often one can be found in good condition, and at a reasonable price.

A 357 magnum snubby aint no joke. Doesn't matter it its a smith, or a ruger. They're concealable, light, versatile, and powerful. The thing about the 357 mag snubbies, is that they'll chuck a 180 grain buffalo bore out a short barrel at over 1200 fps at something big, then lob the lightest 38 special fmj's or hardcast at small game, then load up with a nice 125 grain-135 grain 38+p or 357 mag defense cartridge designed for short barrels.

My opinion, is that I'd rather have that versatility to shoot a fire-breathing, flame throwing 180-200 grain hardcast load, rather than only be confined to 38 special.

With the right powder, a 357 magnum can yield some impressive velocity out of a short barrel. I know a guy up here who's shot more black bear over bait with a 357 magnum snubby, than most have with a rifle. As a revolver guy, I get what you're saying. Many a survival buff considers a 357 snubby to be the ultimate survival gun.

My biggest complaint of the 357 magnum from a short barrel, was a speer gold dot that I fired while standing in a doorway. The muzzle blast had my ears ringing something awful.

But then again, a friend of mine was deaf for a day after firing a 25 acp pocket pistol near an exterior wall. Short barreled pistols require some care for your hearing, before you touch off a bullet near a confined space. The 357 magnum is the WORST.

 

[ruffle]

A 357 magnum snubby aint no joke. Doesn't matter it its a smith, or a ruger. They're concealable, light, versatile, and powerful. The thing about the 357 mag snubbies, is that they'll chuck a 180 grain buffalo bore out a short barrel at over 1200 fps at something big, then lob the lightest 38 special fmj's or hardcast at small game, then load up with a nice 125 grain-135 grain 38+p or 357 mag defense cartridge designed for short barrels.

My opinion, is that I'd rather have that versatility to shoot a fire-breathing, flame throwing 180-200 grain hardcast load, rather than only be confined to 38 special.

With the right powder, a 357 magnum can yield some impressive velocity out of a short barrel. I know a guy up here who's shot more black bear over bait with a 357 magnum snubby, than most have with a rifle. As a revolver guy, I get what you're saying. Many a survival buff considers a 357 snubby to be the ultimate survival gun.

My biggest complaint of the 357 magnum from a short barrel, was a speer gold dot that I fired while standing in a doorway. The muzzle blast had my ears ringing something awful.

But then again, a friend of mine was deaf for a day after firing a 25 acp pocket pistol near an exterior wall. Short barreled pistols require some care for your hearing, before you touch off a bullet near a confined space. The 357 magnum is the WORST.

As far as decibel level goes, between machine guns, chainsaws, Harleys, rock concerts, snowmobiles, boats, and more, I've been increasingly deaf at expanding tone ranges for over 30 years now. The most common question yelled at my house is "WHAT??!!" ;^>) My wife's .454 Casull Ruger SRH with a 4-5/8" bbl and a machined muzzle brake, is the most painful-to-the-ears handgun I fire, though probably close in noise level to my 4" S&W .500 Mag. Never put a decibel meter to them.

I think the .357 mag has a fair amount of versatility, though I personally switched to a 1066 10mm S&W years ago (now with a spurred hammer from a 1006, as I hate bobbed hammers); the 10mm, when loaded right, outshines many comers. Too many load it down to where you're at par with a .40 S&W cartridge. I sheepishly acknowledge that I still carry my wife's .357 Speed-Six fairly often lately; it's closer to the door when I go to leave the house, and fits more comfortably in the DeSantis fanny pack holster, than the 10mm does in its same type holster. Lighter, too..

The .357 has always been my preference when specifically dealing with .38 caliber. I've had numerous 9mm handguns and sub-machine guns, and, once upon a time, had an antique S&W .38, but the .357 offers greater potential velocity, cartridge/projectile choices, etc.

Like owning a 4-wheel drive vehicle. You don't have to have it locked in all the time, but it's nice to have the option.

 

[elmerkeithclone]

I/we...Butch and i went through our experimenting age back in our 40s. We were told that a watermelon sandwiched between two sheets of half inch plywood wood very closely simulate a whitetail deers withers. Us being us,we shot lots of watermelons with lots of different stuff. One thing we found out at least with our whitetail deer simulator was that you could not tell the difference in damage between a 357 shooting a heavy 180 grain cast bullet, a 41 mag with a 210 grain cast bullet or a 10mm shooting a 185 grain cast bullet. They all poked hole through both sheets of plywood and wrecked the middle of the watermelon. What the test did prove was that at pistol ranges of around 30 yards a 125 grain XTP hollow point in my 4 inch 586 did more damage to our fake deer than any of the three mentioned shooting hard cast bullets. You guys in Alaska have a totally different playing field than I do in that you have stuff that bites back. A test for those fury rascals might need 2 sheets of 3/4 inch plywood and a bushel basket full of watermelons or one of those 3 ft pumpkins that seem to be the rage around here at trick or treat time. My biggest threat comes from a critter called a meth head. They look a whole lot like a zombie and are crazier than a pet coon that's been eating over ripe mull berries. Apt to do anything at any moment. I think my 1/2 inch plywood/watermelon sandwich test applies to them. You fellas up north probably should stick with them hard cast bullets for sure.

 

[ruffle]

I/we...Butch and i went through our experimenting age back in our 40s. We were told that a watermelon sandwiched between two sheets of half inch plywood wood very closely simulate a whitetail deers withers. Us being us,we shot lots of watermelons with lots of different stuff. One thing we found out at least with our whitetail deer simulator was that you could not tell the difference in damage between a 357 shooting a heavy 180 grain cast bullet, a 41 mag with a 210 grain cast bullet or a 10mm shooting a 185 grain cast bullet. They all poked hole through both sheets of plywood and wrecked the middle of the watermelon. What the test did prove was that at pistol ranges of around 30 yards a 125 grain XTP hollow point in my 4 inch 586 did more damage to our fake deer than any of the three mentioned shooting hard cast bullets. You guys in Alaska have a totally different playing field than I do in that you have stuff that bites back. A test for those fury rascals might need 2 sheets of 3/4 inch plywood and a bushel basket full of watermelons or one of those 3 ft pumpkins that seem to be the rage around here at trick or treat time. My biggest threat comes from a critter called a meth head. They look a whole lot like a zombie and are crazier than a pet coon that's been eating over ripe mull berries. Apt to do anything at any moment. I think my 1/2 inch plywood/watermelon sandwich test applies to them. You fellas up north probably should stick with them hard cast bullets for sure.

As a diabetic whose metabolism, for what ever unique reason, handles large amounts of watermelon without much negative consequence, and thus, having established a serious watermelon addiction, that made me wince.. maybe even had a quiet tear run down my cheek...

 

[ceresco]

It is such a personal decision on a good carry gun. I have been carrying for decades and have never found exactly what I want. I started with a 4" Security Six from Ruger long ago when I could not find a shorter barrel Smith or Colt. When it was hard to carry this I used a Beretta .25 ACP I got when the James Bond movies first came out. I have been trying to find a single gun that combines the advantage of both of these guns ever since. The list would include in somewhat chronological order Colt Detective Special, Glock 23, Glock 27, Smith & Wesson Model 60 3" 38 Special, Smith & Wesson Model 640 357, Colt 1911A1 70 series reissue Stainless, Colt 45 ACP Detective 3", Smith & Wesson Model 66 .357 with 2 1/2" barrel, Smith Wesson 642, Smith Wesson 340PD with hot .357. This last one is still my preference but sometimes a Sig P365 with +P Sig 124 grain HP. Hope you find what you are lookiing for without so many choices in between. Finding a powerfull enough gun that you are satisfied with and then the lowest weight you feel competant with is probaly a never endeing struggle.
Finding an Outdoor Carry Gun is just as hard. We camp and hike in Alaska, Wyoming, Mountana, Etc. with consideration of big bears. With many examples behind me I now carry a Smith & Wesson Model 625-6 45 Long Colt Mountain Gun. I handload 285 Grain LSWCGC at probably a little too hot for this one.

 

[4merguide]

....Finding an Outdoor Carry Gun is just as hard. We camp and hike in Alaska, Wyoming, Mountana, Etc. with consideration of big bears. With many examples behind me I now carry a Smith & Wesson Model 625-6 45 Long Colt Mountain Gun. I handload 285 Grain LSWCGC at probably a little too hot for this one.

The last time I went fishing on the Kenai this year I found a very fresh brownie track that was longer than my 12.5" wading boot. I "usually" carry my 4" Redhawk in 45 long colt, pushing those +P 325 grain buffalo boar slugs. Where we fish is almost in view of houses. I know better, but I've never carried my gun when fishing there, and I didn't have it on me that day either. Had my head on a swivel all day.

 

[The German]

The last time I went fishing on the Kenai this year I found a very fresh brownie track that was longer than my 12.5" wading boot. I "usually" carry my 4" Redhawk in 45 long colt, pushing those +P 325 grain buffalo boar slugs. Where we fish is almost in view of houses. I know better, but I've never carried my gun when fishing there, and I didn't have it on me that day either. Had my head on a swivel all day.

You know that old sayin,,,,, when you least expect it......
TG

 

[Alaska Bush Hunter]

I do not suggest any handgun with a barrel shorter than 4” for woods carry. After doing night shooting with 2 1/2” Mod 66 the flash is blinding and the velocity loss is substantial along with muzzle blast.
The 357 mag performs best at 6” .
In Alaska my favorite woods gun is a Glock 20 in 10mm with 220gr Hardcast. It’s nice to have 15 round magazines. In Alaska I would draw the line at 10mm in Auto and 44 Mag in revolvers as the minimum.
And I am a long time 357 mag Fan but not in Alaska outdoors.

 

[The German]

I do not suggest any handgun with a barrel shorter than 4” for woods carry. After doing night shooting with 2 1/2” Mod 66 the flash is blinding and the velocity loss is substantial along with muzzle blast.
The 357 mag performs best at 6” .
In Alaska my favorite woods gun is a Glock 20 in 10mm with 220gr Hardcast. It’s nice to have 15 round magazines. In Alaska I would draw the line at 10mm in Auto and 44 Mag in revolvers as the minimum.
And I am a long time 357 mag Fan but not in Alaska outdoors.

Well,,,,, I wouldn't be to hasty on sayin that a .357 in the right hands, and the right ammo, won't work in Alaska,,,,, and a Hunting & Fishing buddie of mine down in King Salmon would echo the same comments, as he's been packin one of these from about the mid-90's I believe.......
TG

 

[gunbugs]

For snubbies and a carry gun, have a look at the Taurus M605. It will do what you're asking it to do and will probably fit your hands better than some of the others. Anyway, my 2 cents worth.

Friends don't let friends buy Taurus. Lifetime warranty that you will probably use within the first year. Nice looking guns, interesting ideas, poorly made.

 

[kobuk]

My favorite 357 is my 4" Model 66 that I got back in the late 80's. Man that thing shoots sweet and I've taken a few deer with it on Kodiak. My favorite daily carry since the late 90's is the 340M&P which came with the crimson trace grip. Very light, so I will actually carry it all of the time. I have a few different holsters for different seasons-clothing. For field carry I'm a fan of heavy bullets in my 45 colts and 454 casulls. One thing that has amazed me is reading how there is such a big split in people saying that the 357 isn't enough but the 10mm is? I've always seen those two calibers as pretty much the same thing. I could give a hoot what others carry for town or woods but that one always struck me funny.