quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bob C.:
You mentioned a 4" 66-2? I got mine out yesterday and fired it for the first time in a dozen years. To me it's the ultimate combat revolver.

Mine is a 66-3, it gets out 1-2 times a year for about 50rds, usually a mix of 38/357, depending what I have on hand. I rescued it from a Pawn Shop for $350 OTD a decade ago right before the holidays.

It's always fun, especially with 357 Mags. I still have several 50rd boxes of 158gr Speer GDHP left, before they went to $1/rd, but I haven't shot those in awhile.

I still pretty much think of myself as a revolver guy, even though I EDC a semi-auto.

For a while I carried a 3" 65, IWB under an untucked shirt, even in hot, muggy summer weather. Kept it loaded with FBI loads. Wore that gun 12+ hours/day at times. Never had a problem with it. In fact, it was more concealable than the Glock 23 I had at the time, also carried IWB under an untucked shirt.

I also carried a 2" 64, and found it was a little more comfortable to carry as well as being a smidge faster out of the holster.

I regret selling those two K-frames. *sigh*

20+ years ago I carried a 4" 686 as an armed guard, but company policy restricted us to loading them with .38 Special 158gr LRN. And this was at a relatively high-risk client facility.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: henryarnaud,

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by burnetma:
Many say 357 SIG is not as hot as 357 Mag, ...

That would be because, with the possible exception of 125 gr. loadings in both, it is not

To get .357 Mag performance levels in an auto-loader with a wider range of bullet weights you have to go up to a 10mm.

either way you'll get over 600 ft-lbs from properly loaded ammo on all 3.

I have never seen one, but K-frame S&W revolvers have been known to crack the forcing cone. The best advice is to use only 158 gr. 357 Mag ammo or use 38 +P if you want to shoot lighter bullets.

In the old days I used a M-19 4", but have a really good shooting M-65 4" too.

I have always felt the Model 19 was the perfect revolver. I have them in 2 1/2, 4, and 6". I sometimes feel nostalgic and carry the 2 1/2 in a Lawrence high ride OWB. Holster is about as old as I am.

quote:

Originally posted by armadill0:
I have never seen one, but K-frame S&W revolvers have been known to crack the forcing cone. The best advice is to use only 158 gr. 357 Mag ammo or use 38 +P if you want to shoot lighter bullets.

In the old days I used a M-19 4", but have a really good shooting M-65 4" too.

Yup, don't use 110g or 125g 357M in a K frame.

quote:

Originally posted by roberth:

quote:

Originally posted by armadill0:
I have never seen one, but K-frame S&W revolvers have been known to crack the forcing cone. The best advice is to use only 158 gr. 357 Mag ammo or use 38 +P if you want to shoot lighter bullets.

In the old days I used a M-19 4", but have a really good shooting M-65 4" too.

Yup, don't use 110g or 125g 357M in a K frame.

Qualifier: Don't use full-power 125gr or lighter-weight magnum rounds in a K-frame. It's the full-power lightweights that erode the forcing cone.

I've got an old 4 inch Ruger GP 100 I am quite fond of. I think it more than adequate for self defense and in the right holster, it is a welcome reprieve from semi auto carry. It just contours and fits me really well. I really prefer it for super active days of camping, hiking or moving.

I’ve got a S&W 65-4 with a four inch barrel that my buddy used to use as a trading gun for his classes, the trigger is soooooosmooth...I bought it from him when I first picked it up.

I take it to the range more than my USPSA gun ( prolly why my rank hasn’t gone up)...just love it.

I reload and cast my own 38 and 357....

I have several K,L and N frame 357 of various finish and barrel lengths and several single actions in 357. I think I could strongly argue that a 4 inch 66 or 686 could pretty much be my one and only for the apocalypse. My first handgun I bought was my 4 inch 19. Still have it. And paired with a marlin 94 in same caliber a person could be quite set for anything he would encounter

Ok, this thread motivated me. After I iron-out what's goin' on between me and my P210A Target, my Ruger Security Six is up next.

kalford, My Security Six rides more comfortably than anything else I own in a Bianchi thumb snap basketweave holster I've had as long as I've had the revolver. Have a duel speed-loader pouch and ranger belt to match. I guess that's my BBQ rig

How's that saying go? " everything over 4 inches is just showing off"

quote:

Originally posted by SigSentry:
How's that saying go? " everything over 4 inches is just showing off"

What's the saying if its under 4"?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rpm2010,

hard to beat a good 4 inch revolver. two of my three favorites...the one missing?? 4 inch stainless King Cobra, but my Python Elite has the best trigger ive ever shot. these are still a viable defensive option.

A 4” barreled .357 is probably the best combination for combat/SD in a revolver compared to other barrel lengths and calibers. It would of course be a secondary choice to a quality semi-auto in 9, 40, 45, or 10mm thanks to newer high performance projectiles (mainly from a capacity and ability to control and follow up shots). But from a purely “revolver only” standpoint, it would be very hard to do better.

I don’t shoot it as much as I used to, but still love my old GP-100 that I carried on duty before the switch to semi’s.

Hard to beat for versatility. Doesn't really excel at any one thing, but does a good job at so many!

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Hard to beat for versatility. Doesn't really excel at any one thing, but does a good job at so many!

I'd argue it excels at many things, which is why it still hasn't been beat to this day.

10mm comes close, though.

Four inch 357 mag revolvers were my first choice for many years. I remember handloading 125 grain bullets to 1500+ fps. On my S&W Model 19, I noticed a groove propagating above the flash gap on the underside of the frame's top strap. People were calling this "flame cutting" at the time. I talked with a number of knowledgeable folks who said this was a known issue with hot 125 grain loads on the K frame revolvers. I never noticed any cracking of the forcing cone but I stopped shooting 125 grain ammo in my Model 19's as soon as I noticed the groove in the frame. I did not have the same problem with that ammo in my Ruger Security Six or GP100 revolvers.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Hard to beat for versatility. Doesn't really excel at any one thing, but does a good job at so many!

I'd argue it excels at many things, which is why it still hasn't been beat to this day.

10mm comes close, though.

A 4" .357 will do pretty much anything, but for specific purposes there are better alternatives that excel in that specificity. I own 3 of them (4 if a 50th Anniversary Blackhawk counts) while I love them, there's usually a better tool for the job.

Carry - my .357 3" 66 and 10mm 3" GP100 are a lot easier to carry. Amazing how much difference 1" of barrel length makes and using either round butt for the Smith of compact grips for the Ruger makes.

Target - a 6" 686 and a 5" 627 provide better results for me.

Woods Carry - I'm usually stepping it up to my 629 Mountain Gun for that.

It's like my Sig line, jack of all trades master of nothing.

Don't know why, but I often take the bait in those if you could have one gun threads.

The 4" K frame Smith .357 always is and always will be a contender for my list.