Easy one. . .What's the strongest .357 out there?

beantownshootah

January 21, 2010 06:33

Lets say I (stupidly) want to push .357 magnum rounds to the absolute maximum that I can and fire a lot of them.

Which revolver is the STRONGEST (/toughest) DOUBLE ACTION .357 magnum out there (ie the one that will take the most abuse and give the greatest margin of safety)?

I'm guessing its the Smith 27/627.

Any opinions?

Also, feel free to share anecdotes about what happens when you overload .357s or fire too many of them from your gun. [;)]

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  tsr1965

  January 21, 2010 06:40

  Hey Beantown,
  
  The absolute strongest would be a Ruger Redhawk, if you can find one. They are really beefy. You might find one on the auction side,
  
  Best

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  wtroper

  January 21, 2010 06:40

  Ruger
  
  In SA probably FA.

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  RCrosby

  January 21, 2010 07:17

  Like tsr said,
  Redhawk if you can find one,
  GP100 next in line.
  My money would be on either to beat out the N-frame Smiths.

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  Mark G

  January 21, 2010 07:21

  Dan Wesson in 357 Max.

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  dfletcher

  January 21, 2010 13:55

  I was going to jump right in and say the Ruger Redhawk also. The Smith 27s might be close and there's also the much older Colt New Service. The New Service frame and cylinder is probably same size or larger than the Ruger, but I'd bet the Ruger frame is thicker and better metal.
  
  I think with respect to showing wear, the 27 would show first in part because they are generally better fitted than the Redhawk. The Redhawk wouldn't show wear because it's strong as hell and not of the precisely fitted type gun.
  
  I think the New Service would hold up well, especially in timing, because of it's two stage hand holding the cylinder firmly in place.
  
  I have all 3, I'd go Redhawk.

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  Mr. Perfect

  January 21, 2010 14:15

  I'd say Redhawk too.
  
  Both Buffalo Bore and Garrett Cartridges seem to agree on this.
  
  edit: thinking more on it now, I don't believe the Redhawk is currently available in 357magnum. 44mag and 45lc only I believe.
  
  So I'd have to say the strongest 357mag would be Ruger's GP100. I'd still say Ruger over Smith in terms of ruggedness and strength.

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  partisan

  January 21, 2010 14:19

  I too will say the Redhawk, but reluctantly. I have never owned, nor liked the looks of the Ruger. I wouldn't trade my 5" bbl model 27 for a whole truckload of Redhawks, but they are suppose to be fairly tough revolvers.

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  RCrosby

  January 21, 2010 14:32

  Mr. P.,
  To clarify, the Redhawk is not currently chambered in .357, but was for a short time. Thus the references to "if you can find one, etc." For me that means, "strongest available, new or used", it's the Redhawk. Currently produced; the GP100

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  gap1916

  January 21, 2010 14:39

  Ruger RedHawk my 2 cents

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  dcs shooters

  January 21, 2010 15:46

  I'd say the Dan Wesson then the Model 27 S&W.

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  Bert H.

  January 21, 2010 16:20

  I have fed my 1986 vintage Ruger GP-100 a steady diet of "full-house" loads for a very long time, and it shows no signs of wear at all. If you want a DA revolver, go with the GP-100. If SA is your flavor, go with a Black Hawk.
  
  
  
  

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