Looking to buy a .357 magnum hunting revolver
Well I should have my purchase permit next week so I'm starting to do some legwork.
Who all makes quality 8+ inch .357 magnum revolvers? Other than Ruger.
I want something light but accurate, and I want something non bulky looking, any extra metal on it better do something not just make it stronger. In other words it shouldn't have as big of a diameter barrel as a .50 cal just to make it extra strong.
All suggestions welcome thanks guys.
Who all makes quality 8+ inch .357 magnum revolvers? Other than Ruger.
I want something light but accurate, and I want something non bulky looking, any extra metal on it better do something not just make it stronger. In other words it shouldn't have as big of a diameter barrel as a .50 cal just to make it extra strong.
All suggestions welcome thanks guys.
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I don't remember who all has the longer barrel, but I do like the S&W 686 (particularly the 7-shot 686+). There's a Ruger listed on TFF (topic # 17212)that seems reasonable (I don't know the guy, just saw his listing right before I looked at your post). It's listed under the buy/sell/trade forum if you know where I'm talking
Have you considered the TC lineup of single-shot pistols? They'll likely be the lightest one of them all. Another option you might consider is the 10mm instead of the .357 mag. The 10mm has at least .357 mag specs (with some loads up to .41 mag specs, see Doubletapammo.com for more details) and has a slightly larger bullet diameter. S&W makes a revolver chambered for the 10mm and .40 S&W so it's similar to the .357 mag/38 special setup most people are used to except that the 10mm gives a hunter a little more power and if you're a reloader they have a big bullet choice (from 135 grain to 220 grain at least).
Anyway, food for thought... [:)]0 -
Are you planning to put optics on it? Also you seem set on the .357 are you planning on hunting more than one type of game? Ruger seems an excellent choice to me i especially like the Redhawk. I'm not much on Ruger semi's but they make a good solid wheel gun. If you are thinking of a variety of larger game you might consider a larger caliber but that's just my two cents. 0 -
Another possibility, I recently bought a Winchester 94 compact in 357. It is a 16 inch barrel lever gun. Light weight, short, accurate. You can shoot 38spl. in it and it kicks like a 22!
If you really want a handgun though, I don't think you can do any better than a Ruger single action. They are accurate, and well made enough to take any hand load or factory ammo out there.
Is it true that cannibals won't eat clowns cause they taste funny?0 -
I absolutely will not be buying a Ruger. I have had to many recent bad experiences with them, I love the look of some of there guns but right now at this time in my life I will not buy one.
As for some of the other questions/suggestions right now I'm not certain if I will or will not put optics on it at some point I may however its not at the top of my list right now, thus I would go tapped or non tapped at this point depending on the features/price of the gun.
I did consider the 10mm for about 5 minutes and 44 mag for substantially longer than that. The main reason I am not considering the 10mm is I'm assuming the ammo is not cheep nore can I use a cheaper ammo in the same gun like you can in .357 mag and .44 mag .38spl and .44spl
The other reasons I decided on .357 for now were
Kick I assume the .357 is a lot less to handle than the .44
price on ammo .357 and .38 are both substantially cheaper than .44 and .44 spl
weight
accuracy however I doubt the drop from .44 to .357 affects accuracy that much in a handgun
Basically I plan to use it as a trail gun while deer hunting and or if I'm to lazy to carry a rifle
, I have a Tikka T3 in .308 with a nice scope for in the stand but theres always that walk to and from the stand and its sort of hard to pull aim and fire a bolt action scoped rifle at a target under 20 yards Also its a measly protection gun in case I run into an angry black bear "I know a .44mag would be better for this however this is not what this guns main purpose is for" I would like to get a .44mag however I want to be able to shoot this gun a lot I doubt I would with a .44 mag that may kick quite a bit not to mention cost me a bit to feed.
I held a S&W at gander mountain the other day and liked it quite a bit however after looking on there website it doesn't look like they carry any model .357's in an 8"+ barrel and from what I have read it seems as thought you need at least an 8" for decent accuracy hunting.
I hope that came out coherently I havent slept in 48+ hours cus im trying to deal with an alley cat, that keeps attacking our cats and put the nabors cat in the pet hospital... I just set my live trap so now its time to sleep and wake up to see if I cought anything, hopefully not another skunk.... that was annoying.
edit: and if I do every actualy decide to go bear hunting I will buy a .500 Magnum and a .50 bmg.... Heck I would only want it for hamburger and jerky anyhow [:D]
edit: and no not intrested in a TC I want more than one shot incase I do have to use it on a bear.0 -
The .41 mag would be the the first caliber in a handgun for shooting deer type game. Many have used the .357 but I think the experts will tell you no smaller than a .41 mag for med. to large game. Same power and energy as the .44 but flatter shooting and less recoil.(with the same bullet weight) The .44 will let you shot heavier bullets.
Born To Hunt... Forced To Work... #@!#$!!0 -
GinMaster makes a good point but I understand you want loaded ammo available... inexpensively. Hard to find generic or "UMC" ammo for the 41.
I would seriously consider the S&W and not necessarily go for 8+ inches of barrel. The long barrel can (frequently) be more of a hassel to carry than a handgun with a compact red dot sight. S&W set of for optic bases very easily. You see, the holster rigs can be set up (belt or under-arm) to more comfortably carry a WIDE rig rather than a long rig.
Your thigh will get beat by the barrel if on a belt, will open up the waist-line of your coat in a shoulder rig, and can make taking a seat in a stand a two minute exercise in 'positioning that long barrel' just so...that it doesn't rub the floor or stick you in the back/hips. Just more to chew on.
What 'Purchase permit' process is required in your state? I did not thingk there was one where you are at...unless it is the type issued at home.[:)]
SEMPER FI0 -
redice,
Here is my selection given your limits to the quest:
http://www.4thehunt.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=21395563
The remarks about carrying a revolver with an 8" barrel are very significant to comfort and ease of use. There is nothing worse than being uncomfortable while carrying it or more troublesome, not being able to get it out of the holster when you need it.
Best of luck!0 -
Hey Redice!
As far as an "8 barrel goes, the extra "1+ that you get over the "6 7/8 barrel on the 686's will not contribute that much to accuracy or velocity for that matter. The onger sight radius is the key factor with the longer barrels and chances are good that you will not notice the difference. I will virtually always recommend the S&W pistol; sweet trigger pull, very well built and I think one of the prettiest of all of the revolver designs!
The extra inch of barrel would only gain you about 20 fps and that is a niggling difference...the deer won't be able to tell you the difference at all! HA!HA! The new 686's come drilled and tapped with filler screws in place should you decide that you want to scope the gun down the line. I think this would be a moot point as inside the usable distance with a 357 for deer hunting, you likely won't need it anyway. As to that point, keep in mind that (as others have mentioned) you should limit you deer shots with that revolver to 50 yds. or ideally less. The 357 bullet design is kinda' short and stubby and it tends to lose alot of energy past that distance.
If you are looking for a S&W type gun at a slightly lower cost, you may want to look at the Taurus revolvers too; I would still recommend the S&W, but financial realities might dictate you go to the lees expensive copy. There are some internal differences, but the outside says S&W all the way! I would also tend to agree with you that in the interest of economy, sticking to the widely available and moderately priced 357 would be a good idea as opposed to the 41 mag, 44 mag, 454 Casull, 480 Ruger family of cartridges. I would like to tell you that they would be the better choices (and I believe they would be!), but if you can't afford to shoot/practice withthem, you've kinda' lost the whole purpose of getting the gun to begin with!
"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)0 -
i agree with ginmaster you should look at a .41 or a .44 you would have to be a excelent shot to take deer size game down with a .357
i have 3 taurus raging bulls 1 in .44mag 1 in .454 casull and 1 in .480 ruger i have taken deer with my .44 at 90yds and 1 with my .480 at 136yds
ONE SHOT ONE KILL.....
RANGERS LIVE FOREVER0 -
Originally posted by redice
I did consider the 10mm for about 5 minutes and 44 mag for substantially longer than that. The main reason I am not considering the 10mm is I'm assuming the ammo is not cheep nore can I use a cheaper ammo in the same gun like you can in .357 mag and .44 mag .38spl and .44spl
You can use .40S&W in a 10mm.0 -
I would look at the S&W 10mm. [8D]
Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O0
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