Author Topic: Your two cents please (Read 2122 times)

Old Fart · « **on:** December 22, 2008, 03:39:46 PM »

I've been playing with the idea of getting another SA in .357. My last was a Blackhawk about 25 years ago. No doubt I should have held onto it. That being said I haven't really done a lot of investigation on what's available now. So from your perspective what are the better options out there nowadays? Doesn't have to be a Ruger or a Colt. I wouldn't mind not having to invest a small fortune for something I only shoot occassionally. But I might end up with one antway. Just looking for some consensus on what's out there.

So fire away! What do you like?

Oh and the reason for .357 is I've still got my Rossi lever gun that shots .357 & 38's so I want to have the benefit of a same catridge.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2008, 04:22:11 PM »

My companion guns for my Rossi .357 are a pair of S&W 66s 4" and 6" barrels. I've owned Rugers and they always disappoint me. My recommendation if ya just gotta have an SA is to get an FA97.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2008, 01:18:14 AM »

hard to beat a k or L framed smith for a 357

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2008, 01:38:18 AM »

The "best" single action .357 made today is the Freedom Arms Mdl. 97, but they're quite pricey @ about $1600-1700 new. Next in line is the Ruger Blackhawk. It usually takes a highly qualified handgunner to demonstrate the accuracy difference between the two in the field. Unlike Graybeard, my experience with Rugers has been good.
If you are willing to accept a double action, my choice would be a Smith L frame or a Ruger GP 100. Both are strong and accurate.
I personally would have zero enthusiasm for a Uberti, Taurus or any other foreign SAA clone.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2008, 03:32:38 AM »

Single action a Ruger Blackhawk, double action a S&W 686.

Old Fart · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2008, 03:50:33 AM »

Just interested is a SA right now. I have a full complimnet of DA's already. Right now I pack my big ol' mod 27 or my mod 629 s&w revolvers. On ocassion I'll strap on my J frame 32 H&R mag. What I would lik is to be able to put on a cowboy gun once in a while and reminisce the days gone by of William Boyd aka Hoopalong Casidy.

Well at least the days of my youth, drug store cowboy days.

I grew up on a farm and spent many a day chasing an old jack rabbit with a SA 22 cowboy pistol. I think that old Jack is still out there laughing at me. My grandson has shown an appreciation for the westerns and I cherish to time spent with him. I know the day will come when all he wants is a race gun, bang bang bang..... you get the picture. $:-\$

Freedom Arms make a exceptional pistol. I had a Casuall back in the days before stiff joints. It always hit where pointed. I am only looking for a entry level SA. One of the imports or maybe a Vaquero. So have any of you had any experience with these? I'm not looking for a family heirloom, but wouldn't mind it still being serviceable when I pass it on.

Thanks for you input.

Tom C. · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2008, 04:27:11 AM »

I find myself shooting a lot of .357 lately. I like both single action and double action revos. My single action revos are Ruger SS NMBH. I use 4 5/8” for CAS, and have one with a 6 ½” barrel. The 4 5/8” NMBH weigh 45 oz. The 6 ½” weighs 47.75 oz.

In double action .357s, my current favorite is my S&W Model 627-5PC. It is a 46.2 oz. 5” SS N frame. Shoots beautifully. I also have a 686SSR that weighs 40.6 oz. and a 60 Pro that weighs 24.6 oz. They come in all sizes and all are fun to play with.

I also have a Ruger GP-100 and SP-101. They aren’t quite as sophisticated as the Smiths, but they are anvil strong like their single action brethren and can be smoothed up to provide very nice trigger pulls.

Hank08 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2008, 06:14:23 AM »

OF, my 2 cents, the only proper companion for a lever 92 would be non adj. sighted single action and for a Hopalong gun that would be a Ruger high polished Vaquero.
I bought 3 for CAS shooting, the 3rd one for a backup but after over 35,000 rnds thru each of the others I've never needed a backup yet. I have J,K,L,and N Smith .357s
also and they get some use but not with my levers.
H08

SM Bob · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2008, 06:50:36 AM »

I'm kind of new to the single action scene. I have owned
many different handguns for over 30 years though. I recently
picked up a used in great shape SS 4 5/8 Ruger Blackhawk 357.
I got it gunbroker for $350. It is definitely a lot of gun for the
money. You could pick up a blue one in equally as good of shape
even cheaper if you look a bit. The SS Blackhawk is definitely
a tank. It feels solid. I have been working up some cast bullet
loads with 2400 for it and the results have been really good.
It's hard to go wrong with a Ruger Blackhawk.

Robert

poncaguy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2008, 01:24:46 PM »

I have 3, SA Blackhawk, Ruger 6" GP 100, and a Dan Wesson 8". My favorite is the Dan Wesson.........then the GP

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 25, 2008, 06:38:30 PM »

Why carry a .44 sized frame when you only need a .357 frame? Either find an old model (pre-1973) Blackhawk (and only load 5 rounds) or get a new flattop Anniversary model. Both have the proper mid-sized frame and are much more comfortable to carry and handle than the .44/.45 sized frames of the New Model Blackhawks. I believe that a .357 needs adjustable sights with its wide variety of bullet weights. If you must have "cowboy" gun, then its a Ruger New Vaquero.

44 Man · « **Reply #11 on:** December 26, 2008, 01:16:47 AM »

I would recommend the Taurus Gaucho in .357. I own 3 Gaucho's and am very pleased. Excellent fit and finish and very accurate. You have the advantage of a transfer bar system so you can carry six if you choose to but the trigger still sits in the traditional position in the trigger guard, and you have the '4 click' action. AND they can be had quite reasonable at the present time. My second choice would be a Berretta Stampede for a little more money. 44 Man

Travis Morgan · « **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2009, 08:41:19 AM »

Ruger Blackhawks in .357 can be had nearly everywhere for very little; they're real bargains. As for Gauchos, I'd recommend them to someone that wants a shiny pimp gun for practicing their "quick draw" in front of a mirror.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #13 on:** July 06, 2009, 11:52:14 PM »

for a single action id go with a ruger. the 357s dont seem to hold there value as well as the others and can be had used pretty cheap if you are patient.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #14 on:** July 07, 2009, 12:31:01 AM »

For what you describe, Ruger. Personally, I'd pick a Blackhawk rather than a fixed sight Vaquero, but one can make a case for either.

Travis Morgan · « **Reply #15 on:** July 07, 2009, 04:59:23 AM »

I have both, and simply prefer the Vaquero. MY .45's are way more accurate than the .357.

Scibaer · « **Reply #16 on:** July 07, 2009, 05:17:47 AM »

my 2 cents ...
ruger
new model vaquero
nickel finish
.357mag
simulated ivory grips

oh yeah !

Heavy C · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2009, 04:37:42 AM »

Ruger, but a Taurus Gaucho might fit the bill just a bit better as they are a little more affordable. Considering it's not meant to be a family heirloom it would be a good knock-around revolver.

ratgunner · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:19:52 AM »

Ruger Blackhawk.

Travis Morgan · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2009, 11:17:10 AM »

Quote from: Heavy C on July 08, 2009, 04:37:42 AM

Ruger, but a Taurus Gaucho might fit the bill just a bit better as they are a little more affordable. Considering it's not meant to be a family heirloom it would be a good knock-around revolver.

When I handled a Gaucho, I thought nearly the same thing, "This would make a heck of hammer"!

44 Man · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2009, 11:37:11 AM »

Quote

Considering it's not meant to be a family heirloom it would be a good knock-around revolver.

I'm not so sure. While the Gaucho will never have the appeal of a 'Colt', it is pretty nice. Mine (three now) have great, triggers, a very smooth action, and are very accurate. Put that together with a 'forever' warranty, (yeah I know, I've heard all that about the warranty service also, but they have done well by me) and it could just be a gun passed down to my kids and grandkids. 44 Man

ratgunner · « **Reply #21 on:** July 09, 2009, 07:17:07 AM »

Nice pistolas.As long as we are all happy with our choices.Some are content as long as they go bang,others want a little more. For me that would be Ruger.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #22 on:** July 09, 2009, 08:52:11 AM »

thinking on this more in my opinion you may be better off with on of the italian copys of a colt. In 357 you dont need the extra weight a ruger carrys with it. the taraus and the italian guns like the ubertis, navy arms ect are every bit as good of a gun as a ruger. As a matter of fact there quality control is probably better. They may not be as stout as a ruger but in a 357 single action you dont have to worry about that as any one of them will take loads as heavy as a ruger 357 will take. I like my rugers as much as anyone and have a ton of them but just about every one of them has had to have at least an action job done and most alot more to make them up to my standards. Ive seen some of the italian guns come out of a dealership ready to roll. About the only durability problem with them is springs and thats only if your idea of shooting is 500 rounds a crack not 10 and a few extra springs are pretty cheap.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** July 09, 2009, 08:54:41 AM »

In a word - RUGER !

ratgunner · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2009, 09:15:47 AM »

I can not beleive with the economy of our country now days that any American would recomend buying anything made over seas when you can buy American.

And just after the 4th of July no less.

44 Man · « **Reply #25 on:** July 09, 2009, 02:50:51 PM »

Quote

I can not beleive with the economy of our country now days that any American would recomend buying anything made over seas when you can buy American

But he did ask for the 'best' recomendation! (Sorry, had to do that)

We are talking 'best recomendation for the job'. They are both good guns. Ruger's can handle heavy hunting loads, while the 'clones' are just as good as a Colt for shooting standard and 'woods' loads running to 900 fps in .45 colt. You can choose according to your needs. If money were no object, we would all be shooting Freedom Arms, U.S. Firearms, and original Colts. But sometimes 'good enought', is just that. 44 Man

ratgunner · « **Reply #26 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:14:28 PM »

Well , I'm not looking to start an arguement. Lets just get back on topic.

bluecow · « **Reply #27 on:** July 11, 2009, 03:13:53 AM »

my S/As have all been ruger i likes them. a friend has a FA and its a vary nice gun. its also more $ than i care to spend.( i can get 2 or 3 somethings for that) im not goon enough to see the dif in accuracy. then ive shot my super blackhawk for years. dont know about colt or clones. id say buy ruger.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #28 on:** July 11, 2009, 03:15:21 AM »

My experince with off shore has been less appealing than with Ruger

Mohawk · « **Reply #29 on:** July 11, 2009, 04:59:37 AM »

Don't think they make them anymore but I has an Italian made American Arms .45 Colt, 5.5" barrel. It was stolen but WOW what a great accurate revolver. It was a Colt clone but awesome!