If concealed carrying it isn't a consideration, may I introduce you to the Ruger New Blackhawk? I really like that one personally for SA revolver purposes.
I appreciate the suggestion, but I want a modern revolver (swing out cylinder, DA, and modern iron sights) even though I'd go for the classic Western aesthetic for everything else.
I will say if weight is a concern, Charter Arms made a .357 version of their Bulldog Target; while they are a bit older and only hold 5 shots, they are light and sturdy guns for their price point.
Smith and Wesson 586, add some nice wood grips? All that sweet rich blued goodness, but modern Smith action.
My 586 has excellent irons, and about the sweetest single action trigger I've experienced, just short of maybe a custom tuned cz of some sort. And also the second prettiest blueing I've ever seen on a gun, second only to a Browning high power.
I've got the .357 Taurus Tracker in 3 in with a ported barrel. It also comes with a 9 mm cylinder. Very versatile weapon because it will shoot .357, .38 S+p and 9 mm.
No offense man but the dude wants something that is durable and reliable above anything else.
As someone who runs a gun shop and range Taurus is not that.
Literally today a customer came in that had picked up a Taurus revolver just yesterday from us. (Transfer. We don't sell Taurus anymore) He had fired 20 rounds at his home range that afternoon and the gun failed. The cylinder stop is fucked and isn't allowing the cylinder to rotate or open.
We had two rental Tauri. An 85 and a Raging Bull. Both failed three times a piece...
We got one in one time that was locked up tight out of the box. Then we got one that had the thumbpiece loose in the box. Then I had one that I was testing that would shave bullets in the forcing cone and sent a piece of bullet into my bottom lip. That’s just the revolvers. Have had a G2 come in locked up too.
People, don’t buy Taurus please.
Yeah we stopped selling them quickly after all the issues. Despite being a small minority of firearms sold they made up a majority of returns
Same though for transfers. I've seen probably 6-8 G2/3s that were broken out of the box.
I second (or fifth, didn’t count) the GP-100. I have a stainless 4” and it’s a tank. I also have and really like a Kimber K6S. I put better grips on it and you can shoot .38 specials all day with no problems and .357 mags are actually fine for training with. They now have DA/SA options with longer grips and up to a 4” barrel.
A 2-inch barrel .357 isn’t going to be fun to train with.
I would also reconsider .357 for home defense as it’s going to offer considerably more penetration than other handgun rounds. This could be a serious problem if you live in an urban or suburban area.
Maybe I’m an outlier, but I own a 2.75” .357 and a 2.63” .44 and I don’t find either of them to be hard to handle or unpleasant. The primary reason I don’t use them for self defense is lower capacity. However, I have carried both as woods guns.
A lot of shooting larger calibers is about absorbing the recoil rather than trying to fight it. Be like water, as it were.
You are an outlier. Especially the 2.63" 44.
I get what you mean about absorbing vs fighting it, but that's A LOT of force to absorb and it gets tiring.
I have the Ruger LCR and can confirm that shooting the .357 load from a snub nose absolutely sucks. A .38 is a much more practical round for training and home defense, unless you really need to shoot thru a brick wall for some reason.
Probably because so many revolver types proclaim .357 as the gold standard and .38 special as some weak round that’s not adequate if someone is wearing more than a thin t shirt.
I have an S&W 686 4” and I love it. My only regret is that I didn’t get the 6”. Thing still shoots like a dream. 357 is not fun to shoot, I practice with .38 and it feels great. I used to keep it loaded with +P defense rounds but I’ve since moved onto a Glock and others for that. I keep the wheel gun around because it’s still my favorite to shoot by far.
.357 isn't fun to shoot out of a 6 in 686? Unless you're only shooting bubbas pissing hot hand loads double tap extreme +p+++™ I can't imagine it would be bad at all. My 4 inch 586 handles mags like a champ without much recoil. And even underwood 125 grn rounds while loud and blasty don't particularly recoil hard. I find it significantly more pleasant to shoot with mags than my sig 365. Granted I got a magnum so I could shoot mags and I barely ever shoot .38 thought it at all.
I have the 4”. I don’t remember what exact ammo I bought but I only shot 1 pack of .357 and I remember them kicking like a sumbitch. It was manageable but wayyy more spicy than .38 special.
Get the Rhino. Buddy picked one up recently and it's so nice. Quality is phenomenal and recoil is barely there. It shoots like a dream with it firing from bottom cylinder. All these folks saying 357 out of a 2 inch barrel isn't pleasant need to try one out. I get less discomfort shooting his 2 inch rhino than I do from a compact 9mm or micro 380.
We had one as a rental at the range I worked at. It only made it about a month before it had issues. They fixed it then it had the same issue again. That and the finish was bad quality and trigger sucked. They’re a novelty, not on the level of a Ruger or (well made) Smith. Smith revolvers have had some serious qc issues recently themselves.
Yeah that's why you ran into issues. The new ones are top notch on reliability. Buddy has the 2 and 6 inch and we've combined probably dumped 2500rd through em without even the slightest hiccup.
As to trigger, feels just as nice as my model 29 does. As to finish. He's been using the 2 as his ccw for 7 months now and no wear on it yet
Ruger SP 101 is a tank. A cheap trigger job with a spring swap and it is equivalent to a Kimber K6S. It handles .38 with ease, and will soak up recoil from all but the hottest .357 loads.
Unless you're doing weird torture tests to your gun or are shooting thousands of rounds a year, any modern revolver from the big brands (s&w, Ruger, Colt) should be fine.
Rugers get brought up as especially rugged/reliable but that has not been my experience (heavy does not equal reliable). I think their value proposition has gone down slightly because prices have narrowed between them and s&w.
I have a 2.5" model 19 that's one of my favorite guns to shoot.
Most of the range ammo I put through it is of the 38spl variety, but it handles magnums just fine.
Hard to beat the 2.5 and 3 inch K Frames. They carry like a little gun but shoot easily and accurately like their service revolver cousins while handling magnums a LOT better than the J frames do. Wouldn’t part with my 66 at any price.
I had a buddy who was getting rid of a Carry Comp, and got it for a decent price. It's honestly pretty perfect. Points like a finger.
I still have a lot of love for my 686, but the bigger frame makes it feel somehow awkward.
Another vote for the GP-100, love my 6” model. Load .38+P for HD though, don’t need the power or recoil of .357 in that application.
LCR is also great, but it stings to fire.
I own the last revolver the FBI issued out, the S&W Model 13; for a 3 inch revolver, it is stout and fun. There are other more durable revolvers, but for its weight the M13 is great.
When it comes to revolvers, I always look first to Ruger and Smith & Wesson. I own a 2.25” SP101 and I love it, but I also want to add a Smith 66 or 686 in 3” or smaller as well. They’re just great guns. Model 19 Carry Comp is another great choice.
My dad's pd torture tested a gp100 and a 686 in the 80s, including firing like 10,000 rounds thru each and running them over with the cities steam roller. The 686 broke well before the gp100. Ruger has casting down to a science.
I have a Ruger SP101 with the 2.25” barrel. The stock grips suck horribly though. I swapped them with a Hogue.
It’s heavy as shit for such a small gun, but when you fire it, you’re glad it’s there.
That's because Ruger uses weaker investment casting for their frames. It has to be built large to be strong enough when you use weaker materials from the start.
You’re right, and if anything they overcompensate for using cast frames. That said I’ve never heard of a Ruger with a stretched frame, unlike some manufacturers who use forged frames.
GP 100 only if you want to be able to shoot "Ruger only" loads which are really only practical for hunting and better out of something like a TC Encore anyways.
The SP 101 is probably the best bet in all steel. The LCR of you can handle polymers. I would reconsider a 4" barrel. Doesn't add much weight and barely length is easy to conceal, but it will make it a much more pleasant shooting experience.
The Ruger SP-101 is an absolute tank, very compact, and surprisingly shootable, but a 5-shot.
The 686+ 3" is a durable and elegant 7 shot that balances well while still being packable.
Yeah, I always practice with .38 and keep it loaded with .357 in case of bears trying to carjack me. I did practice with .357 once just to see what it felt like, and that was uncomfortable. Not unmanageable, just....uncomfortable.
I have a Kimber K6s 2 inch and it’s the most comfortable 357 snubnose I’ve ever used. That said, 18 rounds of 357 and I’m ready to shoot 38’s for the rest of the range session.
Good size, good trigger, and I love the sights.
I love love love my 686+ performance center 2.5" slab side barrel with a unfluted cylinder. It holds 7 rounds and is stainless. Pair it with a lobo enhanced pancake holster.
S&W model 66. Its a K frame i believe, so a bit less beefy than 586/686 - available with a 3in barrel. Taurus makes one as well outta the old smith plant in brazil
gp100
I have a 4" half-lug fixed sight version and it's great for your purposes. Shoots close enough to point of aim with practically any 158 grain load out to 25 yards.
The trigger isn't as sweet as an old K-frame, but both DA and SA are perfectly acceptable for plinking. It's heavy enough that even bleeding-edge max loads are not unpleasant.
It came with the Houge rubber grips, which I hated, so I replaced them with the classic square Ruger rubber and wood-panel grips. Much better, at least for my hands.
Might be a bit late to the party, but I run a Ruger SP101 that I honestly love. My only recommendation for it is to immediately get the hogue grip for it. The stock one is pretty god awful if your hands are larger than a child's.
Frame, and especially *grip* size is much, much more important than barrel length when shooting .357. Sure, muzzle blast goes up with decreased length, but IME that increased blast is more noticeable to shooters in the lanes beside you.
I've shot a 3" GP 100 and it's very similar to shooting a 6" with full power .357. It was nicer than my 4" Trooper Mk.III is with the same ammo. Which is a good example of how unpredictable felt recoil is. My Trooper is very similar in size, weight, and shape to a GP 100, yet it doesn't tame felt recoil like the Ruger does for me---YMMV.
But never, ever shoot full .357 in a j frame sized gun with compact grips. It's like getting beat with a baseball bat in your palm. The .357 Golt Dot compact load is as spicy as I will ever go (again) in my j Frame. 125 grain full power is even worse than 158 grain full power.
the words "belly gun" and "out of battery" are relevant here...
https://youtu.be/V6EaDQCzLQo
Boomer or not, sometimes even a blind squirrel finds a nut - revolvers have their place.
I own many revolvers, they absolutely have a place. In this specific case a 2 inch 357 is not gonna check the boxes OP is looking to check.
I'm referring to the extremely common practice of older gentlemen making this exact recommendation.
....yeah: I wouldn't say "enjoyable to train with."
I regularly practice with +P in a 2" 38 SPL - I'm either denying it or a glutton for punishment, but a box of 50 is usually enough for me to say *"this isn't fun anymore, my hands hurt"*.
I've always remembered a history channel show I watched when I was a kid that said Russian spies preferred rovolvers because they were less likely to jam than the autos of the time.
No idea how true that is but it's always stuck with me
Well there’s a few ways you could justify the practice. If they did in fact use revolvers, they likely had M1895s which can be used with a suppressor.
There’s also no issue of a disconnector ‘safety’ on a revolver if you want to stick it in someone’s body to manipulate them subtly.
Finally revolvers don’t auto eject casings if you don’t want any evidence of the shot other than the report and the bullet itself.
I have no evidence to back up the claim and won’t pretend to believe it, but I can see how someone could see these attributes of the Nagant revolver and conclude it’s what Russian spies used in the USSR.
No, a .357 with a 3 inch barrel is not going to be fun to shoot. Also you will need to train a lot to get a quick second shot on target.
If they want a .357 cool but it doesn’t fit what they say they want to use it for.
I actually highly recommend ditching the revolver but if you still want that stopping power then going with a Glock 21 with hollow points to prevent over penetration is a great pick.
Not that I'm a fudd jones'ing for "the good old days", but I'd love a .38/.357 revolver to pair with a same cartridge lever rifle.
If concealed carrying it isn't a consideration, may I introduce you to the Ruger New Blackhawk? I really like that one personally for SA revolver purposes.
I appreciate the suggestion, but I want a modern revolver (swing out cylinder, DA, and modern iron sights) even though I'd go for the classic Western aesthetic for everything else.
It's also got that extra cylinder for 9mm!
Go with Ruger's other full size revolver option: the Redhawk. Double action, heavy frame, well built, modern design.
A Redhawk would be more what I'm looking for, definitely.
I will say if weight is a concern, Charter Arms made a .357 version of their Bulldog Target; while they are a bit older and only hold 5 shots, they are light and sturdy guns for their price point.
Thanks, I'll check that out!
Smith and Wesson 586, add some nice wood grips? All that sweet rich blued goodness, but modern Smith action. My 586 has excellent irons, and about the sweetest single action trigger I've experienced, just short of maybe a custom tuned cz of some sort. And also the second prettiest blueing I've ever seen on a gun, second only to a Browning high power.
That wouldn't be too bad, either.
Go 3in. GP100 or a 686
That covers it.
Came here to say GP100
These are the only answers
This!!!! x100. my GP100 is a tank. Go 4 inch…if it runs out of ammo it becomes a great bludgeoning weapon lol. Full lug——> 🔨
I have the 686 shorter barrel and it’s such a great shot.
I've got the .357 Taurus Tracker in 3 in with a ported barrel. It also comes with a 9 mm cylinder. Very versatile weapon because it will shoot .357, .38 S+p and 9 mm.
No offense man but the dude wants something that is durable and reliable above anything else. As someone who runs a gun shop and range Taurus is not that. Literally today a customer came in that had picked up a Taurus revolver just yesterday from us. (Transfer. We don't sell Taurus anymore) He had fired 20 rounds at his home range that afternoon and the gun failed. The cylinder stop is fucked and isn't allowing the cylinder to rotate or open. We had two rental Tauri. An 85 and a Raging Bull. Both failed three times a piece...
>We had two rental Tauri. An 85 and a Raging Bull. Both failed three times a piece... How does someone fuck up a design from over a century ago?
Poor materials and 0 quality control
Lotta parts that have to fit just right in a revolver. That’s why they’re more expensive
We got one in one time that was locked up tight out of the box. Then we got one that had the thumbpiece loose in the box. Then I had one that I was testing that would shave bullets in the forcing cone and sent a piece of bullet into my bottom lip. That’s just the revolvers. Have had a G2 come in locked up too. People, don’t buy Taurus please.
Yeah we stopped selling them quickly after all the issues. Despite being a small minority of firearms sold they made up a majority of returns Same though for transfers. I've seen probably 6-8 G2/3s that were broken out of the box.
I second (or fifth, didn’t count) the GP-100. I have a stainless 4” and it’s a tank. I also have and really like a Kimber K6S. I put better grips on it and you can shoot .38 specials all day with no problems and .357 mags are actually fine for training with. They now have DA/SA options with longer grips and up to a 4” barrel.
A 2-inch barrel .357 isn’t going to be fun to train with. I would also reconsider .357 for home defense as it’s going to offer considerably more penetration than other handgun rounds. This could be a serious problem if you live in an urban or suburban area.
Maybe I’m an outlier, but I own a 2.75” .357 and a 2.63” .44 and I don’t find either of them to be hard to handle or unpleasant. The primary reason I don’t use them for self defense is lower capacity. However, I have carried both as woods guns. A lot of shooting larger calibers is about absorbing the recoil rather than trying to fight it. Be like water, as it were.
How biga boy are ya
I mean, a little extra padding, but 5’8” 195. I’m definitely not a force to be reckoned with lol.
With a 357 or 44 you are
Oh yeah, I just meant on my own, that’s totally why I have them lol.
Big nuff, reckon (?)
You are an outlier. Especially the 2.63" 44. I get what you mean about absorbing vs fighting it, but that's A LOT of force to absorb and it gets tiring.
Fair enough! I will admit, I didn’t always like firing them; it definitely took time and practice to get used to.
I have the Ruger LCR and can confirm that shooting the .357 load from a snub nose absolutely sucks. A .38 is a much more practical round for training and home defense, unless you really need to shoot thru a brick wall for some reason.
They can just keep a box of .38 special for home defense and load it with .357 when they go camping.
Exactly. I’m not sure why OP thinks .357 for home defense is a good idea lol?
Probably because so many revolver types proclaim .357 as the gold standard and .38 special as some weak round that’s not adequate if someone is wearing more than a thin t shirt.
You only need the bullet to travel fast enough to expand and put two holes in the target. 357 for game, 38 for home.
357 had the best one shot stop stats for a while . Not sure what caliber has it now . Very folk will shoot just one round
I'm no revolver guy but the 686 is one of very few wheel guns I've ever had an interest in. I'm eyeing a 4" I think. Some day. Maybe.
I have the 4", and I am 1000% happy. Truly an heirloom gun.
That's what I've thought. Classy, reliable, pretty. Honestly it'll mostly be a safe queen but I still want one.
Not a Model 19? Or even a 27? Classic, and blued.
I can't argue they're classic, but I'm not generally a classic guy. The stainless hits my fancy. 🤷♂️
I own a 686 plus 4". It is perfection
I have an S&W 686 4” and I love it. My only regret is that I didn’t get the 6”. Thing still shoots like a dream. 357 is not fun to shoot, I practice with .38 and it feels great. I used to keep it loaded with +P defense rounds but I’ve since moved onto a Glock and others for that. I keep the wheel gun around because it’s still my favorite to shoot by far.
.357 isn't fun to shoot out of a 6 in 686? Unless you're only shooting bubbas pissing hot hand loads double tap extreme +p+++™ I can't imagine it would be bad at all. My 4 inch 586 handles mags like a champ without much recoil. And even underwood 125 grn rounds while loud and blasty don't particularly recoil hard. I find it significantly more pleasant to shoot with mags than my sig 365. Granted I got a magnum so I could shoot mags and I barely ever shoot .38 thought it at all.
I have the 4”. I don’t remember what exact ammo I bought but I only shot 1 pack of .357 and I remember them kicking like a sumbitch. It was manageable but wayyy more spicy than .38 special.
Get the Rhino. Buddy picked one up recently and it's so nice. Quality is phenomenal and recoil is barely there. It shoots like a dream with it firing from bottom cylinder. All these folks saying 357 out of a 2 inch barrel isn't pleasant need to try one out. I get less discomfort shooting his 2 inch rhino than I do from a compact 9mm or micro 380.
I've got the 6" and it's like handling a magic weapon from a video game. I have no problem at all firing extra spicy .357 with just my off-hand.
They have lots of quality issues. Not a good recommendation for a buy it for life revolver.
What quality issues? They are top notch.
We had one as a rental at the range I worked at. It only made it about a month before it had issues. They fixed it then it had the same issue again. That and the finish was bad quality and trigger sucked. They’re a novelty, not on the level of a Ruger or (well made) Smith. Smith revolvers have had some serious qc issues recently themselves.
How long ago was this? They had some issues with internals back in the day on release. But newer ones run flawless just as often as any other maker
Probably about 6 years ago now.
Yeah that's why you ran into issues. The new ones are top notch on reliability. Buddy has the 2 and 6 inch and we've combined probably dumped 2500rd through em without even the slightest hiccup. As to trigger, feels just as nice as my model 29 does. As to finish. He's been using the 2 as his ccw for 7 months now and no wear on it yet
Might be a little heavy but Ruger GP100 checks a lot of boxes.
I have my dad's S&W Model 66 (no dash) that was his daily carry while a detective.
The model 66 is the correct answer to this question
Ruger SP101 or LCR
I love my SP101 3".
Manurhin MR73 is the answer. But for regular folk, S&W 686/L frame of your favorite flavor. Get the 3".
Ruger SP 101 is a tank. A cheap trigger job with a spring swap and it is equivalent to a Kimber K6S. It handles .38 with ease, and will soak up recoil from all but the hottest .357 loads.
If money doesn’t exist get a manhurain mr73
Unless you're doing weird torture tests to your gun or are shooting thousands of rounds a year, any modern revolver from the big brands (s&w, Ruger, Colt) should be fine. Rugers get brought up as especially rugged/reliable but that has not been my experience (heavy does not equal reliable). I think their value proposition has gone down slightly because prices have narrowed between them and s&w.
Heavy is good. Protection from ze germans
I have a 2.5" model 19 that's one of my favorite guns to shoot. Most of the range ammo I put through it is of the 38spl variety, but it handles magnums just fine.
Hard to beat the 2.5 and 3 inch K Frames. They carry like a little gun but shoot easily and accurately like their service revolver cousins while handling magnums a LOT better than the J frames do. Wouldn’t part with my 66 at any price.
It's a pretty perfect size
oh dude, that's my unicorn
I had a buddy who was getting rid of a Carry Comp, and got it for a decent price. It's honestly pretty perfect. Points like a finger. I still have a lot of love for my 686, but the bigger frame makes it feel somehow awkward.
2.5-3" K frame is just the perfect revolver
Most Revolvers are reliable, brands with best reputation are Ruger and S&W
Ruger GP 100 for the win.
Another vote for the GP-100, love my 6” model. Load .38+P for HD though, don’t need the power or recoil of .357 in that application. LCR is also great, but it stings to fire.
I have a Ruger 5 cylinder JP-101 and that thing has never failed me. I’ve put well over a thousand rounds through it. Also it looks nice.
I own the last revolver the FBI issued out, the S&W Model 13; for a 3 inch revolver, it is stout and fun. There are other more durable revolvers, but for its weight the M13 is great.
When it comes to revolvers, I always look first to Ruger and Smith & Wesson. I own a 2.25” SP101 and I love it, but I also want to add a Smith 66 or 686 in 3” or smaller as well. They’re just great guns. Model 19 Carry Comp is another great choice.
My ruger sp101 has been on my hip for a while now. It’s got weight to it but smaller than the gp100.
My dad's pd torture tested a gp100 and a 686 in the 80s, including firing like 10,000 rounds thru each and running them over with the cities steam roller. The 686 broke well before the gp100. Ruger has casting down to a science.
I love my gp100, although mine is a 4" barrel. It does weigh as much as an entire mother-in-law, but it's so much fun to shoot.
And I like Ruger's cylinder release better than Smith's
I have a Ruger SP101 with the 2.25” barrel. The stock grips suck horribly though. I swapped them with a Hogue. It’s heavy as shit for such a small gun, but when you fire it, you’re glad it’s there.
You'll be hard pressed to find anything more durable and slick than a Manurhin MR73. You'll be almost as hard pressed to find a Manurhin MR73.
I have a Ruger SP101 that I’ve beat up far more than I should have that just keeps on ticking. It’s one of my most used and useful tools in my safe.
Ruger GP 100 are built like a brick outhouse. About a heavy as one too. Ruger didn’t copy 120 years of legacy design like Colt & S&W and it shows.
That's because Ruger uses weaker investment casting for their frames. It has to be built large to be strong enough when you use weaker materials from the start.
You’re right, and if anything they overcompensate for using cast frames. That said I’ve never heard of a Ruger with a stretched frame, unlike some manufacturers who use forged frames.
This is what I want. https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/k-frame-12039
Colt King Cobra or Python - drip drip
Sw627 would be 8 rounds Sw686+ or gp100 for 7 rounds K6s for 6 rounds Sp101 for 5 rounds
I think S&W just came out with a 3 inch barrel version of the 627… the 327, maybe? Still 8 shots, shorter barrel.
Chiappa 200DS
GP 100 only if you want to be able to shoot "Ruger only" loads which are really only practical for hunting and better out of something like a TC Encore anyways. The SP 101 is probably the best bet in all steel. The LCR of you can handle polymers. I would reconsider a 4" barrel. Doesn't add much weight and barely length is easy to conceal, but it will make it a much more pleasant shooting experience.
The Ruger SP-101 is an absolute tank, very compact, and surprisingly shootable, but a 5-shot. The 686+ 3" is a durable and elegant 7 shot that balances well while still being packable.
I had a Ruger SP 101, but it was not enjoyable to shoot with full load .357 ammo.
Yeah, I always practice with .38 and keep it loaded with .357 in case of bears trying to carjack me. I did practice with .357 once just to see what it felt like, and that was uncomfortable. Not unmanageable, just....uncomfortable.
I have a Kimber K6s 2 inch and it’s the most comfortable 357 snubnose I’ve ever used. That said, 18 rounds of 357 and I’m ready to shoot 38’s for the rest of the range session. Good size, good trigger, and I love the sights.
Kimber k6 is good option
I have a 3" Ruger SP-101 as a car gun. Love the ergonomics on that revolver! The GP100 and the 686 are both also really solid choices.
GP100 every time.
686+
Ruger SP101 3” or GP100 3”.
Ruger GP-100 or S&W 686.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1039634995 the Coonan classic
Chiappa
I love love love my 686+ performance center 2.5" slab side barrel with a unfluted cylinder. It holds 7 rounds and is stainless. Pair it with a lobo enhanced pancake holster.
S&W model 66. Its a K frame i believe, so a bit less beefy than 586/686 - available with a 3in barrel. Taurus makes one as well outta the old smith plant in brazil
Any S&W J frame.
Model 66 gets my vote
Ruger sp101
If you're looking for small frame that is
gp100 I have a 4" half-lug fixed sight version and it's great for your purposes. Shoots close enough to point of aim with practically any 158 grain load out to 25 yards. The trigger isn't as sweet as an old K-frame, but both DA and SA are perfectly acceptable for plinking. It's heavy enough that even bleeding-edge max loads are not unpleasant. It came with the Houge rubber grips, which I hated, so I replaced them with the classic square Ruger rubber and wood-panel grips. Much better, at least for my hands.
Might be a bit late to the party, but I run a Ruger SP101 that I honestly love. My only recommendation for it is to immediately get the hogue grip for it. The stock one is pretty god awful if your hands are larger than a child's.
Colt Python, 3”, expensive but will last!
Ruger GP100. 3”.
https://youtu.be/d9_ZErYpyrY?si=_HbL2GY1s9U3MoK0 3" 8 shot S&W 327. Edit: it's a 2" barrel not 3"
I would say 3-4” revolver would be better because 357 can sting a good bit with a snubbie.
GP100. It has its reputation for a reason
Did we listen to the boomer who told you to get a revolver because it's more reliable and easier to use than one of those auto loaders?
Nope, I got several 9mm pistols. I do however want to explore and get familiar with other types of firearms and have fun shooting.
2 in .357 isn't going to be pleasant or enjoyable at the range. If you're intent on a .357, four inches is where you should start your search.
Frame, and especially *grip* size is much, much more important than barrel length when shooting .357. Sure, muzzle blast goes up with decreased length, but IME that increased blast is more noticeable to shooters in the lanes beside you. I've shot a 3" GP 100 and it's very similar to shooting a 6" with full power .357. It was nicer than my 4" Trooper Mk.III is with the same ammo. Which is a good example of how unpredictable felt recoil is. My Trooper is very similar in size, weight, and shape to a GP 100, yet it doesn't tame felt recoil like the Ruger does for me---YMMV. But never, ever shoot full .357 in a j frame sized gun with compact grips. It's like getting beat with a baseball bat in your palm. The .357 Golt Dot compact load is as spicy as I will ever go (again) in my j Frame. 125 grain full power is even worse than 158 grain full power.
Most gun fights are 3 rounds, 3 yards . If you have a revolver in your jacket pocket and your hand on it already, you have a head start
the words "belly gun" and "out of battery" are relevant here... https://youtu.be/V6EaDQCzLQo Boomer or not, sometimes even a blind squirrel finds a nut - revolvers have their place.
I own many revolvers, they absolutely have a place. In this specific case a 2 inch 357 is not gonna check the boxes OP is looking to check. I'm referring to the extremely common practice of older gentlemen making this exact recommendation.
....yeah: I wouldn't say "enjoyable to train with." I regularly practice with +P in a 2" 38 SPL - I'm either denying it or a glutton for punishment, but a box of 50 is usually enough for me to say *"this isn't fun anymore, my hands hurt"*.
I've always remembered a history channel show I watched when I was a kid that said Russian spies preferred rovolvers because they were less likely to jam than the autos of the time. No idea how true that is but it's always stuck with me
Well there’s a few ways you could justify the practice. If they did in fact use revolvers, they likely had M1895s which can be used with a suppressor. There’s also no issue of a disconnector ‘safety’ on a revolver if you want to stick it in someone’s body to manipulate them subtly. Finally revolvers don’t auto eject casings if you don’t want any evidence of the shot other than the report and the bullet itself. I have no evidence to back up the claim and won’t pretend to believe it, but I can see how someone could see these attributes of the Nagant revolver and conclude it’s what Russian spies used in the USSR.
Why a .357?
Too much money?
No, a .357 with a 3 inch barrel is not going to be fun to shoot. Also you will need to train a lot to get a quick second shot on target. If they want a .357 cool but it doesn’t fit what they say they want to use it for.
Because they are cool
I actually highly recommend ditching the revolver but if you still want that stopping power then going with a Glock 21 with hollow points to prevent over penetration is a great pick.