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Post by brothersteel on Jun 3, 2019 23:19:01 GMT
As far as my first gun purchase, I've settled on a .357 single action revolver with a 4 5/8" barrel. Just for some extra input, I'm stuck between a Heritage big bore rough rider and one of the ruger blackhawks with the convertible cylinder. Any thoughts?
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Post by William Swiger on Jun 4, 2019 0:29:12 GMT
Ruger revolvers are built like tanks. Usually larger than a normal western revolver. Have never handled a Heritage revolver.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2019 1:06:44 GMT
The Ruger Vacquero model has traditional SA styling, with the robust build Rugers are known for. I have one in 45 Colt, but I think you can get them in 357 as well.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 4, 2019 2:07:56 GMT
Years back I had a .357 Colt, New Frontier I believe, with a 7½” barrel. It turned out be a good trail gun. I have no idea how many snakes, squirrels, and chucks I bagged with it. A chuck up to about 75 yds. could be considered dead. I got it before CCI came out with their shot shells and made my own. I do recommend something longer than a 4 5/8” barrel to reduce muzzle blast, increased sight radius, and to take advantage of the .357’s ballistics. That is a good all-around calibre.
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Post by howler on Jun 4, 2019 2:55:24 GMT
Single action, the Blackhawk convertibles get good reviews. Got me a Ruger Redhawk 8-shot .357 magnum 5.5" barrel a few weeks back. 3 1/2lb. fully loaded, so it should be soft recoiling and take any load up to a stick of dynamite.
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Post by manville on Jun 4, 2019 14:42:56 GMT
Single action, the Blackhawk convertibles get good reviews. Got me a Ruger Redhawk 8-shot .357 magnum 5.5" barrel a few weeks back. 3 1/2lb. fully loaded, so it should be soft recoiling and take any load up to a stick of dynamite. Now that's my kind of magnum. I ordered a S&W 686 plus 7 shot with a 4 inch bbl a few years ago for my trail gun. Gotta love those heavy frame revolvers. I've owned blackhawks in .357 mag with longer barrels and several "Cowboy" peacemaker type revolvers in .45, mostly Cimarron or Uberti. I'd go with the Ruger Blackhawk over any in it's price range.
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Post by howler on Jun 4, 2019 18:57:55 GMT
Single action, the Blackhawk convertibles get good reviews. Got me a Ruger Redhawk 8-shot .357 magnum 5.5" barrel a few weeks back. 3 1/2lb. fully loaded, so it should be soft recoiling and take any load up to a stick of dynamite. Now that's my kind of magnum. I ordered a S&W 686 plus 7 shot with a 4 inch bbl a few years ago for my trail gun. Gotta love those heavy frame revolvers. I've owned blackhawks in .357 mag with longer barrels and several "Cowboy" peacemaker type revolvers in .45, mostly Cimarron or Uberti. I'd go with the Ruger Blackhawk over any in it's price range. That Smithy L is a great gun, made even better with the extra round, and an improvement (my opinion) on the K frame. I have a S&W627 pro 8-shot with the 4" barrel. I think the 4" barrels are easier to carry, particularly if you want to edc, because even being an N frame, the 627 (same weight class as those robust L frames) is 3/4 of a pound lighter than that Redhog...I mean Redhawk.
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Post by brothersteel on Jun 4, 2019 20:38:51 GMT
Years back I had a .357 Colt, New Frontier I believe, with a 7½” barrel. It turned out be a good trail gun. I have no idea how many snakes, squirrels, and chucks I bagged with it. A chuck up to about 75 yds. could be considered dead. I got it before CCI came out with their shot shells and made my own. I do recommend something longer than a 4 5/8” barrel to reduce muzzle blast, increased sight radius, and to take advantage of the .357’s ballistics. That is a good all-around calibre. I'd definitely go for the 45 long colt and a 7.5" barrel for a trail gun, but I've had an edc in mind first. The guys at my local gun store advised going by priority when beginning a gun collection( 1) personal protection, 2) hunting, 3) recreational (which seems a fair ranking system)), and I appreciate the greater control and firepower the SA 357 magnum provides, as well as the classic design that still works! I guess Meyer's approach to weapons* really stuck with me! *"Thus in addition to the firearm, other armour, weaponry, and arms serviceable for war are as necessary today as with our ancestors[...]" - Joachim Meyer, A Thorough Description of the Free Knightly and Noble Art of Combat
with all Customary Weapons, adorned and presented with many fine and useful illustrations (1570)
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 4, 2019 21:24:34 GMT
Years back I had a .357 Colt, New Frontier I believe, with a 7½” barrel. It turned out be a good trail gun. I have no idea how many snakes, squirrels, and chucks I bagged with it. A chuck up to about 75 yds. could be considered dead. I got it before CCI came out with their shot shells and made my own. I do recommend something longer than a 4 5/8” barrel to reduce muzzle blast, increased sight radius, and to take advantage of the .357’s ballistics. That is a good all-around calibre. I'd definitely go for the 45 long colt and a 7.5" barrel for a trail gun, but I've had an edc in mind first. The guys at my local gun store advised going by priority when beginning a gun collection( 1) personal protection, 2) hunting, 3) recreational (which seems a fair ranking system)), and I appreciate the greater control and firepower the SA 357 magnum provides, as well as the classic design that still works! I guess Meyer's approach to weapons* really stuck with me! *"Thus in addition to the firearm, other armour, weaponry, and arms serviceable for war are as necessary today as with our ancestors[...]" - Joachim Meyer, A Thorough Description of the Free Knightly and Noble Art of Combat
with all Customary Weapons, adorned and presented with many fine and useful illustrations (1570) You don’t have to sell me on .45s, I love them. I’ve had numerous .45s, ACP, AR, and Colt, and you could throw in a .455. Still have two and am about to give them to my grandson. He’s old enough now having been to Iraq and now a policeman to handle them. He got pissed at me when just starting out as a college freshman because I refused him my Government Model Colt. Having said that I found the .357 more versatile, having a broader range of loads and served me fine, couldn't have been more pleased. Of course you’ll need a pistol that will take advantage of those. I could tell you stories where the .357 worked and the .45 was out of the question. Have been out of the gun business for over a two decades and don’t know what’s new on the market, but I tell you the old stuff worked fine. Hehe
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Post by William Swiger on Jun 4, 2019 22:24:18 GMT
I do have to say my first love is the Colt .45 and clones. Only have one real Colt Peacemaker but a bunch of Cimarron reproductions. Damn Colt cost too much to use....
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Post by howler on Jun 4, 2019 22:56:08 GMT
Years back I had a .357 Colt, New Frontier I believe, with a 7½” barrel. It turned out be a good trail gun. I have no idea how many snakes, squirrels, and chucks I bagged with it. A chuck up to about 75 yds. could be considered dead. I got it before CCI came out with their shot shells and made my own. I do recommend something longer than a 4 5/8” barrel to reduce muzzle blast, increased sight radius, and to take advantage of the .357’s ballistics. That is a good all-around calibre. I'd definitely go for the 45 long colt and a 7.5" barrel for a trail gun, but I've had an edc in mind first. The guys at my local gun store advised going by priority when beginning a gun collection( 1) personal protection, 2) hunting, 3) recreational (which seems a fair ranking system)), and I appreciate the greater control and firepower the SA 357 magnum provides, as well as the classic design that still works! I guess Meyer's approach to weapons* really stuck with me! *"Thus in addition to the firearm, other armour, weaponry, and arms serviceable for war are as necessary today as with our ancestors[...]" - Joachim Meyer, A Thorough Description of the Free Knightly and Noble Art of Combat
with all Customary Weapons, adorned and presented with many fine and useful illustrations (1570) If your gonna be around the big bear and moose, Ruger Super Redhawk 454 Casull 7.5" barrel which also shoots 45lc. I've been eyeballing that gun ALOT. You will probably want to hand load if going 45 Colt, thus making it more economical and versatile, as you can load it past 44 mag power. Thing is, you can also load down the Casull and forgo the carbon ring, or load up to rival the power of Thor , although your hand will have to "adjust" .
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Post by howler on Jun 4, 2019 23:06:56 GMT
I'd definitely go for the 45 long colt and a 7.5" barrel for a trail gun, but I've had an edc in mind first. The guys at my local gun store advised going by priority when beginning a gun collection( 1) personal protection, 2) hunting, 3) recreational (which seems a fair ranking system)), and I appreciate the greater control and firepower the SA 357 magnum provides, as well as the classic design that still works! I guess Meyer's approach to weapons* really stuck with me! *"Thus in addition to the firearm, other armour, weaponry, and arms serviceable for war are as necessary today as with our ancestors[...]" - Joachim Meyer, A Thorough Description of the Free Knightly and Noble Art of Combat
with all Customary Weapons, adorned and presented with many fine and useful illustrations (1570) You don’t have to sell me on .45s, I love them. I’ve had numerous .45s, ACP, AR, and Colt, and you could throw in a .455. Still have two and am about to give them to my grandson. He’s old enough now having been to Iraq and now a policeman to handle them. He got pissed at me when just starting out as a college freshman because I refused him my Government Model Colt. Having said that I found the .357 more versatile, having a broader range of loads and served me fine, couldn't have been more pleased. Of course you’ll need a pistol that will take advantage of those. I could tell you stories where the .357 worked and the .45 was out of the question. Have been out of the gun business for over a two decades and don’t know what’s new on the market, but I tell you the old stuff worked fine. Hehe Minus 300+ pounder bear and rutting moose the 357/38 is hard to beat, but that 45C has (if hand loading) a very large power range.
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Post by howler on Jun 4, 2019 23:10:36 GMT
If your gonna be around the big bear and moose, Ruger Super Redhawk 454 Casull 7.5" barrel which also shoots 45lc. I've been eyeballing that gun ALOT. I like the snub nose super redhawk Nice bear repellant there. The 5" barreled Toklat is cool too, and I even dig the slab barrel protrusion. I really think the 454/45C is a great selection if hanging with a large population of big bear.
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Jun 5, 2019 1:08:17 GMT
I picked up a Taylor & Co Smokewagon in 357 recently. It sure is pretty.
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Post by Cosmoline on Jun 5, 2019 1:09:23 GMT
It comes down to what you want to do with it. I've owned about a dozen single action revolvers over the years (decades?). While I like Rugers, I find the Vaqueros and Blackhawks to be too beefy to be comfortable in the traditional "bullseye" stance with the arm well extended. The replicas made by Uberti and others are much lighter and better balanced for that kind of shooting. Ruger also made some lighter framed versions over the years if you can find them. But on the other hand, if you're really going to be shooting a lot of magnum the beefier frame can be a blessing.
For EDC single actions are NOT recommended due to the light triggers when cocked and the potential for a ND at the worst possible time. But I'm not sure how realistic this particular concern is. Training is the key in any case.
Ultimately I opted to go over to cap and ball because those are the best of all for traditional shooting ;-)
Hunting handguns are a very specific subset and EDC's are rarely going to be up to the task unless you are a *REALLY* good shot.
For bear I'd go with a shotgun and decent slugs. I don't trust the short guns for that kind of thing, having lived in Alaska for twenty years.
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Post by bruntson on Jun 5, 2019 2:23:44 GMT
Between the two choices you gave, I would go Ruger. The Heritage is more of a budget built revolver that is built economically.
The Rugers are over built in strength making them more sturdy and heavy. Ruger stands behind their firearms, If you find a defect, just send it in and they quickly fix it, even years after you bought it. Rugers are known for accuracy and they escalate in value over time if you ever decide to sell it. The Heritage not so much.
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Post by William Swiger on Jun 5, 2019 10:40:10 GMT
I picked up a Taylor & Co Smokewagon in 357 recently. It sure is pretty. I have a Cimarron EL Malo and 1875 Outlaw in 357. Old westerns and movies got me into revolvers. I remember my first revolver was an Italian import 22 Mag I bought at a small country store when I was 18 years old. This was when you just put the gun on the checkout with your beer and chips. Nothing else required...… Many of these reproduction Colt and Remington western guns are really nice for the price. The bluing and case hardening have come a long way over the years. The purist Colt owners will say the imports are made from softer metal and find other faults but these imports do not cost around the 2k plus range for a real Peacemaker. A western Colt or reproduction would never be my first choice as a go to revolver but you are right that they sure are pretty.
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Post by manville on Jun 5, 2019 15:10:41 GMT
Not to side track the thread too much but I always thought it was weird that more people don't seem to be for heavy for caliber .357 rounds. I mean I've seen some testing of 180 grain soft jacketed hollow points and they performed very well. Especially coming out of a 6 inch or more barrel, it should have some serious performance. I mean,loaded hot, it would probably be around 1300 or so fps coming out of a 6 inch barrel and that's nothing to sneeze at..202 sectional density. I load a few 180 grain max pressure loads but they don't perform as well for me as do the 158 grain Hornady HTP. Actually the 180's seem to make nice target rounds with a lighter powder charge. Maybe I just need a hotter powder?
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Post by manville on Jun 5, 2019 15:46:33 GMT
Yeah, those are the Hornady 180 grain XTP bullets loaded by Buffalo Bore. Likely a max pressure load with some fast burning propellant.
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Post by howler on Jun 5, 2019 19:30:55 GMT
I load a few 180 grain max pressure loads but they don't perform as well for me as do the 158 grain Hornady HTP. Actually the 180's seem to make nice target rounds with a lighter powder charge. Maybe I just need a hotter powder? Not sure, Perhaps the 158's are the sweet spot but this is the video where I saw the 180 perform well. Check these out.. These 180 grain buffalo bore rounds get 1500 fps out of 6 inch barrell! www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=541Hot rodding 180 and 200 grain out of beefy .357 guns should get super penetration for that weight class due to sectional density, though I must say that particular load did an amazing job of stopping quickly & expanding in gel. Btw, I'm now eyeballing .357 carbines, particularly the Ruger 77/.357 which can harvest rabbit and other small game with reduced load .357 or .38 and take deer up to 150 yards or so, an extremely versatile, handy, light (5 1/2lb.) platform. Oh, and talk about dream 357 revolver...Manurhin MR73. You can shoot 150 full power loads daily...FOREVER! Only around 35oz or so, but the steel quality and construction are insane.
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