.357 handgun ?

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by drat, Jan 9, 2007.


  1. drat

    drat Monkey+++

    i need help looking for a gun that is easy to hold in sm. hands. and one that would be sm. enough to carry but one that could be used to go hunting if needed? it would be used mostly for shooting paper. so what do you thank? thanks
     
  2. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    Hunting for what?
    carried for what?

    .357 is a pretty reliable caliber for up to deer sized game out to 75-100yards, IF you put the bullet in the "boiler room"

    does it have to be a fightstopping caliber?.22's come in all sizes and shapes will kill lots of stuff even people at close range with the right shot...38 special is an easily handled self defense caliber( some consider it under powered) but it comes down to practice and tactics.mdl 60 smith and wesson's are nice stainless steel 5 shot .38 snubbies (albeit with a short sigh tradius for accurate "work")..38 wadcutters work on small game...

    A handgun is not magic its only a tool, sometime just having one visible can prevent an incident and thereby protect you. Otherwise it needs to be reliable and as big as you can accurately handle. AND you need training,(When to shoot, what to shoot and why..).(Not just a couple of days a year at the range or shooting popcans. real self defense tactical pistol shooting.
    Sounds like you may have limited experience with firearms, Number 1 best choice for you to start with is a` .22lr, Its easy to learn with, cheap, available and all experience and safety skills gained can be applied to alarger caliber once you get your feetwet..
     
  3. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    .357 is not a starter/trainer piece, and for small hands it is a bit of a handful, especially with snorty hunting loads. 'Till you get one small enough to fit a small hand (there are some) they become essentially useless for hunting, and rather difficult to control. Now, if you can become a proficient stalker, you might be able to get close enough to down game, but methinks rethinking your goals for a handgun is in order.[dunno]

    A full sized .357 is another matter entirely for hunting--. And, as T3 says, a .38 might suit the purposes nearly as well. Again, not the perfect starter piece for those of small hands, but at least is much more managable especially with light loads. (Note that .357 will shoot .38 SPL as well, a plus for practice and training.) IMHO, anyway.
     
  4. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    If mostly for shooting paper and learning on, I'd think of a 22LR semi like the walther P-22. If truly needed for hunting as well, you'd need to go larger.

    You've posed a pretty tough question as small and target practice tends to conflict with carry and hunting. I'd say you may want to stay at around .380 (First time I've ever recommended that round) or 9mm. Maybe .38/.357 combo revolver?

    Need some advice from the reloaders
     
  5. BigO01

    BigO01 Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Drat your requirements as Melbo points out are contradictory .

    Small hands defensive pistol that can be concealed , I would suggest a 1911 mid sized/compact or perhaps a Browning High Power in 9mm or 40 S&W or something like a S&W 39 with a single stack magazine .

    Hunting is usually a 6 inch barrel+ past time with the 357 being at the bottom of the ladder if big game is your quarry . Hard to conceal a 6 incher unless you use a shoulder rig .

    Are you talking "O darn I forgot the ammo for my 270 rifle and don't want to turn around and go home or to a store so I will hunt with my pistol today" OR the world has ended and you have stumbled into the wilderness without any food supplies and gotta eat to survive ?

    Even a 22 rimfire will bring down a deer if you get the correct shot placement , but it is illegal to hunt big game with them with in most if not all states .
     
  6. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    Hello again Drat.

    It is difficult to mix "for smaller hands" and "effective for hunting".

    However, I am a big fan of 357 mags and have a few. The fact that you can use 38 specials in them for reduced recoil and reduced practice cost is a big plus.

    To stay legal for deer hunting in Indiana, 357 is the minimum caliber and it must have at least a 4" barrel.

    I personally am a big fan of revolvers over semi autos for reliability and simplicity of use (I'll catch some flak for that).

    Smith and Wesson makes a line of revolvers called the Ladysmith, made for smaller hands. Might be just what your looking for.
    http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=50978&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y
    http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=14753&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

    Smith & Wesson is a bit more expensive than some. Taurus makes a reasonably priced line of 357/38 revolvers.
    http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=253&category=Revolver

    Hope this helps some.
     
  7. drat

    drat Monkey+++

    .357 hand gun ?

    i've hunted deer w/ bow,shotgun,muzzle loader.i've had a .357 before.it was a ruger scurity six w/a 6" bl. i've had 9mm did not like too much.i've shot .45 's. but what im looking for is a .357/.38 that if the SHTF i could hunt deer if i needed. at under 50 yds. and i could carry it around when going some where. but most of the time it would be at home. maybe 3-4" bl. not sure yet.
     
  8. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    It's hard to find that one that fits all of your needs. For small game hunting, cheap shooting and fun you can't beat that .22. Browning Buckmark, Ruger, Walther, they are all a ton of fun to shoot. For self defense you need something with a lot more punch. The only thing I see that comes close to what you might want would be a four inch .357 Magnum. You can shoot all of the mild recoiling cheap .38 special rounds out of it that you would like, and for taking down bigger game you can fill the cylinder with .357 Magnum once you have become accustomed to your pistol. Another big concern is how much do you want to spend?

    I have a Rossi Model 971 that I have had for years, it is really accurate and well made. While mine has the six inch barrel, if you want something that you can conceal you better go with something in a four inch model. I also recommend the Ruger, Taurus, and the Smith & Wesson models. I once put a deer down with a S&W 686 .357 with a four inch barrel. It will do just about any job.

    The Rossi: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63776520

    S&W
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63459177

    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63673370

    Taurus
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63775013

    Ruger
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63743062

    I would suggest talking to friends that have them, going to a gunshow, or a gunshop where you can actually hold them and see what "feels right." If you are really lucky, you might be able to find someone that will let you test fire it. Start with the .38 specials in the cylinder though, trust me.
     
  9. BigO01

    BigO01 Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Well since you second post narrowed it down .

    I would say E.L. made some fine suggestions with that S&W 686 being the best of the bunch , after that I would rate them as follows , the Ruger , The Rossi , The 19 and then the Taurus .

    Smith will have the best trigger or the easiest to improve Ruger coming in at a close second , Rossi not as high a quality as the Smith or Ruger but it has adjustable sights a desired feature on a weapon you may sight in and use for hunting , the 19 would be a good choice but the lighter K frame isn't strong enough for lots of practice for hunting class magnum loads , lastly that Taurus weighs in at 44 oz a very strong weapon but carrying it especialy as a once in awhile CCW would be a bear due to weight and the width of the cylinder that holds 8 rounds .

    Get a 686 and find some slim grip panels if you need them to fit your hand .
     
  10. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    686 in 357
    Or a S&W Mod 10 in 38 sp for under 200.00 are very sweet shooting pistols. My wife shoots one alot, and believe me..... i wouldnt want her shooting at me out to 100yds with it.[booze]
     
  11. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    Drat, I appologize for coming across as a pompous buttwipe, If you've hunted and owned a .357 previously, its obvious you didn't need a curmudgeony rant..
     
  12. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I cant realy sugest any particular modle but changeing out the grips may make a big difference on them. I would have to agree that a .357 with a 4" barrel would be your best fit for the bill since it has enouph site plane for some accuracy and enouph barrel for good balistics, you can run .38 spl for targets and small game and .357 for large game and defensive. As farr as being able to carry it concealed (assumeing you have a permit and are in an area where being spotted isnt a crime) then dont sweat it to much, people are oblivious. I carry a Rossy .357 with 4" barrel daily in my back pocket with a jacket or shirt hanging over it. A couple weeks ago I had been butchering at a friends then went to town in the same bloody clothes. I am a big guy that tends to remind folks of Charlse Manson anyway and was in a boonie hat, bloody jeans and sweat shirt and had the gun (IMO) noticably bulging and printin in my back pocket. We went out to eat at a buffet, went to Walmart and to the vidio store and even still no one noticed even that I was covered in blood, let alone that I was carrying. So, basicly ifit is covered and especialy if you look reasonably respectable then its not likely anyone will pay enouph attention to notice if you were carrying a howetzer under a T shirt.
     
  13. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    For what it's worth, I have a Ruger GP100. It happens to fit my hands just right in stock form; I've made zero modifications beyond polishing the sear by pulling the trigger. In double action, it is stiff and a bit difficult to hold a good sight picture, but in SA it is pretty light and crisp. A real pussycat with 38s and not particularly hard to handle with full house 357s once you get used to the torque. Thus far, it hasn't hiccupped once in several thousand rounds. I imagine you should be able to find one in the 400 bux range; mine was 350 tennish years ago.
     
  14. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    "Bloody manson looking guy with a .357 printing the back pocket , Perhaps nobody dared ask questions[ROFL][ROFL]????
     
  15. drat

    drat Monkey+++

    .357 hand gun ?

    i like the ruger gp 100 but in less i find a used one i don't think that i can talk me wife in to it.:D has any one heard of comanche ? they look like a pot metal gun. but not sure.about $230. so it would not be the gun i would want to save me but it would be better then none.i'm going to the gun shops tomarrow to see what they have in. has any one got a gun off the net? does the s&h and gun shop fee make it worth it most the time or not. thanks
     
  16. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    I've bought many online. Most dealers will charge you round $25 for NCIC and transfer. I have a friend that does mine for $10 or free if he forgets to charge me. Shipping is not that bad really. I think I pay around $20 for a Rifle /insured.

    I live in a high sales tax state so I almost always come out better. Many times a 'retail' price at the shop of $600 can be found for $450 online.

    I'd look around at your dealers first and ask them what they charge for transfers.
     
  17. sniper-66

    sniper-66 Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Ruger SP-101. Wouldn't hunt with it, buy my wife can handle it and I carry it for protection.
     
  18. BigO01

    BigO01 Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Drat here is a used GP100 for $300 on Gunbroker , and the dealer has a layaway if maoney is tight .

    Bad news is there is no Buy it now price so you would have to bid on it and hope someone else doesn't top your offer in the 6 day remaining on the auction .

    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63430184

    Another good gun with a slightly higher price than the used Ruger is this new Taurus it does have a Buy it Now of $350 .

    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63914818

    I have several guns I have bought off of GB and the only problem I ever had with any of the transactions was when my local dealer took off on me on a Trout fishing trip with my new Taurus PT 940 sitting in his gunsafe rather than mine .
     
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