rossi 357, I love mine, its accurate and purdy. cost me like 470 or so after all the kommiefornia fees and such.

 

smith and wesson model 13 can be had for around $175 -200 range i had one and it was a rugged reliable revolver for the money.

 

I have two S&W's...one's a 6" 586 (blued-steel, no longer manufactured) and a 6" 686 (stainless)...and I love them! Mine are both 6-round revolvers, but you can get the 686 with a 7-round cylinder as well, the 686-plus. I'd be shocked if you could get them under $400 though.

 

I was hell-bent on getting one in the $400 range but I couldn't find one to fit my hand and it clearly would not carry well. So I went with the airweight 36 special concealed hammer. With P+ ammo it has the same stopping power.

 

Look at the Taurus models offered, check into Charter Arms, and look for good deals on old used S&W's.

 

The Charter Arms revolver I had was a piece of crap.

Smith & Wesson, Ruger are dependable names.

 

Taurus is good. I have owned several over the years, currently have a .41mag Tracker and love it. You can find them ususally under 400 or right at it.
The Ruger GP100 or GP101 are also great.

 

You should be able to get a used Ruger GP100 for under $400 if not for under $300. I have one and like it a lot. If you are wanting it for concealed carry, look for an SP101 (they might be a little more). Obviously, pick it up, hold it, squeeze the trigger and make sure that you like it and you can handle the grip and trigger pull.

 

My 3" S&W model 66 K-frame will probably be the last handgun I ever sell, should that ever be necessary.

The J-frame .357's (small size 5 shot guns) are punishing with fullhouse .357 loads (Ruger SP101 the exception.) The K and L-frame guns (mid-size 6-shots) are sweethearts with .38's and heavy with .357's. I haven't shot the big N-Frame or X-frame guns, but in .357 I'm sure they're fairly easy to shoot.

Recent Taurus guns (last 10 years) have been a good value, very similar to the S&W guns. Charter Arms is a crapshoot, depending on when they were made, some are good others are not so good. Ruger is solid, stem to stern, from the SP101 to the big GP100 to the Blackhawk Single Action guns you can't go wrong. I had a bad experience with a Rossi lever action carbine years ago and have steered away from Rossi ever since (to be truthful I never gave Rossi a chance to make it right.) I've heard many good reports about the Rossi handguns, but cannot confirm...

Allan

 

Stear away from S&W K frame .357s.

Talking as Smith fan stay away from the K frame .357 magnums for they suffer lossening and pressure cracks in the forcing cone. Smith and Wesson even has an advisory discuraging the use of mangnum rounds in K frames, this includes models 13/65 and 19/66. Now J frame snubs and of course the L frames 581/586, 681/686, 619/620 and N frame model 27 and 627 are fine for full house magnum rounds.

I also started getting rugers and recommend their GP-100 and SP-101 are fine weapons and would hesitate a second to use one for duty. Don't forget the olds Security Six and Speed Six models.

Rifleman 336

 

I like S&W J-frames. Check out a used one in .357. I personally like the 340pd but I believe it runs about $750 new.

 

A good 357 is a KEEPER!

1. Ruger GP 100- heavy duty reputation
2. Smith and Wesson 686 - excellent reputation
3. any used no paper trail 357

You may find that used 357's hold there value much better than 38's. What ever you spend it will be worth it. Buy a keeper first, so you will not be constantly thinking about trading up.

I would not turn down a paper less trail 38, at a GOOD price, as a throw away gun or trade. Things are tight now. There will be many deals between now and Christmas; even though fear of the elections. People are selling.

As time goes by I have drifted away from revolvers but keep coming back. If ever used, there will be no shell casings to be found. Lead bullets leave little evidence. That could be helpful.

 

If you can find one, I have always loved the S&W model 19, no longer in production, but a great revolver.

 

I have found you can't go wrong with a Ruger revolver, they are the strongest made. If you can find an old Security-Six or Service-Six or best of all a Speed-Six, good on ya!, You'll probably find lots of GP-100 and GP101 and SP-101's in the shows. Also consider Smith & Wesson K- and L-Frames, which are very good. N-frames are really good, but I doubt you'll find one within your budget. Taurus revolvers are consistently good also. Charter Arms makes some good guns, but not always, as with Rossi, I'd use caution with these brands. All make 21/2" up to 6" barrels, so whatever you want to do. Hope that helps.

 

GP-100!!!

jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzz......

 

my favorite is the smith and wesson Model 65 with a 3" barrel. You can find them used in your price range.

 

Awesome GUN! I've carried one for years. 3" round butt, I shaved off the hammer spur and smooooothed er up...

 

Any used revolver may need to have the timing checked unless you stay in the J, L, and N frame Smiths or the Ruger line. The reason being that firing .357 magnum rounds can stretch the forcing cone of some revolvers.

Unless you understand frames or know the Smiths which are usually expensive you are best looking for a Ruger Security Six or GP-100 type weapon which is built like a tank.

 

Taurus 608

 

This is just me but I'm thinking Python. I don't know if you can get it new for this price but I know they won't steer you wrong when you spin the wheel...

 

Ruger.
Any Ruger, just buy it used.
They are not a 2A company anymore.

 

Yup , great beater guns . HINT ....................stainless :thumb:

 

I keep a 4" 357 GP100 along with a Marlin 1894c 357 with my long trek pack.
My wifes pack has a Marlin 25 .22lr threaded 1/2 28 with a walther P22 with a 1/2 28 thread adapter... For my old AWC .22lr can...

It makes the ammo thing simple and easily packable

 

s&w 686 plus stainless it will never fail. for defence,survival or packing in the woods dont skimp on your carry piece ! it will eat any thing that you feed it and in a dire sitution you dont have to clean it and mite i ad that it is very accurite!!

 

Lets see.... RUGER, RUGER, RUGER!!!

 

Thank you all for the input. Before I posted this, I was leaning towards the Ruger GP-100. Now I am sure of my choice.

 

The only things I'd do after getting th Ruger is have the charge holes Chamfered for faster reloading. The then get Hamilton Bowens Rough country rear sight and you'll have a weapon with almost no weaknesses. Buy the way if you went the way of Smith and Wesson 686 you'd have to do the same. You find the investment in both gunsnithing jobs well worth the money.


Rifleman 336

 

The Ruger GP100 is built like a tank and is the only one around that the manufacturer says you can (and should) dryfire. IMHO, it a 100 year gun. I will never be able to wear mine out.