I bought a Taurus model 66 a while back and love it. However to do it over again I would get a Ruger GP100.

 

May i ask why?

This is a nice one

and the Ruger

 

For just General Carry and Defense, I'd pick a S&W 686 or a Ruger GP100 handguns.

Lots of different choices for different applications.

Jungle Work

 

I like this one but i would like it blued

 

My Taurus is great and it's arguably the best revolver model that taurus makes. It is a solid gun and with 7 rounds of .357 it's pretty nice. The Ruger feels more mechanically sound and has a slightly better trigger. I do not regret getting the Taurus one bit as it has proved itself a reliable and great shooting gun.

 

I'm a fan of Ruger revolvers. Their SP101 and GP100 models are rock solid.

For easy to conceal pocket carry I find myself carrying the LCR quite often.

Smith Wesson are are also very nice, but more expensive.

 

Get a Coonan 1911 357.

 

How bout a S&W Model 28? Worth looking into, I own two of those pieces of art

 

S&W M28's are great guns:thumb:

but I still love & shoot the rugers more,

You can pick up used "six series" rugers cheap, the middle one is a 'Security Six' I bought new in 85, it will out last me.

 

Ruger Sp101 for CCW and Ruger GP100 for shooting Ruger Blackhawk for hunting

 

S&W 686 all the way.

 

Agreed! I have one and it's a great gun. I also shot the Ruger version of this and it also shot well. But my 4inch 686 is a seven shot

 

Colt Python.. It's called the Rolls- Royce of revolvers for a reason. It is considered the finest prodution revolver ever made by many experts. I'm not an expert, but I've shot the other guns mentioned, they just don't stand up to a Python. If you want a good or very good .357, both ruger and s&w make make those. If you want the best. It will cost you 2 or 3 times the amount. But you asked for best.

 

Gp100 or a blackhawk

 

The Ruger GP100 and the Smith and Wesson L and N frame 357's are great choices. Biult well and low maintenance. My personal preference is for the K frame Smith and Wessons like this.

 

For shooting it is hard to beat a 686 or GP100 but they are both big and heavy. There are a number of small 357s that are easier to carry but will get beaten to death if you fire them with full loads. Personal experience - I killed a model 19 that way in my youth. That-guy-again is absolutely correct about a Python. The action is as good as your are going to get but they are on the north side of $1000 if you can find one. A good action job and the Smiths get close. The model 27, highway patrol, is also a great gun but again, big and heavy.

 

Have several Smiths in 357mag, couple of 60's in 3in., a 66 in 3.25in., and a 686 in 3in. Have tried both the SP101 and GP100's, solid pieces but not a fan of the triggers compared to the Smiths. Only dry fired the Colts over the years, never had a chance to shoot one. And unlike their AR or maybe even a 1911, don't want to pay for the Colt name for one of their out-of-production DA revolvers, don't care how nice.

Also pocket carried and shot quite a bit a S&W 640. Very nice DA trigger on that one and the previously mentioned all had excellent SA (and very decent DA) triggers from the factory (686 only one with some trigger work). Have, of course, shot much more 38 than 357, if for no other reason than for the cost.

Never bothered with a Rossi or Charter Arms or even Taurus. If I recall Taurus produced S&W guns or something at some point, later simply produced basically the same design under the Taurus name. Never could get past the trigger but for the price, and if they're really S&W designs, couldn't be too bad for the price (although I would still look for a used Smith first).

Also a friend has some Dan Wessons and she thinks highly of them, another option as they are pretty good although a little expensive.

And just in case you may ever consider it, please don't get a Rohm/RG. Those things are scary, Hi-Point scary or worse.

 

i prefer the ruger gp100. complete take down and cleaning are the main reasons i prefer it to the s&w.

 

Thompson Center Contender. It will outshoot anything mentioned in this thread so far. I see guys hitting 12 inch steel plates at 500 yards with Contenders in 357 Mag. Plus, the bonus is that you can buy barrels in other chamberings.

If I couldn't have a Contender, or I wanted 357 Mag for SD, I would carry a Coonan. Higher velocity than a carryable revolver, accurate to a fault, faster reloads for most people.

 

In the hills I carry a Monson built Dan Wesson Model 15 with a six inch heavy barrel. It has had trigger work done and the action is as smooth as silk and the accuracy is hard to beat. Even being over 30 years old it is in perfect timing and locks up strong, something many Pythons can't say if they have been used much.

Mine is similar to this one I just don't have the short swap barrel for mine.

 

I have owned and carried most major brands of 357 through the years and can say without a shadow of a doubt that the best is, pretty much any quality 357 revolver.

Taurus, Smith, Colt or Ruger they all have good points and bad. Try as many as you can and pick the one that "feels" best to you.

The one 357 I would love to get my hands on again is a Ruger Security Six stainless with a 6" tube. Mine was stolen years ago.

 

I would go with one of the full size Rugers; GP100 (this is what I have and I swear by it), Security Six, Speed Six and Service Six. Rugers are known for their durability and reliability and will give you years of service.

 

What is the intended use of the revolver? With the many variations of size, weight, number of rounds, and quality it is hard to make a suggestion apart from its intended use. Of course the best solution is the one that I have adopted........by several!

For CCW and woods carry I use a S&W MP360 with a 3" barrel carried IWB. The scandium frame keeps the weight really low (14.4oz) and the 3" barrel is a big step up in performance from the snubs. I put a set of pachmayr grips on it and the recoil now causes no discomfort at all even after shooting a box of 50 hot loads. For practice I reload tons of 38's. My most shot 357's are a 6" 686 and a Rossi lever in 357. I also have a 642 (38+P) which works great for pocket carry ans well as IWB.

Many different flavors for different uses.... Whatever you choose I have found a 3" barrel to be the most flexible.

 

im kind of old school, s&w k frame model 19, with 4inch barrel, im not hating on any of the other guns menioned ,but to me it,s just about perfect, decent concelability,accuratcy,and balance in the hand, just a good solid revolver

 

I have 2 Rugers. Ruger GP100 and Ruger LCR. Love the GP100. Still have to test fire the LCR, but for the size its a ncie gun.

 

Best for what use?

REythons
While they were considered production guns the internal parts (on the older GOOD ones) were all hand fitted by select master gunsmiths. Since they were hand fitted to tight tolerances the parts tended to be more "fragile" than the parts in other Colt revolvers and they were known to lose timing causing them to spit lead from the gap. The masters have all long ago retired. There is no longer anyone at Colt who knows how to properly repair them. If you do decide to buy one I suggest you have it inspected by someone who knows what to look for and make sure you have get return policy from the seller.

 

I'm a big SP101 fan.

 

best I ever owned was a S&W Model 66 6" with red ramp front sight. Never should have sold it. I have a 4" 19 in nickle that is almost as nice but I can't shoot it as well as the longer barrel. Plus, the 66 had a sweet trigger.

 

I still have the Ruger Security Six that I bought new after I got home from Viet Nam. It's never failed me, and I've never has any desire to replace it with anything newer.