Who Do We Like for 357 Magnum Ammo?

[Bruce Cartwright]

No PF revolver thread is complete without pics.

The M-27 presents a dilemma: each of these barrels was fitted to it at some point by Smith & Wesson. It left the factory with the 6" barrel. The uncle who owned it had Smith fit the 5" barrel sometime before I was born, then did yeoman service on family ranches on the Edwards Plateau of Texas. He gave it to my father at some point. I remember it with most of the bluing gone and I shot it like it was part of my arm. About 15 years ago, my father sent it to Smith to have a 4" barrel fitted and to be reblued.

Attachment 105555

The dilemma? Do I leave it alone because I have so many 4" N-frame holsters? Or do I reinstall the 5" barrel because that's how I remember it? Or do I go with the 6" to get the longest possible sight radius? Not sure there's a wrong answer there...


The M-66 came with a vintage Milt Sparks Summer Special for a 1.75" belt.

Attachment 105556

And yeah, T-Grips for all. Melvin Tyler's shop was a few miles from our house when I was growing up. I used to ride my bike there and press my nose against the glass.


Okie John

Okie John:

My vote would be to go with the 5 inch barrel. That gets the gun back to the condition you used it in and it's a fabulous excuse to call Milt Sparks and order a floral carved, black 200 AW holster for it. My bride and I gave our son a black, floral carved 1AT for his 1911 when he graduated from college. He'll tell you it's the only reason he finished his degree. I "think" he is kidding but it is hard to tell. That said, it is an absolutely gorgeous holster.

Nothing wrong with keeping the 4 inch barrel on the gun in order to economize on holsters if you absolutely have to do the whole "responsible adult" thing.....

Hang onto the 6 and 4 inch barrels and hopefully you run across 2 S&W Model 27s that need to be re-barreled.

Bruce

[R-71]

No PF revolver thread is complete without pics.

The M-27 presents a dilemma: each of these barrels was fitted to it at some point by Smith & Wesson. It left the factory with the 6" barrel. The uncle who owned it had Smith fit the 5" barrel sometime before I was born, then did yeoman service on family ranches on the Edwards Plateau of Texas. He gave it to my father at some point. I remember it with most of the bluing gone and I shot it like it was part of my arm. About 15 years ago, my father sent it to Smith to have a 4" barrel fitted and to be reblued.

Attachment 105555

The dilemma? Do I leave it alone because I have so many 4" N-frame holsters? Or do I reinstall the 5" barrel because that's how I remember it? Or do I go with the 6" to get the longest possible sight radius? Not sure there's a wrong answer there...


The M-66 came with a vintage Milt Sparks Summer Special for a 1.75" belt.

Attachment 105556

And yeah, T-Grips for all. Melvin Tyler's shop was a few miles from our house when I was growing up. I used to ride my bike there and press my nose against the glass.


Okie John

Go with the 5" it's perfection.

[JAH 3rd]

I have recently come into a 2 1/2" Smith & Wesson Model 66-1 and a 4" Model 27, so I'm going to get my revolver chops back up to speed.

For live ammo, I have only a few handfuls of mangy cartridges spanning the last several decades. I think I'd like to stick with 357 brass instead of going down the 38 Special path.

I have plenty of appropriate bullets, powder, and primers but no brass, so I'm thinking of buying a few hundred rounds of factory ammo and going from there. I want a load that's not fire-breathing hot, just good, accurate mid-range 357 ammo.

Thoughts?

Thanks,


Okie John

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread....0-thread/page2

My observation is post 11.

[Tennessee Jed]

Thread needs more photos. This is my 66-8. I just added the Grippers, which I love, but they clearly require some fitting.

Another ammo option might include Remington's 158 grain 357 mag factory LSWC. I've not shot it, but I believe the factory says its velocity is around 1230 fps.

I also noticed that Winchester 357 mag Silvertips are available again. Not cheap, not a great candidate for target shooting, but availability tends to be spotty.

[awp_101]

I vote 5” because awesome.

I’ve got three years in Field Artillery in 8” and 155mm firing batteries before the time of hearing protection, I have little hearing left.

[03RN]

You don't need to swap barrels. You just need two more frames upon which to install the barrels you have.

That's what happens to AR barrels in my house

[03RN]

To the original question.

https://capitalcartridge.com/357-mag...-brass-500pcs/

Then load with 158gr XTPs or 158gr swc-wn from rimrock with the powder of your choice.

Factory .357 is just ridiculous and an XTP at 1250fps is just about perfect

[JonInWA]

I've settled on Remington Golden Saber 125 gr .38 Special +P for my Security Six; Remington/UMC has analog SJHP 125 gr +P for practice under their UMC line; for the GP100, after MUCH experimentation, I'm using Federal HydraShok 158 gr .357 magnums. As detailed in another p-f thread https://pistol-forum.com/showthread....cal-IDPA-Match , I wanted the 145 gr Winchester Silvertips, but there were systemic/multiple issues with their primers, so I now neither use or recommend them. The HydraShoks have been impeccable performers.

Best, Jon