Best .357 revolver on a budget?

**noslolo** · February 22nd, 2011, 01:44 AM

Wow this thread make me feel great about my 686 that I bought used with a trigger job. I only paid $250.00. Doh...I forgot to mention that I bought it 15 years ago. I low my S&W, but you couldn't go wrong with a GP100 either.

**afultz075** · February 22nd, 2011, 02:24 AM

I just bought a minty 6" S&W 28-2 off of gunbroker for $455 after transfer and shipping about 2 weeks ago. I've seen others for about the same price on there recently. It's a hell of a gun!

**WVBob** · February 22nd, 2011, 08:24 AM

You can find a lot of used S&W's and Ruger's for well under the $600 you want to spend. I saw 5 of them in a gun shop Sat. all for $450-500 and the owner could be talked down for cash. He had two Ruger 101's and a GP100 for $480, a S&W Model 66 for $495 and a well carried but not shot S&W 19 for $450. The Model 19 would have come home with me if I had not been picking up a Taurus PT1911 SS in 9MM. No range report yet, it was to cold at the range.

**Neko456** · February 22nd, 2011, 09:29 AM

I think for $600 you can get a 66,65,19,15 K frame even a used 686,586.
Then you have the Rugers Security six, Gp100 and Gp101.
Or the Tarurus 66,19s, and the larger version 357 mags even 44mag for $600.

The S&W,Colts and Rugers will hold there value better but the Taurus would be the cheapest/best price revolvers and pending how old a good gun.

**LisaA** · February 22nd, 2011, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Asmodeus6

This thread really makes me want a Ruger GP100...

I have a Ruger GP100, but I prefer the trigger on the S&W 686. I saw a nice used Dan Wesson last week. Unfortunately, the grips were too large.

**jgaffney** · February 22nd, 2011, 10:04 AM

Hard to go wrong with either the 686 or GP-100. I'd try to handle each and see which fits your hand better.

I did a bunch of research and thought I was settled on a 686. Ended up shooting it side by side with the GP-100 and decided that I preferred the Ruger - it just felt better to me. Although the trigger on the S&W is smoother out of the box, the Ruger smoothes out pretty nicely with some dry firing and range time. In addition, the Ruger doesn't have a trigger lock. Went with the 4" barrel.

I've also got a SP-101 3". Love it, but the sights aren't as good as the GP-100.

**medsteele** · February 22nd, 2011, 10:05 AM

These replies are really making me wanna go check out some guns ASAP, sadly I gotta wait til the refund money comes in next week. I'd sooner buy new over used (personal preference), but I will definitely check out a GP100 if I can find one. If not I'll get the Taurus. The Ruger is available in a 4" blued model, correct? Right now I like the looks of blued over stainless and would prefer it.

**FLICK** · February 22nd, 2011, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by medsteele

These replies are really making me wanna go check out some guns ASAP, sadly I gotta wait til the refund money comes in next week. I'd sooner buy new over used (personal preference), but I will definitely check out a GP100 if I can find one. If not I'll get the Taurus. The Ruger is available in a 4" blued model, correct? Right now I like the looks of blued over stainless and would prefer it.

Ruger makes (or made) a 3, 4, 5, and 6 inch versions in the GP100. Yes on the blued 4" model. I got a used 6" model for $300 from the forums here. I'd highly reccommend the GP or SP Rugers over the Taurus. I'm sending back my broken Taurus .38 this week. My Ruger from the early '90's just ticks along, hammering out the 9 and 10 ring. Boringly reliable. 9's and 10's. All weekend. (you get the picture, no?)

**bigandy1966** · February 22nd, 2011, 06:59 PM

I have a GP100 with a 1/2 lug 6" barrel, bought it for $350. It is a super sweet revolver. and Yes I carry it from time to time.

**CBennett** · February 22nd, 2011, 08:38 PM

Id go GP 100, Ruger Security Six,S&W, Taurus or Dan Wesson all can/should be able to be had for less than $400. I got a Dan Wesson 4" 15-2 model for $270 out the door. There is NOTHING WRONG with Taurus Revolvers and the PT92/99 series the rest are hit and miss but the Revolvers and PT92/99 are just fine...that said id take a Ruger,S&W or Dan Wesson before a Taurus. I got the Dan Wesson 15-2 back in November locally...due to time and weather ive still not shot it yet..but I finally did acquire the right barrel gapper and barrel nut tool and hex wrenches to change out stuff...best part is the single action trigger is like BUTTER and I can switch barrel from anything from Snubby to 10" barrel or anything they make in between! which is cool

! And at $270 cant beat it....ive seen them fron $270-450 give or take and if they have the wrench and gapper tool(s)