Concealable Revolver Help

[Hawkstp]

I am looking to pick up a used revolver. This is something that I will carry when I am wade fishing, so the chance it will take a bath someday are good. I will be carrying it concealed. It will also spend a large time in a lock box in my boat.

I am thinking of something in 357 magnum.

I am looking for something reasonable to purchase, that can kind of be my beater gun.

I have always been a semi-auto guy, so do not know all that much about the different revolvers. Any info would be appreciated.

[OneSevenDeuce]

S&W 638. They are just cool. Very rugged too.

[jdg30]

If you want a good gun in .357 for a decent price to throw around I would get a Ruger Sp101. I have one and they are very durable and well made guns for a decent price. Not sure how your ammo will work after getting all wet in it but I know if you keep the ammo dry the SP101 will not let you down.

If I was going to get a beater gun that I wouldn't care much if I lost it in a swamp, I would probably get a Taurus or a cheap Rossi

[1JimMarch]

OK, first, the best AMMO choice for a small 357 is one of the "just barely hotter than 38+P" types. Speer's 135gr 357 "short barrel specialty load" is among the best, esp. where the gun weighs 21oz or less. Cor-bon's 125gr "DPX" is also fairly mild as 357s go but still a bit hotter than the Speer 135. The DPX 125 is as much power as I would run in that weight class gun - and the best gun in that weight class is very likely the Ruger LCR-357. Sweet trigger, 17oz class. Any lighter is just crazy.

If you want to shoot REAL 357 ammo, genuine full-house stuff and still be able to control it, the smallest gun available is the Ruger SP101 starting at around 26oz. Trigger won't be as nice out of the box but it cleans up well. I'd go with the 3" tube if possible. S&W doesn't have anything really equivelent - they've bigger and smaller guns.

Don't buy a Taurus. They're a quality control crapshoot.

[Doheny]

/\/\ What he said.

[Hawkstp]

Some great info, thank you. Starting to do some research now.

[RedFord150]

Anything Ruger will take a beating. SP101, GP100, Security Six, Speed Six, Police Service Six are all good choices.

[robcoe]

As others have said, a Ruger SP101 or GP100 is a good choice. I would spend a couple extra bucks and get the stainless steel models if it might get dunked.

[1JimMarch]

The LCR is tough for it's size/weight class, but it's not the sort of Godzilla-strong critter we normally see from Ruger.

The LCR-357 has a steel frame and barrel, steel cylinder, polymer grip frame. The triggers on both the original LCR-38 and LCR-357 are superb. The plastic grip frame seems to absorb some recoil, and because it's a DAO system with no SA/DA option they were able to move your grip further up in line with the barrel, reducing muzzle flip. Some really good thinking went into it. Still, for REAL full-house 357s, the SP101 is the smallest gun available that can semi-comfortably shoot high end loads and do so in quantity without breaking. The SP101 is actually tougher than S&W's larger K-frame series.

The GP100 is beyond merely "strong". In terms of round counts it will outlive an S&W N-frame 357.

[bigbob76]

1. Stainless
2. Ruger or S&W
3. .357 even if you shoot .38 you have greater versatility
4. The lighter the better for carry, I don't care how uncomfortable it is to shoot if I need it. This isn't a plinker or a range gun.

[dfletcher]

Any J frame alloyed Smith in 38 Special will work fine for you, what "version" is a matter of taste. Lots to chose from but each is very well concealable.

[glockman19]

Ruger SP101 or S&W j frame.

I prefer the 640-.357, 642/442 - .38 special.

[FUBAR]

Ruger SP101 in 3 inch barrel.

[Turbinator]

Another vote for the SP101. The one I've tried has a great single action trigger, so there was no need for any cleanup at all.

Turby

[Andy Taylor]

Beater tacklebox gun-
Any decent condition USED stainless S&W or Ruger with 4" barrel or shorter.

What's available at time of purchase and your own priority as to 5,6 or 7 shooter/ease of concealment VS shootablity.
If you are going to shoot much .357 ammo beyond familiarization and SHTF, I wouldn't recommend anything smaller/lighter than an SP101.