That S&W 686 .357 really IS a fun piece to shoot. I've got mine only 2 months ago and it has a 6 inch barrel. Consistantly putting all 6 in an 8 inch circle @ 35 ft with .38 special Gun Show Reloads in SA and I've only been shooting 6 months and only got this revolver to the range 3 times. 50-100 rounds a trip, it's fun. That long barrel pays off. Great for mountain hiking as well, but remember your bells for the bears. Give them a chance to avoid you.
There really isnt anything else in between the .38 and the .22 in a revolver is there? Except for maybe that Taurus 905 in 9mm with moon clips, right ? I am still new at this. Even reloads cost more tham the 9mm I put through my 92FS. Always looking for a way to stretch the range money. Already have an SR22 but I'm looking for another wheel gun to play with.
Gonna blame this bias on "Dear Old Dad"...the .45 Long Colt. The .38 Special comes in 2nd.
My first revolver was a S&W K .22, given to me (by dad) on my 13th. birthday, which I still have and cherish.
Dad had (it's mine now) a .45 Colt Buntline, which was by far his favorite, then his K .38 (I occasionally shoot both).
My first handgun purchase (at 18 yrs.old) was a Ruger Blackhawk .45 / .45 ACP convertible (I often shoot this one).
Next to the Buntline, the Blackhawk is the favorite of all my handguns.
.357 Mag. I like how you can practice shooting it with .38 Special ammo, which is much cheaper.
Of course that is also true for my .44 Magnum, by practicing with .44 Special or .44 Russian ammo, and my .454 Casull, which also shoots .45 colt ammo.
Well if your refering to most popular as it applies to sales it would be 38 Spl followed very closly by the 357 Mag. and then there's the 22LR that out sells everything else combined.
I've owned three .357's, a Taurus and two Rugers, but can no longer handle Magnum recoil well due to severe arthritis. I'm perfectly comfortable with +P .38 Special--carry it daily in a Smith 640 and have a Model 10-5 as one of my house guns.
I'm baffled as to why the useful and time-tested .38 Special was relegated to "Other".
I find it interesting that the .357 is the overwhelming choice in this poll. It dwarfs all other calibers in terms of popularity for a favorite revolver caliber.
I love the .357 magnum as it was the first gun I ever bought on my own (a Dan Wesson .357 mag with 6" barrel!) and my most admired revolver caliber 36 years later. Versatile and still relevant as well as potent and desirable and it is not just my opinion.
I see I'm not the only person here who Served in a Fighter Squadron! Sorry for getting off topic LOL. Just to keep this on topic...I also like the .32 Colt New Police Cartridge.
Mark
.357 for sure. Sometimes for carry or around the house I use 38 Special +P hollow point loads, with a bit less recoil.
Out in the woods hunting, I always load 357 hollow points. :smt1099
----- NRA Member
The Second Amendment is our constitutional Right...embrace it, PROTECT it, and never take it for granted
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