 |
|
The .357 Magnum 586-7 as seen below would probably have had the same success if it had been used instead of Harry's big .44 caliber in Clint Eastwoods Dirty Harry movie. Offering the same high velocity and accuracy but maybe not the same punch as a .44 Magnum, the .357 Magnum is still not a gun to be passed by!
Photographs of the 586-7 by Chris Bushnell
As an update to this page, Smith & Wesson now actually
manufacture the 686P which is a 7 shot revolver, finished in stainless
steel and a 5 inch barrel. This revolver is in supply and demand
production, so is not mass produced like many others. The image
below is of this gun, it has to be said here though that the standard
686 and 586 six shot models have become Smith & Wesson's all time best
seller. It is now understood that these seven shot revolvers are
now actually enjoying the same success and I would love to have one as I
believe they are simply superb.
As with the majority of revolvers there are different barrel
lengths to suit the owners needs, a longer 6, 7, 8, or 10 inch barrel
revolver fits nicely into a holster attached on the belt, a bit shorter
3 to 6 inches and a shoulder holster is more suitable to 'pack' the
revolver, shorter even still and the revolver with its 1½ in barrel fits
into your jacket pocket or a ladies purse...
...and that's a lot of power to pack into your purse, hardly a
ladies gun but even so these snub-nose .357 Magnum revolvers are indeed
very popular as a ladies gun. Below is a very practical but recoil
intensive snub-nose 8 shot .357 Magnum revolver, compact and powerful.
Concealed carry of a piece like this might be a bit too heavy for a
lady, but the payoff is its unmistakable and awesome firepower.
The recoil when firing a .357 Magnum
with a 1½ barrel such as the Airweight version below would be something
to behold and a strong and firm grip on the revolvers butt would be
highly recommended. Also the accuracy with such a short barrel would be
measured in feet rather than yards !
The revolver pictured below is of a
Smith & Wesson Performance Center 8 shot tactical revolver. Model
327 TRR8. The underside end of the barrel is specially grooved to
accept a bolt on laser sight whilst the top frame is set to accept a
telescopic sight...both ideal for those longer and more pin point
accurate shots.
Image courtesy of Smith & Wesson SINGLE ACTION OLD WEST: When considering a .357 Magnum we must also
give the old west single action variety a quick look as well. The Ruger Blackhawk single action revolver was
first built by Ruger in the 1950's. It is basically a Colt Single Action Army
"Peacemaker" but with a strengthened up frame and cylinder with thicker metal
all around it, coiled springs, elevated and adjustable sights and a firing pin
safety plate (also know as a transfer bar), so you can fully load up six rounds
instead of leaving one chamber empty for safety reasons as was a peculiarity
with these type of guns. The
Sturm Ruger & Co example below is of the limited edition
SASS Vaquero. It is still a faithful reproduction and handles and fires
identical to an original Colt You would have to be a real Colt aficionado
to tell the difference. With the Rugers added strength and excellent fit
and finish many shooters have expressed a preference for this revolver over
Colt, especially as this gun can handle the powerful .357 Magnum round.
Image courtesy of Strum Ruger & Co These type of revolvers are designed to offer
the modern day shooter the experience of firing the old west style guns but with
that extra .357 Magnum power behind it. Of course as earlier stated, with
the power that a .357 Magnum produces, these old west style guns are infinitely
stronger than the originals of the period. Ruger are probably the most popular
manufacturer of this style of revolver with the Blackhawk as seen below, being
amongst their best sellers. With the superb fit and finish of these
revolvers it is of no surprise they are best sellers, as they are
exceedingly good value. Image courtesy of Sturm Ruger & Co Maybe an Italian made Uberti American-Buntline
.357 Magnum with an 18" barrel as seen below is worth consideration.
Offering excellent ballistics and superb accuracy over longer ranges than is
normally accepted with revolvers with average length barrels. It would be
best to use a bench rest or some bean bags to rest the barrel on for pinpoint
accuracy that the longer barrel can deliver.
The Colt Python: I could not create a web page about
the .357 Magnum without mentioning perhaps the most famous .357 Magnum
of all time...The Colt Python. The Colt Python was introduced in 1955
by The Colt Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Connecticut, USA and is
considered to be the finest quality handgun ever produced and now enjoys
legendary status amongst shooters world wide.
The Colt Python was known as 'The
Rolls Royce' of handguns because of its superior finish, high quality
parts, excellent accuracy and smooth trigger pull. This along with the
over-all exquisite operation of the gun in general with adjustable
sights and a very robust design with extra metal thickness all round.
The Colt Python has perhaps the most
instantly recognizable shape of any handgun in the world, with its
full barrel under lug with heat dispersing ventilated rib also giving a
serious look and feel to the gun. The finish of the 'blueing'
which is the acid dye that makes guns blue-black in appearance was
of the highest quality on any revolver ever made. The Python also had excellent
engineering qualities not just great looks in that when the revolver was
cocked to fire, the cylinder locked up tight during the hammer strike
which increased the accuracy. Most other revolvers do not use this
level of tolerances. The cylinder gap and breech cone were also of
a very tight tolerance, keeping more of the expanding gases in to force
the bullet up the barrel increased velocity and accuracy.
In the 1960's through to the late
1980's the Colt Python was very popular with Uniformed Police Officers
and Motorcycle cops. The 6 in barrel being favored by them. The shorter
3 and 4 inch barrels were favored by under cover Police. Recent
changes in policy and the ever increasing need for better and faster
firing guns has seen the Python becoming redundant in favor of the
Semi-Automatic pistol that can fire more bullets hence offering better
protection. The .357 Magnum itself is seeing a
decline with Law Enforcement agencies in general due to its excessive
power in that a Magnum round can hit the intended person, go clean
through him and continue through a wall or window to injure or even kill
an innocent civilian sitting in a diner or a bar, and sadly this has
been just the case. MODERN SEMI AUTOMATICS Modern Semi-Autos are reliable, accurate and rapid
firing. A police officer or under cover agent can draw a semi-auto, get
a bead on the target and loose off several rounds in as many seconds.
Multiple bullet hits on a target will guarantee to inflict at least some
damage or disruption.
Indeed with the advent of high
capacity magazines use in semi-autos like the Glock or Beretta their
popularity has increased. Chambered for modern, adequately
powerful 9mm rounds, they are now replacing the .357 Magnum as the
handgun of choice for all law enforcement officers and indeed the
military. Below is pictured the popular, all reliable and fast
shooting 9mm Glock 19, that is usually fitted with high capacity 15 or
18 round magazines.
They are dependable, accurate and
deliver enough punch to meet requirements in a shoot out.
Available in a wide choice of powerful calibers such as SIG.357, Smith &
Wesson .40 or Glock 10mm. If I myself was a Law Enforcement
Officer then a Glock .40S&W with high capacity magazine of 16 rounds
would be my life depending weapon of choice. I would say that,
with the growth in body armor sales though, that we should not forget
why the .357 Magnum was invented in the first place! and not be to
eager to consign it to the dumpster of firearms history. It was a
man-stopping, body armor penetrating, drop em dead with one shot caliber
gun. With the surprising rise in body armor wearing criminals, who
knows? we may yet see its return. History repeating itself is
often said to be a farce when it does, but maybe not in this case. FINAL WORDS Overall the Colt Python was reputed to
be the worlds best revolver, but sadly due to expensive manufacturing
costs, and falls in sales and changes in shooting trends, Colt finally
and sadly ceased production of the Python in 1999. Glock, Beretta
and Smith & Wesson semi-autos sales on the other hand have increased and
continue to do so. Revolvers will always be
that other choice over semi-autos for shooters world wide,
regardless of how the gun is intended for use, be it target shooting ,
home defence or police and military application. It is the guns
design that often sells it, almost unjammable, easy to load, point and
shoot. It can remain loaded for years if needs be whereas a
semi-autos magazine needs to have the integral spring exercised every so
often or it loses its springiness for want of a better term. The
.357 Magnum revolver will be with us for a long time yet and its demise
is not something that I can foresee at any time or eventuality. Click
here for .357
Magnum Page 1...
|
