Ok guys, i have hit a little bump in the road. I really dont know if i want to keep my LC or not. I could get a GP100 in .357 with probably a trade and a little bit of money. If i did go that route, it would be the 6" full lug blued version. THat way i could shoot either cheap factory or reloaded .357 or cheap .38's. THen for use as a backup/ close up hunting gun, load up some Cast Performance 180 grainers and let her rip!

NH_Hunter

Me... I'd prefer the .357 Mag over the .45 LC...

Awww. I was hoping for some pictures. Come now NL, your falling behind .

NH_Hunter

NH_Hunter wrote: Awww. I was hoping for some pictures. Come now NL, your falling behind . NH_Hunter

Okay NH - I'll admit, I prefer S&W revolvers. I've owned Rugers & I like 'em but the western Canada S&W rep has his shop about 2 miles from my house & is the president of my local gun club, too.

My current favorite .357 is in the middle... a Model 19 4". (the others are, top, Model 57 .41 Magnum and bottom, Models 36 & 37 'snubbies' in .38 Special).

Marcus.

I also prefer 'Pachmayr' gripper grips on my S&W 'wheelguns'...

Model 14 .38 Special.

Bottom one is a Model 63 "J" frame 'kit gun' in .22 long rifle... 

'Snubbies' are cool, though...

Thanks NL  , but i prefer this....

As far as snubbies go, i am partial to these...

NH_Hunter

And when it comes to rimfire, single sixes rule

NH_Hunter

NH - I think the Ruger 'snubbies' are bulkier than they need be. I had a Single Six .22/.22 Mag convertible once, nice little SA wheelgun.

As for Ruger SAA's I prefer the 'Vaquero'... might consider one of those in .357 Mag some day...

'Course, there's nothing like the real Colt SAA either...

2nd generation [mfg 1962] in .357 Magnum...

NH,

The solution is to own both....

Those two cartridges are my favorite general purpose field and hunting handgun rounds. AW

N;

In your shoes, with the problems you've had with the .45, I do believe I'd give the .357 a try.  Not that the .45 couldn't be fixed, but do you want to invest the time, money, & possible heartache in it?

900F

  Gotta agree with NL, a 357 S&W.  I find the Hogue grips fit my hands better than the Pachmayrs, but this is the 1st time I've seen the finger groove Pach's.  Maybe I'll pick up a pair.  With the Hogues you have the backstrap exposed where as the Pach's cover them.

  M29-3  6",  M29-2  4",  M27-2  5".

NH,

I would make an effort to get that .45 Long Colt Blackhawk of yours up and running like it's no doubt capable of. Clean it and put yourself a load of 9.0 grains of Unique under a 250 grain .452 SWC of your choice, and see what happens then. If it's still goofy then take it to Ruger in person. They have minimum performance standards just like anyone else. 30" groups sound a bit large even by HCI accuracy standards..... AW

Everyone has an opinion:

Go for the 357  you can vary loads, and it won't kill your hand.

But I am partial to the 357mag  S & W.

Can't showcase like  NL but have one that works.

Bojon

NH

My old man has a GP 100 Stainless in 357 and it is quite a sidearm. 

I did notice that the cylinder chambers on it is a little tight for some re-loads.  Might just be one of the last ones off the line before they changed the reamer but nonetheless it shoots good.

As for me, I ditched my Smith 357 along with a rifle to get my Win 70 FWT Classic in 270.  Seeing as how I had a 9mm, a 44 and a .22 I didn't really need the 357.  Still, a great caliber for a lot of different uses, especially if you downgrade to 38 rounds like some folks do.

I have both.  I have to admit, I love the .45 Colt -- both my 7 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk and my 7 1/2" Colt New Service will do nicely with a 255 grain bullet at around 1,000 fps -- I don't see any need to load anything stiffer.

I also load shot in .45 Colt, as well as powderpuff loads.

In .357, I have a Colt SAA (2nd Generation) and a Colt Model .357, both excellent revolvers.  But I usually carry either the New Service or the Black Hawk -- although I'm usually horseback.  Maybe if I was afoot, a lighter revolver would be more appealing.