the most durable .357 mag revolver..

[Visaman]

Witch one is the most durable revolver that can handle .357 Magnum and 357 magnum + P loads ( 40,000 PSI ) ?
I have read that MANURHIN MR73 revolvers are tested with 30% overpressure (CIP )

[MagnumWill]

I'm gonna have to either vote the Manurhin you're looking at, or a Ruger GP100. The GP can handle anything you throw at it. Even though it can take double charged loads....you shouldn't put double charged loads in it. If you want that much OOMPH out of your .357, buy a .44.

The GP should handle more than you can (logically) throw at it. I was talking to my guy Brad at the shop, and he said he got someone's GP100 in for a checkout after he put a double loaded .357 in it. He said it looked fine; there was so much chamber pressure it blew the primer out of the back of the casing. I would say they are more than rigid enough for its purpose. And it's probably a mite cheaper than that manurhin ;)

[Rigby1962]

Dont say single action or double, so I gonna say the Freedom Arms model 83.

[James K]

That statement re the Manurhin is only stating the French proof requirements, so it is nothing unusual. All .357 proof loads (S&W and Ruger use them also) are about 30% over normal working pressure. I don't know about Freedom Arms, but I should hope they prove their guns also.

Jim

[Dfariswheel]

Probably the most durable double action .357 Magnum revolver would be a S&W large "N" frame like the Model 27.

The most durable MEDIUM frame double action is the Colt Trooper Mark III/King Cobra.

Much of the perception of the strength of the Ruger is simply because it's thicker than the S&W or Colt.
As S&W so devastatingly said in the famous "Burger War" advertisements of the 1980's, the Ruger HAS to be thicker because it's cast steel instead of forged.

[sandbag]

l always look forward to your posts because I learn something each time.
I have a Model 27(4 screw no dash) and a GP 100.I like both,but the 27 is like a racehorse and the GP is like an APC.
The 27 is of such high quality forged steel that it doesn't need the bulk.
I also have a 28,a Python,and 2 19's.I kinda like the 357.:)

[fisherman66]

I'd bet the elusive Redhawk .357 must be near the most durable. I'd bet the Freedom Arms would be high on the list too.

[jondar]

Quote: "The most durable MEDIUM frame .357 is the Colt Trooper MK III"

Yes, it feels like it's built like a tank. Every time I pick mine up I think maybe it would be a good carry gun, then I feel that weight and think, "Mmmmmmmmmebby not!

[Gun 4 Fun]

Just an FYI-
Most american guns are proofed at double the standard working pressure of the round they fire. These are proof loads fired under controlled conditions, and should never be duplicated at home by anyone! Cartridges themselves are normally proofed at 30-40% overload.

[Gun 4 Fun]

Freedom Arms makes the strongest factory guns in existance. Period. The Redhawk in any caliber, and especially the .357 is a brutally strong gun, but F/A rules the roost when it comes to strength. It is their claim to fame, and something they are very proud of. ;)

[Paul105]

John Taffin's writeup on the Freedom Arms 353 (Large Frame M83).

http://www.sixguns.com/range/fa353.htm

" With the .357 Magnum chambering in the 353 Casull, amazing things happen. We are talking 160 grain bullets at 1750 feet per second, 180 grain bullets at 1650 feet per second, and 200 grain bullets at 1500 feet per second. To put that into perspective, one needs only to look at some standard .357 Magnum loadings. These same jacketed bullets custom loaded for my pet eight and three-eighths inch .357 Magnum, the original .357 from Smith & Wesson, will safely do 1350 , 1250, and 1050 feet per second respectively. That is a dramatic difference to say the least.

It becomes even more dramatic when one compares the performance of the .357 Maximum/SuperMag with the 353 Casull. Remember, Maximum brass is .300" longer in length than standard .357 Magnum brass. The same bullets outlined above for the 353 Casull and .357 Magnum, max out at 1500, 1350, and 1250 feet per second respectively in my eight-inch Dan Wesson .357 SuperMag."

FWIW,

Paul

[devildog66]

The Manhurin revolver seems to be tested at no more pressure than American made (double load). I would opt for the Ruger given the one-piece frame construction. Not the most refined but by far and away the toughest built. I have seen a security six with the top strap bulged and the cylinder cracked from a hand load; I suspect the same laod would have blown the top off of a SW. Note that I am a SW-aholic but the Ruger build is stout.

[Hammer It]

Probably the most durable double action .357 Magnum revolver would be a S&W large "N" frame like the Model 27.

Hello
I totaly agree with Dfariswheel's response. I have several model 27's and they all seem to hold up well with Repeated Magnum Load Punishment...If you want durability go with the Original .357 Magnum Hand Gun the Model 27 or 28 the Model 27's have been around since 1935 and are still King of the .357 Magnum's and the 28's have been around since 1954 and were chosen as the daily carry weapon of The Highway Patrol.. Hammer It

[Hal]

Dan Wesson made quite a name for themselves back in the mid to late 1970's in the silhouette game.

FWIW - the Dan's were still going when the N frames (and Blackhawks also) quit working/being about to hit the longer targets.

Dan's have always been tough, rugged and able to stand up to repeated pounding & still shoot well.

Push come to shove, I'd probably give the forged frame of the Dan the nod over the cast frame of the FA.

@ that level though it's really splitting hairs.

[Gun 4 Fun]

I've owned a Dan wesson, and while they are strong guns, they aren't even quite as large in cylinder dimension as a Redhawk. I've measured them both.

No Dan Wesson is even close to the strength of a Freedom Arms model 83, sorry. Cast or not, the F/A guns are heat treated to tremendous strength levels, and will take loads that would send a DW flying in all directions. ;)

[bobn]

after owning several dan wessons i was alway impressed by the size of frame, barrels, etc. but thier lock work such as the hand and the locking bolt is something the size of a j frame. never could figure that out. jmho. bob

[CraigC]

The FA 383 is without question the strongest and most durable .357 available. Followed by the Redhawk and large frame Ruger Blackhawk. Then the N-frame S&W's, Colt SAA, replicas and the Old Model Ruger Blackhawk/New Vaquero/50th anniversary .357 Blackhawk (all similar in strength). Followed by the GP100 and L-frames (a wash between the two).

[Jim March]

Probably the most durable double action .357 Magnum revolver would be a S&W large "N" frame like the Model 27.

In terms of "resists blowups", these are strong guns.

But in terms of action strength, they're actually weak. Shooting light loads (light 357s or any 38Spls) rapid-fire will kill them in a hurry. That's why PPC shooters went to the K-frames for that sport (38 target loads shot rapid fire) and added heavier barrels and/or barrel weights.

Quickly stopping and starting the heavy cylinder on a 27/28 tears the hell out of the bolt, ratchet, star and pawl. It can all be replaced of course...

The GP100 has action strength that won't quit and almost all of the blowup resistance of an N-frame, in a packable size. It doesn't have a side plate to blow out and it has a solid lockup latch at the crane in addition to the normal one at the cylinder's rear end. Both latches are released with a single control via a front-to-back interlink that few other makers have gotten right.

[mssurrey]

I would love a Manurhin as I think they're so well built. However, availability is the biggest issue.

A Ruger GP-100 or a SW Model 27 would be my alternative choice (I have a GP and am looking for a 27).

[Gun 4 Fun]

The FA 383 is without question the strongest and most durable .357 available. Followed by the Redhawk and large frame Ruger Blackhawk. Then the N-frame S&W's, Colt SAA, replicas and the Old Model Ruger Blackhawk/New Vaquero/50th anniversary .357 Blackhawk (all similar in strength). Followed by the GP100 and L-frames (a wash between the two).

+1

This is a realistic, and fair rating of quite a few popular .357's.

[Elvishead]

I thought Rossi was the strongest!:D

No, seriously, any large frame (=44mag) .357, should be very strong and durable.

As far as most durable. First thing that's readily available and affordable is a Ruger.

That's just me thinking realistically.

I wouldn't want a MANURHIN what ever that is. If it did have any problems, I doubt you could find parts, and service for it very easily/timely or cheaply.

Same with Dan Wesson, although a great gun, parts and service could "potentially" be a problem in the future.

[Auto426]

One thing I don't think anyone has noticed yet is that Visaman is located in Norway. I'm not sure of the availability of firearms there, but if I had to imagine, I don't think it would be too hard for him to obtain a Manurhin.

I happen to fortunate enough to own both a GP100 (purchased last year) and a S&W 27-2. The 27 was my grandfathers, and he passed it down to me. The S&W has the finest fit and finish on a handgun I've seen, but the Ruger is no slouch, being very smooth itself. DA triggers are just about equal, but the S&W has the crisper SA.

As far as blow up strength goes, the Ruger GP100 does have the thicker top strap. The S&W has slightly thicker cylinder walls, but it has the bolt notches directly above the holes in the cylinder, creating a thin spot on the cylinder wall. Ruger offsets them, providing more strength. Ruger doesn't use a sideplate, which makes the frame more rigid, and they also use an extra locking lug in the crane, providing a stronger lockup.

Here are a couple of crappy comparison pics:

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6650/1000179z.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000179z.jpg)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4103/1000176q.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000176q.jpg)


One thing seems to be agreed upon is that Ruger uses a simpler and stronger action, meaning that the gun will stay in time longer and take more abuse than the S&W action will. That makes the Ruger the stronger gun in my book.

The simple fact is though, a GP100 is all you need for taking a steady diet of full house .357's. You won't wear it out with normal shooting, and if you do somehow manage to wear it out, you will have spent many times the cos of the gun in ammo. If you need more power than that, it's time to move up to a .41 or .44 magnum.

[madcratebuilder]

Your comparing cast to forged. Thickness doesn't count.
Nothing is bullet proof.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d37/madcratebuilder/100_0326.jpg

[Visaman]

MR-73 revolvers were developed by MANURHIN company of France in 1973. MR-73 is a standart issue firearm of the french Gendarmerie, as well as of some French elite law enforcement agencies (G.I.G.N., R.A.I.D. etc). MR-73 is also a favorite European sporting arm, available also in Sport and Match (.32 SW Long or .38 Spl).

All MR-73s featured all-steel construction, designed to withstand extereme pressures. MR-73 barrels are manufactured by cold-hammering, resulting in long service life and extreme accuracy. Additional cylinders for 9x19mm Luger ammunition available as options, providing ability to use cheaper ammunition for ectensive training. All MR-73's had hand-assembled and ajusted actions, resulting very good to extremely high accuracy and high unit price. Reliability and service life of the MR-73s, combined with the match-grade accuracy, also brings it to the worlds' best service handguns class, along with SIG P-210. Some MR-73 have been tested for durability. The test was abandonned after 170'000 full power Norma .357 were shot. So,
the real lifetime of this revolver is not known. It is also the only
revolver with a trigger which is both DA/SA and whose weight is
adjustable. Its double action is also the smoothest of all
revolvers. Its accuracy is match grade out of the box. Unhappily,
this gun requires more than 12 hours of manual adjustments. This
amount of handwork makes it very expensive.
http://www.chapuis-armes.com/spip.php?page=axome_intro&id_article=118

I belive that http://www.simpsonltd.com/ and http://www.centuryarms.com/ imports them into US.

The MR73 is around $1100 dealer cost in USA ( in 1995 ), with a 6 inch barrel. It comes with a manual, an allen wrench, cleaning rod and a second front sight.
A brand new MR73 costs around 14 000 NOK = 2,097.81 USD Here In Norway.

It is easy to get S&W revolvers, Colt's and the "common" brands here in Norway.

[Lost Sheep]

I recall back in the '70s when Dick Casull had pretty much finished developing the 454 Casull cartridge and was marketing the revolver which was the forerunner of the Model 83 Freedom Arms some gun magazine writers took one, loaded a cartridge case full up with Bullseye powder and them pressed a bullet on top of it.

They loaded the gun, tied it to an old tire, pointed the whole rig towards the target and ducked down behind a log. Then they pulled a string attached to the trigger of the gun. (Such was the state of gun writers in the mid 70's, I guess.)

I remember this partial quote from the article: "Every screw in the gun was loose, but the gun was still within factory specifications".

Yeah. Unrealistically strong.

Other contenders; Ruger Redhawk .357. the two S&W "N" frame .357s. Freedom Arms 357 of course. The Dan Wesson 357 Maximum I don't count, and the DW 357 Magnum is just a standard 357 strength. The Ruger Blackhawk .357 is extremely beefy as well.

Lost Sheep

[Auto426]

The MR73 is around $1100 dealer cost in USA ( in 1995 ), with a 6 inch barrel. It comes with a manual, an allen wrench, cleaning rod and a second front sight.
A brand new MR73 costs around 14 000 NOK = 2,097.81 USD Here In Norway.

It is easy to get S&W revolvers, Colt's and the "common" brands here in Norway.

Nice to hear that Norway isn't too strict with guns. It also appears that you are looking into double action revolvers, since you keep mentioning the MR73. I wouldn't worry about over pressure loads, since there is no such thing as .357 +p. Anything more than full house loads loaded according to SAMMI specs is just dangerous and should be avoided. If you are seeking more power, or just more recoil, I would look into a larger caliber like .44 magnum.

Any of the options mentioned in this thread will suffice. I personally prefer a medium frame in a .357 with a full underlug which really helps tame muzzle flip. If you can afford it, and are willing to spend that much, the MR73 is an excellent option. However, a S&W 686 or a Ruger GP100, even a Colt King Cobra, will work just as well in almost any circumstance. They are all very durable, accurate, and should cost a good bit less than the MR73.

I am very fond of my GP100, since it fit's my had perfectly, shoots great, and has a very smooth action straight from the factory. The S&W is also another great option, since it should have a little finer fit and finish and usually has a smoother action, but will cost more than the Ruger. The Colt is a compromise between Ruger's strength and S&W's fine fit and finish, but it is out of production, and parts might be hard to come by should it ever need any. Used prices have also been steadily climbing in the past couple years.

If you really want a Manurhin, nothing else is going to satisfy that desire, and you will probably end up buying one later on if you don't get it now. It's that same with any other type of gun. Don't ask me how I know. :D