[LMC]

I am trying to decide on my next revolver,i going to be a ruger i just cant decide on the caliber. I know the .357 can shoot .38 rounds but i already have a .38, but i like the power of the .44 but not the size,what should i do.
thanks :)

[cortez kid]

.44's come in all sizes and weights. Just picked up a nice used 10" ruger .44. You can also get a "snubby" .44. Also you can get a .44 that weighs less than a pack of smokes(ouch)! Having said all that I have a few .357's too. I enjoy all my guns. I would get the .44 first, then get a .357. You can shoot .44 spls which are one of the mildest round I've ever shot. Just reread your post, definately get a .44 Ruger first. Can't go wrong. Although I found an old .357 with the 9mm cylinder that I got on the cheap, and I like it also. I'm no help here am I! I'm sorry, it's the sickness.
kid

[Bandit01]

I have both but I enjoy shooting the .357 more than the .44. At times the recoil of a .44 can be a bit to much. Don't get me wrong, I'm a recoil junky but I'm way more accurate with a .357. If I was in your position, I'd get the .357

[Vern Humphrey]

Which one do you WANT? What do you plan to do with it?

The development of the .44 Magnum parallels that of the .357. Both were produced by "stretching" an earlier, shorter cartridge (.38 Special and .44 Special, respectively) and loading it to higher pressure. You can shoot .44 Specials in your .44 Magnum, or you can handload .44 Magnum cases to .44 Special levels.

If you plan to hunt deer, hogs, or similar game, I'd go with the .44 Magnum. You can make it a manageable package for carry by selecting shorter barrels, although for a purely hunting gun, I'd go with a longer barrel.

[rockstar.esq]

I agree with Vern, Although you can certainly hunt with the .357 my nod goes to the .44. If you get a full size revolver for the .44 mag shooting .44spl's will feel very light in terms of recoil whereas the .357 is often made on a smaller frame size which weighs less. Many many many shooters swear by the .38spl for target use. I won't argue with them. I'm just not that interested in the .357 as it seems that there are a great many calibers that would do a specific job better. That said, for concealment the snubbie caliber continum is interrupted at the .357mag level and resumed at the .44spl. I know that excludes the oddball 10 mm's but I guess I'll believe they exist when I actually hold one!

You can start handloading for the .44 and unlike so many other calibers, you can actually save money on it if you load with lead bullets. The .44 uses some of the same powders as shotguns which makes them readily availible and very clean shooting.

[dpesec]

.357 over the 44. A friend of mine had both. He couldn't take the recoil on the 44. He kept the 44 for a few months then sold it.

[Vern Humphrey]

There is an awfully nice compromise, the New Vaquero in .45 Colt.

Personally, I like the .45 Colt. You can start with mild "cowboy" loads and go up from there. The New Vaquero won't take the rompin'-stompin' loads the Blackhawk will take, but you should be able to safely work up into the 23,000 - 24,000 CUP range (the starting loads in most manuals' "Ruger Only" sections.) This would allow you to drive a 250 to 260 grain bullet over 1,000 fps, and that is enough for hunting.

Now, if Ruger would just offer an adjustable sight version, so you could easily switch between light and heavy loads, it would be ideal.

(Are you listening, Ruger?)

[chaim]

I know the .357 can shoot .38 rounds but i already have a .38, but i like the power of the .44 but not the size,what should i do.
I know you said you wanted a Ruger, but if you really want a .44mag but would perfer a smaller framed revolver, Taurus makes the medium framed Tracker in .44mag again. However, I'm not sure I'd ever want to shoot .44mag out of a relatively lightweight medium framed revolver :what:

Anyway, what is it about the size of the .44mag you don't like? If it is the grips you can buy some that fit your hand better. If it is the bulk, you might get used to it, and with well designed grips you may find some that help you support the weight better. One nice thing with revolvers is that a lot can be done about ergonomics by swapping out the grips. Also, as others have said, you can make the problem less noticable by going with a shorter barrel (though I personally wouldn't want to shoot a .44mag out of anthing shorter than a 4" barrel). Last, while you said you want the Ruger, if the size of the Ruger .44mag bothers you, you may find that the size/balance/feel or whatever of another brand might make the larger .44mag work for you- unless you've already handled them all I'd definately check out the S&W, Taurus and Dan Wesson (if you can find them) offerings.

[vmr357]

Tough choice. There's lots of good things about both calibers. But why sweat it? Go for a .41 mag and you can have a big bore without the kick, plus you get to handload your ammo too. How can you beat that!

Another Vern, can you believe there are two.

[AH-1]

I bought the smith 44 mag mountain gun 629-4.I bought it for packing on my hip while hunting and have NO plans as a ccw or home protection.with the 4 inch barrel it does have a bark and a bite with factory 240 gr loads.
with 8.8 grs unique and my cast 240 gr swc I chronied this load at 997 fps.plenty of punch for mountain lions to a nice hog.
pete
http://www.hunt101.com/img/306330.jpg (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=306330&c=500&z=1)

[timothy75]

I'd go with a GP100 for self defense and Redhawk for hunting. Of course remember they make some very hot 357's you could hunt with as well. Good luck

[Standing Wolf]

Be scientific. Get one of each. Get a few more. Buy some more after that. You'll see.

[cortez kid]

I totaly agree with Standing Wolf. It's better to get more. Followed by purchasing more. Then get a few more to rest up before getting alot more.
kid

[Bob F.]

Saw a GP-100 customized into a .44 Special, don't remember the maker, but that's gotta be SWEET!!

[petrel800]

I'd buy a reloading press because both calibers will cost you an arm and a leg to shoot.

[355sigfan]

I am kind of partial to the standard 4 inch 629. Its a very versatile gun. Its a great woods gun with hot 44 mag loads (300 grain bullets at 1100). Its a fun plinker with 44 special level reloads (240 grain loads at 800 fps). Its an acceptable defense guns with medium weight bullets at medium velocity (200 grain loads at 1000 fps) Its pretty usefull caliber. The 357 mag is fine but its not enough for bear protection so its use as a trail gun is limited in my area. If I did not have to worry about bears I would rather just carry a 1911 in 45 acp or a Glock in 9mm. When I go out in the woods I carry my 14 inch Vang comped 870 loaded with Breneke slugs and my 5 shot Hamilton Bowen Redhawk loaded with 350 grain cast bullets at 1350 fps.
Pat

[P. Plainsman]

Just acquired a standard 4" S&W 629 and am really warming to it. As Pat explained, you can do a lot with this gun.

I will say that in my fairly limited experience, the Ruger Super Redhawk is a friendlier platform than the Smith 629 for launching real .44 Magnum rounds. Surprisingly, I think you are likely to get a better out-of-box DA trigger on a Super Redhawk than a new .44 Smith. Old Smiths are a different story.

However, that's the Super Redhawk, which is a big ol' honking gun. Smallest barrel length available for the .44 SRH is 7.5" -- no one's idea of a carry piece. For a more portable .44 Ruger comparable to the S&W 629, you have to go to the regular Redhawk in 5.5".

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5014&return=Y

Redhawk grips aren't as comfortable (to most) as the SRH, and the trigger is typically worse. But lots of people snazz up their Redhawks with aftermarket grips and gunsmithing and swear by them.

[DHart]

I wouldn't recommend a .44 mag handgun to anyone but someone who reloads or will reload. Shooting full house .44 mag loads is very expensive and brutal on the shooter and gun. I don't enjoy shooting full house loads (and I'm not a hunter), but when I discovered the pleasure of shooting .44 mag "lite" loads, I embraced the caliber. There are some .44 mag "lite" loads being factory produced (ProLoad for personal defense and Cowboy Action loads), but for the most part, you're best off making them for yourself if you're going to be doing much shooting. If you reload or will reload, the .44 mag caliber can be a great, pleasant, and not horribly expensive caliber to shoot. Otherwise, go for the .357 revolver.

I guess the biggest question which should be answered before any useful recommendations can be made is what, precisely, is your intended use for the gun? Will you be hunting with it? What will you hunt? Do you expect to encounter bear? Or will the gun be more of a fun gun for the range, plinking, and personal defense?

[355sigfan]

Reloading is almost a necessary with any revolver. But I would disagree that the 44 is useless unless you reload. You can find reasonable 44 mag UMC ammo and you can shoot 44 special for light recoiling rounds. The 357 mag is just not enough gun for a woods gun unless you have no bear in your area. If thats the case you might as well carry a 45 acp or a 9mm.
Pat

[sgt127]

I may go against the grain a bit, but, unless you need a .44 for a particcular hunting situation, a good .357 is possibly the most usefull revolver you can own. From .38 wadcutters through 180 grain hunting loads. If you then find the bark of a full house .357 isn't enough, you can always sell it. In most of North America, there are few things that will stand still and soak up .357's, be they two or four legged. And, you can get cheap ammo at Wal Mart.

[TMM]

i'd go for the .44 mag, because you can use .44spl. in it for plinking and practice. hunting? throw some 44mags in there and you're ready to go. but after that, get the .357, so you can shoot .357's and .38's.

basically, the way i see it is:
.357: be able to shoot one new caliber
.44mag: be able to shoot 2 new calibers with one gun

~TMM

[orionengnr]

quote:

44's come in all sizes and weights. Just picked up a nice used 10" ruger .44. You can also get a "snubby" .44. Also you can get a .44 that weighs less than a pack of smokes(ouch)!

I want one! Tell me more.

[cortez kid]

Hey orionengnr, have you lifted one of those scandium .44's by smith. My dealer's got the black one. I doubt I would feel it if I dropped it on my foot. I personally would shoot it with my eyes closed. I know it's got to hurt. My mtn gun hurts with full house rnds. I shoot a 7" and a 10" SBh on a regular basis. My latest aquisition is a 29-2 6 1/2" smith. I have yet to fire it. Really nice shape. I had to step up to get it. I like .44's. Got all kinds of caliber hand guns. The .44 is my favorite.
kid

[orionengnr]

and while it is light, it's not pack-of-smokes light. I've seen the 296 and 396, and in addition to being larger and heavier than my 340, five rounds of 44 are heavier than five rounds of 357.
So I guess I'm not in the market yet.

[goon]

Questions -
What handguns do you already have?
What do you want to use it for?
The .44 is more powerful. It is better suited to hunting, but not if you can't hit with it. It is also more expensive to shoot. Do you reload?
The .357 is easier to control unless you are shooting it in a little gun. For example, a 2.5 inch .357 with full power loads jumps more for me than a 7.5 inch Super Blackhawk .44.
You can shoot .38 specials in a .357. You can shoot .44 Special in a .44 Mag.
You can find .38 Special ammo at Walmart pretty cheap. I have never looked, but I doubt the same can be said of .44 Special.
I would say that if you have some handguns already and the .44 is just a "toy" get the .44. If you need something you can shoot fairly cheap and for fun, go with the .357.
Just my $.02.

Just reread the post. By all means, .44.

[cortez kid]

Ok orionengnr, I guess you got me in a little bit of a technicallity. No , It probably does weigh more than "a pack of smokes". You caught me in an exaggeration. You see, I shoot a good number of large hand guns. This includes my 10" SBH,8"and 10" .500 mags and a few 629's. So to me the scandium guns weigh next to nothing. I still say that a .44 mag is a great caliber and because of it and the ability to shoot .44 spl's, that In my opinion, it would be a fine handgun to own. Good shootin
kid

[orionengnr]

I'd like to own a 696 or maybe a 396 if I cannot find a reasonably priced 696 (is there such a thing?) Perhaps one day I will. Don't view either as being a carry piece at this point.
For the time being, I sure like my 340--11 oz worth of .357 mag. Bit of an "owwie" to shoot but I bet the dude at the "receiving end" will hurt a lot more...

[SACOLT]

I would compromise, and get a 41 maggie. :D

[orionengnr]

preferably in Scandium, definitely in Smith, and I'm listening...

[355sigfan]

Personally I don't see much in the 41 mag. It takes a 44 mag frame to house it holds the same number of rounds. Has less power and less versatility. I believe the above is why the 41 mag is now pretty much dead except to handloaders.
Pat