Nightstand .38 or .357?

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Armored farmer said:
I am surprised to see how many of us have replaced their .357mag house gun with a .45acp. I have also done this exact same thing. My bedstand gun is a 1911 commander.45acp.
@Boattale I don't want to sound like I am discounting your .357 as a nightstand gun because I am a big .357fan. My python was in my nightstand drawer for years. I like 158gr JSP like these. View attachment 1052273
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Those rounds look exactly like what is in the 686.
 
ms6852 said:
I carry the 686 with 3" barrel too, but in my nightstand I have the FNX tactical in .45 acp. Simply because I carried a 1911 for more than 30 years and am familiar with it, and secondly the FNX sights are very bright in the dark plus the added feature of extra 230 gr rounds in the magazine.

The drawback of the .357 for me is the damage it may do to the shooter, shooting it inside a building or home . Damage should be to the aggressor only and not include the victim or the defender.
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Shooting a handgun in an enclosed area can cause hearing damage. Is there anyone who claims that shooting a 9mm or .45 or .38 special indoors without hearing protection won't damage hearing? If you want the ballistic advantage of a .357 magnum, there's more recoil, more flash, and more noise. But it isn't like other options have no noise, no flash and no recoil.

https://earinc.com/gunfire-noise-level-reference-chart/

According to this site, a 7mm magnum in a 20" barrel is less loud than a 9mm, and within 1/2 decible of a .45 acp. Absolutely the .357 magnum is louder, but it's not like you're doing yourself much of a favor listening to your 9mm.
 
Rule3 said:
My thoughts as well. Feel the same about a 12guage shotgun in the house:what:
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I don't want to shoot anything inside the house, even a .22LR. Should I ever need to pick up that 686 or get that 870 down from over the closet door I'll be sure to yell "Hey hey hey! Let's take it outside!"
 
Pudge said:
Shooting a handgun in an enclosed area can cause hearing damage. Is there anyone who claims that shooting a 9mm or .45 or .38 special indoors without hearing protection won't damage hearing? If you want the ballistic advantage of a .357 magnum, there's more recoil, more flash, and more noise. But it isn't like other options have no noise, no flash and no recoil.
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I never argued otherwise.
 
Pudge said:
Shooting a handgun in an enclosed area can cause hearing damage. Is there anyone who claims that shooting a 9mm or .45 or .38 special indoors without hearing protection won't damage hearing? If you want the ballistic advantage of a .357 magnum, there's more recoil, more flash, and more noise. But it isn't like other options have no noise, no flash and no recoil.

https://earinc.com/gunfire-noise-level-reference-chart/

According to this site, a 7mm magnum in a 20" barrel is less loud than a 9mm, and within 1/2 decible of a .45 acp. Absolutely the .357 magnum is louder, but it's not like you're doing yourself much of a favor listening to your 9mm.
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It's more a matter of how much damage are you willing to live with, in addition to the issue of muzzle flash indoors, which is substantial in a short barrel launching whole hog magnums, neither of which will be conducive to placing accurate follow ups.
A .45acp, .44 spl. 9mm or 38 spl does have less recoil, less muzzle flash and less recoil than a Magnum.
 
With the gun pictured in the OP, I'd probably go with .357. I have two .357s. The one with the 4 inch barrel is loaded with .357 rounds. I put 38 Special in the 2 inch barrel snubnose. I have .357 reloads for it. I found that with the short ejector rod, I more reliably get 38 cases out.
 
John Joseph said:
It's more a matter of how much damage are you willing to live with, in addition to the issue of muzzle flash indoors, which is substantial in a short barrel launching whole hog magnums, neither of which will be conducive to placing accurate follow ups.
A .45acp, .44 spl. 9mm or 38 spl does have less recoil, less muzzle flash and less recoil than a Magnum.
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According to the site I referenced, .38 special is better than 95% of a .357. Everything else has less of a difference. It is a difference, but you're doing an awful lot of auditory damage regardless. There's a bigger reduction in noise going from a 9mm to a .38 special than there is going from a .357 to a 9mm. Would you suggest that using a 9mm indoors over a .38 Special comes down to how much damage you're willing to live with? I just think we're splitting hairs to some degree.
 
The following link has a list of firearms and what the decibels are for each firearm are. The .357 is louder than a 30-06 and 44 magnum. In a scenario like a home invasion where one is waking up from a sound sleep to reaching to your gun, I doubt anyone of us will reach for ear plugs first than our gun. Based on my experience of accidentally a .357 without earplugs once, I chose to have my 1911 by my bedside. It is something we all have to face should we be placed in such a situation. I pray to God we never do.
https://earinc.com/gunfire-noise-level-reference-chart/
 
I carry a 442 with Speer gold dot plus p. I don’t feel underarmed with it. I suspect it’s my own lack of concern. I suspect my dogs will bark before anyone could make it inside. In which case there is a good chance I’m about to be deaf if I have to use my twenty gauge mossberg in the house. Because any pistol is for buying me time to reach for a long gun. Well inside my own space anyway. But back on subject plus p 38 prolly won’t feel good. I’m pretty sure no pistol is a one hit quit.
 
A rolled up news paper won't damage anyone's hearing at all. Or maybe we could commit seppuku before anyone's hearing is damaged or feelings get hurt.

Are we really focusing on hearing damage with this .38 vs .357 debate???

OP, get a double stack full sized semi auto in any cartridge you like, make sure it's got a rail and put a weapons light on it. Job done. 6 rounds and no light is a bad way to address a home invasion situation you've just awoken into.

I recommend .357 Sig, because it'll damage everyone's hearing equally. [sarcasm]
 
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My dad served in an armored cavalry unit before and during WWII, and was a weapons Sargent. He endured shooting the Garand, and the weapons on his armored car (30 and 50cal machine guns and 37mm cannon) as well as incoming and outgoing artillery. He was lucky if he had a cigarette butt in his ear. His hearing seemed fine in his 80’s.
I’m supposed make my self defense choice based on fear of Db’s?
My 3” GP100 is loaded with Critical Defense 125gn , or Silvertip 145gn, both 357mag. I also have some good old Rem-UMC 125gn SJHP, a well known stopper. As far as .38spl, I would have no problem relying on it, it’s a fine cartridge.
But, if I only get one shot on target, I want it to be magnum…or 12ga.
 
Everyone is getting hung up on the hearing damage issue, but my point about the incredibly loud .357 was that shooting one indoors with no hearing protection is like getting your ears boxed... it can stun/disorient you momentarily and will certainly make you unable to hear anything but loud ringing for a time... not the condition you want to be in if there's a household emergency going on, or not the situation you want to create if your family is in the room with you.

I guess the flip side of this is that anyone on the muzzle side of the pistol is going to get it even worse so maybe if you miss, the shot might still be somewhat debilitating to your target... :eek:
 
amd6547 said:
My dad served in an armored cavalry unit before and during WWII, and was a weapons Sargent. He endured shooting the Garand, and the weapons on his armored car (30 and 50cal machine guns and 37mm cannon) as well as incoming and outgoing artillery. He was lucky if he had a cigarette butt in his ear. His hearing seemed fine in his 80’s.
I’m supposed make my self defense choice based on fear of Db’s?
My 3” GP100 is loaded with Critical Defense 125gn , or Silvertip 145gn, both 357mag. I also have some good old Rem-UMC 125gn SJHP, a well known stopper. As far as .38spl, I would have no problem relying on it, it’s a fine cartridge.
But, if I only get one shot on target, I want it to be magnum…or 12ga.
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Dbs is only a part of the issue, along with muzzle flash and recoil. I carried the 4" barrel.357 mag with 125gr SJHPs for several years in the Sierra National Forest, however it wouldn't be my first choice indoors with magnum ammo, but I'm a wimp.
 
OP it's your choice and that .357 will suit you just fine to protect your home. Everyone has their own opinions of what they choose to protect themselves and their home. All of this talk about noise etc. should be the last thing on ones mind when it comes to a home invasion. Survival is the key...
 
I vote for a medium or full size quality automatic in 9mm or larger, with night sights, a good light from surefire or streamlight mounted to it, and a secondary surefire handheld light.
If I am asleep when something bad goes down, I am already reacting and at a significant disadvantage. I want the most effective tools at my disposal when I am disoriented and confused in the dark.
 
FL-NC said:
I vote for a medium or full size quality automatic in 9mm or larger, with night sights, a good light from surefire or streamlight mounted to it, and a secondary surefire handheld light.
If I am asleep when something bad goes down, I am already reacting and at a significant disadvantage. I want the most effective tools at my disposal when I am disoriented and confused in the dark.
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My bump in the night gun. I put little cat eyes on my handheld because of how many times I dropped it and had to reach around for it. lol I can never drop a flashlight when it is on... I always drop it when it is off and at night.
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JDeere said:
All of this talk about noise etc. should be the last thing on ones mind when it comes to a home invasion. Survival is the key...
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Personally, I'm thinking I can do my best surviving when I'm not stunned and temporarily deafened... ;)

I certainly wouldn't advocate firing a full-power 125gr. .357 Magnum load indoors so you can experience the effects, but I can tell you it is a shocking experience that scrambles your brain for at least a few very long seconds. It's a lot like hitting your head, hard. Like someone has hit your "reset" button...
 
armydog said:
I put little cat eyes on my handheld because of how many times I dropped it and had to reach around for it
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Get some paracord and make a lanyard to put it on your non-firing hand/wrist- you won't drop it and you can let it dangle if need be to use your hand for other things like making a phone call, reloading, etc.
 
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