Sorry, but don’t see the draw of the 357 MAG

I look at .357Magnum revolvers the same way I look at Bavarian cream donuts: if you don’t want them then that’s just more for me.

I only have one .357 Magnum but if I had a lot more money to spend I would certainly have more. Saw a nice 19-5 .357 S&W revolver at the gun shop today, but they want $950 for it. But I did snag a S&W 686+ earlier this year and it is a blast to shoot.

I won’t say I love the .357 Magnum, but I love the .357 caliber in all its glory. From .38 Special wadcutter loads to 158 grain magnum loads. I haven’t tried 180+ grain loads yet…yet! But I now have a GP100 so clobberin’ time is near.

I really like .45 Colt, 9mm, .22 LR in addition to .38 & .357, but if the imagination of some folks and their “what if” scenarios came to pass and I only could have one cartridge, I would still take 2. The .38 Special and the .357 Magnum. They’re both great from one type of handgun, the .357 Magnum revolver. They’re pretty darn cool out of my Marlin 1894CB too.

stonebuster said:

Scratch me off the POed suspect list. My .357 herd and I are not offended by differing tastes even though they seem to be "drawn" to me and I couldn't refuse them a home.View attachment 1084679

Click to expand...

Sure do like those two Dan Wessons (and the others too) VERY nice

I couldn’t imagine not owning several 357 magnum revolvers….

I can name several good reasons to be a .357 fan......

The only problem I have with 357 is I only have 3... I feel odd numbers are just not good and I really want a 686 full lug stainless like my dad carried as a Marshall. He sold it after I left for the navy and was never given the option to get or buy it. I'd take a 357 over a 327 every day and that's just me.... I dumped 9mm for 357... if we get stuck with national limits more power not less....

I have little to no use for the .357 mag either.
If I'm going to put up with all the noise and recoil, it will be .44 magnum.
While I love my S&W M19, that gun only sees .38 special loads.
My Ruger Blackhawk is an unusual gun. The gun works fine for other people, but, it's the only thing I own that I can't hit anything with.
I gave it to my son since it works well for him.

The only gun I have that I enjoy shooting .357 mag is my Marlin Cowboy

If you don't see the draw of the
357mag round, you're not looking.

AJC1 said:

The only problem I have with 357 is I only have 3...

Click to expand...

I only have 3 as well. I do plan to remedy that.
My next .357 may be something a little different. I am considering a Chiappa Rhino, but I have others on my list of desires. Pretty much any gun on my list below may be my “next .357 Magnum”. Trouble is I am retiring so my income is going to take a cut so my list may remain just a list, but that’s okay. I am sure I can make do.

S&W model 19-4


S&W 327 Night Guard


Ruger GP100


My short list: (in no particular order)
Chiappa Rhino
S&W 327 TRR8 or M&P R8
S&W 686
S&W 27 or 28
Taurus 608 just because I have never owned a Taurus
Ruger SP101
I may as well stopped there. I have several more. I find that I pretty much want “one of each.”

SDGlock23 said:

There's just something about the 357 Mag for me, I admit that I don't need it, my .44's are more powerful, but I just simply like the 357 Mag. It's loud, it doesn't kick too bad from normal sized guns and I'd have to say I consider it to be more of a "social" magnum, meaning it's best for 2 legged threats. But it can be loaded hot enough for woods work too, it's quite a versatile cartridge.

Click to expand...

Amen to that. My Rossi 92 is a sweet shooting in 357. Love it.

LeftyRed said:

So much 357 porn! Love it!

Random thoughts……..
-the SW28 is one of the best shooters out there!
-don’t know why Ruger doesn’t make more 3’ GP100s, too damn nice looking!
-a clean looking SP101 is sexy!
-more barrel on a 357 the better, still don’t know why most modern ones stop at 6-6.5”. It’s started out at a 8 5/8” I do believe. I shot a custom 357 BH with a 7.5” barrel that was just about the best handling BH I ever used. But then a 41 out the the same barrel is my preferred pistol too.

So much 357 porn!

Click to expand...

Here's a little more barrel, my DW sporting an 8". I think they made a 15" too.

While revolvers are no longer produced for it, let me introduce you to the .357 Maximum, for when you really want to reach out a bit.

A 4" 357 was my first real handgun. I've owned at least one ever since. It's a good cartridge and makes for a versatile handgun.

My daughter can shoot mild 38 special range ammo through them. They can be loaded with appropriate 38 special ammo for SD. You can shoot high-power 357 loads to enjoy the flash and boom. It's a decent deer cartridge for small deer at close range. My buddy has a lever-action 357 rifle that is impressively accurate. What's not to like?

Some form of 4" 357 was my HD weapon for most of my life.

These long-barreled Blackhawks are popular for hunting. I even have a 9mm cylinder for this one. Talk about versatile: 38 special, 357 magnum, and 9mm luger, all in the same handgun.

The 357 Magnum is a dream cartridge, if you handload/reload......if I had to buy only factory ammo, I'd probably dislike it....but .38s are pretty pricey factory rolled these days too..

alfsauve said:

While revolvers are no longer produced for it, let me introduce you to the .357 Maximum, for when you really want to reach out a bit.

Click to expand...

Can't argue that.
I have one and it is a great revolver.
Part of my Dan Wesson revolver collection.

My pre-lock 686 with Eagle Heritage conversion grips. The underlug helps soak up muzzle flip, lots of good self-defense, hunting, and target loads available. I sold my model 29 N frame, the K/L frame just fits my hands better.

Different stokes for different folks.

I happen to like the 357 Magnum cartridge. It has lots of depth in its uses from soft shooting target ammunition to short range, medium animal hunting ammunition.

I prefer mid-sized frame handguns in 357 Magnum. Large frame are fine but I'd rather have them chambered for cartridges with a larger diameter bullet than 38 caliber. Small frames are just too small and light for full power 357 Magnum and even 38 Special +P for my liking.

OP, I see your point. I’ve had .a 357 revolver of one marque or another for what seems like my entire adult life, but I don’t shoot a passel of the magnums through my guns. (I’ll estimate its at least 10 shots to every 3 in favor of .38’s.)

I still like the round though. It does just about anything I can ask a revolver round to do and doesn’t break the bank doing it. (I kick myself on occasion for not buying a Coonan .357 when they were still being made and sold for $1,200 bucks.)

Stay safe.

I don't understand why OP is "sorry". I`m happy there's more 357 for the rest of us. I have stocked 3:1 ratio of 38 to 357 but when I want 357 I have all I need. PMC 38spl FMJ is going for $400 per 1000rnds, I almost bit but needed 556 more.