.357, .41, .44 Opinion

My question to you is, do you reload? If you do load, say for .38 special then .357 would be my choice. Same as if you load for .44special, then the .44 magnum is the way to go. If you reload and like doing it, take any of them.

If you don't reload, .357 would be my suggestion. As for me, I'm looking for a model 58 just to have a reason to load .41 magnum.

If the idea is for some real giggles at the range and you still want a solid bedside gun then I'd suggest a .44 Magnum or .45Colt from a similar double action gun. But this assumes that you reload for all the same reasons as Clifford above suggested.

The bigger the cartridge the more fun it can be. And I don't mean just learning to tolerate "wrist snappers". I'm talking about running with slow pistol or pistol and rifle combo powders such as H110 and 2400 where you can generate the most soul satisfyingly HUGE sheets and balls of fire from the gap and muzzle at the range while producing a real "pusher" that rocks you back on your heels. The slower powder burns with the right powder choice really tames the shock to the hands and wrist.

Then when you get home you put in your defense loads set up with a low flash and lower noise loads for use in the dark of your house so you do what you need to do without blinding or deafening yourself any more than you can't avoid.

Once you see what a wide range of loads you can get with a .44 or .45Colt in the right sort of gun you won't want to go back to "just" a .357 for range fun.

Love the .44 magnum, and like the .41 magnum.

But if you are only to have one magnum, my vote is for the .357 magnum.

If you reload this doesn't apply, but...

For non-reloaders, the .357 magnum has the cheapest ammo AND most availability.

The .357 magnum is capable of firing .38 cowboy loads that have peashooter recoil, all the way up to 200 grain hard cast bullets that would be decent defense against pumas. And against the 2 legged predators, you can go anywhere from hot .38 spl +p loads to 125 or 158 grain magnums. There is a great selection of hollowpoint points, AND target loads.

Now if you reload... any of the magnums will work. The advantage of the .44 / .41 is the ability to reach out and be a marginally effective against larger than puma predators (a rifle is always better, but you cannot always have a rifle on you).

Love the GP 100 in .357 magnum. It is a real workhorse that handles very heavy loads and keeps on ticking.

Also am a fan of the S&W 629. However, you may also want to consider the 4" Redhawk in .44 magnum. The Redhawk in 4" is reasonably balanced for a gun so heavy, and is built strong enough for SERIOUS use of heavy .44 magnums.

I've owned all three calibers and really liked all three. I don't see where you could go entirely wrong with any of them.

But when I own a .357 Magnum, I usually wish that I had something bigger, just in case.

And when I own a .41 Magnum, I feel like a connoisseur. Not everybody has one or appreciates the caliber. It's like a "cult cartridge." It has a kind of mystique. But over time I wish I had something more readily available and less expensive (obviously because I don't reload.) I also sometimes wish the caliber had another "4" in it somewhere.

So when I have a .44 Magnum, I'm reasonably happy. I can use Specials for general shooting fun or something controllable for self-defense, or I could use Magnums in case I decided I needed the extra power for hunting. And there is the notion, not undeserved, that the .44 Magnum has status. It has real power!

But at some point I begin to ask myself, "Could I not have been better served by a .357 Magnum?" :banghead:

i'd get a s&w mod 27-28 .357 mag were i you..... i have a 6" mod 27 and i like to get a 3"mod 28........

I'd pick the S&W 329PD, .44 magnum, simply because it is light weight, 6 shot, .44 magnum revolver. I reload 200 grain Gold Dots for it at low end power (1050-1150 fps). When I carry it, I carry Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 Special, 185 grain JHC at 1150 fps. I also have used Speer Short Barrel 200 grain .44 magnum rounds in it comfortably.

This is a light weight revolver for carrying. However the low end .44 magnum and high end .44 Special loads I find quite manageable in this light weight revolver.

I have 2 .41 mags. Carried a Model 58 as a LEO for years. Love the caliber and the guns, BUT for practical purposes and wider spectrum of use I would go with a .38/.357 in K/L or N frame with a 4" bbl.

My EDC is a .357 mag.

Per your goals I would suggest a Ruger GP100 with 4" barrel. It will handle any 357 load short of those "Contender and Blackhawk only" loads and can use 38 specials for defense. (I don't even want to think about how loud a 357 mag would be in a room without hearing protection.) The last couple I handled had excellent triggers and balanced well. It might be somewhat bulky/heavy for carry but that's a personal choice. If I were to get another 357 mag, I already have seven of 'em, I would get a GP100. It's my opinion, for what it's worth, that the 38/357 caliber is the most versatile centerfire round.

I love my old Model 29, especially with 44 special loads, but I think a good 357 is more versatile.

Good luck with your decision.

Jeff

BCRider said:

If the idea is for some real giggles at the range and you still want a solid bedside gun then I'd suggest a .44 Magnum or .45Colt from a similar double action gun. But this assumes that you reload for all the same reasons as Clifford above suggested.

The bigger the cartridge the more fun it can be. And I don't mean just learning to tolerate "wrist snappers". I'm talking about running with slow pistol or pistol and rifle combo powders such as H110 and 2400 where you can generate the most soul satisfyingly HUGE sheets and balls of fire from the gap and muzzle at the range while producing a real "pusher" that rocks you back on your heels. The slower powder burns with the right powder choice really tames the shock to the hands and wrist.

Click to expand...

I bought a 44 years ago and asked the gun shop guy if he had any reloads I could buy cheap for practice. He told me he had some loaded hot for a rifle that would work for me, so I took them. I got tied up in town, didn't get home until just about dusk, HAD TO SHOOT THE 44. So I grabbed a couple targets, tossed them in the truck, and ran down to the huge pile of dirt beside the fish pond. I set my target out, backed off, squeezed the trigger, and .

The ball of fire out the barrell must have been 3 feet long, the ring of fire around the front of the cylinder was at least a foot in diameter! I had to stop and check my gun for damage before squeezing off the second round! But it was sooooo cool!!!

-------

If you're buying a magnum handgun, my personal preference has always been and will always be 44 mag. It gives you ultimate stopping power, isn't unmanageable, and you can always load it up with 44 special when you want to play. Given your specs... S&W model 629


Mostly because it was the only one I could find with a 5 inch barrel, in stainless, when I was looking.

Of the three calibers mentioned, the .41 Magnum is my all-time favorite. IMO, it's the perfect revolver cartridge...but the guns chambered for it tend to be big and heavy. Not the best platform for concealed carry, and even bothersome for open carry when the day gets long and the lower back is...uh...well-seasoned. I love my Model 58s and my Blackhawks...but they're not really a good choice for daily carry. The same can be said of the .44 Magnums.

For bedside/home defense, all three are overpowered unless you can find a boxful of the discontinued "Police" loading for the .41 or a likewise attenuated offering for the .44 caliber. .44 Special ammunition works well. My personal nightstand gun is a 4-inch Model 10 Smith, loaded with standard pressure 158-grain SWC. It's mainly a backup to the coach gun...and no, I won't be doing any house clearing or searching unless whoever is in the house has done something to warrant an immediate response. Otherwise, I would ensconce and call the cops. If he comes through the door, the shotgun will probably settle things right there on the spot.

My opinion is some what limited as I've never had a 41 or 44.
So my vote goes to the 357.

It hits hard, ammo is ubiquitous, (means ammo is everywhere)
yet the recoil, especially in a 4" or longer, is pretty easy on the shooter.

Nice dilemma though. Personally, I'd probably go with a 41 just cuz I've never fired one.

GP-100 .357 Mag. 4" barrel.

I'm a big fan of the Model 57 in .41 Magnum. Terrific looking and shooting guns. Usually not all that expensive on the used market since ammo is scarce demand is not that high. I've been loading lead rounds with Missouri Bullet Co. "Troopers" for general shooting and am having a ball working up some hunting loads for next year with XTP's.

If you really want something for carry in the winter though, I'd be inclined to look toward the SP101 .357 Mag. A return to the model 19 wouldn't be such a bad idea either. I'm also a fan of the 686 and Security Sixes.

I had a Mdl 19 2.5" in the round butt...Sold it long ago, be my choice for you now

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_&_Wesson_Model_19

The 66 is another to consider many were used by LEO, might be some good/nice used ones out there...

Regards

I have all three, and in a more than one of at least one. For shooting I like the .357. My all-around favorite is a S&W 357 (no kidding that is the model number) in 41 magnum with a 4 inch barrel. It has a scandium frame and weights about 30 ounces. It is very accurate with light loads, doesn't weigh a lot and can come through with really heavy loads if needed. It is more brutal to shoot with full loads than a Super Blackhawk in .44 magnum or a Contender in 44 magnum. Of course, they quit making them a couple of years back. It seems as if they quit making anything I like.

I've owned all three calibers and more in revolvers. I really like the Smith M57 Mountain Gun (4") and 41 mag revolvers in general. I have five revolvers in 41 mag. Frankly if you don't have a 357, I would probably look at a Smith 686 or Ruger GP-100 first. I have a M19. I don't have a 686, but I would be inclined to shoot it more than the M19. The Ruger GP-100 improves with shooting. I like it. You can't go wrong with it and I prefer the 3" and 4". My favorite 357 Mag revolver is a 6" Colt Trooper Mark III which I prefer to the Pythons I had. Sold all of them. I had enough guns that I never shoot anymore to keep them around.

Added: Ammunition for 41 mags is not as big a problem as most suggest unless you shoot hundreds of rounds a range visit. Shooting anything gets expensive when you shoot that much (even reloads). I seldom shoot more that 50 rounds of anything other that 22LR per shooting trip. There are some less expensive factory 41 mag loadings available and you could certainly cook up something real comfortable around 950 to 1100 fps that would be very shootable. I am generally not one to shoot low powered rounds in magnums. I'll just shoot a different revolver or pistol for less power.

45 colt Ruger Redhawk