.357 mag or .44 mag?

[fish2xs]

I am thinking about getting a revolver. I already have a Sig 226 for personal defense, etc and it is 9mm so it is also my lots-of-cheap-ammo gun.

But I would like to get a 'strictly entertainment' handgun and am mulling over 357 or 44 mag. Here are some relevent factiods:

I don't reload.
I don't live in grizzly country.
I don't expect to hunt with it.
I would like to pick one OR the other, not both (yet anyway).
I know a 44 would kick like hell, but I'm in decent shape (ie mountain bike, lift, etc)

What have people in similar situations done? Please let me know your thoughts/ideas/experiences....
thanks!
Phil

 

[moxie]

I recommend a .357 for you. Far easier to shoot than a .44 mag. Ammo is cheaper. You can shoot .38 special in it too, and there are few cheaper rounds than "remanufactured" .38 available at most gun shops. If you want a good used gun, look for a Ruger Security or Speed-Six. If buying new, I'd go for a S&W 65 or 66, the difference being fixed or adjustable sight. A 3" or 4" barrel in any of these would be fine. Then again, a S&W 27 or 627 with a 8 3/8 barrel is oh so fine. Good luck!

 

[Trisha]

Hon, why not start with the "tickle-your-fancy" mode switched on when you go to your favorite gun store the next time?

That's what saw me bringing home my Desert Eagle (.44 mag); as well as the Super Redhawk!

Do you have any "pistolero heroes?" The incredible Mr. Jordan immediately comes to mind, for one - and kindred spirits had/have acute personal favorites when it comes to wheelguns, with witnessed legendary accounts of their field use!

S&W's Model 19, in the gorgeous old blue steel would be high on my personal list, followed by Ruger's Blackhawk/Redhawk. A mint Colt Python would close in fast, were is ANIB. . .



And not to worry, .44magnum's aren't in a category of a handgun that "kicks like hell;" especially when a dear friend of mine adores shooting my SR with quite hot handloads - when we've run out of DE ammo (JSP's for the revolver, XTP's/TCTMJ's for the DE); and she's all of 5ft tall. . . (yes, scandium/snub .44mags will pound you a bit, but we're talking about something just for fun! )

Take your time and find something really special that will add to your ownership/shooting happiness soely because it's special in some way to you!

Trisha

 

[fish2xs]

>> Hon, why not start with the "tickle-your-fancy" mode switched on...

You can bet it will be! I have learned to listen more to the voices inside my head and less time spent in analysis-paralysis.

I have a soft spot for a 44 mag, 5" barrel - probably S&W ...BUT, I wanted to know if anyone else went down a similar path and what choice(s) they made. I didn't want to predispose any response based on leaning towards a 44. Chances are, that is what I'll get - but I was looking for the stories of others.

Cause you know... It takes a village to buy a handgun!

-Phil

 

[davera]

.357 for me

When I recently had a chance to shoot a .44 magnum it inspired "hand cannon" lust in me. The recoil of the .44 was not too bad but it wouldn't be any fun after a cylinder or two. So I bought a S&W 686 with a 6 inch barrel. It satisfies the BIG REVOLVER lust and is pretty fun to shoot. It is heavy enough so that .38 special has so little recoil as to be almost none at all and it is inexpensive to shoot a lot of. Firing .357 gives the big boom and flash satisfaction with more kick but not a lot. My usual range practice is 4 or 5 cylinders of .38 special followed by 1 or 2 of .357

 

[10-Ring]

I'd go w/ the 357 magnum. Greater versatility in terms of ammo selection & cheaper to shoot.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I'm a HUGE .357 fan and would always suggest that.

However, if you want a thump-gun to play with I almost think I would skip the .44 and look into .454's or .45LC's that will handle real hot loads.

Can give you much more thump than a .44!!

Also, can shoot the .45LC's in most .454's.

 

[Mannlicher]

enough angst, buy both. A grown man should not have to go through this in public.

 

[Byron Quick]

Well, I faced the same question and solved it by getting a S&W 27-2, two S&W 29's, and then to fill the gap between the two-a S&W 57 .41 Magnum.

Oh, yeah. You might want to reconsider reloading.

 

[P95Carry]

I'm with Byron and Mannlicher here! ... my M27-2 and Blackhawk do the trick!

Seriously tho if it HAS to be a choice ... go .357 (first! ) and then give in to that big bore ''lust'' as soon as affordable and get the 44.

Oh and yeah ... DO consider reloading ..... sure helps!

 

[WonderNine]

Skip the .44. Go with the .357 or a .45 instead.

,41's are kinda neat, but ammo is just as expensive as .44 and not always so easy to find. After owning one I kinda consider them a novelty item

Now if somebody came out with a seven shot .41 mag revolver, whooooa baby!

 

[Grayfox]

For a 'strictly entertainment' handgun, I'd go with the .357. Plenty of buck and roar when you want it with the added plus of casual plinking with light .38s when that mood suits you. Hard to beat the versitility of a good .357.
The .44 magnum is a fine cartridge, but I think your gonna find yourself cutting your range sessions short after having it beat on you for just a little while. However, it does offer the option of shooting .44 Specials which is an excellent cartridge in its own right without all that recoil.
The .45 Colt is another great entertainer to consider. Big bore, big bang and managable recoil.

Since you stated that you want a revolver strickly for entertainment, have you considered the ultimate "Fun Gun"?
What about a nice wheelgun in .22 RF?

 

[P95Carry]

What about a nice wheelgun in .22 RF?

As Grayfox sez .... even this is a good route to considerable enjoyment ... instance my recent aquisition .... see this thread......... (mind you I do have the other cals already!)

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=207125

 

[tbeb]

First off, I think it's safe to say that .38 special ammo for practice in .357 revolver is cheaper than .44 special ammo for practice in .44 magnum revolver. Full power magnum ammo is not fun to practice with for most shooters.

I recommend a Smith & Wesson model 66 (stainless, and has adjustable sights) or model 19 (blue, and has adjustable sights), 4" barrel, .357 magnum. These are K frames and the grip fits about everyone's hands. You can't go wrong.

I've often thought about a .44 magnum. It would have to be a
Smith & Wesson model 29 with 4" or 6" barrel. I just don't have a use for one. And I am a reloader. If you can afford the ammo then one of these would be nice to add to your arsenal, if your hand fits this N frame.

 

[Mr. Purple]

I had an early 629 44 mag, pinned and recessed, it was a great gun I never used. I sold it and never looked back. A S&W K or L frame 357 in 2 1/2, 3, or 4 inch barrel is the way to go. Very versitile guns. Fun to shoot, easy to conceal and powerful enough to use for defensive purposes.

 

[caz223]

Neither.
Get a smith 610.
10mm. Moon clips. Cheaper to shoot than .44
More fun to shoot than .357
Shoot .40 in it if you want...

 

[Standing Wolf]

I like both cartridges. The .44 magnum's recoil is greater than the .357 magnum's, but it's neither physically painful nor difficult to control with a bit of practice.

I personally consider the .357 magnum more versatile, and there's a wider selection of firearms available for it, but both are wonderfully accurate with the right loads.

Best advice: a.) buy one of each, and b.) take up loading your own ammunition.

 

[Byron Quick]

There's a simple cure for getting beat up by a .44 Magnum...fire a few rounds from a .454 Casull or a Linebaugh.

I once thought that .300 Winchester Magnum had "excessive recoil." Then I fired a few rounds of .458 Win Mag. The .300 Win Mag is a wuss now!


Recoil is relative.

 

[fedlaw]

I also have a P226 9mm. In order to qualify to carry a semi-automatic, I first had to qualify with a revolver. I used our rangemaster's Colt Python. A beautiful gun and very accurate. Then I shot a S & W 629 Classic. IMO not as pretty, but in my hands, even more accurate. I bought the big Smith and with Eagle Grips' oversize ebony grips, it is just about perfect. Lots of fun. I believe the perceived recoil is a combination of the proper grips and the desire to shoot a larger caliber along with the obvious: Choice of ammo.

As far as cost goes; shop the web for deals: Nachezss, MidwayUSA, etc. Bass Pro Shops had a blowout sale on white box Winchester last Christmas.

 

[BusMaster007]

fish2xs:

Based on what you wish to do with this revolver, the first one I thought of was the Ruger Blackhawk Convertible .357/9mm.
It's a single-action revolver with interchangable cylinders in both calibers.
The price isn't too outrageous, either.
Take a look:

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=318&return=Y

Sometimes the images don't come across.
At any rate, this might be something to consider for a fun gun.

 

[SteelyDan]

Well, I've got two .44s and no .357s, but for most people I would suggest the .357 first. They really are, for everyday use, kind of the ultimate in versatility. I've gotta get one...

 

[Baron Holbach]

I recommend getting both: shooting the .44 magnum in .44 special, and the .357 magnum in .38 special, including both in +P and +P+ ammo. Your sense of entertainment will be endless.

 

[pahrumpcaveman]

I would recommend the 357 in a 4" . The Smith 686 or 586 are nice as are the Ruger GP's . You will have fun shooting the 357 and 38 are cheap . Now if you are leaning to a bigger caliber I would skip the 44 and go straight to the 45 as it will do everything a 44 will do but with less recoil. Don't worry if you don't reload you will someday. Heck how about starting now .

 

[Tony Z]

I would also have to recommend the 38/357. They are cheap to shoot, but a full house 357 mag is nothing to sneeze at.
Also, there are more revolver model's to pick from in the .357 cambering. The .44 can always come next.

Tony

 

[stans]

Given a choice between 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum as a general fun shooting handgun, I would pick the 357, especially if you are not going to reload. The 357 is versatile and usually very accurate. You can fire 38 Special 148gr wadcutter loads which have almost no recoil or stoke it with 125 to 180 grain Magnum loads for some serious whumpin'! My first handgun was a 357 Magnum, now I own a whole bunch of handguns, but 357's outnumber the rest.