.357 mag or .45 auto

[JTHunter]

bullit02 - the one thing about the .45 (and all automatics) that I find troubling, is the possibility, however small, of some kind of jam. Unless the timing of the revolver breaks (how the cylinder aligns with the barrel), the chances of a failure with a revolver are very remote. Granted, you won't have as many shots, but if you are an average shot, you aren't likely to need more than the 5-6 in most situations.
Also, in these times, target ammo for the .38 Special and even the .357 is less expensive than similar ammo for the .45.
FYI

 

[goon]

Yeah, a revolver can fail. But if a revolver really fails, it will likely be pretty obvious. You can check for timing and lock-up issues while standing at the display case, and I generally do, even with a new gun. But a semi-auto... you can't always diagnose the issues with them until you start shooting them, and that generally requires money to change hands.

I do love the 1911. I love the history and the utility of a good one. I just don't think you can always get a good 1911 in the same price range as a good medium frame .357 revolver.

Now if we switch the 1911 to some other handgun in .45 ACP, something that tends to just work out of the box without the help of a good gunsmith, then I'd maybe take that over a .357 revolver. But again, if I'm standing at the counter with $500 and I positively need to walk out of the store in 10 minutes with a working defensive handgun, I'm probably not buying a 1911.

 

[gamestalker]

I am a magnum revolver fanatic, and as such, I dread the thought of ever having to pull the trigger on one of my H110 loads without hearing protection, ouch! But, it goes with the territory and becomes a major consideration concerning a self defense scenario.

I've managed to make a couple mistakes over the years, by forgetting to put my ear plugs in prior to dropping the hammer on full house magnum loads. As a result I suffer with painful and permanent hearing damage, and that was out doors. In doors would probably bring tears to mine and the perpetrators eye's, a weapon in it's self.

GS

 

[StrawHat]

Interesting question. I long ago decided the 357 was not for me. I have had them and carried them but prefer the larger diameter bullet. For me the answer was this.



Today, similar revolvers are available in stainless and maybe other materials. This has served me well since the early 80s.

No need to comment on the flawed studies of M&S.

 

[KTXdm9]

.45 ACP ammo is generally cheaper, in addition to the other benefits mentioned.

 

[Deaf Smith]

From a 3-4" barrel most 357 loads won't even match the better 9mm loads. The 357 magnum built it's reputation with heavy bullets loaded hot and fired from 8" barrels. If you choose that type of ammo and a barrel longer than 6" then the 357 offers considerably more power and better long range accuracy. From a reasonably sized package a 45 semi offers all of the advantages.

I dunno about that...

Black-Hills
http://www.black-hills.com/handgun_calibers.php
357 Magnum
125 Gr. Jacketed Hollow Point
Velocity 1500 FPS
Energy 625 Ft. Lbs.

158 Gr. Jacketed Hollow Point
Velocity 1250 FPS
Energy 548 Ft. Lbs

Buffalo Bore
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=102
Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo - 158 gr. J.H.C. 3 inch S&W J frame = 1398 fps

Cor-Bon
http://www.corbon.com/dpx-handgun/general/dpx-handgun
357 Mag 125gr DPX 1300 fps 3 inch bbl.


http://www.doubletapammo.net
Double Tap
.357 Magnum 125gr. Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point
Velocity: 1600fps / 4" Ruger GP-100
1425fps / 1 7/8" S&W

http://www.federalpremium.com
Federal

130gr Hydra Shock 1410 fps

Hornady
http://www.hornady.com/
.357 Critical Defense 125gr from2 inch barrel 1200 fps.

Winchester
125gr Defender 1300 fps.

Underwood
125gr JHP - 1600 from Ruger 4 inch GP.

Well those .357 laods don't sound like any 9mm I know!

Deaf

 

[CoalTrain49]

Two very different animals. Somewhat akin to an AR and a bolt gun. People that like the 1911 will put up with a few hiccups until they get a reliable gun. It was designed for 7 rounds of 230 gr. RN FMJ using a 5''barrel. When you start using shorter barrels, 8 rnd flush mags, mouse loads and different bullets all kinds of problems manifest themselves. I have both and shoot/reload both. The 1911 is an enthusiasts gun. Think of them as an engine that needs to be tuned and fused with. The 357 revolver is a hammer, it doesn't need anything.

 

[skoro]

I have both

What are the benefits of a 1911 style .45 over the dependability and power of a good 3 or 4" revolver?

The 1911 has more capacity and less recoil/muzzle blast. That said, I keep a k-frame 357 revolver for HD, but loaded with 38spl FBI rounds.

 

[Manny]

I like both but don't have a .45 now as most of my shooting is fun and target shooting and the cheaper 9mm/.38/.357 allow for more shooting for dollars spent. That being said I do like the lower pressure, less intense noise and manageable recoil of a .45acp very much. The only thing(s) I dislike about the classic .45 in a semi-auto are the higher ammo cost and having to chase brass.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Yep. I do think revolvers have something of an edge as woods guns. The biggest advantage of a revolver in my mind is the wide range of ammunition you can use.

That plus the fact they don't spit the empties over 40 acres of woods.

 

[BaltimoreBoy]

No need to comment on the flawed studies of M&S.

You really should StrawHat.

If you have a newbie asking a question it seems unfair to imply that Marshall & Sanow are flawed without providing some rationale.

One wouldn't want to hijack the thread, but a discreet link to evidence that you have found convincing would seem entirely appropriate.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/fackler_marshall_stopping_power.htm

provides a one page summary of why I think they did rather well.

Nice revolver. Wish I had one like it.

Regards

 

[JTMcC]

It's not really .357 vs. .45, it's .357 + .45. Or even .357 "or" .45.

Either will do a very, very decent job of protecting the family. Take your pick. Having both is even mo better. You're not gonna pick any two more effective calibers in the real world.
The 9mm/.380/.38 spc cats will disagree, but it's still the true in the long haul
: )
.45 Colt, .44 Special/lighter .44 mag, all good to go when it's you vs. them.

Go to a carbine and the same .44 mag is good to go at 100 yrds +. if your home allows such. A .357 mag carbine makes many more fps than a pistol, and is good for defense well past 100 yrds.

There are a lot of choices, some better than others, none really bad. .357 mag pistol/carbine allows common ammo, cheap(er) practice.
We keep a .44 mag carbine (that even the little girls can run with effect) and appropriate revolvers on hand, plus a whole bunch more.

If I was starting out as a youngster, and on a budget, I'd have a couple of cheap .357 revolvers and a .357 carbine.
If I was starting out and not on a budget I'd have a couple of 1911's, and a couple Mossberg 590 12 ga's, plus some 586/686's sitting around. That's what we did years ago.

You're not going to go wrong with either .357, or .45acp.
.357 works stupidly good in carbines, that may not matter to you.

J

 

[d2wing]

Either are great but in my state only the .357 is legal for hunting. Outside of hunting, it is a matter of preference. For me, the .357 is more reliable, more accurate and more powerful. But I like them both.

 

[Big Shrek]

Niether, go 10mm

 

[pps]

I have both and can't imagine having to give up either. The .357 is my favorite for versatility. I can stoke it with 148 grain wadcutters at a paltry 650 ft/sec to make shooting enjoyable for my wife or I can run it balls to the wall with a nasty hand load or Buffalo Bore loading like the ones pictured below: 1500 ft/sec with a 140 grain deep penetrating Barnes bullet...with the same round coming up JUST short of 2000 fps out of my Marlin carbine.

9mm won't touch this level of performance. That being said; even this load is NOT 3x as powerful (either in terms of kinetic energy or momentum) as a 45ACP.

My 45ACP self defense load chronographs at 900fps with a 230 grain HST bullet That's 415.8 ft-lbs of Kinetic energy and .924 Slug-ft/sec of momentum. The .357 Buffalo Bore round is 140 grains at 1550fps = 750.8 ft-lbs of kinetic energy and .969 slug-ft/sec



The advantages of the 45, as listed above...quieter, quicker reloading, softer recoil in the semiauto platform. I like them both...how could you not like a piece of Americana like a 1911

 

[hartcreek]

In some situations that are part of my daily life both the .45ACP and the .357 Magnum are a bit wimpy but if the .357 Magnum is all that you can handle then at least it is better then the .45ACP and will go bang when you pull the tigger and with practice can be just as fast or in some cases faster then a semi auto.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a revolver guy but I do own a 1911 because every man should have at least one 1911. That said I use a revolver for HD but I load it with .38 specials, not .357 Magnums...

 

[CopperFouling]

I enjoy, own, and shoot both a 1911 in .45 and a 686 in .357.

If I were hunting something, I would use the 686.

If I were concerned about HD, I would use the .45. This is because the .357 is a loud round.

.357 Magnum 164.3 dB
.45 ACP 157.0 dB

http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

That's a lot more noise. I can't conceive how loud that would be inside, assuming the shot took place indoors.

 

[gym]

So there you go, all set now. I hope this helped you in your selection. The most important thing is, How much do you have to spend? Some of the guns mentioned can run a thousand dollars or more?
Are we looking at a $500.00 gun, because if you are, your looking at a Rock Island or similar Philippine gun, that may or may not be ready to carry. In that case an XD or a Glock, M&P, in 45 would be a far better idea for a reliable gun. With 357's, unless you have someone who has an old K frame or a Model 19, you are again looking at Ruger, Taurus, Rossi, and a few more less expensive revolvers, etc. The Ruger is probably the best out of the bunch. But without knowing your budget, it is hard to give advice on which one will be more reliable for you. If you want a gun that will go bang every time, try the Glock and the Ruger, it may not be a 1911, but as mentioned it's hard to find a 1911 that you should depend on for cheap. Sig just had a sale on many guns, I would get a Sig, in 45, maybe the 250 series, and call it done.