.357 or .44

[buck460XVR]

my 1st and only revolver is a S&W .460 V. I’m really only good for 1 accurate shot then I flinch so bad I’m better off throwing that gun at a bear. I love the idea of a 340gr hard cast in a 2.5” barrel!

what’s the heaviest .357 bullet they make?

If you flinch with the .460, you will flinch with a snubby .357 or .44 loaded heavy too. My little model 637 with +p .38s stings me more than my P.C. .460 Compensated Hunter shooting 300 gr hunting loads. For the most part, in your scenario, you don't need anything heavier in .357 than a good 158 or 180 grainer. In .44, a 240 is all you need for Black Bear and Cougars. A bigger threat to you in woods in two legged predators.

 

[Legionnaire]

I like them both. For field carry, though, .357 would get the nod unless I needed to consider bears. If I could only own one handgun, it would be a 4-inch GP100 in .357 magnum.

 

[CraigC]

I've never cared much for the .357Mag and always preferred a moderately loaded .44 or .45 over the ear splitting .357. They will do everything the .357 will do and more. On the heavy end, they're not even in the same ballpark.

As to barrel length, I personally have no use for a barrel shorter than 4" on a revolver I'm going to use. You will usually lose some velocity over longer barrels but it's unimportant. The same powders that yield the highest velocities in 20" barrels will do the same in 3" barrels. So powders like H110/296, Lil Gun, 300MP, etc., are the top choices if you want maximum velocity. For general purpose use, I aim for 900-1200fps with powders like Unique.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I also live in the pnw and spend a lot of leisure time in the cascades. In your situation I would get a .44 over the .357. As you stated you handload so you can tailor loads as fast or slow as you like and for that I think the .44 has the advantage in respect to load versatility. With a GOOD belt and holster, I find the weight of the gun to not be a problem.
When I’m bumming around the cascades I will usually carry my 5.5” .44 special blackhawk loaded with 200gn rnfp that’s moving about 1100fps.Im about to order a mould for 255gn Keith bullet which will replace the 200gn load, probably at the same velocities.
Other woods gun is a 6.5” .41 magnum blackhawk but I tend to go for the .44 special with its shorter barrel.
As for the holster I use a simply rugged sourdough pancake with their “ real mans” 1.75” belt. Shortly after getting this rig I was out working on my property and I had a sudden panic that my gun was missing from the holster and reach down in a panic to find my gun nice and cozy where it was supposed to be. The holster and belt just worked so well I forgot a had a 42oz revolver on my hip, I Couldn’t feel it after getting used to it.

If I was in the market for a double action woods gun I think the s&w model 69 would be at the top of the list. I’d want a 4” barrel and I’d load it with some hot .44 special loads.

my belt is the velcro liner of my Bladetec belt rig. I been wearing them for years and they are stiff and comfortable. Best part is they adjust on the fly. I’m in and out of a car all day.

 

[AJC1]

Real question is what dont you like about your current setup. Obviously you can download that to 454 or 45 colt so it has to be the gun. Is the 460 still an option for big bear areas and something a little smaller would be more useful. My original comments were based on keeping what you had. Sometimes the best decision has all the critical information.

 

[Barbaroja]

I skimped on good quality belts and holsters for a while but after getting my first one of higher quality it’s night and day. I learned my lesson the hard way.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I personally have no use for a barrel shorter than 4" on a revolver I'm going to use.

Thats funny. I just said the exact thing on a thread about the snub guns. Not only the velocity but I haven't seen one that I thought balanced well under 4. Plus they look goofy to me.

Takes all types I suppose

 

[CraigC]

Thats funny. I just said the exact thing on a thread about the snub guns. Not only the velocity but I haven't seen one that I thought balanced well under 4. Plus they look goofy to me.

Takes all types I suppose

And the barrel doesn't really make a big difference in carrying it. For me, a 4" carries just as easily as a 2". I really wish they'd do the SRH Alaskan with a 4" barrel.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I really wish they'd do the SRH Alaskan with a 4" barrel.

The 4 inch 329 is my favorite of all to carry. Great balance. Super light. Plenty of power. They just won't stay together long. Even with specials. I'd like to have a scandium 4 inch 617. Maybe a 9-10 shot cylinder. I have a 617 but it weighs 3x what the 44 mag 329 does.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I've never cared much for the .357Mag and always preferred a moderately loaded .44 or .45 over the ear splitting .357. They will do everything the .357 will do and more. On the heavy end, they're not even in the same ballpark.

As to barrel length, I personally have no use for a barrel shorter than 4" on a revolver I'm going to use. You will usually lose some velocity over longer barrels but it's unimportant. The same powders that yield the highest velocities in 20" barrels will do the same in 3" barrels. So powders like H110/296, Lil Gun, 300MP, etc., are the top choices if you want maximum velocity. For general purpose use, I aim for 900-1200fps with powders like Unique.

I’ll start with a 4” .44, I already have the components. For me, I love a heavy Hard Cast, So I’ll probably look for something in the 280gr weight. I have plenty of Lil Gun and H110, they are my favorite for magnum loads.

Thanks everyone for the knowledge and suggestions! Spring is coming soon (May, June is spring in the PNW) Wild flower season is a amazing! Grab the Fly Rod and head to the streams. And yes, in a certain part of my hiking trail, there is something with a terrible SMELL that I can’t find, I’ve smelled bear dens, hog farms, .... but this is the strangest smell out there, and I feel it closes.

 

[Barbaroja]

I think you have made a good decision! Hope to see you out there. I’ve been slacking on my backcountry backpacking and fishing these past few years and I plan to make up for it this spring and summer. Make sure to post some photos of when you get your .44!

 

[Mark_Mark]

Real question is what dont you like about your current setup. Obviously you can download that to 454 or 45 colt so it has to be the gun. Is the 460 still an option for big bear areas and something a little smaller would be more useful. My original comments were based on keeping what you had. Sometimes the best decision has all the critical information.

.460 is over kill in PNW. But in Yellow Stone, thats what I carry. one of my favorite load is 43gr of H110 with a 240gr XTP mag. Never chrono it because I’m afraid of shoot my Chrono again. but the books said about 1900fps with a power factor of 456!

 

[CraigC]

I’ll start with a 4” .44, I already have the components. For me, I love a heavy Hard Cast, So I’ll probably look for something in the 280gr weight. I have plenty of Lil Gun and H110, they are my favorite for magnum loads.

It's really heavier than needed for general purpose use but I love the 310gr Oregon Trail bullet. It has a huge meplat and is extremely accurate.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I think you have made a good decision! Hope to see you out there. I’ve been slacking on my backcountry backpacking and fishing these past few years and I plan to make up for it this spring and summer. Make sure to post some photos of when you get your .44!

I’ll see you out there!

 

[crestoncowboy]

460 is over kill in PNW.

The reason people buy the 460 isn't for killing bigger stuff IMO. Its for killing the same stuff but at ranges reserved for the sorrier rifles. Or at least thats why I did. I dont think it any more capable of killing a bigger animal than a casull. Or even a good 45 colt load for anything in America. Just farther.

I remember reading an article (while laying on a sunny atlantic beach back around 2004 ish) about the upcoming 460. They said with a 4 inch high zero at 100 you could shoot from muzzle to 250 without holding completely over the animal. They also had to make changes to the 500 to handle the higher pressure of the 460. One of the changes was to the firing pin area but once I actually bought my 460 apparently that change never made it into production. Mine isn't like the press gun in the articles. Not sure about the other changes.

Of course they were using the 200 grain bullets that nobody actually loads themselves. But thats still insane trajectory for a handgun. As soon as they were released I bought one.

 

[Mark_Mark]

It's really heavier than needed for general purpose use but I love the 310gr Oregon Trail bullet. It has a huge meplat and is extremely accurate.

I’m a huge fan of Oregon trail bullets! Again, I don’t know too much of .44 loads and common bullet weights but a new caliber = fun!

Do you gas check your Oregon trail bullets? I use there classic 45-70 405g in my Ruger no.1 and .458 socom and I’m not getting lead-ing problems. Oregon Trail said their bullets don’t need gas checks

 

[buck460XVR]

.460 is over kill in PNW. But in Yellow Stone, thats what I carry. one of my favorite load is 43gr of H110 with a 240gr XTP mag. Never chrono it because I’m afraid of shoot my Chrono again. but the books said about 1900fps with a power factor of 456!

Ain't tryin' to be a negative Nelly, but I seriously doubt if you're getting 1900FPS from your 4" revolver using 43 gr of H110/W296. Still, it's probably more than you'll ever need. I prefer 300 grainers in my .460, even for deer. Both the XTP-Mags and the DeepCurls work well. I get a little more velocity from the DeepCurls with the same powder charge, but they are a tad more expensive and harder to find. Got about 500 of each on the shelf in the reloading room. I prefer IMR4227 over H110/W296. Not quite the velocity, but accuracy is a tad better and is less temperature sensitive.

 

[CraigC]

The 310gr is part of their TruShot line and has a gas check. It's now listed as a 300gr and it looks like the price went up.

 

[Mark_Mark]

The reason people buy the 460 isn't for killing bigger stuff IMO. Its for killing the same stuff but at ranges reserved for the sorrier rifles. Or at least thats why I did. I dont think it any more capable of killing a bigger animal than a casull. Or even a good 45 colt load for anything in America. Just farther.

I remember reading an article (while laying on a sunny atlantic beach back around 2004 ish) about the upcoming 460. They said with a 4 inch high zero at 100 you could shoot from muzzle to 250 without holding completely over the animal. They also had to make changes to the 500 to handle the higher pressure of the 460. One of the changes was to the firing pin area but once I actually bought my 460 apparently that change never made it into production. Mine isn't like the press gun in the articles. Not sure about the other changes.

Of course they were using the 200 grain bullets that nobody actually loads themselves. But thats still insane trajectory for a handgun. As soon as they were released I bought one.

I have loaded the 200 grain Hornady tip bullets. They are a blast to shoot, I think I’ll put a red dot on my .460 5”, that should solve the flitch issue.

back to the Hornady load, Hornady developed their own case for the .460. If I recall, it’s shorter than Starline brass. I have a bunch, but I put them to the side for later. But that 200gr Hornady ballistic tip is doing over 2200FPS. Crazy Numbers from a revolver

 

[Mark_Mark]

Ain't tryin' to be a negative Nelly, but I seriously doubt if you're getting 1900FPS from your 4" revolver using 43 gr of H110/W296. Still, it's probably more than you'll ever need. I prefer 300 grainers in my .460, even for deer. Both the XTP-Mags and the DeepCurls work well. I get a little more velocity from the DeepCurls with the same powder charge, but they are a tad more expensive and harder to find. Got about 500 of each on the shelf in the reloading room. I prefer IMR4227 over H110/W296. Not quite the velocity, but accuracy is a tad better and is less temperature sensitive.

Probably not 1900FPS, but who’s counting +\- a few hundred feets... lol. I’ll chrono it one day and see what I’m getting, I just have a problem shooting my chrono.

 

[buck460XVR]

Probably not 1900FPS, but who’s counting +\- a few hundred feets... lol. I’ll chrono it one day and see what I’m getting, I just have a problem shooting my chrono.

One thing I have realized with my .460 is that you do not need to load it to max for most applications. For deer hunting out to 120 yards, I'm getting a little over 1700FPS from the 300gr DeepCurls and 37 gr of IMR4227.

 

[mdi]

I've only reloaded for one .357 Magnum, but my favorite is the 44 Magnum. Since '88 I have reloaded everything from 123 gr balls to 310 gr ingots. Gallery loads (like shooting a 22 lr) to T-Rex Killers (265 gr RNFP with max loads of WC820). I shoot mostly cast from approx. 500 fps to 1,400 fps (1,800 in my carbine). I reload for 5, 44 Magnums and it is very versatile and can handle any critter in N. America (my walking around in the woods gun is a 629 loaded with 240 gr SWC over some 2400).

 

[Mark_Mark]

One thing I have realized with my .460 is that you do not need to load it to max for most applications. For deer hunting out to 120 yards, I'm getting a little over 1700FPS from the 300gr DeepCurls and 37 gr of IMR4227.

is there any deer left? I like the 350gr .500 Derp Curls, it was price at $.28-ish a bullet last year. not anymore

 

[Mark_Mark]

I've only reloaded for one .357 Magnum, but my favorite is the 44 Magnum. Since '88 I have reloaded everything from 123 gr balls to 310 gr ingots. Gallery loads (like shooting a 22 lr) to T-Rex Killers (265 gr RNFP with max loads of WC820). I shoot mostly cast from approx. 500 fps to 1,400 fps (1,800 in my carbine). I reload for 5, 44 Magnums and it is very versatile and can handle any critter in N. America (my walking around in the woods gun is a 629 loaded with 240 gr SWC over some 2400).

since 88!?!?! sold! might even get that used Rossi .44 for $450 too

that 123 gr ball ... is it a ball shape? how do they make .44 that small

 

[Legionnaire]

Can't go wrong with the .44. As I said, I like them both ... and the .45 Colt.