.44 mag vs. .357 mag
- Thread starter Brutz
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Have both. Like both. Reload both.
.44 is for the Great Outdoors. Unlike Dirty Harry, I don't see it as the best choice for the city.
.357 is an effective HD round, a good plinker with .38 Specials, and potentially a good backcountry gun with the right ammo.
.44 is for the Great Outdoors. Unlike Dirty Harry, I don't see it as the best choice for the city.
.357 is an effective HD round, a good plinker with .38 Specials, and potentially a good backcountry gun with the right ammo.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Kind of a very open-ended poll question.
What do I think about each?
For what use?
Both are very good for certain applications, and very bad for others.
They are not close enough to be compared to each other for hunting, SD, CCW, plinking, or even killing beer cans for two hours straight.
rc
What do I think about each?
For what use?
Both are very good for certain applications, and very bad for others.
They are not close enough to be compared to each other for hunting, SD, CCW, plinking, or even killing beer cans for two hours straight.
rc
thunder173
Member
Have both as well. Load for both as well. The .44 will do things a .357 won't. With .44 Special taking care of the low end,...and magnums at the high end, it gives you a lot more potential than the .357,.....though the .357 or light .38's don't tear up quite as much meat on small game. If I could only have one over the other,...it'd be a .44.......aren't choices fun??
scottishclaymore
Member
Nothing where I live is big enough that a .357 wouldn't do the job. It's what I have, so it's what I use.
.357 mag about 1/2 the price to shoot than a .44mag factory or handloads. .38spl's even less expensive if buying loaded ammo. You can shoot .44 spl in the .44 mag but the spl is often more expensive than the magnum ammo.
,44 mag is a better hunting pistol for large game but every animal on the North American continent has been taken with the .357 mag so it can be done with good shot placement.
For a dedicated hunting gun get the .44 mag, for a multi use gun get the .357 mag. They're both good calibers so its basically how big a caliber you want or need to shoot and how deep your pockets are.
Picked the .357 mag based on its versatility only.
,44 mag is a better hunting pistol for large game but every animal on the North American continent has been taken with the .357 mag so it can be done with good shot placement.
For a dedicated hunting gun get the .44 mag, for a multi use gun get the .357 mag. They're both good calibers so its basically how big a caliber you want or need to shoot and how deep your pockets are.
Picked the .357 mag based on its versatility only.
Loyalist Dave
Member
Neither actually. I like .44 spl or .38 +P for defense (as well as .45 Colt or .45 ACP, along with .40 S&W, and 9mm Luger). Yes I know the magnums have more foot-pounds by far, and do more damage, but recoil control is also part of SD, and I think controlled recoil is important. I also think controlled recoil important when practicing, as I have found I like shooting the above cartridges more than a .44 Mag or .357 Mag at the range, so will shoot more often.
The .357 will shoot .38 special +P down to .38 special target ammo, and the .44 Mag will shoot .44 special, and I have been told it will also shoot Cowboy .44 Russian. So there are lots of options for plinking and SD loads. I just bought a .357 Ruger SP101 for the "house gun" as I got a good deal on it. I wouldn't have passed on a .44 Mag (or a .41 mag) if a good price had been available on one of those instead.
LD
The .357 will shoot .38 special +P down to .38 special target ammo, and the .44 Mag will shoot .44 special, and I have been told it will also shoot Cowboy .44 Russian. So there are lots of options for plinking and SD loads. I just bought a .357 Ruger SP101 for the "house gun" as I got a good deal on it. I wouldn't have passed on a .44 Mag (or a .41 mag) if a good price had been available on one of those instead.
LD
Duke of Doubt
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.44 Magnum is more powerful, and the guns aren't all that much heavier.
R.W.Dale
Member
I think the 357 is a bit more usefull and better suited for a larger variety of tasks than .44
A good comparison is a Small block chevy VS a bigblock
The BB has more horsepower but fits in limited applications and is a great deal heavier.
The SBC is lighter has can be built to have more than enough HP AND fit's in the same platforms as the BB plus many smaller platforms it never was indended for
any such poll also should take into account 38spec vs .44spec
.38 ammo cheap and plentifull
.44spec ammo is getting hard to find and has one foot in the oblesence grave
A good comparison is a Small block chevy VS a bigblock
The BB has more horsepower but fits in limited applications and is a great deal heavier.
The SBC is lighter has can be built to have more than enough HP AND fit's in the same platforms as the BB plus many smaller platforms it never was indended for
any such poll also should take into account 38spec vs .44spec
.38 ammo cheap and plentifull
.44spec ammo is getting hard to find and has one foot in the oblesence grave
john1911
Member
Depends on use.
Hunting or protection from 4 legged predators, .44 mag. 2 legged predators, .357 mag. Shooting for fun usually finds me with a .44 mag.
Another option, forget both and get a .41 mag.
Hunting or protection from 4 legged predators, .44 mag. 2 legged predators, .357 mag. Shooting for fun usually finds me with a .44 mag.
Another option, forget both and get a .41 mag.
MovedWest
Member
44 magnum, No regrets
I guess .357's are okay, but the gun frames tend to lighter and recoil is generally harsher because of it. As for using 38spl for HD, there's a reason most LEO's gave it up in lieu of the 9mm or .40 cal.
Loading a 44mag with magnum loads for HD is probably not the best choice as the bullet moves too fast to deliver it's full stopping power for small things like people. I use 44spl rounds for HD personally.
The 44 has the following things going for it:
- It's versatile by being able to fire 44spl, 44mag, and shotshells
- You will always find ammo for it anywhere
- It can do anything the 357 can do and more
- The heavier frame makes it more stable (like match rifles)
- The size of the gun itself is a deterrent
- The sound is less sharp and is less likely to cause hearing damage (although it rattles your guts a bit more)
- There's nothing in North America you can't kill with it
- 300gr JHP is a nice round number
- Reloading gives you nearly unlimited options
- It's fun to catch the looks at your range when you fire your first magnum round of the session
- Owning one gives you license to quote Dirty Harry lines to all your friends
- When your shooting buddy pulls out his 9mm ammo, tell him "it's cute" right before dropping one of his rounds into a spent casing from your 44. Laugh cynically when you do this.
I bought my 44 after putting the question to myself: If I could only own 1 gun, what would it be? I have no regrets. That's just my take on it.
-MW
I guess .357's are okay, but the gun frames tend to lighter and recoil is generally harsher because of it. As for using 38spl for HD, there's a reason most LEO's gave it up in lieu of the 9mm or .40 cal.
Loading a 44mag with magnum loads for HD is probably not the best choice as the bullet moves too fast to deliver it's full stopping power for small things like people. I use 44spl rounds for HD personally.
The 44 has the following things going for it:
- It's versatile by being able to fire 44spl, 44mag, and shotshells
- You will always find ammo for it anywhere
- It can do anything the 357 can do and more
- The heavier frame makes it more stable (like match rifles)
- The size of the gun itself is a deterrent
- The sound is less sharp and is less likely to cause hearing damage (although it rattles your guts a bit more)
- There's nothing in North America you can't kill with it
- 300gr JHP is a nice round number
- Reloading gives you nearly unlimited options
- It's fun to catch the looks at your range when you fire your first magnum round of the session
- Owning one gives you license to quote Dirty Harry lines to all your friends
- When your shooting buddy pulls out his 9mm ammo, tell him "it's cute" right before dropping one of his rounds into a spent casing from your 44. Laugh cynically when you do this.
I bought my 44 after putting the question to myself: If I could only own 1 gun, what would it be? I have no regrets. That's just my take on it.
-MW
LTR shooter
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If I want something more powerful than the 357 I simply break out the 44 mag - no reason one cannot own both. Having owned ten 44 mags through the years these days I own only one - a 629 Classic , its the one that turned out to be a keeper! The 357 is the one I have mulitples of , SA and DA revolvers and single shot TC.
I have two GP100 357's and a Ruger Alaskan 44 mag. I do not reload, because of cost its a go with the .357 mag for me. If I hike in the mountains where there are black bears, the Alaskan is what I carry. For HD I use 38 Special ammo.
22-rimfire
Member
Both have their uses, and there is little to really discuss unless you frame a question of preference in a context of an application. But as far as the calibers go, I have both 357 and 41 mag handguns. I choose the 41 mag over the 44 mag however just because I like to be different and I consistantly shoot it better. I don't reload.
colemanw
member
I bought a 29-2 because... well... so I could say I have a .44mag...
To this day I have never put a round thru it-
Purdy to look at tho
To this day I have never put a round thru it-
Purdy to look at tho
sidheshooter
Member
+1 on that.
Peter M. Eick
Member
44 is beyond my skill level. I admit it and recognize my limits. I can handle the 357 maximum, but the 44 just is too hard for ME to shoot well.
Thus I picked the 357 magnum (which is a decent plinking round).
Thus I picked the 357 magnum (which is a decent plinking round).
Saint Dennis
Member
The wife took my .357. I don't miss it. Hell, she shoots it better than I ever did. For handloaders, you cant beat a .44. From mild wad cutters for punching paper to wild zombie killers. I don't notice much difference in price when I'm reloading for me or the wife.
I voted 44 but it would depend on the gun you were using it in. My Smith 629 is actually lighter and only slightly larger than the most common 357's in use. The 686 and GP-100. Ammo is slightly more expensive but neither is cheap and I have 22's for plinking and high volume shooting.
There is a wide range of loadings in both but the 44 offers options the 357 does not. As a self defense cartridge I believe light loaded 44 mags or hot 44 specials are ever bit as effective as any 357 and they have less recoil and muzzle blast than the 357. Few people really need the hottest 44 mag loads but they are available if needed.
There is a wide range of loadings in both but the 44 offers options the 357 does not. As a self defense cartridge I believe light loaded 44 mags or hot 44 specials are ever bit as effective as any 357 and they have less recoil and muzzle blast than the 357. Few people really need the hottest 44 mag loads but they are available if needed.
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