44 Spc or 357 for defense?

[ontarget]

Just curious what you all think.
I have both, but I've been fighting the urge to hunt down a decent K or L frame in 44 Spc. This evening I came across a nice 65-3 357 mag.
Now I'm getting all jittery and feverish and my eyes are getting bloodshot trying to decide.
Please help.

 

[dickydalton]

Model 69.

 

[wcwhitey]

Both are great for your purpose. Do you reload? .44 Special isn’t easy to find right now. It is a reloaders dream though. I love the caliber. .38/.357 is also a great combo, easier to find good ammo and great for defense. It’s a hard call, if you can get or make ammo either will work great. I know that doesn’t help but sometimes you just gotta buy what you want, either will do.

 

[Pat Riot]

I don’t know, I would say it’s a bird hand vs a .44 in the bush…way far away bush, maybe.

I am biased. I would love to find a nice model 65 for sale.

 

[Armored farmer]

There are more choices in .357.

My advice.... :
Choose the gun not the caliber. Either is adequate for SD

I am fully invested in. 357.
Man, it's loud.

 

[ontarget]

Both are great for your purpose. Do you reload? .44 Special isn’t easy to find right now. It is a reloaders dream though. I love the caliber. .38/.357 is also a great combo, easier to find good ammo and great for defense. It’s a hard call, if you can get or make ammo either will work great. I know that doesn’t help but sometimes you just gotta buy what you want, either will do.

I do roll my own, so ammo won't be a problem either way.
I know, I should just buy both.

 

[Bazoo]

Elmer Keith said that the 357 looked great on paper but it didn't factor in bullet diameter. And the 44 special and 45 colt were much better killers on game. Now.... His opinion doesn't mean much to folks anymore, but I took it to heart.

 

[wcwhitey]

If you like to reload then my friend buy the one that makes you the warmest and fuzziest. Life is short, have fun. Plenty of nice revolvers out there, prices aren’t gonna drop but they will be around. They usually reproduce in the safe anyway.

 

[Pat Riot]

I do roll my own, so ammo won't be a problem either way.
I know, I should just buy both.

Wise man!

 

[ontarget]

If you like to reload then my friend buy the one that makes you the warmest and fuzziest. Life is short, have fun. Plenty of nice revolvers out there, prices aren’t gonna drop but they will be around. They usually reproduce in the safe anyway.

Oh boy do they ever reproduce! Like rabbits!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Whatever you get-get them both! Both are excellent SD rounds, neither are that great if you don't practice. I adhere to the rule, factory for SD, reloads for practice.

 

[UncleEd]

.... buy the one that makes you the warmest and fuzziest. .

This.

 

[Bazoo]

I go between the two. Loading 44 a few weeks or a month, then to 357/38. The latter is downright stingy on powder and lead.

 

[Bazoo]

44 special, RCBS 44-250-k, 9mm, RCBS 38-150-kt, 357 magnum

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Buffalo Bore makes their “Anti-Personnel” line in .44 Magnum:



Would make an excellent personnel defense cartridge in something like a S&W Model 69 or Ruger Alaskan for example.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm a fan of large diameter, heavy bullets lumbering along towards the target.

But, some 357 Magnum revolvers are easier to conceal.

Use of the revolver may dictate the cartridge it is chambered in.

 

[wgp]

Maybe you could answer your question if you could find a Smith 696. .44 Sp but in an L frame by being only a 5-shooter. May be scarce, no longer in production and I've seen very few other than mine.

 

[Beck]

I'd have to flip a coin to decide if I was starting from scratch. Both great calibers with excellent track records. Since I already have a 4" K-Frame 357 Mag I'll stick with it. 357 is very versatile. Not much you can't do with it. I'm happy with it.

 

[P5 Guy]

Ruger Review: The .44 Special GP100 | RevolverGuy.com

 

[LaneP]

One reason I lean to the .357 is wide availability of component and ammo choices, and revolvers like the LCR, which are very light and pocketable, but very potent. Ammo should be chosen wisely due to the violent nature of full power ammo in such a short barrel, lightweight piece, at least for extended practice. Me and my shooting hand prefer something like a 135 gr GD at 1100 fps.

 

[Tallball]

I like them both. I carry and have carried both. I've used both as HD revolvers.

Just for the cartridge itself, I think I'd go with 44 special. I like big fat bullets.

Overall, though, for me, I'd go 357. In a K-frame it's six shots instead of five. It also has the versatility of sharing cheap 38 special practice ammo with my smaller carry revolvers.

It's win/win. They're both excellent cartridges.

 

[SDGlock23]

I think 357 Mag is a better "social" cartridge than the .44's because you get loads that are a bit better suited for that purpose. If it's for the woods then I think the 44's have the edge. Both will work for either so it's really whichever you really want the most.

 

[Thomasss]

Don't wait and later despair. Get it now. You can always update later on. My brother was the same way.
He still wants an 8 inch Model 29 in .44 Rem. mag, but until he finds one in his price range, he picked up a .357, 4 inch Trooper and loves it. I, by the way found a minty nickel 586, 6 inch in .357. It was love at first sight. I wouldn't trade it for the world, (unless I find a minty "Dirty Harry" 6 inch). lol

 

[Armored farmer]

I carry the s&w 66, and the sp101.
The sp101 carries better...
The 66 shoots easier..
.

 

[cfullgraf]

Maybe you could answer your question if you could find a Smith 696. .44 Sp but in an L frame by being only a 5-shooter. May be scarce, no longer in production and I've seen very few other than mine.

You can accomplish the same with a S&W Model 69 with a 2-3/4" barrel, just load it with 44 Special loads.