5 of 44 or 7 of 357

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JNewell

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Sounds like Borg IDs? ;) I know there is absolutely no "right" answer. Actually, I usually skip these threads, so I feel a little funny starting one. However, that said...

I'm looking at buying an L frame Smith. The question is, five x .44 Special or seven x .357 Magnum? I'm well-versed with both cartridges, but not with L frames. The assignment is general-purpose belt gun. Not looking for anti-bear stuff or other exotic uses. Both would have a 3" tube, weight would be approximately the same.

I actually think it's a toss-up, which is why I'm throwing it out for any opinions anyone wants to offer. Thanks for your thoughts.
 
No problems of any sort with a .44 special, but I think few people would argue that a .357 magnum is a great load for two legged critters. I'd choose seven of .357 myself.

I'm unaware of a five round .44 L frame. In fact, I'm unaware of an L frame .44 of any sort. Which model are you thinking of?
 
JNewell:

Only maker I know of that poses that question is Taurus, with their Tracker.

Personally, I'd choose 6x44 or 6x45 over 7x357, but 7x357 over 5x44. For a belt gun, I'd rather have a 4" tube, too.

With your choices on the field, 7x357 and 3" tube.
 
If the .44 has a good price then snap it up. They have developed a cult following and are worth a mint these days.
 
If you don't handload, a .44 SPL wouldn't give you very much choice of ammo at all. You'd pretty much be stuck with cowboy action powder puff loads.

Me, I'd prefer 6 of .41 magnum. Too bad they don't make one of those. Isn't the L frame technically a .41 frame?
 
S&W has made a few L frame 5 shot 44 spec; a 696, SS open hammer gun with 3" barrel, a 396, an Aluminum/Scandium frame(I think it had a titanium cyl) with a 3" barrel and a 296 SS centinnial type with a 2" barrel IIRC

Really the L frame is a beefed up K frame for shooting hot 125gr 357s all day.
It would be a great 5 shot 41 mag or a 6 shot 41 spec.


I take the K frame with 6 357s, 3" 13 at that.

But to answer your question to your sepcs, 5 x 44spec would be my choice.

I have seen a few pictures of a S&W 19 which had been bored to 44 and a 5 shot 44spec cylinder had been made. that would be a hoot.
 
This is the 696, right? Sweet little gun. If you've got a line on a decent one, I'd get it. Oh, provided you handload. .44 special is gonna be an aggravating experience if you don't handload, but a wonderful one if you do.
 
Are you talking about the L Comp 586? Neat looking gun.

If I had to choose, I guess I'd take 7x357, as .38 special is a great, cheap, practice ammo.
 
The specific revolvers I'm looking at are a 696 (.44 Spec x 5) and a 686-5 "Plus" (.357 Mag x 7). Don't _need_ either, but the 686 is more nearly covered by existing hardware (2.5" 66, 4" KC, 4" SS). I do handload, which gives me more latitude with the .44 than you'd have just going with factory loads.
 
I like the 7-shooter trigger better than the 6-shooter, so I would think I would like the 5-shooter even less.

Better ammo choices in .357 anyway.
 
Since full house .357 magnum loads are unadvisable indoors (noise and penetration issues indoors), you're looking at .38 spl +p vs .44 spl loads (possibly .44 spl +p--Cor Bon use to make a .44 spl +p load). I'd put more trust in a slow but big bullet over a slow but smaller bullet. If you find a used S&W 696 at a good price, snatch it up.

With this said, if penetration is NOT an issue (such as you're in the country), and noise isn't an issue (less ear damage outdoors from a magnum), then the .357 magnum is the better choice.
 
My vote for .357. It can cover all the bases. Load with .357 defense ammo for carry. Load with .38 sp. for plinking. As for power, if i shoot something with a .357, with good bullet placement, and it doesnt drop i'm just gonna drop the gun and run like a girl.
 
I'd feel fine with a 5 shot .44 Special. I just looked at Midway's on hand stock ammo selection, and they've got decent HP loads for Speer Gold Dot, PMC, Hornady and Win. Silvertips. All this fell right around the perfomance window of the .45 ACP. I kinda like a big bore, heavy bullet. The .357s work, too, but I have a soft spot for big, slower moving bullets. I just think they shoot easier for me, especially in a revolver.
 
Model 686 Plus

i have the Model 686 Plus (4 in barrel 7 shot)and love it. though i havent fired the the 44 so Imo is biase. of all the guns i own it is my favorite.
 
I have them both and I prefer my 686+. The thing is mine is the 4" Mountain gun. Bad thing is you wont go wrong with either. Tuff choice.


Joe
 
People must think WalMart's the only place to buy ammo.

If you don't handload, a .44 SPL wouldn't give you very much choice of ammo at all. You'd pretty much be stuck with cowboy action powder puff loads.
Click to expand...

Oh, provided you handload. .44 special is gonna be an aggravating experience if you don't handload, but a wonderful one if you do.
Click to expand...

I'm not exactly a genius, but in doing a quickie search of all things .44 Special at places like www.cheaperthandirt.com I see no less than 9 different defensive loads for the .44 Special:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/defenseh_bjj.htm

And they're not even showing the load I carry in my own 696, the Federal 200gr semi-wadcutter hollow point at 870fps. That's darned close to several 200gr .45 ACP defensive loads, lest we forget.
 
Gewehr,

I am pretty much a genius, as it happens ;) and was well aware that there are a range of commercial loads available; but they're unreasonably expensive, and don't represent near the full range of the caliber's capability in a fine, modern gun like the 696. Thing is, in today's world the .44 spec is a connoisseur's caliber--especially in an instance like this, when the guy owns up that he's not filling a vital slot in his 'arsenal' or anything (otherwise, the majority opinion would be relevant, and the 686+ would proably be a better choice). I would infer that he's not going to be happy with the limitations of those factory rounds, but is going to want to play with the range of things this wonderful old caliber can do.

That 200 LSWCHP looks like a great round; I only wish someone would make a LSWCHP for my .41 special!
 
See my post about "bought an unusual S&W" close by here. Although "just" a .38 +p:rolleyes: , I don't like .357 in a short barrel in real life, and have like you a (heavy) 2.5" 66 and a 3.5 27 for the purpose. The .44spl has a pretty good 'kick' with 165-200 grain high performance ammo which the 296 is designed for . With it's 2.5" barrel it gets close to 1050 fps with the old Triton 165 grain load and 900 fps with Hornady 180 grain load. I have not chrono'd my new 242 seven shooter yet. My 2.5" 66 gets 850fps with Remington 158LSWHP+p and Georgia Arms same gets almost 900fps. so I would think the same for the 242 2.5" barrel.
Truthfully .38+p 158 grain loads are all I can handle rapidly out of a 2 pound or less gun. The 242 weighs, as does the 296 , 18.5 oz empty. .38s are plentiful and cheap and I am of the opinion they kill as well as anything under .45Acp . If I really believe this why do I carry the .44spl instead of my .38s like my Agent that weighs less and is smaller? I don't know it just is more comforting!;)
 
It is impossible to answer which one is right for you. Both with the proper loads get excellent penatration (to me the name of the game) and will get the job done. It's up to the shooter to put the rounds where they need to be. So simply which ever you shoot better with. Also which one will you train more with? Personally I'd be comfortable with either. The extra two rounds could be nice. Though the bigger holes could be nice? See it's a toss up. Though either way you really cannot go wrong. Just pick one and practice.;)

.44 Special Blazer Gold Dot is what I'd carry.
 
Assuming equal quality of the gun; I'd take 7 .357's over 5 or even 6 .44 Spls.

The .357 is so versatile - light .38 target loads to 200 grain big game stuff and everything in between. All cheaper and easier to find than the .44

I like the .44 special load just fine. I shoot more of those out of my .44 mag than mag loads, but if I had to choose just one over the other the .357 wins.
 
Taurus Tracker 44 mag. Saw 1" off the barrel.
Click to expand...

+ 1 (only leave the 4 inch tube)

K to L frame size and capable of shooting .44 Magnums as well as the spl's.

What can a .357 of that size do that a 44 mag can't do better (except hold to more rounds ).
 
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