jimmyraythomason
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I trust my .45acp with 230gr BALL ammo for defense but also trust my .357 with 125gr Cor-bons equally well.
Better manstopper 357 Mag or 45 ACP?
- Thread starter Doggieman
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ONe should think about the size and ease of each pistol to carry.
A little J frame .357 is easy to carry but a short barrel does not push a bullet as fast as a long barrel.
A alloy single stack pistol in 45 ACP is much easier to shoot and carry concealed then a equal size revolver such as a K frame smith.
In a service size firearm using a service type holster i'd give the .357 the edge.
If your shooting a little pocket grenade, that has beat you up in practice, remember only hits count.
ONe should think about the size and ease of each pistol to carry.
A little J frame .357 is easy to carry but a short barrel does not push a bullet as fast as a long barrel.
A alloy single stack pistol in 45 ACP is much easier to shoot and carry concealed then a equal size revolver such as a K frame smith.
In a service size firearm using a service type holster i'd give the .357 the edge.
If your shooting a little pocket grenade, that has beat you up in practice, remember only hits count.
i also have several of each. i love either at any given time. purely an offensive veiw- by carrying two glock21sf's(on clipdraws by the way is an excellent route to go) with only one mag in a backpocket , 41 corbon 230's is a very compitent self defense set up. being a average to good shot that puts me in a better than 50/50 chance of surviving a dance with two or three hooded baggy pants scumbags. i just won't operate with less. there are times when two g21's are to much to dress with, then the extra mag turns into two and a model 60 with 135gr short bbl rounds comes along. yes we know that the snubbies subtract velocity but the 357 does comfort me and does take the place of the g21 quiet well. i never compare what is better.i mean if your confronted by evil doer's and you have 4 or 5 feet to spare it don't matter what your using lenght wise. i won't ever be shooting from across a street . they both are a capable round that i use as a tool and practice enough to be efficient with them both. i would not choose anything less than a 45 or 357. they are the only two rounds that exsist in my world. i don't hunt so larger bore guns are useless to me. though i would not feel any less capable with a 44 mag. it's just too much. it's only two legged dangers that i protect myself from. and clothing penatration such as denim don't matter much in monroe county florida.( 80 degrees 8 days a week) people dress lightly in the keys. the clipdraw does a great job under t-shirts. holsters are just not possible for me. i hated them . i do think i have the rational thinking to go for the 45 if a problem ocurrs in a populated area. the 357 is purely backup. my son is a cop in nyc and uses a lighter grain gold dot 9mm round. he dislikes it. police travel in two's and fours in nyc. i can understand wanting more power. talk of 40cal change over is carrying on a windy day but he don't think it will happen ultimately. i guess 40 rounds from 5 officers is enough to do the job when needed.(if you remember the african fellow who went for his wallet supposedly while being told to keep hands visible ) the nypd was 100% justified in that shooting imo. who knows what this bum is gonna pull... 40 9 mm gold dots were fired in an unusual case) sorry but i digress.
Both are good calibers if loaded with the "appropriate" ammo, but the "edge" goes to the .357 Magnum.
I like both calibers and carry both, but if push came to shove, I'd go with the Magnum every time.
BikerRN
I like both calibers and carry both, but if push came to shove, I'd go with the Magnum every time.
BikerRN
.357 has been king for many years now.
However, some of y'all are stuck on the ".45 hollowpoints don't always open" mantra for way too long. Bullet design is far better today than it's ever been and that argument don't stand today like it did 20 years ago, folks.
Federal's 125 grain JHP load in .357 and Federal's 230 grain Hydra Shok in .45 Auto are neck and neck in the stopping department, both at 96%. The only reason I give .357 a nudge is the greater number of shootings.
However, some of y'all are stuck on the ".45 hollowpoints don't always open" mantra for way too long. Bullet design is far better today than it's ever been and that argument don't stand today like it did 20 years ago, folks.
Federal's 125 grain JHP load in .357 and Federal's 230 grain Hydra Shok in .45 Auto are neck and neck in the stopping department, both at 96%. The only reason I give .357 a nudge is the greater number of shootings.
The .45 hollowpoints don't always open reasoning always escaped me.
How could anyone see the frontal area of a .45 ACP hollowpoint and somehow feel that an FMJ has more contact area than the hollowpoint?
I'd give it to the .45 only because it'd be easier to make quicker followup shots.
How could anyone see the frontal area of a .45 ACP hollowpoint and somehow feel that an FMJ has more contact area than the hollowpoint?
I'd give it to the .45 only because it'd be easier to make quicker followup shots.
Except gunfights. 357 depends on hollowpoints and hollowpoints can overexpand and underpenetrate. Don't say it doesn't happen. .45 Auto. on the other hand, has more mass, less speed. All else being equal, I'd take .45 over .357. I wouldn't prefer .357 over 9mm or .38 Special.
Taken as a whole, I seem to recall the Federal 125g. "357B" JHP (.357 Magnum, of course) as being one of the most, if not THE most, effective man-stoppers out there, short of a 12g. shotgun round. However, having said this, Im still inclined to go with .45 ACP as I feel it has very honorable statistics ("stopping power") vs the .357 Magnum and for me, offers much more manageable loads (when dealing with powerful HD type ammo). After all, its not just the caliber itself that is in consideration here, but also the combined effectiveness of available loads/accuracy potential of each weapon.
So, my official vote would be for the .357 Magnum. Un-officially, based loosely on "practicality", Id opt for the .45 ACP.
So, my official vote would be for the .357 Magnum. Un-officially, based loosely on "practicality", Id opt for the .45 ACP.
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Wow! This thread just keeps on going...why break with tradition? 
Seriously, while I have read all the numbers posted in this thread by various individuals, and all of the statistics pointing to .357 being a marginally better round, I'd still have to give the nod to the .45.
The reason for my opinion has purely to do with practice. When I lurk around in the revolvers forum, (I read a lot more than I talk, as you can tell by my lowly post count) it seems that a lot of the folks who carry compact .357 revolvers practice primarily with .38's.
Now, if it's my life on the line, I want the gun I carry and the ammunition I shoot to be two things I'm intimately familiar with. Therefore, when I go to the range with the gun I carry, I shoot the ammunition I carry exclusively, and to be honest, with hot SD loads, I much prefer practicing with a 45 than a 357 out of similarly sized weapons.
More enjoyment practicing = more practice.
More practice = me being a better shooter.
Now, of course I can load up powder-puff .38 wadcutters and shoot a J-frame quite comfortably. But that would kind of be like practicing for the Daytona 500 in a Geo Metro, wouldn't it?
Seriously, while I have read all the numbers posted in this thread by various individuals, and all of the statistics pointing to .357 being a marginally better round, I'd still have to give the nod to the .45.
The reason for my opinion has purely to do with practice. When I lurk around in the revolvers forum, (I read a lot more than I talk, as you can tell by my lowly post count) it seems that a lot of the folks who carry compact .357 revolvers practice primarily with .38's.
Now, if it's my life on the line, I want the gun I carry and the ammunition I shoot to be two things I'm intimately familiar with. Therefore, when I go to the range with the gun I carry, I shoot the ammunition I carry exclusively, and to be honest, with hot SD loads, I much prefer practicing with a 45 than a 357 out of similarly sized weapons.
More enjoyment practicing = more practice.
More practice = me being a better shooter.
Now, of course I can load up powder-puff .38 wadcutters and shoot a J-frame quite comfortably. But that would kind of be like practicing for the Daytona 500 in a Geo Metro, wouldn't it?
Webley .455 all the way. Not available? Then ok the .45 acp? Not available? Then throw a bowling ball: very good mass, a bit inadequate on the velocity.
.357? I have an S&W 7-shot 686. Love the fireball. If you are REALLY VERY GOOD WITH SPEEDLOADERS UNDER STRESS CONDITIONS, then ok the fireball-maker will work. Pretty tough in a room, though, or if your vision includes the fireball.
.45 is a good compromise among all factors: "stopping power", recoil, blast, ammo capacity, easy reloads.
.357? I have an S&W 7-shot 686. Love the fireball. If you are REALLY VERY GOOD WITH SPEEDLOADERS UNDER STRESS CONDITIONS, then ok the fireball-maker will work. Pretty tough in a room, though, or if your vision includes the fireball.
.45 is a good compromise among all factors: "stopping power", recoil, blast, ammo capacity, easy reloads.
I'd take either one
I'd take either one if I couldn't have a shotgun, that is, or if I couldn't do the smart thing and just leave. I would fire all six, though, I'm pretty sure of that.
I'd take either one if I couldn't have a shotgun, that is, or if I couldn't do the smart thing and just leave. I would fire all six, though, I'm pretty sure of that.
.357 Magnum
I like the .357 because of my own experience with it in my own informal tests and use in the hunting fields, and most importantly due to many fireside chats with current and former LEOs who carried it and used it in the line of duty. Virtually 100% of the LEOs I have talked to state that getting shot with the .357 Magnum with 125 JHPs is usually a two hit fight. The bullet hits the bad guy and the bad guy hits the ground. They also talked about how it worked really well on automotive body panels and tires.
Also, the .357 revolver shoots groups at 100 yards that the .45 ACP shoots at 50. You can never have a handgun that is too accurate.
If you want to choose your handgun and ammunition based on blocks of ballistic gelatin and goats getting shot, fine. I personally have never been assaulted by goats or jello.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
I like the .357 because of my own experience with it in my own informal tests and use in the hunting fields, and most importantly due to many fireside chats with current and former LEOs who carried it and used it in the line of duty. Virtually 100% of the LEOs I have talked to state that getting shot with the .357 Magnum with 125 JHPs is usually a two hit fight. The bullet hits the bad guy and the bad guy hits the ground. They also talked about how it worked really well on automotive body panels and tires
.Also, the .357 revolver shoots groups at 100 yards that the .45 ACP shoots at 50. You can never have a handgun that is too accurate.
If you want to choose your handgun and ammunition based on blocks of ballistic gelatin and goats getting shot, fine. I personally have never been assaulted by goats or jello.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Both cartridges are great handgun cartridges...
...But no handgun cartridge is a reliable stopper. Both .357 an .45 have excellent reputations, but both cartridge occasionally fails in the field. Don't fool yourself. Given the choice, I'd take the .357 magnum.
...But no handgun cartridge is a reliable stopper. Both .357 an .45 have excellent reputations, but both cartridge occasionally fails in the field. Don't fool yourself. Given the choice, I'd take the .357 magnum.
^^^
^^^Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but that statement there is sheer LUNACY!
I'll take the .357 everyday of the week and twice on Sunday's.
I give the Manstopper Award to the .357 magnum.
This is based on my YEARS of prolific imagination, my 35 years of continuous life having NEVER served in law enforcement, my shoot-out experiences (none), my technical ballistic engineering background (I know what velocity is?), And the fact that I met a Navy Seal once (he was nice).
Now - I swap my EDC's back and forth between a 3" GP-100 and my XD45 tactical. I carry 158gr GDHP's in the Ruger and 230gr GDHP's in the XD.
I wouldn't want to get hit with EITHER of them....But based on my extensive experience listed above......I still claim the the .357mag has got more "Junk in the Trunk" to wallop any unfortunate recipient of my urgent message!
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This is based on my YEARS of prolific imagination, my 35 years of continuous life having NEVER served in law enforcement, my shoot-out experiences (none), my technical ballistic engineering background (I know what velocity is?), And the fact that I met a Navy Seal once (he was nice).
Now - I swap my EDC's back and forth between a 3" GP-100 and my XD45 tactical. I carry 158gr GDHP's in the Ruger and 230gr GDHP's in the XD.
I wouldn't want to get hit with EITHER of them....But based on my extensive experience listed above......I still claim the the .357mag has got more "Junk in the Trunk" to wallop any unfortunate recipient of my urgent message!
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Holy necropost, Batman! March 17 2008 to January 15 2009. And the thread is originally from August 2006. This topic has been beaten to death.
Fact is, though, a .357 tends to overpenetrate. When a round blows clean through, it does not impart all its kinetic energy to the target. If you're using a round that tends to blow clean through, you're using too much power. For self defense, small caliber / high velocity generally does not work that well (.223 / 5.56 is an exception due to its exceptional tumbling). You are better off using a round that will reliably stay in the target.
Who brought this old post back to life? This thread is a zombie, it just won't die.
Might as well toss my opinion in, I prefer .45 acp because I like autoloaders, increased mag capacity and big bullets.
Might as well toss my opinion in, I prefer .45 acp because I like autoloaders, increased mag capacity and big bullets.
FWIW, I use 9x23 Winchester because it gives me 357 Magnum ballistics in an autoloader, with the increased mag capacity of the semi-auto, less muzzleflash, less recoil, and faster reloads. I used to use the .45 ACP exclusively before I found the 9x23 Winchester. Now I don't even have a pistol chambered in .45 ACP. It is the best of both calibers in my opinion.
CoRoMo
Member
Old thread... even older argument.
.357 won... again.
If I only have 6 rounds, .357 gets the nod.
If I can choose between 6 rounds of .357 and 14 rounds of 45acp, I'll take the 45 into battle.
.357 won... again.
If I only have 6 rounds, .357 gets the nod.
If I can choose between 6 rounds of .357 and 14 rounds of 45acp, I'll take the 45 into battle.
use both...
i use a p90dc for home, and my ss 357 mag as ccw, i find the 2" barell is easier for ccw than the acp. and the 45 is always in the same spot if god forbid, the wife needs it to show her unwanted guests the small end..
i use a p90dc for home, and my ss 357 mag as ccw, i find the 2" barell is easier for ccw than the acp. and the 45 is always in the same spot if god forbid, the wife needs it to show her unwanted guests the small end..
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