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Is the 357 fading away?

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"I think the younger generation has been brainwashed to think if it isn't made out of plastic, and hold half a box of ammo in one mag, it really isn't a worthy gun for any self-respecting "operator" to use"

+1
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Now, now, my 1911's are made of blued steel and only hold eight rounds. :)
 
some day we wheelies may be down into the 20% range of gun owners, but I still come back to my .357 for comfort in carry (rounded stock) and if I don't get them with 5 or 7 shots I might have trouble getting them with 10 .40 caliber or 14 .45acp's.
I just love revolvers and I think there will be enough of us around for years to come.
Easy manual of arms, inexpensive compared to others, plenty of syles to choose from, precieved to be 100% reliable (autos are almost as good). If gun companies are still putting them out they must be selling them.
 
Supposedly the new shooters and young shooters are into the combat tupperware. But I'm a young guy (17) and I prefer revolvers to auto-loaders. More class, my style, more punch (generally). Sure, they hold fewer rounds but six shots is usually enough to get the job done. I don't see myself breaking down doors for a living in the near future. So six would be fine for me.
 
I am of the "younger generation" and I love the 357! We are not all lost to the made of plastic, super high capacity trend. I intend to always have at least one 357 in my "arsenal".
 
Nothing against revolvers but I got rid of my .357's years ago and only recently got another. Found a deal too good to pass up on a Smith model 28. I came to the conclusion that my Smith 629's were only slightly thicker and were actually lighter than the L frame Smith's and Ruger GP-100's I had in .357. With full power loads I have a much better hunting revolver and with mild .44 mag loads or hot .44 specials I have a round every bit as good for self defense as the .357 with less recoil and muzzle blast.
 
"I think the younger generation has been brainwashed to think if it isn't made out of plastic, and hold half a box of ammo in one mag, it really isn't a worthy gun for any self-respecting "operator" to use"
Click to expand...

And what generation do we have to thank for the brainwashing? :what:

I don't think you can blame that one on the plethora of 20 year old CEOs controlling the various aspects of the firearm industry (new weapon designs/releases, magazines & other media, etc.)
 
Quick!!!...before you get stuck with a LNIB S&W or Colt .357 in blue or stainless with a 6in. barrel, send them to me for $100.00. Hurry, this may be your last chance to get this much out of your obsolete revolvers!!! :evil:

Update!: I will also allow trade in of all your .357 magnum ammo for an equal quantity of 9mm or .22 rimfire...your choice.
 
Maybe it's just a meaningless observation, but I am a diehard brass scrounger, picking up brass of any caliber I can find. I reload .45, 38/357/9mm. and some rifle rounds. Last week at a local range I picked up about 20 pounds of assorted handgun brass. Roughly 50% was .40 S&W, 25% .45 ACP, 20% 9mm, 4% assorted .45 GAP, .380, 38 Super, but less than 1% 38 or 357. I can only conclude far more people are shooting auto's than revolvers these days, but that doesn't deminish the power or effectivness of the 357. I own and enjoy shooting a 357 and a 38, but when I go to the range I always burn up far more .45's than anything else. What's that all mean? I don't know, but I do know I will never get rid on my revolvers. Anybody need some .40 brass? Trade for .45? or? I don't shoot a .40 now but if I keep on collecting .40 brass, I might have to talk myself into buying dies and a .40 pistol so it won't go to waste.

Ron
 
I don't think the .357 will ever fade away. It's much to versatile and there are too many revolvers out there that are chambered for it. I guess the .38 Special and the .357 Magnum are the handgun counterparts to the other "obsolete" cartridge that refuses to die. The venerable .30-30 Winchester...which I expect will celebrate its 200th anniversary in another 85 years...still hangin' in there.
 
One thing that might put a nick in these estimates on how many people use revolvers in ranges by found brass is... Revolvers have controlled extraction. You can knock your brass right onto the bench in stead of it flying into piles all over the place. It's quite possible revolver users are just keeping their brass.
 
There is nothing wrong with a good wheelie. I think they are every bit as reliable to today as when they first came out. They have a strong group of supporters, look at the 642 club.

Personally I like older S&W made before the ******* locks.
 
I think a few people are getting turned off by the price of nice revolvers these days. What does a really nice Model 19 go for used, about $500. Quite a few used 9's for for less. New Smiths prices are just crazy!
 
Notice there was no talk of stopping power/failure to stop issues when cops carried .357 revolvers.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
357

My all-time favorite cartridge is the 357 Mag- powerful enough for most purposes, easy to shoot. And the ability to to use a wide range of loads, plus the revolver's excellent reliability make it a great all-around cartridge choice.

My first (like other geezers) duty weapon was the S&W 66. In the 80's my dept switched to 9mm autos, and still issues semiautos.

I never felt unprotected with the 66, though over the years I carried 45's for a while, and for a short (very short!) time a 629 3".

I still shoot semis, but if forced to a choice it would be the revolver!
 
People who want practical revolvers want something more shootable like a .38 Special +p, people who want a heavy "boomer" want a .44Mag or a .460, .357Mag falls uncomfortably in between.

If you really want to talk about redundant revolver calibers let's talk about .41Mag.
 
If I had it to do all over again I would stick with revolvers exclusively (okay, I would have a 1911, too). I have recently been shopping for another .357 and would like to get an older Smith or a new GP100 even though I do go to the shop on occasion and pick up the new 686+ with a 4" barrel. That gun is the most comfortable in my hand of any gun I have ever held and is pretty nice looking to boot (aside from the pimple).

As a side note, I suffer from 'dunlop' disease, so it's easier keeping hold of the brass from a wheelgun as I would like to start reloading at some point.
 
I'm Gen X - I think that makes me "lost generation" rather than "younger generation." Anyway, I have two .357's and am looking to add more. I also have an assortment of autoloaders. I don't think .357 wheelguns will disappear among knowledgeable shooters, because:
1) Really easy to reload
2) Massive power at high end, still within SAAMI pressures
3) Good effectiveness and modest recoil if shooting .38 +P or modest .357
4) Great accuracy in quality guns
5) Inherent benefits of revolvers.

However, I think they are becoming less common in general because:
1) Extremely high ammo prices right now for .357 (you can reload for 1/3 or less the price of new ammo)
2) Not that many people into reloading
3) Quality revolvers cost ~50% more than OK quality autoloaders in 9mm
4) Full power .357 isn't really needed for self-defense, and .357 is marginal for deer hunting
5) Running factory .38 Spl ammo gives you 9mm performance at .40 S&W cost.
 
Well, I'm 24 and I have 2 .357's. One is a 19-4 and the other is a 66-2. They are my favorites along with my GI 1911. The tupperware isn't getting out much these days. I guess I'm just weird.
 
I think .357 mag will be in use until hand operated death rays are commercially available. I am 27 years old and I sold my plastics a few years back and bought .357 revolvers. I am not easily wowed, but I have recognized the great versatility, economics, and cool factor of shooting the venerable .357 mag. I love standing next to the uneducated at the firing line when I let loose the .357. It is common for them to stare in awe for at least three rounds.
 
I doubt it. Smith has been coming out with new revo after new revo, some downright tacticooool, if not ugly as sin.

9mm, .45, .357/.38, .22LR I don't think there is anything these calibers cannot answer in a handgun and .357 is still the big dog as far as actual real world use and results.

I have lots of ubertacticool tupperwear but 6-7 rounds of .357 maggie is in a whole league of its own, assuming you know how to shoot of course. :neener:
 
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