should i get another .357?

[back40]

i'm not a huge fan of the cartridge, and prefer calibers that start with .4 generally.

i had and let go a nice 3" gp100 that was quite accurate, albeit 6" low and 4" left with the fixed sights. i like the gp100s and found an as new 4" for a fair deal locally.

i also have about 850 rounds of various factory .357 and .38 ammo on hand. it likely would see range time, truck use, and perhaps woods toting, but again i generally prefer the larger calibers.

soooo, do i go for the gp? or perhaps try and sell off the ammo that i have and buy that 4 5/8" blackhawk bisley .44 spl. that i've wanted for a while.

i do see the double action being beneficial for truck gun purposes. if only ruger would make the gp in .44 spl. boy would that be the cake!

 

[Twiki357]

Sounds like a personal dilemma to me.
BUT, if that 4 5/8" blackhawk bisley .44 spl. is what you have your heart set on, would you really be satisfied with the 357?

 

[Onward Allusion]

i'm not a huge fan of the cartridge, and prefer calibers that start with .4 generally.

I think you answered your own question.

Sell the ammo and put it toward another revolver that starts with .4 or .5

 

[SFreed]

I would agree with Twiki.....Unless you'd like both, sell the ammo and buy the 44.

 

[back40]

that's what i'm inclined to do, but i just have this thought in the back of my head that the stainless double action gp makes a better truck gun than the blued single action blackhawk.

 

[bikemutt]

The value proposition of a gp100 is hard to beat, keep the ammo, buy the gp.

 

[03fatboy]

My vote is get the .357 and enjoy it.
Start saving again for the blackhawk and get that next.
The more the merrier.

 

[eldon519]

Finances permitting, I'd buy the .44 Spc Bisley you want, and if it turns out to be as awesome as you think it will be, sell the .357 ammo to buy .44 ammo. If it isn't as great as you think it will be, you can trade it for a .357 and you'll still have the ammo stash.

Ammo seems to go up in value constantly so holding onto it for a little while isn't a terrible idea.

 

[back40]

that's not a bad idea, eldon519. i could, conceivably, buy the .44 and hold onto the ammo as well. the other thought is to buy a .45 colt blackhawk (bisley of course). i don't have a .45 and have always wanted to add one.

life is short,and i'm leaning more and more towards "wants and desires" than practical uses. i have practical uses covered and then some. the reality is my current truck gun is a g19, and although i don't care for the 9mm much, it's virtually a bombproof choice.

 

[jmr40]

Several years ago I sold all of my 357's. Didn't miss the round at all. From sub 4" barrels it just makes a lot of noise and struggles to beat 9mm. My 44's weren't any bigger, ammo didn't cost any more and by choosing loads carefully I could keep recoil and performance down to 38 levels or amp things up far beyond the capabilities of 357.

I did eventually buy another 357, but only after running across a deal on a S&W 28 in great shape. I still don't care for the round, but couldn't pass up the gun.

If you want a 44 or 45, go that way. Sounds like you're considering buying a gun just to burn up some ammo.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Just a thought, but if you started off the thread with a statement that you don't really care for the cartridge, I think you know what you want to buy. And it starts with .4.

If you want a double action, what about a S&W 29, 629, or 69?

 

[S&W-Keeper]

You have got to have a .357 in the stable.

 

[CraigC]

i'm not a huge fan of the cartridge, and prefer calibers that start with .4 generally.

You mean you don't absolutely adore the .30-06 of handgun cartridges???

 

[ZVP]

Gimme a 4"! I own both .38's and a .357 Vaquero.
Guess which one is Mine?
Very flexable loads and good FPE.
ZVP

 

[back40]

You mean you don't absolutely adore the .30-06 of handgun cartridges???

haha...touche

for me, the .44mag is more of the ".30-06 of handgun cartridges". loaded to full potential to take larger game, but easily loaded down if need be.

 

[RealGun]

I'm too old to give you any slack on using capital letters where needed.

 

[back40]

and i'm too old to give a rat's tutu that you dropped by just to make a snide remark about my typing.

 

[bikerdoc]

Play nice, if these comments continue I will close the thread and issue infractions.

 

[buck460XVR]

4 times in your short opening post you claim you would prefer some other caliber than .357, and then ask US if you should buy a .357. Not tryin' to be a smart burro, but maybe I'm missin' somethin'?

 

[CraigC]

The question is, is there one that begins with a ".4x" that you do not already have? If not then surely there's a model or barrel length you don't have. A finish perhaps. A man can spend his life collecting revolvers, with nary a .357 in sight and still have plenty to keep him busy.

I only buy .357's because some of them can become dandy forty somethings.

 

[jj1962hemi]

I like the concept of a gun that will shoot .38SPL (and +Ps) all day and never really wear out. It'll also be able to pack quite a punch when necessary. I think having at least one in the stable is a sound idea.

 

[back40]

well, the size, stainless, and double action of the gp make it a pretty practical choice. although i'm not a huge fan of the .357, i can't deny it's versatility. when i sold the 3", i told myself it would be replaced with a 4" someday. so, now to decide if letting this one pass me by is a poor choice, given that it is finely suited to the role, chambering aside.

i'm thinking the ammo will be sold and another single action .4x is in my future.

*edited to add....
after just inventorying the .38/.357 ammo on hand (~850 rds), it seems a shame to offload it if i ever find myself wanting that caliber.

 

[stonecoldy]

I'm going the other way and selling a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag, just added a nice 4" stainless Ruger Security Six to take the Redhawk's place and not regretting it. Nice match for my Marlin 1894C .357 mag rifle, both shoot the Federal 158 grain SP load well. Do what you feel is best, you'll have no problem selling the .357 mag ammo. Why waste time on another gun you already have a bias against and just get what you want?

 

[WestKentucky]

I think it may be a regional preference. In ky we have 2 legged predators and coyotes unless you at in Appalachia which is typically regarded by the rest of the state as wester virginia. .357 serves well for protection from the above and good for anything from wabbits to antlers. If predators are afoot bigger than "tiny" down at the local choke-n-puke, a bit more horsepower might not be a bad thing. Consider your hearing and wrist health as long term factors. .357 is LOUD. 44 may lead to carpal tunnel if your punching paper daily.

 

[Ironman615]

It's absolutely your call, and you will make the decision. Personally, I like the .357, although I like the .41 magnum better. I've made all my buying decisions based on what I like, because I don't "need" much of anything. In the past year I've purchased one .38 special, one .357, and one .41. My recommendation would be to buy what you like.