GooseGestapo
Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2003
- Messages
- 6,145
Won’t hurt bluing, but will strip chrome or Nickel plating !
OK for Stainless.
Chrome or Nickel require a copper base to adhere. Copper dissolving solvent penetrates scratches and removes finish.
Sorry, but don’t see the draw of the 357 MAG
- Thread starter LeftyRed
- Start date
- Status
Won’t hurt bluing, but will strip chrome or Nickel plating !
OK for Stainless.
Chrome or Nickel require a copper base to adhere. Copper dissolving solvent penetrates scratches and removes finish.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
A coworker offered to sell me his contender with a .357 barrel and a couple of other barrels that I can’t recall right now for a tidy some of $200 some years ago. I still kick myself for saying “Let me think about it” and then never getting back to him on it.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Nickel, not hard chrome. Decorative chrome is completely different and usually has a nickel base.
amd6547
Member
I’ve used a well used brush with a patch covered with Flitz Polish wrapped around it…no drill, just a hand rod.
Palladan44
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2020
- Messages
- 1,897
I see the point that full powered 357 magnums are overpowered for personal defense out of small "personal protection" type firearms. 9mm seems to be an agreed upon "sweet spot" for that purpose.
(Setting revolver vs. Semi Auto aside) I agree on this- 357s out of "personal protection" sized firearms have a lot of flash, a lot of noise and not as easy to control. There is no arguing this.
Ammunition made and designed for "personal protection" in calibers like 357 Magnum, 10mm and 357 SIG are slowed down (watered down, neutered, what have you) for these reasons. Because the traditional "full powered" ammo in these calibers produce more of the undesirable effects desired in Self Defense situations. Excess recoil, muzzle flash, noise, possible overpenetration, and pushing a hollow point so fast that it breaks apart or yaws in gel....just to name a few possible issues.
357 Magnum ammo that is just over 1000 fps with a 158gr bullet is common, as is 10mm ammo that is a glorified 40 s&w is also common.
It's quite convenient that this botique ammunition fetches 1.50$ to $2.00 or more per round in these higher calibers... it would turn me off if I had to buy them.
Shift gears to the hunting side of things, the ballgame changes. I'm going to want far more power with a heavier bullet, and deep penetration with controlled expansion. And accuracy at a longer range..... So I go with 44 Magnum for this task.
It does the job better, every time.
I like making cleaner kills that I don't have to track far. I hate to bring it up, but I had a double-bread-basketted shot on whitetail travel over 150 yds. After hitting with my 357 - M586 - 6"
The shot was about 2" off center and missed the heart, but other than that it was perfect. The un-expaned Speer 158gr Deepcurl was stuck in the hide on the back side...I hunt on my folks 8 acre slot in between 2 other 40s where I DO NOT enjoy going to ask permission to track on one of the sides. Flip a coin as to which direction a deer could run. (I had a thread about this) To summarize the hunting thing, ill just say that 357s should be used with ammunition that provide maximum velocity for caliber, with expanding or soft point bullets for best results..provided they are accurate!!!
In summary, the last cartridge I'd ever give up is......the 357 Magnum because I know it CAN do it all. As a handloader, I'm going to argue that the 357 Magnum is the best cartridge in the world due to her versatility.
(Setting revolver vs. Semi Auto aside) I agree on this- 357s out of "personal protection" sized firearms have a lot of flash, a lot of noise and not as easy to control. There is no arguing this.
Ammunition made and designed for "personal protection" in calibers like 357 Magnum, 10mm and 357 SIG are slowed down (watered down, neutered, what have you) for these reasons. Because the traditional "full powered" ammo in these calibers produce more of the undesirable effects desired in Self Defense situations. Excess recoil, muzzle flash, noise, possible overpenetration, and pushing a hollow point so fast that it breaks apart or yaws in gel....just to name a few possible issues.
357 Magnum ammo that is just over 1000 fps with a 158gr bullet is common, as is 10mm ammo that is a glorified 40 s&w is also common.
It's quite convenient that this botique ammunition fetches 1.50$ to $2.00 or more per round in these higher calibers... it would turn me off if I had to buy them.
Shift gears to the hunting side of things, the ballgame changes. I'm going to want far more power with a heavier bullet, and deep penetration with controlled expansion. And accuracy at a longer range..... So I go with 44 Magnum for this task.
It does the job better, every time.
I like making cleaner kills that I don't have to track far. I hate to bring it up, but I had a double-bread-basketted shot on whitetail travel over 150 yds. After hitting with my 357 - M586 - 6"
The shot was about 2" off center and missed the heart, but other than that it was perfect. The un-expaned Speer 158gr Deepcurl was stuck in the hide on the back side...I hunt on my folks 8 acre slot in between 2 other 40s where I DO NOT enjoy going to ask permission to track on one of the sides. Flip a coin as to which direction a deer could run. (I had a thread about this) To summarize the hunting thing, ill just say that 357s should be used with ammunition that provide maximum velocity for caliber, with expanding or soft point bullets for best results..provided they are accurate!!!
In summary, the last cartridge I'd ever give up is......the 357 Magnum because I know it CAN do it all. As a handloader, I'm going to argue that the 357 Magnum is the best cartridge in the world due to her versatility.
Last edited:
someguy2800
Member
I am also not a big fan of 357, even though my favorite handgun I've ever shot is this 4.2" sp101. I do load and occasionally shoot full bore H110 357 mag loads in it, mostly because I am childish enough to get a grin from the fireballs and listening to the report echo back and forth off the tree lines. Looking past the entertainment value of it though I don't see much practical use for the 357. If I were using it for personal defense it would be much more practical to load it down to like 1200 fps with a 125gr hp and use half the powder of full magnum powder loads, and at that point why do I need the longer 357 case when I can easily do that in a 38 case?
I have killed 3 deer with it and that was enough for me to determine that a 357 revolver isn't where its at for me in terms of deer hunting. I really don't care for the L frame and GP100 sized 357 magnums. If I am going to have that size of a gun then why not just make it a 5 shot 44 like my model 69? The only thing redeaming the 357 to me is that I can get it in a very slim and lightweight 5 shot like this. I carry this a lot when camping and outdoors as black bear protection. Ideally I would like something that can push some more bullet weight, but its and okay compromise to me just because its so incredibly comfortable to carry compared to a larger frame revolver or full size semi auto. My ideal revolver would be to take this sp101 and make the frame and cylinder just big enough to hold a 10mm auto in 5 shot moon clips. I wouldn't be able to get my wallet out fast enough for that.
I have killed 3 deer with it and that was enough for me to determine that a 357 revolver isn't where its at for me in terms of deer hunting. I really don't care for the L frame and GP100 sized 357 magnums. If I am going to have that size of a gun then why not just make it a 5 shot 44 like my model 69? The only thing redeaming the 357 to me is that I can get it in a very slim and lightweight 5 shot like this. I carry this a lot when camping and outdoors as black bear protection. Ideally I would like something that can push some more bullet weight, but its and okay compromise to me just because its so incredibly comfortable to carry compared to a larger frame revolver or full size semi auto. My ideal revolver would be to take this sp101 and make the frame and cylinder just big enough to hold a 10mm auto in 5 shot moon clips. I wouldn't be able to get my wallet out fast enough for that.
Last edited:
GeoDudeFlorida
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2020
- Messages
- 11,000
“Sorry, but don’t see the draw of the 357 MAG”
That’s because folks who carry .357’s are FAST!!!
That’s because folks who carry .357’s are FAST!!!
I admittedly only read the first page.
not sure what the OP is shooting or looking for, but I have several .357s and most of them are bad to the bone guns.
My 27-8 is a beast. Probably my favorite handgun I have ever owned in a LONG line of handguns. I’d go to town with that gun all day any day. 8 cartridges of 125 grain 357 hollow points will dance.
My mid 80s Python is a peach on all fronts. Beautiful, smoother than silk, and accurate out to as far as I want to shoot it. It is the easiest magnum powered gun to shoot that I own.
Even my 1894, which is a recent production gun, is as accurate as me. My only complaint about it is the variations in zero using different loads. A rifle round out to 100 yards might vary an inch or two depending on weight and such, but the 1894 can vary 10 inches easy. Which is part of the fun of mastering it.
My 13 year old daughter shoots my MK III Trooper. That will probably be her gun sooner rather than later.
last, I saw some posts about hunting. I would have zero hesitation shooting a deer with my 1894. None. Even any Bear with the proper loading. And I can put 38s in it and let my kids shoot it all day. Incredible versatility
not sure what the OP is shooting or looking for, but I have several .357s and most of them are bad to the bone guns.
My 27-8 is a beast. Probably my favorite handgun I have ever owned in a LONG line of handguns. I’d go to town with that gun all day any day. 8 cartridges of 125 grain 357 hollow points will dance.
My mid 80s Python is a peach on all fronts. Beautiful, smoother than silk, and accurate out to as far as I want to shoot it. It is the easiest magnum powered gun to shoot that I own.
Even my 1894, which is a recent production gun, is as accurate as me. My only complaint about it is the variations in zero using different loads. A rifle round out to 100 yards might vary an inch or two depending on weight and such, but the 1894 can vary 10 inches easy. Which is part of the fun of mastering it.
My 13 year old daughter shoots my MK III Trooper. That will probably be her gun sooner rather than later.
last, I saw some posts about hunting. I would have zero hesitation shooting a deer with my 1894. None. Even any Bear with the proper loading. And I can put 38s in it and let my kids shoot it all day. Incredible versatility
plainsdrifter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2021
- Messages
- 596
BURRRRRRP!
Charlie Martinez
Member
The old timers that developed the 357 Magnum never used hearing protection and I have read that guys like Elmer Keith, Jim Jordan and the other gun gurus of that day were all half def. I believe that for that reason they never thought the muzzle blast of full power 357 Magnum or any other gun was a problem. Personally I find it painful to shoot 357 Magnum without hearing protection (I shot my very first round off w/o ear protection many years ago and never tried it again) and it's the reason why I prefer 38 +P, 9 mm, 44 Special and 45 ACP for SD. I have 357 Magnum revolvers but use them only for target practice with 38 Special target loads and for that purpose they can't be beat.
TTv2
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 4,976
I'm tempted to get into a .38 top break, but I've long believed there's little to gain in power going from .32 Long to .38 S&W at the expense of an extra round and more punishing on the weaker top break design.
I agree with several posts.The 357 at handgun velocity is marginal.Shoot it out of a long gun and with good bullets,it does s fine job on deer.I had the carbine,but I like the idea of having a long gun and a sidearm that shoot the same ammo.I lucked onto a Blackhawk that was what I was looking for so it can go along with my rifle.I was thrilled when my buddy stopped by to visit and he was just getting back from a trip where he bought a couple dozen firearms because the previous owner had passed away.I figured he would want more for it than I could afford,but he let it go for a very good price.I like the little round a lot because it's super easy to load for and it's really versatile.
Smaug
Member
Well, the draw of .357 Magnum is certainly not in small-framed, short-barreled revolvers. You don't get much more velocity with Magnum ammo than a .38, because the barrel's too short for the powder to burn while the bullet's still in the gun. Shot like that, they're only good for making noise and flames.
.357 Magnum IS good in a longer-barreled (at least 4", and 6 is better) larger-framed revolver. Something heavy enough to tame the recoil a bit. Even with that kind of gun though, I like a light magnum level handload with a light bullet. They're accurate, have some good pop, but don't beat you up. I like to shoot loads like this out of my 3" SP-101.
It's ALSO good in a lever action rifle; you get a "free" 400 fps velocity gain and a great deer gun out to 125 yards or so. Or an alternative self defense gun. The recoil in full-house magnums isn't bad in a rifle, either.
.357 Magnum IS good in a longer-barreled (at least 4", and 6 is better) larger-framed revolver. Something heavy enough to tame the recoil a bit. Even with that kind of gun though, I like a light magnum level handload with a light bullet. They're accurate, have some good pop, but don't beat you up. I like to shoot loads like this out of my 3" SP-101.
It's ALSO good in a lever action rifle; you get a "free" 400 fps velocity gain and a great deer gun out to 125 yards or so. Or an alternative self defense gun. The recoil in full-house magnums isn't bad in a rifle, either.
.45Coltguy
Member
LOL! That one almost had me spraying beer on the screen. Epic!
TTv2
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 4,976
What you're describing with a light magnum load is exactly why the .327 was made: less recoil, but good power, at least good enough to do the job. The only issue is factory ammo is focused on making the .327 at full power when a medium power load would work just fine.
AJC1
Member
Anyone shooting 357 without hearing protection is of questionable decision making skills, and loud is the guy in the next booth with an 8" ar pistol.
Carbon ring is a non-issue for people who clean each range trip... my 357s eat an equal amount of 38s as I swap back and forth with my son at the range... at 13 he can handle full power but prefers 38s and him having fun is important.
Free brass is a big factor in my shooting. In my entire life if bought exactly 200 cases. 100 each lapua 223 and 308 for my completion guns. My dad had gifted me more lapua for those at different times. I have piles of 38 as it's hugely popular. I scrounge for 357 and currently have about 500 pieces.
38 caliber bullet molds are plentiful and cheap. The smaller amount of lead used in a 32 caliber would be an advantage at the volume I shoot so anything bigger would by the same token be worse.
Is 41mag the best compromise of the magnums, maybe. Someday I may get one....
Carbon ring is a non-issue for people who clean each range trip... my 357s eat an equal amount of 38s as I swap back and forth with my son at the range... at 13 he can handle full power but prefers 38s and him having fun is important.
Free brass is a big factor in my shooting. In my entire life if bought exactly 200 cases. 100 each lapua 223 and 308 for my completion guns. My dad had gifted me more lapua for those at different times. I have piles of 38 as it's hugely popular. I scrounge for 357 and currently have about 500 pieces.
38 caliber bullet molds are plentiful and cheap. The smaller amount of lead used in a 32 caliber would be an advantage at the volume I shoot so anything bigger would by the same token be worse.
Is 41mag the best compromise of the magnums, maybe. Someday I may get one....
Gordon
Member
The old Corbon 200 grain hard cast .357 was a deer slayer out of a 4-8" gun ! I had a Colt Python Hunter with a factory mounted 2x Leupold scope on it that I used from the 80s to take the smaller blacktail coastal deer and the occasional Sierra Mule deer in Ca
. I sold the well used by lovingly cared for kit (it came in a Haliburton case) for North of $2K 20 years ago when I got this replacement . The replacement went for 3K$ a few years ago, just shot a few boxes thru that 8" pretty one ! Chronographed that load at 1350 out of this gun !
. I sold the well used by lovingly cared for kit (it came in a Haliburton case) for North of $2K 20 years ago when I got this replacement . The replacement went for 3K$ a few years ago, just shot a few boxes thru that 8" pretty one ! Chronographed that load at 1350 out of this gun !
Attachments
ECVMatt
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2004
- Messages
- 2,861
Gordon for the win! You have/had the coolest gun collection and you actually use/used them.
JTHunter
Member
About 10 years ago, I was lucky enough to find at a local pawn shop a 1 y.o. GP-100 with a 4" barrel. Two years later, I started hunting for a lever action rifle to pair with it but it took another 2 years before I won an auction on GB to get it.
I'm reloading for both now with 158 gr. bullets of a near MAX charge of W296 (JHPs and JFPs). I don't have a chrono so I don't know what speed I'm getting but even through the GP-100, those loads don't kick too much although they are loud.
I'm reloading for both now with 158 gr. bullets of a near MAX charge of W296 (JHPs and JFPs). I don't have a chrono so I don't know what speed I'm getting but even through the GP-100, those loads don't kick too much although they are loud.
I've liked the caliber for 50+ years and carried one almost daily for a good portion of that time: here are some of its attributes to my way of thinking: good power for a light weight revolver, great selection of bullet types depending on intended use, a long standing track record of success in police use, and ease of reloading.
Add to that its availability almost anywhere ammunition is sold and you've got an 87 year winner. From 700 fps wadcutter target loads to 1400 +fps hunting rounds, versatility is its strong point.
Here are some of my Smiths but I do have a trio of Rugers as well as a marvelous Marlin 1894 carbine.
1st Pic shows a 6" M-19, 5" M-27, 4" M-66 & a 3" M-60.
The 2nd is my 50th Anniversary Ruger Flat Top.
Add to that its availability almost anywhere ammunition is sold and you've got an 87 year winner. From 700 fps wadcutter target loads to 1400 +fps hunting rounds, versatility is its strong point.
Here are some of my Smiths but I do have a trio of Rugers as well as a marvelous Marlin 1894 carbine.
1st Pic shows a 6" M-19, 5" M-27, 4" M-66 & a 3" M-60.
The 2nd is my 50th Anniversary Ruger Flat Top.
Best regards and good shooting, Rod
Last edited:
- Status
