stoeger 9mm auto or taurus 357 magnum

[old fart]

a few months ago i posted on getting a new gun, i decided to wait to see if i could put a few more dollars back and look at other guns. well next week i'll get the gun and i have narrowed it down to two, its the stoeger couger 9mm or the taurus 65 in 357 magnum. i would like to know for my intended purpose which would be the overall better gun? i will open carry here in kentucky when i'm out walking where i live which is a rural area, and i'll be taking it in the woods hiking and camping. the biggest threat will be feral dogs or coyoties, with a possible black bear which is rare and a wild hog which is starting to be more numerous as several were killed last deer season, the two legged vermin are always a threat and hiking you don't know what you'll walk up on. there were couger tracks seen within 60 miles of me and a few people swore they seen the cat but the KDFW only confirmed tracks not the animal. as for coyoties and dogs, around here they are beginning to worry me. this past turkey season i had to kill two dogs that were a threat and a coyotie that came to my call dropped low and its hair stood up on its back and started snarling at me when i stood up to run it off so i wouldn't scare the turkeys. i had to kill it too, so which would be the best overall gun? i've handled both and they both fit my hand, thanks for any help.

 

[MCgunner]

That Taurus M65 is a gem. I have a couple of 66s, adjustable sight version. They're very accurate, well made guns. There's going to be a lot of Taurus bashing on this thread, I hear the footsteps down the hall, but just telling you I like mine. I also have a M85 stainless ultralite I carry all the time.

My blued 3" 66 is from the mid-late 80s, 3" gun. It's a carry on occasion. My 4" gun is a early/mid 90s gun, nickel. It's an outdoor carry. Both are tack drivers. The 4" has the later transfer bar action and is smoother than the older gun, very smooth, nice DA and SA trigger, as good as my Smith and Wesson K frames. It's a little stronger frame, beefier, than a K frame, but it's also a few ounces heavier than an equivalent K frame. The weight was used in good measure, though, to give the gun enough space for a ROUND forcing cone. Having been a victim of a cracked K frame forcing cone in the past, I see that as a good trade off.

Speaking of hogs, I was working on my place one day (ate up with hogs and rattle snakes, bobcats, coyotes, feral dogs, what not, none of which I worry about so much as the criminal types that might be around there) CCWing my 3" 66 when I stumbled upon this little critter. He wasn't quite 100 lbs dressed. He got digested a couple of years ago. One shot to the head from about 13 yards with a 140 Speer JHP.

 

[MCgunner]

9mm isn't what I consider adequate for hunting, but +P will produce as much energy from a small auto as a 2" .357 125 grain JHP. Give that .357 3 or 4" of barrel and/or a bit more bullet weight, though, and it leaves 9mm behind in the dust. It can shoot 180 grainers. I've killed a couple of hogs with my 6.5" Blackhawk in .357 using a 165 grain cast gas checked Keith style SWC moving out at 1470 fps at the muzzle. I hunt deer and hogs with that gun on occasion. It's all I need to 50 yards. 9mm, well, it's not making the numbers or pushing the bullets. It's a good self defense caliber, but for bigger stuff, game animals, I'd go with the magnum every time. I have, however, shot hogs in my trap with a pocket 9, a Kel Tec I carry a lot. When I check my trap, I usually have a pocket gun for carry. This day, it was the 9. It kills quite quickly with a head shot, but it's no .357 magnum. I don't HUNT with a 9.

 

[MedWheeler]

I think, like the others above, you'd be better served with the wheelgun for field carry. I also own a Taurus M66 from the eighties, and it has served me well. The revolver chambered in .357 Magnum will give you more versatility, as it can also shoot .38 Special ammunition, and both rounds in any projectile configuration, including snake shot.

 

[Walking Dead]

I love my model 66 as well. That's a lot of bang for the buck.

 

[EdJennings]

I'm not going to bash the Taurus. I have a 9mm Couger. It's a very good self defense gun. Accurate, reliable, and lots of ammo. For your purpose I'd probably go to a wheel gun. Specificity a S&W .357 with 4-6" barrel and adjustable sights. Preference to stainless construction. There are plenty in the used market under $500. I only own one Taurus, a 101P, and it is a real nice gun. Especially for the money. The Taurus revolvers I have handled just don't seem as refined as the Smiths. Doesn't mean they aren't perfectly adequate guns.

 

[old fart]

i will have a chance of seeing a bear or hog but the chances are remote. my biggest threat is a rabid coyote or pack of dogs and the 2 legged pot growing or meth labbing human. are the taurus revolvers that bad as most claim? a good 9 is better than a bad 357, and these two are i can afford if i want to be armed. thanks

 

[Walking Dead]

My daily carry is a Sig SP2022. It's available in 9mm, .40 and .357 Sig for under $400 brand new. There are plenty of really good handguns at or below $400. As far as the Taurus revolvers are concerned I would just really check them out well at the time of purchase and personally I would only buy the model 65, 66 or 85. They seem to be their best models and are quite reliable.

 

[EddieG54]

My daily carry for a long time was a Taurus .357 snubby. Just recently purchased a lighter.38. Never had any issues with the taurus revolvers. Good guns for the price. 357 should be enough for any critter on two legs or four. IMHO

 

[B!ngo]

Why buy new (which I am assuming from your post)? How about a used Glock 29? A silly millimeter wider...
B

 

[Walking Dead]

Great point. There are a bunch of great used guns out there. Budsgunshop.com has some great deals on used Sigs and Berettas right now.

 

[MCgunner]

are the taurus revolvers that bad as most claim?

Who's "most"? In my EXPERIENCE, absolutely not. As shooters, mine are the equal to anything near their size, K frame size. The 4" replaces a M19 Smith in my collection, slightly more accurate gun and just as good a trigger. I prefer it because of accuracy and the round forcing cone. I've had a Smith forcing cone split at the flat spot at the bottom. I bought my 3" 66 for 180 bucks at a gun show. How much you think a comparable M19 3" woulda set me back? The nickeled 4" was 197 bucks at another gun show. Both have seen a lot of rounds since I got 'em, magnum and .38 loads. They work for me.

 

[Mauser lover]

The main problem that people have with Taurus guns is the fit and finish... They are perfectly fine revolver, just not as perfect as a nice old Colt, or old S&W. Your needs for this gun will be well satisfied by the Taurus wheelie. I am not a big fan of autos for carry, but if you really feel that you can manipulate the auto well enough, go for it, just realize that it is a little lacking on raw foot pounds of power (which never kill anything anyway). If I were you, I would go for the revolver, but I would carry a Stoeger before a lot of other autos.

 

[EdJennings]

At CDNN you an buy a Smith 5906 9mm for $299 and about $10 shipping. They are used police trades but most have been in real good shape. They are in general more reliable and more accurate than the Couger. Nothing against the Couger There is one one my bedside. I plan to swap it out for the 5906 or my 4006. Haven't decided which yet. They are both a bit heavier than the Couger but almost indestructable.

 

[scchokedaddy]

Another plus for 357 is the fact that you can load with shoy shells for them "Roscoes with no shoulders" (snakes) when walking. They work great, been usung them for years. They are also available for the 9mm, but in most semi's you have to rack to clear spent round whereas with revolver you just shoot again. when woods walking I usually load first 3 with shotshells then follow up solid loads. Great for for 4 legged problems also, several feral dogs got to close and have been dispatched as well as several smaller types of threats.

 

[19-3Ben]

I'm with those who say you should look at a good quality used gun. EdJennings suggestion is a great one, with the 5906 from CDNN. Another great option could be the Beretta 96g from Summit. They say 'sold out' but sometimes they haven't updated the website and it will say 'sold out' even when they have gotten in a new batch. G22 at the same website would also make a great gun for your purposes.

I'm not saying the Cougar or Taurus are bad guns at all. Just saying that buying used can be an alternative to new inexpensive guns, and can sometimes get you a better value.

 

[Josh45]

I have a Stoger Cougar 8000F chambered in 9mm and cant be happier with it.
Has yet to fail me on anything and accurate to boot. All reloads I have shot thru it have never failed in it. Im thinking about switching to it as my CCW.

But for what your asking, I think .357 would serve you better. Probably something with a 4' BBL. Look at a few used guns and see what is available out there

 

[old fart]

well the shop called today and all guns came in, but he said there was a problem with the taurus 65. the barrel is not exactly inline, he said it wasn't bad but could be seen if eyed closely and he said he put snap caps in it and it felt like the cylinder was rubbing on the forcing cone. he said the bullet gap wasn't there he didn't have a gauge that would fit in it as it was too close. he did get the cougar in 9mm and 40 and said those were ready to go, but he was sending the taurus back. i really wanted the 357 but i guess i'll have to settle for an auto. thanks to everyone's help

 

[EdJennings]

Don't settle for something you don't want. Too many great options out there if your dealer will will do a transfer for you.

 

[old fart]

my local dealer won't do transfers, but will work with a person to get a good deal.

 

[slow944]

Have you checked out the pawnshops in your area? I find a lot of very nice, only slightly used guns that way. Maybe time to find another LGS.

 

[old fart]

where i live that is the only shop that has anywhere near fair prices. i live in a very rural area and there are several people that have ffl's but they want $50 down in case i don't want the gun. if i take the gun the $50 is put on the gun as payment (GOOD), if i decide i don't want the gun or the gun has defects and i don't take it then i lose the $50 (bad).

 

[mr.trooper]

After owning and shooting BOTH platforms, my opinion is that the Cougar platform is better in every way, save a small percentage of potential muzzle energy.

BTW - you can kill hogs with just about anything. There is a guy on YouTube that culls them with a 17HMR. For COYOTE and DOG defense? You want as many rounds as possible. They move around a lot.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Personally I'd save some more and get a S&W 686+ with a 4" bbl. Just me

 

[Blue .45]

my biggest threat is a rabid coyote or pack of dogs and the 2 legged pot growing or meth labbing human.

That being the case, the higher capacity of a 9mm or .40 might not be a bad thing, IMHO.