What are the selling points of .357?

[CraigC]

Sorry for the quibble, but the 627 is the full sized (N frame) .327, more comparable to a GP100. My 686 is more like a Security Six, which is so popular it seems like it should be reintroduced by Ruger. There is a real gap between Rugers SP101 and the GP100, which my S&W 686 fills nicely.

No, the GP and 686 are equivalent. The N-frame being considerably larger than both. The Security Six is more comparable to a K-frame.

The Security Six was dropped because it was too expensive to produce at the price point they wanted. It won't be coming back.

 

[RealGun]

No, the GP and 686 are equivalent.

That's your opinion. I own both, and regardless of any specifications, the GP 100 looks and feels like a heavier built gun than my 686..

 

[CraigC]

That's your opinion.

That's the opinion of 99.99% of the gun owning, gun writing, gun making and gun selling industry. Both guns have comparable cylinder diameters and utilize the same holsters. Either would rattle around in an N-frame holster but you are surely free to disagree.

Both guns weigh 45oz with 6" barrels.

 

[tomrkba]

what are the selling points of 357 magnum?

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(It's really fun!!)

There is something about a 357 mag. hot load with 125gr projectiles, that will rattle your teeth and deafen your ears like few other cartridges.

That is a selling point...a definite feature.

 

[MLee]

This is a picture of my .357. Pretty comfortable to shoot full power loads and .38s feel like .22. 8 rounds of pure fun. Depending upon your mood and who you are shooting with you can choose the appropriate load.

 

[Hondo 60]

Maybe its just me, but I don't understand practicing with 38s & then loading it up with 357 mags.

If I'm gonna carry 357 mags for HD/SD, then I'm gonna practice with 357 MAGNUMS.
Absolutely EVERYTHING, the point of impact, the recoil, the strength needed to hold the gun, EVERYTHING, is different with 38s vs 357s.

Just my 2¢ worth.

 

[Buck13]

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(It's really fun!!)


That is a selling point...a definite feature.

We have a winner! I'd be willing to bet a dollar that a poll of .357 shooters would boil down to the most common answer being that it is more fun to shoot than smaller calibers and cheaper to shoot than bigger calibers. It hits a sweet spot in (literal) bang for your buck.

 

[CraigC]

EVERYTHING, is different with 38s vs 357s.

Then you're doing it wrong.

 

[Iggy]

Shoot one. It'll come to ya!!

 

[The Good]

I'm enjoying this thread. It's great to hear you guys talk about something you clearly have a passion for.
I'm getting a lot of great info that will help me buy my next gun. I thought I had decided on a 6", but a few people just said 4" would be a better choice. Those of you who said to go with the 4", could you explain why? I carry a j frame. This gun won't be a carry gun, so wouldn't the extra two inches be beneficial? Smaller muzzle flash, longer space between front and rear sight, more weight to reduce recoil.. Right? So why 4"?

 

[amprecon]

I don't want to be a "debbie-downer", but I am not a fan of the .357. I've owned one for the same reasons every one else had. But when it came down to actually using one during a heat-of-the-moment draw down on a wild pig I realized I could've used something else to more effect.
The first thing was the terribly loud report, I was in the wide open spaces and it was just killing my ears, I didn't notice the muzzle blast at all. But I was making hits on a fast moving target, just not the right hits. At about 40 yards the bullets were going clean through both hams and through the gut. I eventually put it down by putting one in it's ear.
Shot placement is EVERYTHING, no matter what gun your using. But my AK, AR or even a bolt action would've been much preferred over any handgun.
I could not imagine using a .357 inside a house or car, it will cause permanent hearing damage. Not to say it's healthy to shoot any handgun indoors without hearing protection, but the .357 is especially deafening. The revolver was a 4" SS Ruger GP100 and it was accurate, but I'd much rather of had my Glock 21 in .45acp. I feel I could've performed much better as I naturally shoot it better than any other handgun I've used.

 

[joneb]

I thought I had decided on a 6", but a few people just said 4" would be a better choice.

For me a 6" is for hunting or the range. A 4" adds a bit of flexibility to the gun, like siting with the gun on the hip, and still retains the ability to conceal.

 

[RealGun]

amprecon - <re shooting pigs> The revolver was a 4" SS Ruger GP100 and it was accurate, but I'd much rather of had my Glock 21 in .45acp. I feel I could've performed much better as I naturally shoot it better than any other handgun I've used.

I think that makes you a candidate for .44 Special. Then there is the S&W 625 in .45 ACP, but I would be cautious about overrating either's power for hunting.

 

[CraigC]

I would be cautious about overrating either's power for hunting.

Why is that?

 

[RealGun]

Considering that mention of hunting revolvers are typically magnums, Casulls, Maximums, all the big iron, I would be skeptical of lower pressure rounds for the purpose, but I don't know.

 

[CraigC]

I don't know.

Obviously, because either is a fine choice for deer-sized game as far away as you can reliably hit them. A 250gr cast bullet at 900fps will completely pass through virtually any deer that walks the earth from virtually any angle.

 

[RealGun]

I don't know.

Obviously, because either is a fine choice for deer-sized game as far away as you can reliably hit them. A 250gr cast bullet at 900fps will completely pass through virtually any deer that walks the earth from virtually any angle.

Never missing a chance at the self-aggrandizing put down of someone else, especially me, now you have to explain why the big guns, magnums et al., are carried and promoted as wilderness guns.

 

[CraigC]

No, not a put down at all. I never miss a chance to refute uneducated opinion with fact. It's kinda my thing.

 

[Hunter125]

I love .357's, it's what I learned to shoot on actually. As far as a longer ba rrel mitigating muzzle flash, that might be true. But I just went to the range to zero my shotgun and 6" GP100 and rested the pistol on my nylon range bag. The flash from the cylinder gap burned a hole in my bag, so muzzlr flash isn't the only factor.

Balistic wise I believe the only auto round that can touch .357 Mag is full house 10 mm loads. .38 Special on the other hand is pretty comparable to hot .380 ACP.

 

[InkEd]

The .357 magnum in terms of ballistics for BOTH STOPPING POWER AND PENETRATION is STILL considered to be the best "all around" handgun caliber ever made.

 

[Manny]

I'm enjoying this thread. It's great to hear you guys talk about something you clearly have a passion for.
I'm getting a lot of great info that will help me buy my next gun. I thought I had decided on a 6", but a few people just said 4" would be a better choice. Those of you who said to go with the 4", could you explain why? I carry a j frame. This gun won't be a carry gun, so wouldn't the extra two inches be beneficial? Smaller muzzle flash, longer space between front and rear sight, more weight to reduce recoil.. Right? So why 4"?

I won't argue for a 4" over a 6", I like the longer barrel much better for any type of shooting. IMHO the longer barrel has better balance, longer sight radius, gets a bit more performance from the cartridge and attenuates the muzzle blast better. It also carries just fine in a cross draw holster. The only benefits I see with the 4" is a bit less weight and does carry a bit easier for a traditional strong side holster.

 

[CajunBass]

Many years ago, before I was even legally able to buy a handgun, I poured over ever gun magazine, and book I could find, trying to figure out what I thought would be the "perfect" first gun.

I finally came to the conclusion that it should be a 4" barrel, mid size, 357 revolver for all the reasons others have listed. I picked a Smith & Wesson Model 19, "Combat Magnum" with a 4" barrel.

I've never seen anything to make me think it was a poor choice. I've owned a dozen or more 357's over the years.

I've only got one now.

 

[USSR]

The .357 magnum in terms of ballistics for BOTH STOPPING POWER AND PENETRATION is STILL considered to be the best "all around" handgun caliber ever made.

While I have and like the .357 Magnum, I would hardly make that statement.

Don

 

[CraigC]

The .357 magnum in terms of ballistics for BOTH STOPPING POWER AND PENETRATION is STILL considered to be the best "all around" handgun caliber ever made.

Not by everyone. There's several chamberings I prefer over the .357. Of the over three dozen revolvers in my present possession and the dozen or so that I've sold, traded or gifted, only four have been .357's. One was traded, two are destined to become something more useful and the other may not stay.

 

[LeonCarr]

The .357 Magnum doesn't have any selling points.

It sells itself.

Power without crazy recoil and muzzle blast, above average accuracy, above average reliable stopping of bad guys, can shoot .38 Special for inexpensive practice, and works well with cast bullets or jacketed bullets. Those are just the ones that immediately come to mind.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr