Which gun?

[tbige]

I'm trying to choose between a new 3" barreled stainless Rossi with adjustable sights in .44 Special (I've shot one and like it very much, but ammo is expensive and tendons in my wrist don't much care for the 240-grainer) and a 4" Rossi with same features, only in .357 (I've shot 125-grain .357's from the Ruger Blackhawk and didn't like the flash & blast).

I have only seen the .44 Special, and it's totally tight and smooth, great balance and feel; the .357 won't arrive until Thursday. Not interested in spending a penny more for a bigger name piece.

Also should mention that I have a .357 lever gun.

My questions are these:

1. Do .38 Special +P's have the same kind of flash and blast as a similar weight .357?

2. Any experience with the Winchester 110 in .357?

3. Is there any good argument for the .44?

 

[FPrice]

tbige...

"1. Do .38 Special +P's have the same kind of flash and blast as a similar weight .357?"

Generally the magnum load will have much more flash and blast, BUT the flash is more a function of the specific powder so you may find more muzzle flash in certain .38 SPL loads. That is why I went from 110 grain Silvertips to 110 grain Hydrashok in my 2" snubbies.

"2. Any experience with the Winchester 110 in .357?"

Sorry, nope.

"3. Is there any good argument for the .44?"

Bigger holes.

 

[tbige]

Many thanks.

"Bigger holes" in the budget, too -- which means less practice, less proficiency.

 

[45+]

1. Do .38 Special +P's have the same kind of flash and blast as a similar weight .357?

Fprice is right on.

2. Any experience with the Winchester 110 in .357?

I regularly use this ammo in a Winchester 94 Trapper, Taurus 627 4", and Taurus 605 2". It is one of the lightest loadings in 357 and is good, cheap ammo available at Wally World. Flash and bang are not bad for 357.

3. Is there any good argument for the .44?

I can make an argument for almost any caliber that exists. There are good arguments for the .44, but most of those are negated by your limited budget and your ownership of the 357 rifle. I would probably not argue for a 3" .44 Special for an ONLY handgun. I cannot buy ammo in .44 Special at my Wally World. If the Rossi is a five shot, that would tip the scales further toward the 357.

I have always favored (and so do a lot of others) the same caliber rifle/handgun pair and the same caliber CCW/BUG pair. One caliber ammo to buy, one caliber ammo to carry, ammo will work in either weapon if malfunction, etc.

The 357 is an awesome cartridge that will do most of what needs to be done by most of us. It is arguably a great self-defense round. Brian Pierce proposed in an article in Handloader or Rifle that with the right ammunition it is a good rifle round in the same category as the 30-30. Not equal to, but in the same category.

If I could have only two, I would not feel deprived with a 4" revolver and lever action in 357.

Whatever you choose...

 

[Jim March]

From a 4" barrel, there are 158grain 357 JHPs that expand well despite NOT being "full power". They'll pull around 1,250 - 1,300fps from a 4" and should be very controllable in that gun. You want the "Gold Dot" 158 defense load as loaded by Speer, Georgia Arms, Proload and I think Black Hills.

Even further down in power, any of several decent 38+P loads will work well enough and be pussycats in that gun.

Upshot: I'd go with the 357 - so long as it passes the checkout .

 

[tbige]

45+, FPrice, and Jim:

VERY helpful info; many thanks. You're right, 45+, the 44 is a 5-shot Glad to hear the 110 stuff shoots well. Guess I'll have to experiment with the .38's, FPrice, but you've given me a headstart, And Jim, I'm hoping the .357 is every bit as well-made and finished, but if it isn't, well...