which one to buy 357 10mm 41mag or 44mag

[Ala Dan]

.41 S&W Magnum

when the gun [and cartridge] were first introduced way back in 1964;
I would have agreed, that the S&W .41 magnum was a "bees knees"
cut above the rest. Having previously owned a 4" barrel S&W model 57
[with the S serial prefix]; I thought I had found the answer too cure
all evils~!

In todays market, the .41 magnum cartridges are not only hard too find;
but EXPENSIVE as well. I shot it for a few year's, and even handloaded
for it (Sierra 170 grain JHC bullet, over 13.0 grains of the old W-W 630P
ball powder, with Federal LP primers, and virigin Remington brass). Really
a good load, but far from max. Some .41 magnum shooter's still handkoad
for this caliber; but I'm not seeing the run on .41 magnum supplies, like I
use too~!

Finally, I gave up on this caliber; returning instead back to the .357
magnum; and couldn't be happier.

 

[benzy2]

If you are hiking in areas where things may bite back I would go with the .44 Mag. Otherwise the .357 is the winner only due to availability and cost. Its just too common to go against.

 

[svtruth]

.357 and .44

have the advantage of shooting two different rounds- .357 & .38spl; .44mag & .44spl.
The reloading manual shows overlap betw .41 mag, 240 gr @ 1100-1300fps and .44 mag, 240 gr @1000-1400fps.
Good luck.

 

[Deanimator]

The .357 Magnum is the most practical and versatile, useful for everything from plinking and bullseye target shooting with .38 Special wadcutter loads, to self-defense with .38 Special +P, to deer hunting with hot .357 Magnum loads.

I've got three .357s, two S&W Model 27s (3 1/2" and 6") and a 3" Model 65. In the past I've owned a 6" Ruger Security Six and a Dan Wesson with multiple barrels.

 

[jeepguy]

went with s&w 66 pre lock it shoots good groups but i dont like it. i will probably trade it in or sell it. i guess im just a semi-auto guy. migh try a 10mm delta some day but now i will stick with my .45. thanks for all the replys i appreciate the help.

 

[22-rimfire]

Unless you are in big bear country, I would say choose a 357 mag revolver such as the Smith 686 or Ruger GP-100. I would avoid the lightweight revolvers unless you are planning extended cross country hiking trips.

I will tell you that I just love 41 mag revolvers. I have a number, and a Model 57 Mountain Gun (4") is one I take with me in the woods from time to time. I like to shoot the 41 mags from high to low power. For me, I don't need a 44 mag revolver as the 41 does everything I want a larger magnum revolver to do for me.

41 mag ammunition has been a little hard to find lately. After 2 or 3 months, I finally got a shipment from Georgia Arms. They are apparently starting to get in componets for their loadings. Wanted some low powered stuff (800 fps) for plinking at the range mostly. There prices are very competitive but shipping can be expensive if you are far away from them. Outdoor Marksman also sells 41 mag loads that are lower powered when they get them. Their shipping just slaughters me however.

If you choose a 41 mag, start buying 41 mag ammo as you find it. Build up a reserve for when you want to shoot. It really is no more expensive than 44 mag ammo unless you are comparing prices to the white box stuff that Walmart sells. I probably have a few thousand rounds in my stash in just 41 mag. So, if I want to shoot a bit, I can.

 

[ms6852]

If you do not have any of the calibers mentioned you would be remiss to not buy a 357 mag. This is a fantastic caliber that can crack an engine block but not break your wrist while doing it. Smith and wesson revolvers have the smoothest actions beside the colt python and would great recommend the 686 or 686+p in 6" first, and second choice would be 4" barrel. I am saving for the 327pd which is 357 cal and a 4" barrel and only weighs 24 oz. and cylnder holds 8 rds. I carry a 1911 and the model 327pd is almost 50% lighter. The 357 mag will not disappoint you.

 

[Shadan7]

Yeah, as most others have said, if you don't reload and you don't already have one, get the .357 mag. Extremely versatile, from powder-puff practice rounds to full-house hunting stuff that'll take down most large game. .41 magnum was an impressive round in our tests, but just doesn't have the same flexibility.

Jim D.

 

[Hunt480]

If your gonna be in the backwoods,or if your gonna hunt medium to large game get the 44mag. What can be more versatile and useful than a gun that can do it all. 357 is a fine gun but is out classed in every way by the 44 mag for versatility in the woods.
The 41 mag is the next best choice.
I have never had any trouble finding loading componants for the 44 or 41 for that matter and 44 ammo is easily available if not more than the 357 in stores.

 

[Confederate]

Many people, after buying their first .357, become zealots in its favor. It was the first handgun I bought and I was lucky enough to choose a stainless Ruger Security-Six.

It's a gun every handgun enthusiast should own, anyway, and while .41s and .44 mags have their uses, the .357 is clearly the king of the hill. It won't drop a bull moose in its tracks, but it's the best manstopper of the three and it was the darling of the Highway Patrol for years. The guns also eat .38s, which are one of the most popular rounds in history. (The .44 Special just doesn't cut it unless handloaded, and has always been anemic, and a poor penetrator to boot.)

The .41 is an excellent round for handloaders, but ammo is expensive and reloading is expensive. So go with the .44 or the .357. I vote for the latter.

 

[ColeK]

If you live where large things might bite go with a 44 Mag. Otherwise go with the .357 Mag.

 

[Skylerbone]

Jeeper, don't get too discouraged about a bad purchase. As much as I like semi-autos I respect the wheel guns so much more. My father started me on them, carried one himself and owns them exclusively save his 1911 Govt. (He also got me driving Jeeps)

Sell that 66 and buy yourself some reloading equipment. It sounds hokey but my favorite hour of the day, three days a week is the break I get from my 3 kids and wife to work at the bench. I'm not big on trying every recipe with every powder/bullet/case/primer combo possible but knowing I have a reasonable supply (300 rounds or so per gun) of ammo that is reliable and built to perform puts me at ease. I wish I had a blood pressure monitor at home to watch it fall, its just that calming.

You can buy a Lee single stage press for $35 when on sale which includes their load book, a set of Deluxe carbide pistol dies (4 die set) for $40, a dial caliper from Sears for $20 and a Lee scale for around $22. Add what you need for convienence as money permits and use the spent brass from factory loads to save even more money when starting. (the above is not my set up though I do have a Lee as a back up press and use Lee pistol dies exclusively, RCBS for rifle) Using one single stage press I can load 50 rounds in 27 min. with .1GR powder accuracy as measured on my Pact digital scale with a Dillon powder measure.

Heck for $150 for the equipment you should have enough left over to load a years' worth of .45.