i am thinking about buying a revolver & like the idea of s&w 4" 41mag. but i think ammunition will be hard to find. looked at 44mag it seems more than i need or like, but could use 44spc loads. do they make 44mag loads that are closer to 41 mag power. 357mag & 10mm are other options plus with 10mm i could use my 40 s&w rounds that i have for my auto loaders. this will mostly be used for hikeing & paper punhing. like the mountian gun but perfer ss & red ramp,hi viz, or night sight front sights.do they make a mountain gun with these options. i dont handload so that is not a option. any help would be appreciated.
which one to buy 357 10mm 41mag or 44mag
- Thread starter jeepguy
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While I completely understand your inkling for a 41 Mag (I have wanted one for many many moons now), I would go 357 (I'm assuming that you dont have any of the above calibers). You can go from powder puff .38 target loads all the way up to full house 357's.
The other way to go is 45 Colt... You can go from sub-45ACP power loads on up to 44 Mag comparable loads.
All that aside... The .41Mag S&W model 357pd is a sexy beast!
The other way to go is 45 Colt... You can go from sub-45ACP power loads on up to 44 Mag comparable loads.
All that aside... The .41Mag S&W model 357pd is a sexy beast!
dairycreek
Member
While I too have lusted for a 41 mag I think that, in these times, the issue of ammo availability looms large as a consideration and, for me, that tips the scales toward 38/357. Given the choices that the OP lists it would not be a bad choice either.
Justin Holder
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I like the Smith and Wesson 610 in 10mm, would be better for plinking with 40s&w in the moon clips. But I rationalize that if I am going to be carrying N frame weight, I might as well be carrying magnum fire power with a 41 mag 657.
I like both though, maybe when I get around to buying one I will just flip a coin.
I like both though, maybe when I get around to buying one I will just flip a coin.
hardluk1
member
Get the 357 . As stated be for, a 357 can be a good paper puncher but a 44 can to with 44 specials and reloads along with a 454 cassull that can shoot 45 colt with cowboy loads for some very lite shooting . A mountain gun with a short barrel is NO target gun and most are not fun to shoot with max loads. You have to find a middle ground. Get a 6 inch barreled gun of SS or blue steel, not the lite weights for target shooting and get a good holster so you can carry in the woods . Not many do it all well guns out there. Now if you happen to find a nice used Dan Wesson you do have a choice of barrels that can be had for different uses and it only takes a couple minutes to change them.
Armored farmer
Member
my $.02 (and that's all it's worth)
I confidently carried a .357 over hill and dale for years, thinking I was pretty well armed.
When Illinois started allowing handguns for deer hunting, I hunted with my .357 and harvested 6-8 deer with it. I was quite disappointed with the "knock down" power of the .357. Don't get me wrong...It killed every deer I shot, but....sure took a while and lots of tracking to find them.
One one occasion, my young son had joined me for an afternoon hunt. Too young to have a gun of his own, he sat on a log beside me along a well used trail. A group of does approached and I took aim on the lead doe and fired a mortal wound. The group of deer, not knowing where the shot came from, ran towards us. I kept on the lead doe and continued to fire until I had emptied the gun, all the deer ran right past our log and dissappeared down the trail. When the smoke cleared I turned to my son and he said "dad you missed all of 'em"
We found the doe about three hundred yards down the trail with 5 chest wounds.
I still like the .357 but now I hunt with .45colt
I confidently carried a .357 over hill and dale for years, thinking I was pretty well armed.
When Illinois started allowing handguns for deer hunting, I hunted with my .357 and harvested 6-8 deer with it. I was quite disappointed with the "knock down" power of the .357. Don't get me wrong...It killed every deer I shot, but....sure took a while and lots of tracking to find them.
One one occasion, my young son had joined me for an afternoon hunt. Too young to have a gun of his own, he sat on a log beside me along a well used trail. A group of does approached and I took aim on the lead doe and fired a mortal wound. The group of deer, not knowing where the shot came from, ran towards us. I kept on the lead doe and continued to fire until I had emptied the gun, all the deer ran right past our log and dissappeared down the trail. When the smoke cleared I turned to my son and he said "dad you missed all of 'em"
We found the doe about three hundred yards down the trail with 5 chest wounds.
I still like the .357 but now I hunt with .45colt
HOWARD J
Member
I had 2- 41 mag's
S & W 6 " & 2"
Using factory loads-the 6" was murder on your hand.
The 2" was nice to shoot---strange..............
I have 2 Ruger 357 - GP-100 I like both of these--easy on the hands shooting & you can use 38 spl. cartridges...................
S & W 6 " & 2"
Using factory loads-the 6" was murder on your hand.
The 2" was nice to shoot---strange..............
I have 2 Ruger 357 - GP-100 I like both of these--easy on the hands shooting & you can use 38 spl. cartridges...................
christcorp
Member
357 mag isn't just more versatile than the other calibers listed, it is the MOST versatile caliber of all guns. Revolver or semi-auto. With it's ability to shoot 38spl or 357 magnum, you can get loads as light as a 380acp. Into the normal 38spl. Into the 38spl+P which will get you into the lower end range of the 9mm. To the normal 357 magnums that will take you beyond the 9mm and 40sw and 45acp. Into the heavy 357 mag and +P that will take you beyond the 40sw,10mm, etc... Even to the light side of the 41 magnum. (Such as buffalo-bore 357 mag+p at 180 grain, 1400 fps, and almost 800 ft/lbs.
Then, throw in the fact that you can buy a snub nose 38spl+p backup pistol. Or even a winchester, rossi, etc... lever action in 38sp/357 magnum. Makes a great deer rifle out to about 100 yards with the right load.
The 41 mag is definitely a pretty powerful round. But that's it. What you see is what you get. There is no variation. With the 357 magnum, the only thing that's potentially LIGHTER is a 32acp and below, and the only think HEAVIER is a 44magnum and above. The 357mag has a load in some ammo, that can equal just about every possible load in between. The main reason the 357 mag hasn't remained as popular as it once was, is because hollywood and some people have made you believe that you need 10-20 rounds in a magazine, and that you need to change them out quickly. And a semi-auto in 357 magnum isn't very practical. (E.g. Desert Eagle). Get the 357 magnum.
Then, throw in the fact that you can buy a snub nose 38spl+p backup pistol. Or even a winchester, rossi, etc... lever action in 38sp/357 magnum. Makes a great deer rifle out to about 100 yards with the right load.
The 41 mag is definitely a pretty powerful round. But that's it. What you see is what you get. There is no variation. With the 357 magnum, the only thing that's potentially LIGHTER is a 32acp and below, and the only think HEAVIER is a 44magnum and above. The 357mag has a load in some ammo, that can equal just about every possible load in between. The main reason the 357 mag hasn't remained as popular as it once was, is because hollywood and some people have made you believe that you need 10-20 rounds in a magazine, and that you need to change them out quickly. And a semi-auto in 357 magnum isn't very practical. (E.g. Desert Eagle). Get the 357 magnum.
I've been shooting .41 Magnum since 1980. S&W 57 and Ruger B.H. I have never had any trouble finding factory ammo, either when I lived in Los Angeles, or since I moved to Idaho, 12 years ago. Remington, Federal, and Winchester, both hollow points and JSPs, plus Peters 210 grains lead SWCs. Work just fine in my revolvers. (PMC used to manufacture .41 Mag. but don't know if they still do or not.)
I also take my ammo with me when I go out in the boonies, mountains, etc., so trying to find ammo at a mom-'n-pop crossroads gas station doesn't worry me at all.
L.W.
I also take my ammo with me when I go out in the boonies, mountains, etc., so trying to find ammo at a mom-'n-pop crossroads gas station doesn't worry me at all.
L.W.
TexMexSu
Member
Agreed.
You would never be sorry owning a good ,357 Magnum revolver.
Watch Stella and Susana as they fire off a few .357 Magnum rounds of various ammo...........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAsLHVzMsDI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6AN7vMtFYE
As others have stated, you can choose to shoot mild .38 Special rounds to flame-throwing Magnums or pretty much anything in between!
Arkansas Paul
Member
I'm a big fan of the .45 Colt too, but you shouldn't shoot those hot loads in just any revolver. The .44 mag comparable loads are higher pressure and should only be shot in Ruger, T/C, and Freedom Arms only.
420Stainless
Member
They're all good fun if you reload. If you don't, the .41 Mag. is only really an option with something like bulk orders from Georgia Arms if you can get any from them. The rest are relatively common and easy to find, but none are inexpensive. The .357 allows the use of .38 Special, which isn't too tough to afford.
My favorite (of these choices) is the .41 Magnum, but if you don't reload you better have mucho disposable income or not shoot it very much.
My favorite (of these choices) is the .41 Magnum, but if you don't reload you better have mucho disposable income or not shoot it very much.
Of the four choices I would choose the 44 mag especially for hunting. Blows the bigger hole and shoots the heavy loads the others can't. The ammo is available everywhere...The 41 mag is definately a great second choice and a good shooter also. I have both...
You are correct sir! You cannot shoot those 44 mag-esque loads out of any 45 Colt Willy nilly. You need to be careful. But your list is short. My Colt Anaconda will shoot the stoutest 45 Colt loads with the best of them. That said, the Anaconda is now an expensive pistol and is no longer made, and as such, is not really a viable option unless you can find one.
All that aside... The 357 is still (probably) the most versatile revolver round for the continental US that you can get.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Yeah, if I didn't have a handgun and was buying one, it would be a .357. I had a GP100 4 inch and traded it off. Regretted it almost immediately.
buck460XVR
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If you have no other handgun, and will only be shooting factory ammo, I agree that .357 is the way to go. Handguns are not a easy firearm to become accurate with. Many never get good with their handgun, because they cannot afford, or do not want to spend the money on practice ammo. Out of the calibers mentioned, the .357 will be the easiest ammo to find and the cheapest to buy. It will also be the most pleasant to shoot at the range.
W.E.G.
Member
Get all three!
I am a fan of the 357, in a K frame S&W (M19, M13 etc) or maybe in an L frame. If you are going to get an N Frame, get the 45 Colt or 45 ACP. Everything you need in a handgun and very little of what you don't need. I have my 4" 45 ACP and a 6" 45 Long Colt. As far as the womper stomper loads, who needs them? I load a Lyman 454424 (260 grain SWC) over a full case of black powder and it penetrates deer from any angle. I really can not see the need for more penetration than that.
As for the 41, I have only had a 3" S&W and that for only a short time. Not much experience with the cartridge.
After I saw the penetration and accuracy of the M25-5, 45 Long Colt, I sold all of my M29s.
As for the 41, I have only had a 3" S&W and that for only a short time. Not much experience with the cartridge.
After I saw the penetration and accuracy of the M25-5, 45 Long Colt, I sold all of my M29s.
Al LaVodka
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.357 for versatility. Like the .41 in small guns but it it alot closer to the .44 than the .357 in power.
I have some Winchester Medium Power .44 Mag that feel like .41 and I use in my crappy relatively little Taurus .44 Tracker -- seems they stopped making it though.
Oh yeah, friends don't let friends buy Taurus.
Al
I have some Winchester Medium Power .44 Mag that feel like .41 and I use in my crappy relatively little Taurus .44 Tracker -- seems they stopped making it though.
Oh yeah, friends don't let friends buy Taurus.
Al
hardluk1
member
Biggest problem with the 357 as a huntig handgun is just do your homework on picking the right ammo for the job. you can go up to 200gr from factory loads / I do stay away from most HP rounds ,except barnes X bullets for hunting and like lead gas checked and soft point rounds for deer and hard cast for heavier game as it will brake shoulders. Leave hp rounds mainly for personal defence work. Except the barnes X.
fourdollarbill
Member
Too be lazy about it...
Ditto Ditto and Ditto 357mag is it.
Ditto Ditto and Ditto 357mag is it.
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