Which to buy- .44mag or a 357mag (not a VS)

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One thing that an N frame or Redhawk or Blackhawk will never be is a CCW gun.
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I beg to differ. I am 5'9", 152 lbs, and carry an N-frame throughout what we laughingly call "winter" here in North Texas. If I can wear a sweatshirt or jacket, I can conceal a 4" N-frame. I occasionally carry a 5" M-27 or a 6" M-25 or M-57, although it is somewhat less comfortable to do so. That ends up being 4-5 months per year (at best). If I lived in farther Northern lattitudes, I would probably carry an N-frame most of the year.

Currently, I own three .357s, but prefer the N-frame .41 and .45LC.
Of course, I handload, so the cost of shooting any/all of the above is about the same.

If I could only own one, it would be a coin toss between the .45 LC and the .41 Mag, and the .357 would come in a distant third.
If I had to buy factory ammo, I would own a .357 and ditch the other two. Fortunately, that is not the case. :)
YMMV.
 
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Enjoying the 44 depends a lot on reloading for it. Both for the desired performance level and cost.

The 357 on the other hand has a wider selection of factory loads (in 38 and 357) than any other caliber and reloading for it is cheaper than a 44. I know someone will come out with "I cast bullets from free lead, make my own powder, and reuse my primers" but I'm talking for the bulk of reloaders. AFAIC a 4" 357 is the closest to a do it all handgun.
 
I've owned .357's for close to 30 years before I came upon a .44 mag. I like both but hands down the .357 is more versatile. I'd hate to have to make a choice between the 2.
 
in my mind the 357 can do anything the 44mag can besides drop a grizzly..am i correct in this thinking?
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No sir you are not correct, but the .357 Magnum will do everything 95% of the shooting public will ever need a handgun to do.
 
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I was trail riding one time a few years ago with my buddy and our two sons in central Idaho. When we stopped to rest our horses, we found an old bleached cow skull. I had my 44 mag Ruger Redhawk; and, he had his Colt Trooper 357. We set that cow skull up about ten feet away and took turns shooting it between the eyes. None of our bullets penetrated that skull. All the rounds we shot just bounced off. So, how would we have done on a bear? :what:
 
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the .357 Magnum will do everything 95% of the shooting public will ever need a handgun to do.


And sometimes more. I remember reading a Peter Capstick story where he told of killing a Cape Buffalo with 6 rds from a 357. While this admittedly is stretching it (that's all he had with him when attacked and treed) a 357 might also take a Grizzly.
 
I love the 44mag cartridge. It will give you a lot more versatility than the 357, especially if you load your own. If you want to hunt and are even thinking about bear defense, I wouldn't hesitate to go with it. Just my 2 cents.

-MW
 
No sir you are not correct, but the .357 Magnum will do everything 95% of the shooting public will ever need a handgun to do.
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....and for the handloader the .41Mag, .44Spl, .44Mag and .45Colt will do 200% of what the .357 will do and more but won't make your ears bleed.
 
I've shot and loaded for both for many years. I eventually phased out of .44 Magnum because there really wasn't much use for it. For CCW I used the .357, and for a bear gun I used a rifle. So the big chunks of steel just tended to collect dust.

That said, if you're looking into serious handgun hunting, the .44 Mag beats the .357 hands down.
 
If you truly want a bear gun, then the 44 mag is the better choice. However, the 44 mag isnt a one shot grizzly gun either. Nothing is. I personally think everyone should own a 357 mag.
 
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I have a 44 mag for hunting and woods carry I had a 357 and had bullet fail on a deer (bullet's fault) I believe it bullet had more weight even thought it blew up on rib it would have penitrated better. So I vote 44 and I would find some cowboy action loads for the 44 (800fps) to start with and work up to 280+ grain cast bullets for hunting and carry where bears are.
 
For larger game hunting, the 41 or 44 mag are the better choices. Both of these will out preform a 357 mag. The 41/44 power level is un-necessary for self defense but works. You are just typically dealing with a larger framed and heavier firearm. Your choice.

Honestly, I think you should consider both a 357 and 44 mag and learn to shoot them if you intend to hunt with either. Poor shots made on game are unsportsmanlike (a reflection on the hunter's character) and that is especially true with shots from an under powered caliber.
 
First, I'll just say my 44 Magnum gets shot a lot more than my 357.

Second, reload......no more versatile and satisfying caliber to reload and shoot than 44 Mag. From powder puff loads to bear stoppers.
 
I am a .44 guy and will always go with that. You can down load a .44M to cowboy loads, but you can't load (safely) a .357 UP to .44M levels. Check your state laws for barrel length and minumum caliber. Some western states have a minumum energy level and .357 can have a hard time meeting it.
 
How did "Should I buy a .357 Magnum or a .44 Magnum" turn into another BLASTED BEAR THREAD??? Aren't there enough bear threads going on right now without adding another??
 
How did "Should I buy a .357 Magnum or a .44 Magnum" turn into another BLASTED BEAR THREAD???
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I know the feeling.

i also like the idea of "bear" protections....and i just like shooting
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I guess the OP brought it on himself.


I stand by my earlier post. Get the .357 first, & the .44 second. You do need both after all. :)
 
Between the .357 and .44 Magnums, I will go with .357 Magnum, period. My SP101s and GP100s are my everyday utility sixguns. (No big bears in Texas!) Of course, I don't limit myself to one revolver cartridge, and own several sixguns chambered in .45 Colt, one of which can handle the higher-than-SAAMI-spec loads that rival the .44 Magnum, yet kick and bark less at the back end.

In my younger days, I tried, and then backed away from the S&W N-frame .44 mag Model 629, and went with the .41 Magnum, in a Model 58 and Model 657. Then, I backed away from N-frames, as they are just too big for my hands for me to have good trigger control in DA shooting. I got back into big bore sixguns via single actions.

If I want to "drop" a grizzly, first I will see a shrink to make sure I am not crazy, then I will take my Winchester Model 70 Safari Express, in .375 H&H, along for the trip. Actually, I hunt human beings for a living, which is sufficiently exciting, and have no desire to poke a hole through a bear. (I am not passing judgement on those who do hunt bears; hunting lions, tigers, and bears is just not my cup of tea.)
 
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