,357 Magnum !

[tj3006]

We single action loonies seem to not give the round its do !
    Fact is its simply a great round. The only one i own is a 5" GP100.
If the right deal comes along i would owen another any day. A Blackhawk 4.5/8 Would make a dandy and extremely versatile rig. If i came across a 6.5 inch cheap, i would grab it too, and send it to Garry reeder and have 2nd Cylinder in .356 JRH.
    With light jacketed bullets it shoots flat kicks little and should kill the things it hits very dead.,  And with Heavy hard cast bullets loaded hot, A Bears skull would probably crack   with a good hit.
    Maybe a bit light for Hunting Elk and or really Big mule deer , but at close range it would do in a pinch.
In my cheap nylon shoulder holster i bought a zillion years ago , i most often carry my 4" SP101 in .327 cause its light, But if i actually had to use it, i would prefer the GP100, it is a great gun, and cartridge. (hell now that i think of it so is the .327 !)  i don't know, we like what we like, so many of us are into converting .357 3 screws to .44 special , and no reason not to ,  but we do it cause its fun and cool. Not cause its a better round !...

[ezekiel38]

Flame on! 357 is my favorite general purpose, walk the property, go to town caliber. Experience has shown me it is too light for big game, even whitetails. Chased too many lung shot whitetails that bounded away after a solid hit, bounded far away. 44 Special at 950-1000fps is a versatile easy to shoot and very accurate alternative to chasing whitetails shot with bullet of questionable construction. My favorite 357 and I have several is this one:



It is honestly smoother than a comparable Smith, just as accurate and my answer to not being able to find a Smith 357 Mountain Gun. It loves 173 grain Keith bullet over 13 grains of 2400.

[oddshooter]

I enjoy all the calibers, but the 357mag will always be with me. I think it is the most versatile of all the calibers. If you include the 357 Maximum I can't imagine that there is any dispute about versatility. My handloads go from mouse farts to fire breathing dragons.

The only downside I've ever felt was that it didn't start with a "4".

That versatility crown has now been challenged by the .32 with the inclusion of the 327 fed mag. That is one hot little round.

Prescut
Every 357 fan needs SW model 19, 66, 27. or a 28.  Those are just beautiful to behold, and fondle.  I have a vault full of Rugers, and just bought a Bisley Seven 327 last week; but I have never thought of them as anything but utilitarian.

[buckelliott]

The first CF SA I bought for myself, back in 1963, was a 7 1/2" .357. It ha been my dream since 1958, but it never quite lived up to its hype. It was certainly accurate enough, but something seemed to be lacking in its prrformance. I loaded it up. I loaded it down. I burned dries of 2400 and 4227, and numerous cans of 295-HP, with bullet weights up to 180 grains.
I even picked up a Puma lever gun in .357, which expanded my horizons a bit, bur nor quite far enougg.h.
Skeeter Skelton finally talked me (and a host of others) into adopting the humble .44 Special, which was a game changer for me. I bought a new .44 cylinder and barrel for my b beleaguered Colt, and never looked back. The Special was much easier to load for than my old .44 WCF, and the redurbished Special was nuch hardier than the 1890s vintage WCF.
At odd times, I had dabbled with the .45 Colt, bur Elmer and a couple others half convinced me that the old .45 posed too many problems.
Then, I met up with Dick Casull and a Coyle years later, John Linebaugh, and became well-acquainted with the ancient .45 Cole and the ground-breaking .454. Somehow the .357 magnum lost all its allure.
The littlecorner of the world where I line is densely populated with grizzly bears and imported Yukon wolves, neither of which is easily impressed . Until I can afford a .475 Linebaugh, I will be comfortable with one of my Beretta .45s..
My lasting impression of the .357 as a revolver tound, was that it's bark was almost worse than its bite..

[Deleted]

Through good times and bad times, I've always kept at least one 357 revolver around. During the good times I would have more than that. The caliber is reasonably frugal to load for, and is versatile enough to do anything I need to have accomplished. I do find it adequate for close range deer with the right loads, and good quality jacketed bullets. I do have a couple of hollowpoint moulds that should be okay for deer with suitable hollowpoint designs. Bigger is not better, at least for deer in my experience. That said, if I had a choice I would take a larger caliber any day. Adding in 38 Spl loads adds greatly to the versatility, especially for small game, and good old-fashioned target practice & plinking.

[boolitdesigner]

Dec 14, 2019 11:30:23 GMT -5 ezekiel38 said:

Flame on! 357 is my favorite general purpose, walk the property, go to town caliber. Experience has shown me it is too light for big game, even whitetails. Chased too many lung shot whitetails that bounded away after a solid hit, bounded far away.

Perhaps your bullet that you've picked doesn't work the way you want it to............... I have shot quite a few deer with the 357 Mag with no losses and from DRT to a 40 yard run and expiration. The problem with most deer hunters that shoot solid projectiles is one of finding the deer after you killed it, but it doesn't know it's dead and runs forever. If you want to increase the effectiveness of your 357, just ask and we'll give you the information....................................................

[ChiefTJS]

I shoot more .38spl through them than anything else but I dearly love my .357's. for Single Actions I have a stainless flat top convertible in 4-5/8" and a stainless Blackhawk 6-1/2" and over the years I've had a half a dozen other .357 Blackhawks. Just got back into Contenders and the first two barrels are a .22lr and a .357 Magnum. I'm not a hunter any longer so no need for anything more.

[bigbrowndog]

I’ve got the first 357 I’ve ever owned still sitting in the safe,...........unused for many years. bought new in 1979 or 80, by my parents as a Christmas present. I have an OM 3screw flat top that was bought a few years ago, thinking I’d get some use out of it as a GP field gun, it too now sits in the safe, unused.

44’s and 45’s, get carried and used much more frequently. They simply do a better job of killing and creating blood trails. The only 357 that gets used much anymore is a 10.5” Maximum, it does very well on medium game. The 44’s and 45’s do a better job on larger game, and do it with less blast and noise.

Just my 2 cents..........

Trapr

[ezekiel38]

Boolitdesigner: I've seen two deer lost that were solidly hit lung shots. One from 30 yards with a 6" Python and another from a Ruger SA 4 5/8s Blackhawk. The first one jumped and bolted at the impact (dust flying off the bullet impact area). We pursued her all day, shot opening morning at daylight. Never did find her. Second one was a large doe also, and she ran about 300 yards and caved in.

Identical load both hunts, both shooters were expert shots, neither one was this writer. The load was a cast 158 grain SWCGC over 14 grains of 2400 and lit with a CCI 550 primer. Possibly a Lyman 368156. (45 years ago)

I now carry locally and not in dangerous animal territory a 173 grain Keith SWC over 13.0 grains 2400 with a CCI 500 primer. I carry this load in my Ruger MC to provide a measure of security for my dogs against feral and wild canines.

[bigmuddy]

I've never used the .357 for anything bigger than pests, but have seen them work for others on deer quite well. It is one cartridge that were I to choose to use it for a deer I would go with a jacketed bullet. Many years ago I tracked a deer that was marginally hit with a 357 158 gr. JHP. It did not go far and the internal damage was extensive. Had that one been hit with a solid lead bullet I am not sure the outcome would've been so good.

I like the performance and economy of the 357.... I just wish they weren't so LOUD!!!

Dan

[historicfirearms]

Ive recently come back around to the good ol 357. After going big and bigger, I realized I wasn't shooting as much as I use to. My big bores aren't going away but shooting the 357 is like having a good cup of coffee with an old friend.

[nolongcolt]

In a single action it doesn't excite me at all. But in a double action Smith or Colt, that's the ticket. I have two Colts, a Trooper Mk V and a Border Patrol. Both are excellent shooters, but the blued Border Patrol has the best chance of permanent residency.

[dhd]

Can't argue with what anyone has written so far. Anyway, my second RBH was a SS 357 Magnum 4 5/8" and I enjoy it a lot. I've given it as much TLC as I can without sending the whole gun to a Smith. It is very accurate and I have even added a RDS to it which made it even easier to shoot.

My very first handgun also became my first duty revolver after Uncle Sam quit paying for my handguns. A 4" 686 that was worked over by a gunsmith that is no longer with us. It will always be with me even though I haven't shot it in many many years.

After the 357 RBH, I bought a FA83 in 357 Magnum and it makes me smile everytime I pull the trigger. I haven't gone as hot as Taffin had, but the case won't hold more H110 without serious crunching noise with 180 grain bullets. The hotter you load it, the closer the bullets land to each other. It wears a Leupold 2.5-8 in a Lovell mount. Recoil is comparatively light but the blast from the shot is something.

Do I love the 357 Magnum, yep I do. Haven't shot a round at an animal to date with one, but if I do it will be with a MP Molds Hammer 50/50 ww and lead or a Hornady XTP 180 grain. In truth though, I have many other larger revolver rounds to hunt with so I will just enjoy the accuracy of the round on steel.

[Stump Buster]

Just picked up a GP-100 yesterday to add the the 357Mag family here. Like bigmuddy, not a fan of the blast, but I do enjoy shooting them. I read Skeeter's "My Friend, the .357" at least once a year and I can't really find anything to disagree with in the body of work.

[sixshot]

I like my 357's, I've taken a few deer & my Lion with them but mostly limit them to smaller game & all kinds of plinking. They are great shooting guns for everyday carry & varmints. My old 3 screw shorty has taken a lot of small game.

Dick