357 vs 44

mattd007

mattd007

New member
I don't want to start a huge debate, but I am looking for a wheel gun that would be good for the field. Something that will protect me against any threats I could encounter such as a bear, mountain lion, tweekers, etc. Thanks guys!
 
I think you have to personally, and honestly, evaluate what your threats are most likely to be, your proficiency with a handgun in general and under stress, and what accuracy factor you can get off that critical 'second shot'

I've shot .357 mags for years, .44 mags on a limited basis, and until recently, I had a Taurus Titanium .45LC that would rock your socks on recoil.

If you are worried about mountain lions, from what I understand, most will run away at aggression or a gunshot. Tweakers, usually set up booby traps around their harvest/storage area and they will probably have the drop on you to begin with, and only good local research would provide your probability of a bear encounter.

I have some Speer Lawman 158gr .357mag. SP ammo that will shatter concrete blocks and puts out a 9' fireball of flame and I am very comfortable with it.

My .44 mags, with a little more consistent practice are nice, but present a problem with carry and being able to draw and shoot accurately in a stress situation. I do like them for hunting.

My Taurus .45LC was sold not so long ago due to my inability to accurately get off two shots in as many seconds from a holster. That's my personal criteria for what I carry.

It has to be your decision...
 
I have to side with the Old Turtle on comfort. I carry a Ruger .22 "slabside" all the time. It is because I can shoot golfballs at 25 yds freehanded with it and milk jugs at 100yds, not because of knockdown power. I have a Ruger .41 magnum that I despise shooting because of recoil, but shot clean through a Russian boars head length ways. I have some Ruger .357's that I shoot 38 +P's in that I'm much more comfortable with. Power is worthless if you miss the target, but accuracy and comfort are hard to beat. I'm sure David was comfortable with his slingshot, even considering Goliaths size. A spear might have been better, but that was not his choice.
 
Matt,
How much handgunning experience do you have? That's an important piece of information. A famous and pretty darned savvy guy by the name of Skeeter Skelton once said, "The .357 Magnum probably wouldn't be my first pick for many things, but if I could only have ONE handgun, the .357 would be that one gun." For most of us that's probably pretty good advice overall. A good .357 magnum is a very useful tool. I've shot small game with .38 Special target wadcutters that did less meat damage than a high velocity .22LR hollowpoint. Loaded with a good 125 - 145 grain hollowpoint it is a predator/varmint killing son-of-a-gun. Stoked with 158 - 180 gr. hollowpoints she'll do dandy duty for self defense. Hard cast 180 gr. flatpoints penetrate pretty well on big stuff. All of that is controllable for about anybody who will put in a little concentrated practice time and bust some caps. Bigger guns are fine - if you can shoot them well and don't mind packing the extra weight and bulk.
 
Lots of debate which is better. I carried and shot a S&W 44 mag for lots of years. Loaded to 950 fps it was more pleasant to shoot than most of the 357's and carried more energy to the target also.

Today for a woods carry gun I use a Stainless 41 mag Taurus Tracker that weighs 35 ounces. It's four inch ported barrel and "Ribber" grips make it easy to shoot and carry. With woods loads of a hard cast 210 grain bullet at 1150 fps it's deadly and with plinking loads of the same bullet at 900 fps for plinking it's fun to shoot and accurate as the dickens with either load.

Best I can say is go to one of the ranges that let you shoot their guns and try several. It won't take you long to sort out what you like and what simply is to much for you.
 
The 357 will handle most any threat except for the enraged bear and with 180 gr. hard cast they will put a hurtin on a bear, but may not stop one. The 44 would be the better choice ofcourse as long as you can hit with it. FA makes a very durable revolver and you can get it in the barrel length of your choice, you could get a 454 and down load it a bit to duplicate 44 mag recoil but will easily outpreform it. First couple shots could be down loaded and the last 2-3 could be thumpers.

I have a couple FA revolvers, one 454 and one 357, both are mag-na-ported. The 454 has the wood grips and the 357 wears pachmayers, the 454 with full house loads easily out shoots the 357 and the recoil is very manageable as the smooth hardwood grips allows the pistol to "roll" in your hand so you don't absorb all that recoil.
 
I agree with GC that the 357 is a great "all arounder". That said, I like bigger guns for hunting deer or anything larger. It is my personal belief that one would be hard pressed to do better than a slicked up Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in 45 Colt for a hunting revolver.......


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For strictly a carry gun(protection), I'd opt for a Ruger SRH Alaskan in whatever chambering you prefer.......
 
My "bear" gun is a S&W M696, 5 shot, 44 Special. Easy to carry, easy to shoot. A 240 gr. SWC at 900 fps up a bear's nose might hurt.

For a second choice it would be my 4" M29 44 Mag or the 4" M686 357.

Strictly as a self-defense-against-bear or cat weapon I have been looking seriously at the Ruger Alaskan in 44 Mag. Pobably not fun to shoot but when I need it, it won't be for fun.
 
I have the same pistol as IDBOB. It's a .41 mag in the 4" Taurus Tracker. I love it for the exact reasons he listed. IMO, it's the perfect carry gun. I chose the .41 mag for the questions asked above. I can't shoot a .44 very good because I'm recoil shy and I wanted some more punch than a .357. I know this isn't what your question asked, but you might want to take a look at the ballistic performance of a .41 mag. I've been very pleased with mine. Back to your question though, if I had to choose between the two you mentioned, I would take the .357 simply because I feel I could shoot it better.
 
Don't forget the Alaskan guides advice: "Never shoot a big bear more than 5 times with your handgun... save the last one for yourself!"

There is a lot to be said for the ability to hit what you are shooting at, and the bigger guns are more of a challenge.

I carried a .44 Mag. loaded with hardcast 240 gr. SWC/GC @ 1360 fps, for backup, while bowhunting grizzly bear in Alaska. The main theme then, was to make sure you hit them, if you have to use the pistol.... Gives you a fresh feel for the meaning of "bear breath".

As we approached a spot, recently known for big bear activity, I pointed out, in a whisper, "the wind is wrong". My oldest brother, an Alaska resident, guiding me, said, "they aren't afraid of us". OH $^%*!!
 
I'm in black bear country every time i walk out the door. All i carry is a 38 smith&wesson ctg loaded with 158gr.+p loads. I sometimes carry my 357mag loaded with 158gr. Both these guns shoot very well and i feel comfortable with either. My 357 is a rugar blackhawk with a 6"barrel and the 38 has a 4"barrel and is easier to carry. If i was in griz country,i think i would be more comfortable with a 41 mag or a 44mag. As far as i am concerned,[outside of griz country]all a man needs for a good carry gun is a 38special or a 357 mag with a 4"barrel,loaded with 158gr bullets. "Your less likely to be attacked by a bear than crazed hoodlum."
 
Good advice from all. Get the one that you shoot best. four missed shots with a big gun will never do what one well placed shot from a smaller gun will do.

I have 22LR, 32 H&R mag, 357/38, 41 mag, 44 mag, and 45 long colt in revolvers. Of them all I prefer the 41 Mag for when something goes serious on me. Gives good preformance and is manageable on recoil.
 
If you are really in bear country, a 44 Mag with hard cast, or Deep penatration bullets are "IT".

You don't want expansion. A soft point lodged in his muscle will not do you any good.
You want to break bones, and shatter skulls. It should double action, cuz at 40 feet, and 30 feet, and 20 feet, and 10 feet and at 2 feet, you won't have time to [beeep](-the word for drawing back the hammer before firing) a single action.

You won't have time because a running bear will cover that 40 feet in TWO SECONDS. Even if you see him at 100 feet. You will have FIVE OR SIX SECONDS, before you are smelling his bear breath.
A bear can outrun the average horse, and run down a deer, and he will not stand still for you to aim.

With a 44 Mag, if it's a M29 or equivalent double action, you are not target shooting, and so the fact that you can't hold 6 shots in the black at 25 yards is of no consequence. What you need for accuracy is minute of bear brain at 20 feet, with two hands... and you need it dammn fast.

For all the other critters you mentioned, a good .357 with jacketed 158's will do fine... (except for maybe a "Tweeker"... what's a "Tweeker"?)

.
 
What the heck ...get the 44 mag and shoot .44 specials out of it for plinking and practice. Load it up with real ammo for hiking.

Tweeker = slime ball drug nut who is on the fringe of "out of control".
 
Quote:
It should double action, cuz at 40 feet, and 30 feet, and 20 feet, and 10 feet and at 2 feet, you won't have time to [beeep] a single action.



LMAO. Now Cat, what exactly are ya doin with that single action????

You guys seriously have to worry about weirdo's out in the woods??? Are we talkin like meth labs and stuff? Dont mean to be naive, just never considered it.
 
Quote:
If you are really in bear country, a 44 Mag with hard cast, or Deep penatration bullets are "IT".

You don't want expansion. A soft point lodged in his muscle will not do you any good.
You want to break bones, and shatter skulls. It should double action, cuz at 40 feet, and 30 feet, and 20 feet, and 10 feet and at 2 feet, you won't have time to [beeep] a single action.
You won't have time because a running bear will cover that 40 feet in TWO SECONDS. Even if you see him at 100 feet. You will have FIVE OR SIX SECONDS, before you are smelling his bear breath.
A bear can outrun the average horse, and run down a deer, and he will not stand still for you to aim.

With a 44 Mag, if it's a M29 or equivalent double action, you are not target shooting, and so the fact that you can't hold 6 shots in the black at 25 yards is of no consequence. What you need for accuracy is minute of bear brain at 20 feet, with two hands... and you need it dammn fast.

For all the other critters you mentioned, a good .357 with jacketed 158's will do fine... (except for maybe a "Tweeker"... what's a "Tweeker"?)

.


Can't agree more.....
Why on earth if you are in the field would you set your rifle down to use a pistol
 
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