357 Magnum thoughts and experiences.

Bullet selection is the key

The .357 has all the power, punch, and penetration you need for everything but the biggest animals, IF you are using the right bullet. And current factory loads are not the key to getting the most out of the cartridge, unless you shop very carefully, and are willing to pay.

Back in the late 1930s, some insanely huge critters, including really large bears were taken by hunters using the .357 Magnum. The guns were N frame S&Ws, with longer barrels (6, & 8 3/8"), and the loads were smokin' hot by todays standards. Advertsied was a 158gr @ 1550fps (from the 8"), and they got it! Shoot those loads out of a K frame (or smaller) and you will likely need a small mallet to get the cases out!

With the advent of the K frame size guns (and smaller), and the popularity of the 125gr JHP for anti personnel use, loads for the .357 have been "reduced" over the years to present levels. Handloading (in suitable guns) can get you back up there, but don't expect to be able to shoot thousands of these loads either. There's no free lunch.

If you might have to shoot through something (like a car door) the .357 will perform better than a .45ACP. The hottest 9mm loads end where the .357 begins, and offer nothing except additional capacity.

I have 44s and 45s, 9mms and .357s. And in direct opposition to some, I see no role for tiny compact .357s. I find the bark, and blast to be bad, and recoil from a pocket 357 is worse (to me) than a .44. I can get back on target faster shooting a big 44 than I can with a J frame size .357. Add to that that much of the .357s power cannot be obtained from a pocket gun, so I see no use to getting just a little more velocity at such a large cost.

Its a very personal decision, and your particular factors are more important than the small difference in performance. My situation is not yours. The one advantage to pocket size .357s is that you don't have to shoot .357s out of them.
 
I've had three,a Dan Wesson 15-4, a S&W 686, both of which were stolen and currently have a Cimarron 357 SAA clone. I fired 357 loads in the first two, but I prefer shooting one handed with my cowboy gun and keep it on a strict diet of 125 gr. 38 specials.It's not even my HD gun, I have Taurus 24/7 Pro Ds in 9mm on my nightstand and a 9mm carbine next to my bed.The carbine is my first choice in that's quieter, and have shot it indoors without hearing protection. Eh!In a real gunfight I have two 223 rifles,two NAA 22mags, thats 102 rounds at my disposal without changing magazines.Have an additional 127 rounds in loaded magazines..When the SHTF, be assured I want to be there....
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Some have hit the nail right on the head,It's the best all around caliber to date.Not to heavy to carry every day or to powerful to use for defensive situations.I still carry my 686 4 inch almost every day.I have went from .38's to 130 grain personal defense .357's for more punch.The only thing i change when in the woods is my ammo and i step up to 180 grain jhp's for max power.Now i do some times carry a sig 229(357) just to have more ammo but my 686 will ride along bug in the glove box(just in case).

The only draw back to a .357 is reloading with one hand under stress.
 
How does a reasonably hot .357 load compare to a reasonably hot 9mm +P load?
Click to expand...

If we're talking about personal defense, the 357 has a strong edge. If we're talking about critter defense or hunting, there's NO comparison at all. The heavy hardcasts available in 357 from 158gr on up are completely unavailable in 9mm (standard or +P).

The 357 can match the 10mm in energy levels, and can use flat-nosed heavy hardcasts that are incompatible with autoloaders and work great on critters. In my view, 10mm autos cannot keep up with the 357 across as broad a range of threats. Handloading the 10mm for a revolver, there ARE good hardcasts available so the gap narrows with *maybe* a slight edge for the 10mm.

For personal defense with JHPs, the 10mm *maybe* has a slight edge on the 357 but it's not much. I can tell you for a fact that I can get better accuracy for the dollar with a 357 - $350 worth of used GP100 will outshoot most $800+ 10mm autoloaders, often by a respectable amount.

The 357 can solve a whole lotta problems for relatively little money.
 
Jim march Covered that real well . For personal defence don't forget about some of the gas check lead(soft ) bullets form 200 gr on up also. They offer a certain amount of impact that a hp can't give in most cases. My old DW can still shoot 3" groups at 100 yards. Not many autos can do that. Many revolvers can.
 
guess I'm just different

I do not load my .357 "up", but go the other direction and run it at about 3/4 power. Sort of .38 +p++.

My load is Speer 160 JSWC and 7 gr Unique. I'm guessing it runs about 1000 fps. This is for a Ruger B-hawk, 4-5/8", which is carried in US type shoulder rig as sold by Cabela's.

I can shoot it w/o plugs if I'm woods roaming and a target presents suddenly, and not get deaf w/ 1 round. At the range, w/ plugs or muffs, it is not a handful and you can shoot plenty and not develop bad habits. It is a lot more cartridge than any .38, but will not singe your eyebrows

I went w/ the Speer half jacket because I could not find a lead bullet commercially, that would not "lead" at that velocity. Since I load the .357 down, there is no question that full house 10mm in my glock 20 is more than my .357 reloads.

I do load .357 hotter for a carbine, and use 158 JSP. I can tell at a glance if I've got rifle ammo, or pistol ammo, by the different bullet styles.
 
The last two pistols I bought were 357's. An SP101 3" and a S&W M-19 6". I had a 44mag but figured I had read too much about grizzlies and such and realized I lived in the south. The Ruger is a camp gun/woods gun. At deer camp it is loaded with quality 357 this time of year. We have wild hogs, coyotes and bear on the lease. When it is warm, a couple snake shot ahead of the 357's. It also serves as my wife's nightstand gun with 38 +P's.

I have yet to shoot the M19. I want it to hunt with at the lease but since I haven't had time to practice with it, I will wait until next year. I will be shooting 158g LSWC and 158g JHP's depending on game - hogs or deer. Deer in the south aren't too big and I'll hunt at bow ranges.

I do not feel any lease gunned with the 357 vs. the 44. I am a much better and quicker shot with 357's and it is just more fun. If I met a bear on the trail that didn't want to leave me alone - I'd hope for my 45/70 to miraculously appear in my hands. I am actually more worried about hogs and feral dogs (and in warm weather rattlesnakes).
 
The 357 mag is my favorite round of all time. My Rossi 972 .357 mag revolver is a do all firearm. It serves as self defense, home defense, hunting, etc firearm. I just wish that I could find ammo or primers.....
 
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