Are mid level power 357's worthwhile?

[Glenn E. Meyer]

While the relevant post was edited - here's a neat page with some hearing damage info related to calibers.

http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

 

[circa81]

Anyone remember what the original topic was?

 

[Redhawk5.5+P+]

Yes, you came to the conclusion to get a 45acp revolver, right?

Or how about a 44spl?

 

[youngunz4life]

Anyone remember what the original topic was?

I don't like mid level 357 (referring to thread title), but that is just me and doesn't mean they don't have a purpose

 

[BlueTrain]

You should all realize that muzzle blast and muzzle flash are not the same thing. Any .357 load, and especially the lighter bullets, will have a lot of muzzle blast. They may or may not have much flash. And again, this is not the same as recoil or kick. "Kick" sound like such an imprecise word that I'm surprised there aren't arguments about what kick is.

I might also mention that some writers were complaining 50 years ago that .357 cartridges were no longer loaded up to their true potential. That would also have been about the time .357 K-frames became popular. It is also interesting that the first .357 cartridges were loaded, I believe, with swaged lead semi-wadcutters.

I understand that some factory loads, especially military loads, have anti-flash additives. I read that in connection with the .45 ACP and I suppose it's true. Anyone have any experience with .357 loads that have little flash?

 

[Crashbox]

I'll throw in my two cents' worth here.

As for mid-power .357s, I do believe they are worthwhile for practice and also SD if the correct bullet is chosen. I use medium-strength .357 loads on a regular basis in my SP101 for target practice, with (now) occasional hot rounds for SD "conditioning".

In my opinion, bullet technology has evolved such that the mid-level rounds are now very effective for SD purposes. They may or may not be equally effective compared to the hotties such as the classic Federal C357B, I am not qualified to opine one way or another.

With regard to the discussion about sudden bright light temporarily disorienting the shooter, I fully agree that there would be some amount of adverse effect. When I was in my photo darkroom in the film days (I still do film now and then!), when I turned on the overhead lights after loading the film in total darkness, I definitely took a few seconds to get reoriented. I see no difference between this and what muzzle flash would cause.

With all this, I must mention for the record that I currently carry the C357B's in my SP101 when in wheelgun carry mode (I found a couple of boxes when I was on vacation in Wenatchee last month )