If...

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threefivesevenmag

New member
Okay. Here's a hypothetical question.

If you could only have one revolver out of these three calibers: .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, or .44 Magnum...which would you choose and why?

Let's assume you load your own ammo so ammo availability is not a problem. You can also choose whatever barrel length you desire.
 
.44 mag as a caliber..

You can load up and use the .44 magnum option for drilling some big ol holes. Or, you can load down with the .44 special but still have similar stopping power to the .357 without all the buck and roar. This is the best option to me especially since in this senario, ammo price isn't an issue!

Jon
 
.357 Magnum for maximum flexibility...a revolver in that caliber can fire anything from powderpuff .38 Special wadcutters all the way to .357 Magnum full-house deerstoppers, using bullets as light as ninety grains, or as heavy as two hundred.

A medium-framed 4" barreled .357 Magnum is probably the most versatile handgun on earth. It won't be top of the heap in any category, but it will perform competently in any function you could ask of a handgun. You can use it for target shooting, plinking, home defense, CCW, IDPA-type gaming, and hunting.
 
Nice site you have there Marko. I spent some time in Augsburg.

I'm always tempted to go the 357 route but of the three mentioned I'd do the 44. Shot one almost exclusively for 8 years. All I can say, "They are a tool."
 
44 mag is tops...

I cannot limit myself to just one, but overall I think the 44mag. It is not the pleasure shooting gun the 357 is, but can be loaded down (I am just learning this hahaha) but also can be loaded very heavy. We live in bear country, and I carry my redhawk a lot.

I am right now using a 200gr XTP with 27 grains of Win 296, any suggestions?

Thanks for the discussion
 
hellowyo I used a very simple load. The Lyman 429421 and 20 grs. of 2400. It did 1201 fps from my 4" Model 29. The little sixgun jumped some but it can be mastered. I was good for about 4 cylinders full and it went down hill from there. This load is flat shooting and hits like a hammer. Groundhogs, crows, coons, fox and others drop nicely. Deer and boar are no problem.

Even at that I'm tempted with the 357.
 
Factory loads - .357 Magnum - more load variety available, for less money. I have one, a 4" barrel - best overall as Marko notes. 6" is even better for shooting, just a little less handy.

Roll my own - .44 Magnum (I think ;) ) I am not a reloader, so this is just going by my understanding. I believe though that the .44 Magnum can be loaded down to operate as tamely as a .38 Special, but also has room at the upper end for about 2x "improvement" in kinetic energy. Wider holes in all cases (helpful for zombies and hunting). I might go for the 6" in the .44Magnum.
 
Thanks Lah

Hey Thanks LAH. I have to ask a few questions! I don’t know what Lyman 429421 is? I am using Hornaday XTP 200s right now. It is ok, makes me like to shoot it a lot more. I used 240s before loaded max with win 296 and I was not enjoying shooting the gun.

My other question is about WIN 296, do you have any opnions on that? How does it compare to 2400? I don’t have any way to measure speed yet, so am just guessing. I am also not good enough yet to really accuracy test, although am getting much better… I can get a 2” group at 25yrds with that, not consistantly however. I am using a redhawk with a 7.5" barrel.

Thanks very much for the info, hope to hear more from you!
 
Well...I think I would have to go with a 44 Magnum...mainly because I have shot that way more than I have 357 Magnum. I just always preferred the BOOM of the 44 to the rather obnoxious muzzle blast of a 4" 357. Never shot a 41 mag before, though I know it's quite an impressive cartridge. Saw a beautiful Mod 657 in the gunshop I frequent recently. It was there on consignment and the guy wanted only 500 dollars for it. If this wasn't such a heavy bill month for me, I would've bought it.
 
.357 mag. I do love shooting a .44 mag, but with the lighter recoil, I can shoot and enjoy a .357 a lot longer!...Norm.
 
I made this choice years ago. .357 was it for me. With the variety of loads available, it satisfies all my revolver needs. Power, accuracy, concealability (at 6" bbl. I am pushing it), and the ability to impress those in the adjacent lanes with my "flamethrower" rounds makes it OK for me. :cool:
 
If I planned on hunting deer or larger game, defintly a 44 magnum
If I planned on carrying it concealled, defintly a 357 magnum
The 44 would be a better all around hunting round and the 357 would be a better self defense round.
296 and 2400 our both good powders for both the 44 and the 357. 296 is a little slower burning than 2400 and will give a little more velocity especially with heavyier bullets.
 
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