Is .357 magnum Good for SD?

i was considering buying a revolver in 357 to keep at home for SD but it sounds like this round is terrible in terms of night blindness and going deaf, and while yes its better to be deaf then dead, you have to remind yourself if you survive a life and death scenario it would be beneficial for the rest of your life to have good hearing. but can you not just use 38 specials in the 357? never heard a complaint about the round in terms of self defense. I guess i would leave the 357 for outside shooting
 
Wheelgun to me the .45ACP is more painful than the .357Mag in terms of loudness. My .357 has more of a 'boom' where my .45 is more of a sharp 'crack' at least to my ears. I always wear ear protection when I'm practicing (even when shooting .22s)but some times I forget to put them back on if I take them off...:o

btw it don't take me long to remember:eek:
 
abelacres
to me the .45ACP is more painful than the .357Mag in terms of loudness. My .357 has more of a 'boom' where my .45 is more of a sharp 'crack' at least to my ears.
Click to expand...

This makes no sense, in most cases the .45 acp is subsonic. The crack is created by breaking the sound barrier, which is what the .357 does. Even the super sonic .45acp is not as loud as the average .357 round, and from what I hear the supersonic .45acp rounds do not feed as reliably since the bullets must be so light to achieve speeds great enough to break the sound barrier.

I'd rather be deaf than be dead or allow my wife and daughter to suffer harm.
Click to expand...

I don't know how many times I have heard that, probably just as much as "you don't think a .380 will do the job, then stand there and let me shoot you with one". The 9mm, .38, and .45 are a good deal quieter than the .357 and have been getting the job done for just as long if not longer. To damage ones hearing more than you need to is foolish especially since it can be prevented by using something more suited for shooting indoors. Hearing loss I can deal with, permanent ringing I cannot, and I should know since my ear rang like an alarm clock for around 9 or 10 months strait and still slightly does to this day.
 
Last edited:
Dragline I was simply stating how the two sound to ME, outside on my little back yard range. Maybe I should have used a different word than 'crack' that does bring to mind the sound of a rifle. My SIG P220 has a much 'sharper' sound to my ears than my Tarus 608 (but it has a ported barrel) ymmv...

As far as the other, use what you like and I will use what I like. My point was that in a situation where a firearm is needed recoil, muzzle flash and noise will be the least of my concern. And honestly if I was at home the only reason I would be using a pistol would be to get to my rifle.

btw ringing in the ears ain't no joke- I've had it - it sucks:(
 
All handguns are loud.

Last weekend I shot some soda cans with both .38 and .357 out of a 2" SP101.
The .38 would move them about a foot.
The .357 would make them jump as high as 10 feet in the air.

I have seen animals go a ways after having been shot in the heart or lungs.
A person shot in the heart or lungs may have enough left to empty their gun in your direction before they go.

If you are trying to shoot someone who is trying to shoot you choose whatever you have the most confidence in. For me its the .357
 
In a self defense situation, you will not have an issue with the recoil or the muzzle blast of a .357.

I'm a hunter as well and you won't even hear the muzzle blast in a self defense situation and it would not impair follow up shots. In a confirmed space, I don't believe that a .45 or a .357 would make any difference.
 
The .357 isn't "a little loud" or even simply "a little louder than other SD calibers", it's a LOT louder.

The decibel comparison has been posted here several times, but suffice to say, it is MUCH louder than any 9mm, .45 or .40 round. For a couple years in my careless youth, I shot 9mm and .45 ACP with no hearing protection. Not that big of a deal really. Then I shot a friend's 6" Model 27 in with a full house .357-----that was a BIG DEAL. I literally saw colors in the sky. Never did that again. I couldn't imagine shooting full house out of a snubbie with no protection.
 
Sure, .357 Magnum is good for SD and HD but it is also extremely loud, especially with shorter barrel. This is one of the reasons it would be good to load the. 357 with. 38 Special.

If you don't think that is enough power, then buy a .44 Magnum and it still won't be as loud as the. 357. A .44 mag loaded with heavy. 44 Specials would make a really good HD/SD gun.
 
The .357 isn't "a little loud" or even simply "a little louder than other SD calibers", it's a LOT louder.
Click to expand...
+100. Take my .45 Colt / .45 ACP or even .44Spec anyday over the .357 . Slower speed for less noise (boom instead of craaaaack), plus bigger diameter bullet for bigger hole, more weight (230-300g ) for penetration .... All adds up to fine defense rounds ... and save a bit of hearing if ever have to use in an ears unpertected scenerio. Call that a win-win. Of course, if I had the peanut .357, .38, 9mm, .22, or rocks, I would not hesitate to use 'em either....
 
+100. Take my .45 Colt / .45 ACP or even .44Spec anyday over the .357 . Slower speed for less noise (boom instead of craaaaack), plus bigger diameter bullet for bigger hole, more weight (230-300g ) for penetration .... All adds up to fine defense rounds ... and save a bit of hearing if ever have to use in an ears unpertected scenerio. Call that a win-win. Of course, if I had the peanut .357, .38, 9mm, .22, or rocks, I would not hesitate to use 'em either....
Click to expand...


Then what sort of .45 Colt double actions are out there? I heard the S&W m25's have oversized throats, so that's a no go.
 
Yes, 357 out of short barreled guns do have signficant recoil, etc. That said, the 357 has proven to be one of the most effective SD rounds, and I honestly doubt that in a real self-defense situation that you are even going to notice the recoil, or noise. Even hunters know that when you are shooting at that big game animal, you just don't notice the recoil, and noise. Now, practicing at the range is a different story.
 
I'd be shooting one out of a 6" barrel. Damn! I just get so paranoid about gun performance during stressful situations! I've been screwed by a gun when I needed it most before, so now I am cautious. I'd love the power of a .357 Magnum but if the noise and flash and recoil would mess me up from being able to defend my life I don't want it. Please help!
 
I'd be shooting one out of a 6" barrel. Damn! I just get so paranoid about gun performance during stressful situations! I've been screwed by a gun when I needed it most before, so now I am cautious. I'd love the power of a .357 Magnum but if the noise and flash and recoil would mess me up from being able to defend my life I don't want it. Please help!
Click to expand...

The gun will perform fine. The question will be, "will you perform fine under stress." Your performance will not be based on caliber chosen, if, God forbid that time ever comes.

Pick a gun, practice.
 
If you are alive afterwards, you won't care how loud it was... nor what it was, only that it worked. The .357 is a good gun and caliber.

I have different one's, and some are louder than others, and some have more flash than the others. So, it depends upon the gun. With a 686 , you aren't going to have a lot of flash compared to many .357's.

I have one that is the loudest I've ever heard one be, and puts out the most flash I've seen one put out.... and I like it... because I think if there is more than one person, most of them will be running after the first shot ..
 
I agree...with the 357mag, you have a large flash bang in your hand. You know what to expect. The bad guy does not.
In any case, as with any caliber, placement is everything, and the 357mag gives you excellent versatility in load choice. From wadcutter 38's to full house magnum hard casts.
I have been enjoying shooting the Blazer aluminum cased 158gn JHP's, which are rated at about 1100 FPS. They are hotter than most 38's, yet don't have a lot of blast or recoil. And, they are cheap enough to shoot a lot of. Good accuracy, too.
 
In a self defense situation, you will not have an issue with the recoil or the muzzle blast of a .357.

I'm a hunter as well and you won't even hear the muzzle blast in a self defense situation and it would not impair follow up shots. In a confirmed space, I don't believe that a .45 or a .357 would make any difference.
Click to expand...
I am not an experienced hunter but I did give it a try for a few years. And I agree when I was trying to shoot at a deer with the 30.06 I had at the time I did not notice the noise nor recoil. But if I was sighting it in or just plinking then I noticed recoil, as well as the deafening kaboom it made. I am not too worried about the noise made from my .357 in a SD situation .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top