The .357 vs. .44 Spec.?

V

VictorLouis

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Purely for use as a defensive cartridge, which do you think has the edge? Sort of analogous to a "9mm vs. .45ACP" thread.

Do not factor size in your rationalization, for we all know you must have a larger gun for use with .44s. Accuracy, cost, ease of reloading, available factory loads etc., just not size.;)
 
Size is the answer unless you consider the newer L frame 5 shot .44's or the old Charter Arms Bulldog.

I do not think it matters to me which I have as long as at least one.

As far as edge I would say the .357 in standard factory rounds. When handloading the .44 wins.
 
22 vs 45ACP

Same equation.

357 Magnum, with correct ammo, hard to better. Certainly not the 44 special...........

Next
 
much as I like .44s of all stripe, I consider the .357 factory level loads to be ahead of it as a defensive cartridge and/or varmint stopper. I do carry one or another 29 pretty regularly and it is loaded with corbon 165 magnums-well under the factory magnums in the recoil and energy department. Having never shot anybody with either one, I suspect that I don't really know what I'm talking about.

I don't really like the idea of loading up the .44 the way the did in the past. You never know what will happen. Back before 1970, one of the guys was loading 17.5'2400/250 in a vintage second model hand ejector- the one right after the tripple lock with no under lug. He jugged the forcing cone to the point it looked like a funnel.

My .44 special is a pleasure shooting type of a target gun primarily
 
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.44special and .45 ACP bout a dead heat for size, weight adn velocity.

.357mag also proven good round. And it is a 9mm. 9X32R.

Sooo......does indeed boil down to the .45 vs 9mm arguement.

I favor the .357mag but darn sure don't feel undergunned with a .44spec.

Sam
 
As far as guns go...I will take the 357 as IMO its the more versatile round. From 110's to monster hunting loads.....
Also 38's but I dont even shoot those anymore.............

The 44 spec round is a good one also, but you are limited to
what is out there if you dont reload and if its a defensive gun
the upper hand goes to the 357 mag.

In snubbies...its really close. Ive seen tested Corbon 44 spec that have over 400 FPE ...pretty nasty big bullet coming outa small barrel...but same goes for the 357...getting upwards of
450 FPE from the same size gun......Im just a 357 guy...:D
Shoot well
 
I just picked up my .44 Spl. yesterday.

I'll let you know in a couple of days. :)

The store had a single box of .44 Spl. ammo, 200-gr. CCI Blazers with the Gold Dot HP.
 
.357

I tend to favor the .357. In L frames the choice is between 7 rounds (.357) vs. 5. If the number were the same I might choose the .44. If the .44 bullets were refined to the point they have been in the .45 ACP for defense against 2 legged critters then may feel differently. I don't think that currently is the case but as another noted maybe I don't know what I am talking about.

That said the 165 gr JHP in a .44 mag does seem comforting.

Jim T.
 
Yep, and the 44 is a whole lot more fun to shoot, too, Tamara.

One kind of neat thing about the 44 spec is not many people use it. Lots of old-timey cartridges are so much in vogue now as to have become cliche.

Using a 44 special indicates a certain willingness to break the norm of contemporary culture, think outside the box, and assert one's independent spirit. Kind of like a Versace suit, but much more heterosexual.

Now please excuse me, my Prozac awaits.
 
Who makes a Spec. w/200gr. LSWCHP?

or, is that bullet a handload-only proposition?

Roger I don't wish to digress into that haggard old debate. Suffice to say, I'm of the mind that any safe can be easily defended should it ever come up.:)

Sam, you sure know how to put things into perspective.:D
 
Federal in their Classic line makes a 200 grain LSWCHP in .44 Special at 900 fps and 360 lb-ft out of a 6.5" barrel.
 
lonegunman,

Using a 44 special indicates a certain willingness to break the norm of contemporary culture, think outside the box, and assert one's independent spirit.
Click to expand...

Pretty much the same reason I carry a 10mm auto or a P7M8 a lot: I've always had an iconoclastic streak. ;)
 
This "which is best" argument over good cartridges has been beating on my ears for a long time. Pre WWII, Mom was hot on her 9mm Browning Hi Pow, Pop swore by the 45ACP gvt and Grannie on Pop,s side swore by her .44 hand ejector purse gun. I thought they were all super, each in it's own way.

I like em all now but think Grannie was on to something, big wheelguns do the job.

Grannie said that when she replaced her .44 Russian with the new .44 Special she loved the additional power.

All relative I guess. At least among my relatives.

Sam
 
>>Federal in their Classic line makes a 200 grain LSWCHP in .44
>>Special at 900 fps and 360 lb-ft out of a 6.5" barrel

Exactly. By the way, all defense rounds should be evaluated and looked over. There are some great 44 special warm loads in factory. A 200-240 grain at 850+ is 45 ACP territory. Also, if you have to shoot it without hearing protection, you may get off a second shot. Would hate to fire a .357 in an enclosed area without ear protection. I think the 44 wins on those grounds alone.

justinr1
 
Would hate to fire a .357 in an enclosed area without ear protection.
Click to expand...

Having been in a small, enclosed room when a .30-'06 discharged, I think that this danger is a little overrated (for me, at least), but there's no doubt that the low-pressure .44 would be easier on the ears.
 
Roger C

I was talking defensive. One does not have to defend against only humans. I have in the past and will in the future tote a .44 special in the woods and out and about as a working gun. I have defended my self with one on several occasions. The feral dogs I shot (1 was rabid) when minding my own business in the woods were every bit as dangerous as any human.

If I am choosing between a factory cartridge situation for defense against humans I would prefer a .357. If I am out and about in the woods or on my Grandfathers farm a .44 would be on my side with HANDLOADS. And if God forbid I should end up using one on a human predator I would deal with the lawyers problem then. In rural Georgia where I was raised and still have property I would worry far less about the lawyers going after reloads if the shooting was justified. Its not that bad there yet.

Tom :)
 
Please forgive the morbidity here.
In 1978 David Berkowitz AKA The Son of Sam, pleaded guilty to six murders and seven attempted murders. That puts his success rate below 50% using the .44 Special.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a be all/end all for the .44 Special or mean to imply he would have been better of with a .357 Mag.
I think it is important as real world data on the performance of the .44 Special.
 
No, sorry, it's completely meaningless.

The guy was a LOONIE! God only knows what he was using for ammo. Lead roundnose with snot rubbed on the tip?!?

Where did he hit 'em?

Sigh.

You take anybody here who's sane, takes his shooting at all seriously, and picks out GOOD ammo in any of these calibers, and you'll have somebody better armed than that nutcase!

And that's a GOOD thing! ;)
 
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