What is the .357 Mag good for anymore?

M

Monty

New member
I was looking over my modest collection and trying to decide where to
improve. I am looking at a Ruger Speed Six, .357 Mag, 2 3/4" barrel and
trying to justify keeping it. I can't think of anything it is good for that
I don't already have covered. I have my one revolver (said a long time ago
I would always have one on a day when all my semi-autos were jamming, don't
have that problem now), a S&W 642 .38 Special, have a nice size carry gun
with good power, Kahr P9 with either Rem 115 +P+ or Fed 124 +P+ hydrashoks
(should get this pistol next week, hope it handles those loads well, if not
Rem 124 +p GS) and a Beretta 92G Elite with one of the before mentioned
loads. So what good reason do I have for keeping a six-shooter .357 Mag?
Sure it has a little more power that either of the 9mm pistols but it is
harder to carry, harder to shoot well and carries several less rounds. Is
the .357 Mag a dying round? If I wanted that extra power, I could go to a
.357 Sig or .40S&W 135gr and have it in a easier to carry, easier to shoot,
holds alot more rounds package.

Thanks, Monty
 
Why, its easier to reload than any of those semi auto calibers and you can find the brass after you shoot it. That makes it cheaper to reload in addition to being easier.

Being able to control where your brass goes has numerous benefits besides reloading. What if, for one reason or another, you don't want your brass lying in a particular geographical area? Wouldn't it be an advantage not to have it strewn everywhere, or at least have an idea as to where you can find it if it is?

Besides, most of the guns that chamber it are prettier than those ugly autos. Pretty is a very important attribute of such a wonderful tool as a gun.
 
It sounds like you have a wide choice of weapons. As far as why you should keep the revolver well how about it's easy for a begining shooter to understand. It has less moving parts for them to understand and it doesnt double feed,stove pipe,or hit the wrong button and drop the mag.

As far as any other reason well how about the fact that owning a revolver is owning a early piece of history no matter what it is.

just my .02 worth
Best wishes Best luck Poacher.
 
Monty--
Few collections can be said to improved by removal of one's only .357 revolver.

Couple of items to consider here---

The time might come when you need to arm someone else--A qualified visitor who was unable to travel with a handgun, or a buddy whose own sidearm is lost, stolen or broken. Perhaps it is a person who is uncomfortable with an autoloader. A strong, slick wheel gun of adequate power and reasonable compactness is a GOOD thing to have on standby. And you can choose from the whole spectrum of loads--.38 wadcutters, standard .38 Specials, +P .38 medium to heavy, and full house magnums.

I'm not a fan of alternating loads, but I have no problem in leading off with two .38 LSWCHPs before getting to the rhino rollers. Or a single shot load up first, in snake country. I greatly favor the large autoloader for up-close crisis resolution, but my .45 Autos are nowhere near as versatile as a DA .357.

While a short barrel, full weight .357 is not truly easy to holster over the long run, it is not bad in the short term. But during those times when you need real power - - - - Hiking, camping, fishing, or whatever in bear country, I'd prefer six hot, full weight .357 loads in an accurate, easily controlled Ruger to any number of 9x19 rounds. Yes, given the situation, I'd prefer my .44 mag or .45 Colt, but I think I could get along with "just" a properly loaded Speed Six.

The other alternatives you mention serve pretty well if you stay on pavement and your only concern is hostile humans. Going very far afield, though, you might be comforted by the reduced capacity but increased capability of the .357.

Just some input for your contemplation.
Best regards,
Johnny

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---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
 
You know a little .357 is very handy,Wanna Swap? I have a Ruger GP-100 6" .357 great at longer ranges however if I carry it (mexican) all the girls give me longing looks :D I love my .357's lots of knock down I also carry my Taurus 431 .44spl stainless I'm a revolver kinda guy. The .357 is still very popular I'd keep it......However if you really don't want it..... :cool:
 
Monty,

Iv'e been mulling over the same thing. I have a Ruger GP100 and SP101. The GP100 rarely get's shot any more and sits and collects dust. The SP101 is still carried but with the advances in 9mm ammo and the introduction and successes of the 40 S&W round in autos that are easier to carry concealed and easier to shoot. It really makes it hard to justify keeping a 357 that only holds 5 or 6 rounds IMO.

I've just about made up my mind to trade the GP100 off for another CZ75B in 9mm to keep the one I have in 40S&W company. The SP101 I have may be next on the chopping block in favor of either a Kel-Tec P40 or Taurus PT145.

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Rick
 
Like Johnny said "reduced capacity but increased capability of the .357."

that wheelgun will function limpwristed, wrong handed, upside down, hard contact etc etc.

"If I wanted that extra power, I could go to a .357 Sig or .40S&W 135gr and have it in a easier to carry, easier to shoot,
holds alot more rounds package" But you are going to get nowhere near the power potential of the .357mag.

Sam....my favorite 9mm is the 9X32R
 
Incredible versatility, much more so than ANY semi-auto cartridge. The .357 is likely the single most versatile cartridge ever developed.

Find a semi-auto that will function perfectly with bullet weights ranging from 90 to 200 grains without changes in springs, port settings, etc.

Adequate for defensive use, hunting, training, sport shooting, and just about everything else.

The .357 Mag. a dying cartridge? Nope.

------------------
Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
In centerfire loads, I shoot ONLY with .357 magnum revolvers--a 7-shot 686+ and an 8-shot 627 V-Comp. (Imagine a Bad Guy discovering at an inconvenient moment that a revolver can count past 6!)

Most of the time I shoot .38 spl for competition, but I like being able to pop in the full power magnums for defense, competition in major power catagory or other serious shooting. Remember the .357 magnum and .45 acp have been at the top of the list in one shot stops on BGs.

It is also comforting to know that I have a heck of a lot of safety factor available for my handloaded .38 spl and headroom for custom 'improved' rounds.

The .357 magnum is far from the end of it's career.

[This message has been edited by Guy B. Meredith (edited September 25, 2000).]
 
You can't have a collection of guns without a 357 mag.When you can't find ammo for anything else it will be there.When you have to shoot something very BIG and bad it will get the job done.When you have to carry one in the woods and use it for all things it will be there.The plain fact is it is hard to beat a 357 when the chips are down.Keep it you will not be sorry.

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Bob--- Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.
 
You don't have to worry about collecting your brass. Which would be a plus should you ever consider carrying while your riding a two wheeled vehicle. That and you don't have to fumble with safeties or worry about DA/SA, should you have to shoot with one hand ;). Did I mention that .357 penetrates barriers well (i.e. cars) ?
 
MTAA....shootin from a two wheeler can be challanging and hazzardous to all in the county. Uster do that a bit, ridin a BSA and huntin cyotes in the desert. Total score cyotes umpteen, Sam zero.

I am a strong believer in bein able to draw and shoot with either hand, never know when some part of the body won't work when called upon.

Sam....just checkin out the stars tween knaps
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Monty:
Is
the .357 Mag a dying round?[/quote]

Monty,

In the last two months, there have been many TFL threads extolling the virtues of the .357 magnum. I believe it is the most versatile and potent of the more-common handgun rounds. I respectfully suggest you review some of the prior threads; I will attempt to summarize them with only a few points:

a) The .357 is a proven stopper. In a wide variety of loads, the velocity of this round provides essentially unsurpassed potency.
b) Revolvers are less likely to malfunction than semiautomatics.
c) The combination of .38 Special and .357 mag offers an exceptionally wide variety of easily available loads.
d) Revolvers can be fired as fast as autoloaders (although I personally have not achieved this type of competency).
e) Revolver marksmen tend to be precision shooters (no "spray and pray").
f) Six rounds are probably more than a non-LEO will ever require for self-defense by a reasonable margin.

All this said, I am not degrading the many excellent semiautomatics or their ammunition. However, I strongly believe the .357 is a LONG way form obsolescence.
 
Lemme know just which dumpster you decide to pitch it in. If you want rid of it, I'd bet there'r several here, me included, who'd take it off your hands.
 
You should keep your .357 for the same reason you should keep all of your firearms...

Someday (soon) they might not be so easy to buy anymore.

I'm not stockpiling, I'm collecting!
 
I guess I've just been spoiled with my autos and just never could get used to shooting a revolver. My wanting to dump the 357 is probly more a revolver vs auto issue than anything else. It just so happens that the revolvers are chambered in 357.

I should have added in my original post that the 357 is far from being obsolete but for my uses is losing my interests.

ruger357: I do have the GP100 listed in the for sale forum if you're truly interested:
http://www.thefiringline.com:8080/forums/showthread.php?threadid=41683

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Rick
 
357 Magnum has to be the most versatile handgun cartridge out there.
 
For all of the above reasons.

Also, if you feel that you have to get rid of one, why not the .38 from *&*? The .357 will still allow you to shoot .38s as well as .357s while the .38 won't.

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The best weapon for self defense is the one you have when the need arises!
 
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