oneounceload
Moderator
While I own 357's, I voted for the 44 only because it is a better hunting round IMO than a 357......
either one would be very versatile
either one would be very versatile
Which is an ultimate multi-purpose handgun caliber?
- Thread starter Firepower!
- Start date
As I said before, the big bores handle the whole spectrum and don't have to be loaded balls to the wall to do it. Which is how most judge the .44Mag. The .357 has definite limitations. It depends on your needs. Being prepared for anything that needs doing without making my ears bleed is more important to me than saving a few pennies. I rarely go over 1200fps and usually stay around 1050fps. There's a reason why I've got dozens of big bores but only two .357's, which are destined to become something more useful. Machismo ain't it.
38superhero
New member
22lr-let the attacks comence.
I didn't vote, because you did not include my favorite cartridge, the 9x23 Winchester. It is the ballistic equivalent of the 357 Magnum, but the round can be fired from an auto-loader. It has a super thick web, so it can withstand 50,000 CUP. You can fire this round over an unsupported chamber with no case bulge. This enables it to do anything a 357 Magnum can do. As it is in a semi-auto I get more rounds (8+1), faster reloads, less muzzle flash, less recoil, in a much smaller and easily concealed pistol than in my S&W 686. I even reload with 357 bullets. I use 125 grain cast bullets, and 158 grain XTP bullets.
I sold my 1911's and my S&W 686 when I got my Tok's converted to the 9x23 Winchester. I am that pleased with the cartridge.
FWIW.
I sold my 1911's and my S&W 686 when I got my Tok's converted to the 9x23 Winchester. I am that pleased with the cartridge.
FWIW.
Firepower!
New member
9x23 seems like very interesting cartridge. Unfortunately I have not seen one in Pakistan.
In semi auto I think 44 Mag or 50Ae is ultimate. But for revolvers I think 44 and 357 are in tight race with 44 having edge in power. That said I have yet to make up mind about 500SW.
In semi auto I think 44 Mag or 50Ae is ultimate. But for revolvers I think 44 and 357 are in tight race with 44 having edge in power. That said I have yet to make up mind about 500SW.
Yankee Traveler
New member
I read the question as "which handgun caliber" not "which caliber handgun".
That pits the .38 against the .357 mag not with and the .44 special against the .44 mag not with. Which is the better caliber? a .357 mag OR a .38? Which CALIBER is your fav. Handgun is just there to clarify 12 guage does not apply.
With that in mind, all the best calibers start with a 4 and end with a 5. And thats the long and the short of it.
Long if I had to choose between the two.
That pits the .38 against the .357 mag not with and the .44 special against the .44 mag not with. Which is the better caliber? a .357 mag OR a .38? Which CALIBER is your fav. Handgun is just there to clarify 12 guage does not apply.
With that in mind, all the best calibers start with a 4 and end with a 5. And thats the long and the short of it.
Long if I had to choose between the two.
Sturmgewehre
New member
The only reason I didn't say .357 is because generally speaking, you don't have many options for an auto-loader... you're stuck with a revolver or single shot unless you want to buy a Desert Eagle.
I say 10mm because you have the power of a .41 Mag if you want or you can down load it as well. It is available in auto and revolvers. The only downside is that not many companies build new handguns in this caliber.
I say 10mm because you have the power of a .41 Mag if you want or you can down load it as well. It is available in auto and revolvers. The only downside is that not many companies build new handguns in this caliber.
Semi-jacketed
New member
Son of Vlad Tepes wrote--
If I could only have one...tough choice between .357 and .44 magnum, but I'd go with .44 magnum, revolver, and you can go from .44 special for SD to stout .44 magnum for hunting decent sized game, to even .44 shotshell for birds and snakes. Gun wise I suppose that I'd go with my 5 1/2 inch Redhawk (although a 4" might be more handy).
I concur.
If I could only have one...tough choice between .357 and .44 magnum, but I'd go with .44 magnum, revolver, and you can go from .44 special for SD to stout .44 magnum for hunting decent sized game, to even .44 shotshell for birds and snakes. Gun wise I suppose that I'd go with my 5 1/2 inch Redhawk (although a 4" might be more handy).
I concur.
bluetopper
New member
The 38 Special is personally my favorite as I enjoy shooting it more and it gets more range time than the others. It's a hoot to shoot in my Smith models 14, 15, and the awesome hand crafted semi-auto model 52.
45acp runs a close second in my book.
45acp runs a close second in my book.
L_Killkenny
New member
I think it's funny that the 9mm has almost as many votes as the .44 
Multi-purpose means versatile. That automatically tosses out any caliber used in semi's. They may be adequate, they may be good, they may be great but revolvers are king when it comes to multi-purpose. Lets see someone take snake shot, wadcutters, hollow points, round nose bullets in a wide, wide range of weights and push them at varying speeds and see if their semi will function with all of them. My wheel gun will, every time.
My vote goes to the .357 because of ammo availability, variety of guns available, and because the average shooter can control it better.
LK
Multi-purpose means versatile. That automatically tosses out any caliber used in semi's. They may be adequate, they may be good, they may be great but revolvers are king when it comes to multi-purpose. Lets see someone take snake shot, wadcutters, hollow points, round nose bullets in a wide, wide range of weights and push them at varying speeds and see if their semi will function with all of them. My wheel gun will, every time.
My vote goes to the .357 because of ammo availability, variety of guns available, and because the average shooter can control it better.
LK
Atticus Thraxx
New member
If we are talkin versatility, then another vote for the .22 LR. 2nd place ain't even close.
L_Killkenny
New member
Quote: "If we are talkin versatility, then another vote for the .22 LR. 2nd place ain't even close."
As much as I like the .22 LR I'd really like to see you qualify your post. IMHO, The .357 is better at SD and it will take a wide variety of game from rabbit to deer, coyote, hogs and black bear. It's available in guns that weigh no more than a quality .22. The .357 can be had in pocket pistols up to large frame, long barrel hunting handguns.
I know, someone will chime in a say that a .22 LR "will" kill deer, hogs and coyote but it's definitely not the right tool for the job. It "will" work for SD but again there's better choices (like a .357).
This is not a knock on the .22 LR. If I had to sell all but one of my guns I'd sell every centerfire I have and keep one of my .22's. But they are not as versatile.
LK
As much as I like the .22 LR I'd really like to see you qualify your post. IMHO, The .357 is better at SD and it will take a wide variety of game from rabbit to deer, coyote, hogs and black bear. It's available in guns that weigh no more than a quality .22. The .357 can be had in pocket pistols up to large frame, long barrel hunting handguns.
I know, someone will chime in a say that a .22 LR "will" kill deer, hogs and coyote but it's definitely not the right tool for the job. It "will" work for SD but again there's better choices (like a .357).
This is not a knock on the .22 LR. If I had to sell all but one of my guns I'd sell every centerfire I have and keep one of my .22's. But they are not as versatile.
LK
Firepower!
New member
Surprisingly no one voted for 30. It has unmatchable penetration.
Regular Joe
New member
I'd like to see where you got your info about the .30 Mauser having "unmatched penetration", since the standard .30 cal pistol bullet is only 85 gr. or so. It would have to be very similar to the 7.62 x 25:
http://www.brassfetcher.com/762x25mmJHPs.html
In all of the discussion about the wonders of various calibers, I keep coming back to the good old 9 x 19. We are talking about pistol calibers, after all. I've had .357 Mag, .44 Mag. and various stuff in Contenders, but all I have now is a pair of 9mm's. I live in Las Vegas, NV. and it can handle anything I'm likely to encounter within 1,000 miles of here. If I find myself in bear country, I'll keep the 870 nearby, with slugs.
A big compelling reason for me to favor 9mm is the wide availability of free brass. I find brass in just about every caliber that gets shot, but 9mm shows up at least 30 to one over anything else. An informed hand loader can place the 9mm between a hot .38 Special and .357 Mag. powerwise. Someone said that he can load a vast variety of different projectiles in his .357 wheelgun. Why? I loaded snakeshot in .44 a long time ago and found it to be just plain ridiculous. As for the different bullet designs and power levels, I have no need at all for anything but a good and accurate HP. Call me weird, but when I load all of my ammo the same, I have a pretty good idea of where the bullet will hit. Having many different loads for the same gun is like having the workers speaking many different languages on a job site. There's a lot of activity, but nothing getting done.
http://www.brassfetcher.com/762x25mmJHPs.html
In all of the discussion about the wonders of various calibers, I keep coming back to the good old 9 x 19. We are talking about pistol calibers, after all. I've had .357 Mag, .44 Mag. and various stuff in Contenders, but all I have now is a pair of 9mm's. I live in Las Vegas, NV. and it can handle anything I'm likely to encounter within 1,000 miles of here. If I find myself in bear country, I'll keep the 870 nearby, with slugs.
A big compelling reason for me to favor 9mm is the wide availability of free brass. I find brass in just about every caliber that gets shot, but 9mm shows up at least 30 to one over anything else. An informed hand loader can place the 9mm between a hot .38 Special and .357 Mag. powerwise. Someone said that he can load a vast variety of different projectiles in his .357 wheelgun. Why? I loaded snakeshot in .44 a long time ago and found it to be just plain ridiculous. As for the different bullet designs and power levels, I have no need at all for anything but a good and accurate HP. Call me weird, but when I load all of my ammo the same, I have a pretty good idea of where the bullet will hit. Having many different loads for the same gun is like having the workers speaking many different languages on a job site. There's a lot of activity, but nothing getting done.
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I like big bullets. Make for accurate guns, ability to take large game animals, and something about having a handgun that can put out 3000 ft-lbs of energy, when needed, works for me. Also, at 3.6 pounds, I find this gun much more packable then the S&@ artillery pieces w/o wheels.
The 1.4" case gives you a huge variety of loads, and, while a bit on the expensive side, the .510" bullets don't need to expand, but they do...
Here's a shot with some 700 grain cup nosed .510" bullets. The bullet is about 1.0" long, or nearly the same length as the standard .357 or .510 Linebaugh pictured. I can get this one going about 1000 fps, for only 50 ft lbs of recoil..
This is my most often used gun, since it's .475 Linebaugh, drives tacks, and, it's completely 17-4 stainless, very hard to make, but, very tough, and, doesn't require a lot of oiling...
Notice the .357 magnum(furthest right), and how puny it is compared to the .475's(5th, 6th, and 7th from left) and the .510"s, first four, left to right.
For the money, a BFR, in .475 Linebaugh, for 800 dollars, and, with factory Hornady ammunition about the same cost as a 44 magnum, the .475 is the best value in big bore handguns...