Why do some people dislike .357 magnum?

C

charlesc

New member
I read posts on the forum where some people say they dislike .357 magnum and some say a .44 magnum or higher feels better to shoot? What are/is the reason for dislike of .357 magnum?
 
I think the three main complaints are:

1. Loudness/muzzle blast
2. Muzzle flash
3. Snappy recoil

Personally, I enjoy shooting the .357 Magnum out of an L or N-frame. It's the most powerful revolver cartridge I can shoot while still feeling like I'm in "control" of the gun.
 
No insult to the poster and not to hijack the post but does anybody have a book recommendation that would help someone new to firearms?

Something that would explain the arcane hobby/lifestyle and provide the background information that we all pick up but instead of doing it slowly over a long period of time would give you the information in one place, all at once (and probably save months of asking ‘beginners questions’?).

With all the new shooters around what’s the book to recommend to them?

Pax-your website is good…do you have a book out? Heck, even my sister-in-law has a Kindle book out…how about it? Or anybody else?
 
schneiderguy - do all those 3 characteristics of .357 magnum exceed those of .44 magnum or .454 casull?
how will shooting .357 magnum feel in Ruger gp100 4.2 inch and 6 inch models?
 
I own and shoot both 357 - 44mag often and I think most of it comes down to size / weight.
A lot of 357 are short barreled and lighter weight frames vs the 44mag.
The lighter weight gives more notable recoil.
Also the 357 has IMHO a more pronounced "jump" type recoil where the 44 mag has more of a "push" type recoil.
Just my nickel 98 ;)
 
Not intending to offend you, but did you read their post or comments as to why they held their view point? :confused:

You may of missed your opportunity to ask them directly.
 
I'd tend to agree with madmo. Most of the .44s I've shot tend to be bigger and weigh more than the .357s. Where a Super Blackhawk tends to "roll" on recoil, my Model 19 Smith snaps with heavier loads. I like the .357, prefer it over the .44, but some do find it obnoxious. To each his own. The other ting mentioned was muzzle blast and, again, FWIW I notice it a little more in the .357 with some powders, especially H110 and its twin. Other powders, like 2400 and Unique, appear to have about the same out of similar length barrels. For most applications, I'll stick to the .357 - smaller, easier to handle (for me), cheaper to shoot (usually) and plenty of punch for anything I'm likely to need it for.
 
"I think the three main complaints are:

1. Loudness/muzzle blast
2. Muzzle flash
3. Snappy recoil"

What he said. Plus ammo is expensive. Great general purpose firearm but lacking at either end of the spectrum.
 
Originally posted by charlesc:

I read posts on the forum where some people say they dislike .357 magnum and some say a .44 magnum or higher feels better to shoot?
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If you read forum posts long enough, you will notice some folks dislike .44 mag or higher. Some hate .22. Folks all have preferences and opinions. Some folks have only shot .357 outta lightweight snubbies where even a +p .38 would be uncomfortable. I love shootin' .357 and shoot twice as much of that as all my other handgun calibers combined. It's easy and relatively inexpensive to reload for as compared to larger caliber handguns also. One needs to form their own opinion from experience, and take what they read on the internet with a grain of salt........:rolleyes:
 
I don't think I've ever read a post where someone said they disliked a 357 magnum. I have read, and made some posts that point out some of the 357's shortcomings. Some may misunderstand this to mean that I dislike the round. Not true.

I don't dislike the 357, but for what I need a handgun to do there are simply better choices. If I want a small, compact gun I'll take a 9mm any day of the week. With the best loads 124 gr 9mm+p will equal or beat 125 gr 357 loads when fired from barrels 3" or shorter. They do it with less recoil, less blast and with 2.5X more rounds from a more compact, lighter gun. I can shoot 9mm cheaper than 38's if I'm plinking.

If I need a full size gun I'll take my S&W 629 in 44 mag. It is only 1/2 oz heavier and 1/8" thicker than a S&W 686 or Ruger GP-100 with equal barrel lengths. They fit in most of the same holsters. I can buy 44 mag ammo slightly cheaper than 357mag here, www.georgia-arms.com after they buy back my used brass, and take performance to a new level. If full power loads are not needed there are plenty of mid level 44 mag loads or hot 44 special loads that will equal or beat full power 357 with less recoil and blast.

I used to think a 357 was the most versatile revolver round until I bought a 629, a chronograph and started weighing, measuring and actually pricing ammo. I sold all my 357's and didn't own one for a long time. Never missed them, but did run across a good deal on a model 28 a few years ago I just had to have. So I'm back in the 357 game now.
 
My first brand-new, no previous owner six gun was a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 Magnum. First handgun hunting I ever did was with that gun. Been through several .357 Magnums over the years. Never got what I really wanted in a .357 Magnum, a 7 1/2" Ruger Three Screw Flat Top or a Colt New Frontier. Either would be perfect for longer shots at small game/varmints.

As to carry, it was my S&W Model 19 2 1/2" for many years, always loaded with .38 Special +P 158 gr. SWCHP.

You'll never hear me knock the .357 Magnum!

Bob Wright
 
For me, .357 is as much as I really enjoy shooting. I have fired (but do not own) more powerful guns but they are too much and I don't like to fire them. Not macho enough, I guess.

Jim
 
Why do some people dislike .357 magnum?
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Why do some people dislike puppies? Heck, I dunno.

That said, many people are introduced to it in the wrong way. Either they're shooting it out of a handbuster like the lightweight J-Frames, or they had it snuck into the gun when they were new shooters.

It's not a beginner's load. It's something you work up to, but it's worth it in the long run.
 
Excess recoil, noise, and muzzle flash. It shoots the same size round as a 9mm or .38 special, yet I can put more shots on target with a 9mm or .38 faster and with more accuracy than the .357 magnum or sig. I do not believe that an extra 200fps is going to save my butt, so because of that I stick to 9mm.

Not to mention, a single .357 round 2 years ago left me with high frequency hearing loss and permanent tinnitus (ringing in the ears) in my left ear. On the DB scale, the .357 is leaps and bounds over most handgun rounds and is devastating to the ears. Sure, all handgun rounds have the potential to cause hearing loss, but the .357 does especially so.

Keep in mind just a 3 DB increase creates twice the sound pressure. Do the math.

.357 Magnum 164.3 dB

9mm 159.8 dB
.38 S&W 153.5 dB

http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

According to the above link

AS THE SOUND PRESSURES INCREASE, SO DOES THE RISK OF PERMANENT HEARING LOSS.
Click to expand...

If I have the need for a high powered handgun round, a .44 magnum or hot .45 colt are far more effective than a .357 magnum.
 
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I like mine .... and I load them with 158hp and have no complaints....same velocities I get out of 9mm but more energy due to the heavier bullet. Loud?? Heck yes but nearly all handguns are loud enough to ruin your hearing. Pray that the adrenaline saves your ears if you have to shoot without protection!
 
It is a good thing my father, who served in Europe during WWII, didn't have to deal with 357magnum hearing loss.
The many US and German machine guns he fired, as well as the 37mm cannon in his armored car, and the artillery both incoming and outgoing, left his hearing fine. If they had 357's...all bets are off, I guess.
Personally, my 3" GP100 is my favorite handgun.
 
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