What of these two calibers would you pick for wilderness carry ( ranch hand style) and why? I keep hearing from a trapper friend about the lack of penetration from the 44 mag and was wondering if anyone else saw this. I keep thinking that a 357 would penetrate better. This isn't for a hunting application, just protection. Thank you
44 mag vs 357 mag
- Thread starter aaron v
- Start date
Like most things in life, bigger is better as long as you can shoot it well and it is not too heavy to carry in the terrain/conditions that you will be in.
It is hard to find good factory, 180 gr loads for the .357 Magnum in Canada and I usually end up with 158 gr softpoints. Still better than your fingernails I suppose.
It is hard to find good factory, 180 gr loads for the .357 Magnum in Canada and I usually end up with 158 gr softpoints. Still better than your fingernails I suppose.
back40sniper
CGN Regular
- Location
- South east Sask.
I believe that the one shot stops was for two legged predators, for wilderness I will stick with best of both worlds. 41Mag in Marlin 1894 
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Protection - the most powerful cartridge you can confidently handle. That's why .357 did slightly (I read the full info elsewhere...) better than 44 mag on 1 shot stops on humans (not pissed off bears)...too many guys scared of their own .44's, but not so scared of their own .357's.
From someone who's seen bears and moose go down to .44 mag, I don't recall any of those animals complaining about lack of penetration as the .44 bullets passed clean through them...
Personally I'd get a ranch hand in 45 colt (since you're specifically talking ranch hands) and handload it with a good 300 grain medium-hard cast wide flat nosed bullet to as heavy a load as a fellow could handle shooting. That would be significantly ahead of any commonly available factory .44 mag offerings; again, the limiting factor would be shooter competency with the load.
From someone who's seen bears and moose go down to .44 mag, I don't recall any of those animals complaining about lack of penetration as the .44 bullets passed clean through them...
Personally I'd get a ranch hand in 45 colt (since you're specifically talking ranch hands) and handload it with a good 300 grain medium-hard cast wide flat nosed bullet to as heavy a load as a fellow could handle shooting. That would be significantly ahead of any commonly available factory .44 mag offerings; again, the limiting factor would be shooter competency with the load.
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Lol I see you are familiar with the area. Yes, I can take any rifle on my back anywhere rural and not have any issue with anybody but the ranch hands size makes it easier to bring for the ride. The 3030 or 4570 do come along but when there is work to be done in The bush they start getting in the way. I can shoot the ranch hand accurately enough to bring it instead. I also handloads so getting the most out of a handload is not an issue. Also have the henry in 45 colt.
If it is a defensive weapon then "penetration" is secondary to "devastation"... the .44 Mag beats the .357 every time... not that I am conceding that the .357 does out penetrate the .44... I reamed my .357's to MAXIMUM and the .44's still come out ahead in my experience... if I was serious about defense in the wilderness, it would be .45/70 over either.
- Location
- Steel Town
I was also going to chime in and say 45-70. If it can drop a Buffalo, it can drop anything you would experience in the woods.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Has anyone ever actually hit something they shot at in a hurry with a ranch hand? Seems to me like a firearm that is easy to carry but hard to shoot well. I carry a carbine with a full length stock, because I figure that a hit with it is better than a loud miss with something "handier" or is that just me?? Anybody experiment with both types and form a real world conclusion?
I've been experimenting with different stock lengths for it. I've added about 3" to the factory stock with cut up hockey pucks for testing. Seems to shoulder quickly and still is decently compact. I'm still playing with the sights also. Once I'm happy with it, I will make it look nice again. I would like to put a nicer trigger spring in it too.
The 45 colt here is a henry with the brass lite reciever. I don't know if it will handle hot loads.
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
If it can handle the 44 mag it can handle a warm 45 Colt. No replacement for displacement
