Magnum comparison: .357 vs .44 ?

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762mm

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Hey there guys,

I just saw on the CFC website that my RPAL is in the mail. I am planning on purchasing two revolvers first - a 22LR double action (for practice) and a "real" revolver in either in .357 or a .44 magnum, but I am torn between which one to choose. Then, I will follow with a Glock 17 in 9mm (gotta have a semi too, lol)... but the revolvers will come into play first and hopefully real soon.

What are your thoughts? Which caliber would be better price-wise and performance-wise? I want to use those guns for target practice and I'd like to compete against some guys I know (so my gun needs to have decent ballistics, dead on target - and preferably not cost a fortune in ammo!).

By the way, is there a certain revolver make/model that's known to perform better than others? I've been looking at a Ruger Security Six or a Ruger Super Redhawk so far... Haven't found anything else that fits the bill yet (looks and caliber specs).

Thanks in advance. :)
 
I would go with the .357. .44 is expensive. I'm partial to S&W myself, love my model 66-2.
 
Dont't own one but a good name .357 is a good investment cause you can use .38 ammo for practice (cheaper) My personal fave is the s&w .44 mag model 627 I also hand cast for it making for lots of shooting for not much bux.
 
If you don't reload, a .357 will be cheaper to feed and you can run uber cheap 38spl ammo in it. Even if you do reload, 44 mag components are still pricey compared to 357/38spl. Factory 44mag ammo is hardly ever cheap.
 
I own a .44 Mag wheelgun and I agree with the pro-357 arguments above.

I love my 44, but MAN is ammo expensive. When I see bricks of cheap .38 Special at the gun store, I wish I would have picked up a .357 Mag... but then again, I bought mine for bears (you know, in case a bear attacks me while at a licensed range as per my ATT conditions). I'm sure in that sort of situation I'd appreciate the little extra that a .44 can give you... but I don't shoot my .44 as often as I'd like just due to the expense factor.

-M
 
Get a .357 first as you can still shoot .38's out of it for relatively cheap and little recoil. My first handgun was a beautiful 4" Nickel S&W model 29. I taught myself a flinch that took nearly 2 months to get rid of. Learn on the .22 and .38's. Then move up into the .357. If you can shoot a full house load .357 with a good degree of accuracy, you can pretty well shoot anything after that. Work your way up, it will end up being more enjoyable for you in the long run, besides, then you have an excuse to buy a .44 as well. :)
 
.357 is really the best way to start off in terms of price and recoil. As well, you mentioned that you were planning to compete against some buddies of yours. If it's going to be some kind of 'action pistol' scenario, then you'll be wanting a double action over the single action. I got a GP-100 a couple years back without the full underlug and I love it. There are also a lot of used revolvers on the market and if all your doing it plinking than a starigh .38 special might suit your needs as well.
 
If you can afford it, buy both! :D

If you are on a budget, there are plenty of new or used 686's, Colts and others out there for the .357. It's also a lot cheaper for commercial ammo and also for reloading as .44 brass is hard to find for free and more expensive than the .357 if you buy it new. With the cost savings of .357 ammo, you could save your own brass and reload it, too.

Mind you, a nice H110 load in .44Mag is TONS OF FUN!!! :D
 
I have them all. In the last 30 years I don't think I have fired a full box of magnum ammo in either the 357 or the 44. The 44 is downright painful. The 357 does not hurt, but I fear developing a flinch.

But I have fired a few bazillion 38 Spl mid range loads in the 357 (Smith 686 and Taurus 689) reloads can be bought cheaply or you can use a Dillon to fill your buckets of ammo.

I have shot quite a few 44 Spl mid range loads in my 44s. If I did not have the 357s and 38s, I could be quite happy just shooting 200 gr SWC lead bullets in the 44. But I handload. Reloaded 44 Spl is not available at any gun store I ever saw.

The guns that get used the most at our house are the 22 revolvers. Great fun. very good for learning how to shoot.

So I suggest a 22 and 357 double action revolver.
 
+1 ont the .357mag, because you can shoot .38special as well for practice!

check out the Performance Center Smith & Wesson models, amazing revolvers!
 
Thanks a lot guys, I haven't expected this many replies so fast, lol! It sounds like they're both nice contenders... and I guess I'll take all your advice. I'll go with a .357 first and practice on that with a healthy mixture of .357 and .38's, then when ready, I'll upgrade to a .44 mag (meaning I'll buy another gun, hehe - which is always a good thing!).

By the way, has anyone had any experience with the RPAL transfers in Quebec? I'm planning on getting both revolvers that interest me in one shot from this one guy locally as soon as I get the license, but I'm not YET a member of a range... this will change in the next 2 months or so (as I've already told the CFO when they called me up to conduct their verification), but I'd like to get the guns now before the guy sells them to someone else... it's a first-come, first-served kind of deal. :(

I know I could technically pay him now, then join the club, then collect my guns later on (in like 2+ months)... but I'd rather get everything done all at once in one shot without unnecessary bureaucratic delays. I don't care if I don't get an ATT anywhere else than to transport them back to my house at first, as long as I'm able to secure them (buy them and make them mine, lol). I definately want to join a range to try them out, but I don't really have time right now due to other priorities...
 
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The first they asked me when I bought my first handgun in quite some time was what range I was a member of. If I am correct, you need the range membership before you can buy the handguns, then you need approval from the range to get your ATT.
 
577/450 said:
Dont't own one but a good name .357 is a good investment cause you can use .38 ammo for practice (cheaper) My personal fave is the s&w .44 mag model 627 I also hand cast for it making for lots of shooting for not much bux.
Click to expand...

always thaught the 627 is a 357 mag revolver...
must be a new addition I never heard about...:D

I suggest a 22 semi auto.
In my opinion it is so much more fun to shoot a 22 semi auto over a 22 revolver
and second a 357 revolver, S&W or Ruger GP100 are great.
then start reloading and you can make some anazingly accurate ammo for the "beast"....
 
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i don't own a 357, b/c i own a 44 redhawk- but i grew up on a 45acp, and the only reason i changed was b/c i didn't like doing the policing brass thing- HUNTING loads are about 2x the 357, and it takes a big heavy framed thing to shoot the 44, even if you use special or a bit better loads- but you can shoot the 44 for almost the same dollar as the 38/357, if you reload- you get slightly less bullets per pound, and they're slightly more money in cast
 
I did it the other way around. Bought a .44 mag first (S&W 629 Classic) and plan to buy a 686 next. It is too painfull to shoot more than 2 dozen rounds of .44 Mag in an outing so the cost isn't that bad:D
 
I've owned two 686s and loved them both. Having said that I moved to a real caliber and bought a 629 Classic. :D

After all the heavier cardboard targets require the extra oomph the .44 gives.

As this is your first centerfire buy the 686, shoot the hell out of it and when the novelty wears off, buy your .44
 
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