357 magnum vs 44 special

[lumbering.buffalo]

It's Saturday; and I'm bored, so I'm wondering which is a more potent round. A 44 special out of the "new" 44 specials Ruger is producing (44 on a 357 frame if I am correct) or one of the newer 357 magnum loads from Buffalo, Corbon, etc.?

I have a NIB Lipsey 44 special, but I had a Speed Six that I sold off years ago. I'm coming full circle and settling of revolvers in my old age. Therefore, I'm thinking of find another Speed Six and using that as my packing/camp gun/black bear protector and maybe getting a 22 mag as a rodent/varmint plinker.

Edited to add:
The first rule of a gun fight is have a gun. That's why I settled on a S&W 642 (no LCR at the time) when I got my PTC. My friends with the Glocks, 1911s etc say I'm undergunned. I say "at least I have one."

So the reason I'm looking at the Speed Six is that I'll probably be more willing to carry that than my Blackhawk.

 

[DGW1949]

If you're comparing "factory" ammo, it's the .357 by a mile. Handloading for a proper platform can change that.

DGW

 

[gramps]

If you're comparing "factory" ammo, it's the .357 by a mile. Handloading for a proper platform can change that.

DGW

I agree.
gramps

 

[COR]

Well now let's hold up here....if we are talking "factory ammo" you might forget we have more than winchester and remington in 2011 (see link)... no amount of lobbying will get me to say the 357 is better in any way to the 44spl....OK ammo "availability" maybe but even that 246gr RN at 800fps is nothing to sneeze at. I'd feel well armed if that is all I had...the 45ACP ballistics are no better and it is a known "stopper".

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_65&osCsid=afneznoc

 

[flatgate]

I'm in the "bigger is better" camp.

I'll take a .44 over any .357 ever made......

JMHO,

flatgate

 

[Axehandle]

Apples and oranges... An argument that for the sake of arguing will never be resolved. Make your choice and be happy knowing that you have made the right and best choice for you. :D

 

[Dobetown]

Mr Flatgate if you have unloved 357 Flattops or Old models with 4 5/8 I would offer a good home.

 

[tom black]

Personally I'd rather have a hat full of green walnuts than anything less than 41 calibre.
Tom Black

 

[jpickar]

357's are better------just because no one else will take the 357's side. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

John

 

[Donaldjr1969]

Personally, I would not want to get shot with either of them!!!

 

[Ruger Packer]

Personally, I would not want to get shot with either of them!!!

My sentiments EXACTLY!! :shock:

 

[Leucoandro]

Revolver as a defensive backup to a rifle in the woods, I could go with either. Revolver as a primary defensive firearm, I would rather a double action, but could go with either as long as I am not dealing with brown bears.

For hunting with only a handgun, I could go with either, unless dealing with brown bears.

A lot of it comes down to how comfortable you are working a Single Action in a high stess environment (IE dealing with a ticked off charging bear).

Truthfully, I would rather the Redhawk in 44 Mag (45 Colt with Ruger only loads) with a 4 inch barrel if I thought I might have to deal with any bears.


Charlie

 

[BearStopper]

For all around plinking, light hunting, and just plain fun the 44 special is great. For a defense load, who can argue against a .357 as great? Fact is, we live in a multi gun day and age. I bet most guys on this site have in excess of 20 guns each...I know I do, so why not have both?

 

[bigbill]

If i had to choose between the two i always end up purchasing both anyway in the end. I'm not sure how close the ballastics are between the 44 special and the 357mag but i'd say without looking at the ballastics the 357mag is faster in FPS right? Now its up to the energy so we need to compare that between the two. So its the speed(FPS), the Energy(ft,lbs) and the bullet weight too that matters when we compare them. Bill

 

[bigbill]

Revolver as a defensive backup to a rifle in the woods, I could go with either. Revolver as a primary defensive firearm, I would rather a double action, but could go with either as long as I am not dealing with brown bears.

For hunting with only a handgun, I could go with either, unless dealing with brown bears.

A lot of it comes down to how comfortable you are working a Single Action in a high stess environment (IE dealing with a ticked off charging bear).

Truthfully, I would rather the Redhawk in 44 Mag (45 Colt with Ruger only loads) with a 4 inch barrel if I thought I might have to deal with any bears.


Charlie

Charlie, Your right the choice changes when there is a charging bear to deal with. The only thing a man can out run is a chicken. But me with being 60yo now plus my disability i don't even think can beat a chicken nowadays. So for me bigger is better, the more cannon the better. But with my bear hunting experience a well placed first shot is the best thing. But with a charging bear we don't have much of a choice but to fire away and try to place our shots on the money. Remember when the bear is close up and about to get personal an eye shot or a roof of the mouth shot just amy save your life in the end when all else fails. I haven't been in that situation but we have made 25yds shots and under, they have been that close on the ground. But we do kick into survival mode and stay calm and do what we have to do. Bill

 

[jpickar]

A shotgun with slugs isn't enough for a charging bear.

When my boys were young and we had chickens......there was a rooster that nobody could out run! I got tired of being attacked all the time and one day I had a 410 in my hands.................

Yup, that's right, I couldn't out run that rooster. I admit it. :lol: :lol:
And he couldn't out run a load of shot! 8)
John

 

[Tony_The_Liger]

Do I have to choose?

Both the .357 magnum and .44 special are great rounds, and I wouldn't feel under-gunned with either in personal defense scenarios involving two legged creatures.

Against a bear or a raging donkey, I would feel under-armed with both! Pick the one you are most familiar with and most accurate with and load it hot if you're in the woods. I'm getting the feeling that you're into the speed six. It's a great gun. As you mentioned, real defense weapons are the ones you have on you when the fit hits the shan.

In .357 you can get a buffalo bore, doubletap, or corbon hard-cast and gas-checked round in 200 grains pushing 1200+ FPS. In .44 special you can get a 200 - 300 grain round pushing around 1000 FPS. It's a toss-up and neither would be considered ideal against a large predator. CDNN has a good deal on .44 mag blackhawks, and I would consider that a baby-step up in the right direction towards bear defense.

Likely you won't have to shoot anything if your intentions are peaceful and you walk with a bell!

Also, have you considered bearspray #9? You spray the bear and it falls in love and won't hurt you anymore... unless you're real ugly.

 

[Olsherm]

I can tell you this. I was shooting the old 44/40 out of a 7 1/2 inch barrel with what I call cowboy loads at the shooting range and I hit one of the 4 x 4 treated posts and it went all the way thru it. That was enough for me to think I don't need a super magnum very bad.Those big old lead slugs have a big "wallpo" to them.I big bear I have no experience with.

 

[jpickar]

Grizzlies hear a shot and they come running to the gut pile. They think the same about "dinner bells" too! :lol:

John

 

[Bucks Owin]

For all around plinking, light hunting, and just plain fun the 44 special is great. For a defense load, who can argue against a .357 as great? Fact is, we live in a multi gun day and age. I bet most guys on this site have in excess of 20 guns each...I know I do, so why not have both?

10X.. :wink:
No such thing as "too many guns" IMO...

 

[TRanger]

Elmer Keith settled this question a long time ago.

 

[writwing]

Personally, I would not want to get shot with either of them!!!

But the 44 would be better on the shooter, especially indoors.

 

[ProfessorWes]

I have flattopped Blackhawks in each flavor - Anniversary .357 and Lipsey's .44 Special - and like 'em both.

That said: I do like the .44 SPL a bit more. A big-bore with all the stopping power of the .357 for less muzzle flash and recoil, on the same medium-sized frame; what's not to like?

 

[maxpress]

If you go with a 150gr 357 at 1400 fps vs a 300gr 44 at 700 than the heavier bullet will still take more to stop even know the "power factor" is the same.
As stated above I like the thump and push of a 44sp over the ear splitting crack and snap od a 357.
The other thing that brings me peace is I always hear guys in the store saying "yo my 357 or 9 expands to .43 and tears it up"
I start out with a .43 or .45. Any expansion I get is gravy.
Im not hateing on the 357. I think its a great round and I often carry one. If I had to choose or for heavy animal then it would be a big heavy solid bullet at 1000fps or so. 44.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I own three chambered in 357; I own none in 44 Special.

 

[CraigC]

I'll take the .44Spl any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Give me a moderately loaded big bore that penetrates like a freight train and does everything I need doing without making my ears bleed over any .357 that ever lived. IMHO, the best use of .357's is to convert them to something more useful.

 

[jpickar]

Not opininated there are we CraigC? :lol: :lol: :lol:

John

 

[Donaldjr1969]

Personally, I would not want to get shot with either of them!!!

But the 44 would be better on the shooter, especially indoors.

No argument there. That is why I have 44 Special hollowpoints for my SRH.

 

[jpickar]

I haven't shot indoors in decades. I guess I am very fortunate to be able to shoot on my own place.

John

 

[txpitdog]

With a Keith load in the fo' fo', I'd feel comfortable trying for a deer by aiming at the shoulders. If everything works out, I get two broken shoulders and no wasted meat. If I miss the sgoulders, i get a solid hole through both sides of the deer big enough to stick my thumb in.

With a 357, I'd use the hottest 158gr JSP I could either load or buy. But with the 357 I would not feel comfy aiming at the shoulders. It would have to be a heart shot or a low lung shot.

For hunting, the 44sp has the advantage of weight, diameter, and hardcast. Although the 357 has more speed and possibly more energy, the bullet is both much lighter and much smaller in diameter. It may be for no good, scientific reason, but I don't trust the 357 with my deer shootin' opportunities. Put either one in a Marlin levergun, and i'm definitely taking the Keith load 44sp.

Against 2 legged vermin, it's a wash. The 357 requires no explanation, and the 44sp is notably nasty with the Speer 200gr bullet. High confidence in either one.

I've got both. I like the 44sp, and can't be talked out of it.