Versatility 357 or 430
- Thread starter M118LR
- Start date
Kind of the forgotten Magnum. But without the pletera of .38 Special and .44 Special loads running dealers shelves, is it really as versatile as either the .357 or .44? Part of versatility is ammunition availability. Guess social acceptance is part of the formula?
Edit, Dan Wesson revolvers optimize versiality, yet I may be the only member on the forum that has any?
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GypsmJim
GypsmJim
The .41 is not forgotten. It has a cult following.
Personally I shoot a lot of .38 specials as well as .357 magnum. I like them both.
I will shoot a .44 special but I don't like a .44 magnum.
The one I shoot most often is .41 special. I find it to be the best alternative to the others.
I imagine that someone will soon chime in about ammo cost and availability and the need to reload. I agree reloading is a necessity. However, since I refuse to pay store prices even for .38 special, reloading is all I ever do.
Personally I shoot a lot of .38 specials as well as .357 magnum. I like them both.
I will shoot a .44 special but I don't like a .44 magnum.
The one I shoot most often is .41 special. I find it to be the best alternative to the others.
I imagine that someone will soon chime in about ammo cost and availability and the need to reload. I agree reloading is a necessity. However, since I refuse to pay store prices even for .38 special, reloading is all I ever do.
A draw? Powering up the 44 no doubt, but powering down it's hard to beat a low speed 38 wadcutter. Then ya go capacity. The 44 L frame holding 5, the 357 holding 7.
Then there's that all important geography thing. Travel in the western north with Griz n such,,, which pistol ya want? 5 heavy 44's much more welcome than seven 357's,,,, maybe.
Then there's that all important geography thing. Travel in the western north with Griz n such,,, which pistol ya want? 5 heavy 44's much more welcome than seven 357's,,,, maybe.
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.357 is by far more versatile for the average shooter... And, by a wide margin.
Once you have mastered it, AND if you so choose, you can then move up the caliber scale.
Learning to shoot the bigger bores calibers effectively, requires a process.
It's similar to the martial arts, a blue belt is going to lose to a black belt 100% of the time.
Once you have mastered it, AND if you so choose, you can then move up the caliber scale.
Learning to shoot the bigger bores calibers effectively, requires a process.
It's similar to the martial arts, a blue belt is going to lose to a black belt 100% of the time.
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Mastering is a high order I think, but how about being proficient with most, if not all of them?
If one becomes proficient with a medium frame double action revolver, the hands will sense different recoil levels but otherwise won't care what the headstamp says on the case.
If one becomes proficient with a medium frame double action revolver, the hands will sense different recoil levels but otherwise won't care what the headstamp says on the case.
In the heat of battle all those little nerve endings don't feel a thing. A 22 and a 44 Mag have little difference on the first round placement. Front sight in a fight and if that fails just keep making noise until the aggressor runs away. 
If your an ambush hunter, well those roles may be reversed.
If your an ambush hunter, well those roles may be reversed.
Might need to consider how far "up" or "down" you want to be able to attain. Not really practical to try to load a .357 all the way up to a full-house .44mag level or load a .44 clear down to a piddling .38spl plinking level. Maybe the .41 has the potential to come pretty close to a very flexible spread, acknowledging that bullet selection might not be as broad for it as for either of the others. Good question.
PS It would allow one to master only a single gun, however.
A Jack of all trades, Masters none!Might need to consider how far "up" or "down" you want to be able to attain. Not really practical to try to load a .357 all the way up to a full-house .44mag level or load a .44 clear down to a piddling .38spl plinking level. Maybe the .41 has the potential to come pretty close to a very flexible spread, acknowledging that bullet selection might not be as broad for it as for either of the others. Good question.
PS It would allow one to master only a single gun, however.
Anyone that can be proficient with a full house .357 can become proficient with a 44:Special. JMHO YMMV.
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True. Don't believe there is a single one all-around best. Do consider that the .41spl has published loads, as well. Its limit might be how light a bullet is available/practical.
But versiality means adaptability. Like my Dan Wesson revolvers, popular acceptability is relevant. If it's a cult following that means it never made mainstream which means it didn't adapt.True. Don't believe there is a single one all-around best. Do consider that the .41spl has published loads, as well. Its limit might be how light a bullet is available/practical.
In the same gun? .44, especially if you handload. But the platforms available for the .357, J through N, or LCR through Redhawk. Does flexible mean one gun with a wide array of ammo, or a wide array of handguns that can be loaded with the same round?
Which are you more likely to carry. A anvil is a great tool, but you won't find one on my duty belt.
An L-Frame has been proven to be a center point.Everything is a trade off! If it's a cult following that means it never made mainstream which means it didn't adapt.
I'm not trying to "make a case" for the .41 bore, just considering possibilities.
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contender
Ruger Guru
"Edit, Dan Wesson revolvers optimize versiality, yet I may be the only member on the forum that has any?"
I disagree.
The Thompson Center Contender is much more versatile.
And you are not the only member who owns a Dan Wesson.
I disagree.
The Thompson Center Contender is much more versatile.
And you are not the only member who owns a Dan Wesson.
Been waiting to hear from another, but you are misguided if you believe a single shot TC is versatile. Totally a specific usage firearm!
Which is more versatile? In what capacity?
I've carried both as a daily 'chore gun' and it's quite obvious that in that capacity, the 357 was far more 'versatile' by allowing a very light lead HP load plus a more powerful, longer ranging 357 load in the cylinder providing better close range vermin capabilities and longer range without heavy, harder to control recoil.
If carried all day, every day the weight of a full sized 44 mag will be more noticeable at day's end.
I've carried both as a daily 'chore gun' and it's quite obvious that in that capacity, the 357 was far more 'versatile' by allowing a very light lead HP load plus a more powerful, longer ranging 357 load in the cylinder providing better close range vermin capabilities and longer range without heavy, harder to control recoil.
If carried all day, every day the weight of a full sized 44 mag will be more noticeable at day's end.
stonebuster
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2017
- Messages
- 644
You're not the only DW revolver owner here. There are several including myself owning three 15-2s in 357.
badguybuster
Blackhawk
I grew up with 357 mag and its only gotten better with loading advancements.
ChrisL
Single-Sixer
Dead on. This is why the limited run of medium frame Bisleys in 41 mag are getting bid up so high. You can load 41 spcl cases with big bullets and still fit into the cylinder. Plus it's smaller, lighter, and plenty strong. I would love to have one.
mrs50sls56
Single-Sixer
Well, my 6-1/2” .44 magnum Blackhawk, of course. After 20-30k rounds, you don’t even notice the recoil.
Neon Vernon
Single-Sixer
Just ignore him. In every thread where he participates he eventually gets around to trying to make himself look more clever, wise, experienced or special than everyone else.
GypsmJim
GypsmJim
I don't know what's "available". I cast my own. I shoot either a 175 or a 210 grain SWC.What's the lightest .41 bullet you have found available?
DGW1949
Hawkeye
For me and what I do with a revolver, it's the .357....I had a brief love affair with the .44 Mag many years ago and found it to mostly be a one trick pony. With factory loads it was down-right unpleasant to shoot, and when down loaded, it wouldn't do a single thing that my 45's hadn't already been doing. So beings how I wasn't planning to be messing around with any lions, tigers, or big brown bears, I didn't see the point in keeping a 44-Mag around.....
On a different but related note, I've worked alongside 3 street cops whom carried .44 Mags...One was Sgt John Stapleton who was an investigator for the Liberty Co. Sheriff's Dept. He carried a big .44 Cattleman SA....Another was Lt. Kenneth Key of the Humble TX P.D. His choice was a S&W N-Frame. There was also a reserve Deputy by the name of Steve Shelburn, also in Liberty County, who used to come out every once in a while and ride with me on Friday or Saturday nights. He also carried a .44-Mag Smith. We got into a scrape with 2 guys who had robbed a liquor store over on the county line one night and Steve ending up having to shoot one of them. One shot, center mass from about 10 feet away, 3 weeks in the hospital and the guy was up walking again...Another lesson learned. Regardless of the hype, the .44-Mag ain't magic.
Just sayin'.
edited for spelling.
DGW
On a different but related note, I've worked alongside 3 street cops whom carried .44 Mags...One was Sgt John Stapleton who was an investigator for the Liberty Co. Sheriff's Dept. He carried a big .44 Cattleman SA....Another was Lt. Kenneth Key of the Humble TX P.D. His choice was a S&W N-Frame. There was also a reserve Deputy by the name of Steve Shelburn, also in Liberty County, who used to come out every once in a while and ride with me on Friday or Saturday nights. He also carried a .44-Mag Smith. We got into a scrape with 2 guys who had robbed a liquor store over on the county line one night and Steve ending up having to shoot one of them. One shot, center mass from about 10 feet away, 3 weeks in the hospital and the guy was up walking again...Another lesson learned. Regardless of the hype, the .44-Mag ain't magic.
Just sayin'.
edited for spelling.
DGW
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