.45 Colt. If you've got a Ruger or Thompson Contender, you can load them up to .44 mag. ballistics. Very versatile round that will run from 'bout 650 fps up to and over 1400 + fps. I now own two revolvers that caliber. I am currently looking for a Winchester Model 94 Trapper in .45 Colt (probably have a better chance winning the lottery!).

For me it is the 357 mag. For deer hunting I prefer the 44 mag but for self defense either in home or as a carry revolver I like the 357. I do hunt with the 357 on occasion and punch a lot of holes in paper with it.

I have to say the .38/.357 is my favorite as I been shooting it for over 45yrs and most of my guns are revolvers. I roll my own ammo and I got some good loads for my guns.

CHARLIE:
i had a ruger 45 and handloaded the 45 colt to 44 mag specs per hornady's book
the results at the range was swollen brass!!!
I didn't shoot the rest of the handload cartridges and considered myself lucky to miss an accident

Originally Posted by hideit

CHARLIE:
i had a ruger 45 and handloaded the 45 colt to 44 mag specs per hornady's book
the results at the range was swollen brass!!!
I didn't shoot the rest of the handload cartridges and considered myself lucky to miss an accident

Wow! Be careful (and so will I). I've loaded some pretty stout ammo (200 grain, 1350 fps out of a 4 5/8" barrel .... supposedly) and it didn't show any signs like that. I'll keep an eye out for some signs but the Lee manual had a section specifically for the Rugers (older, heavier guns) and the TC's and that's what I used. Thanks for the notice though.

45 Colt

Should Be On The List

Of the ones you listed, .357 Mag. But .38 Special is by far the most popular revolver ammunition; it works as practice ammo for .357s as well as in guns designed for only .38Sp, and between those two you're looking at around 75% of the revolver market. Then there's .357 Mag, then .22LR, then .45LC and .44Mag, then everything else.

yea i know but i doubt if there are very many 38spls sold
why limit your ammo choices and resale value

Have to say .357

Have to say .357mag. Gun are versatile and the .357mag is fine for hunting white tail deer. I have a Ruger Blackhawk with a 6 1/2 in barrel and just replaced the 4x32 NcStar scope with a BSA red dot. Perfect gun for a tree stand in thick woods.

Originally Posted by hideit

yea i know but i doubt if there are very many 38spls sold
why limit your ammo choices and resale value

Maybe, but S&W and Rossi make very good .38 snubbys designed for pocket carry, and .38 is totally decent as aa defense round. If you're only going to shoot .38, why spend extra for a less-easily-concealed revolver that can handle .357?

I love my S&W 44 6" for hunting, but CCW is a S&W 357 2". Though over penatration with the 357 for CCW is a concern of mine.

44 mag because it just so versatile. I handload but the choices available in factory ammo is good as well.

.410 shotshell with triple ought buckshot (Taurus Judge).

I see this as an ideal weapon to keep on the car seat to quickly resolve an attempted car-jacking. When a punk jerks the car door open, a face full of triple ought should rapidly dissuade the social misfit from wanting anything to do with your car, and should also render him unable to pass the eye exam for a driver’s license for the rest of his miserable life. If this seems cruel, so be it. If someone sneaks into a parking lot and hot-wires a car, that is one thing, but if he tries to forcibly take an occupied vehicle at a traffic light, he can learn to read Braille in prison as far as I’m concerned.

I would bet that there're more .38 Spl. revolvers sold than .357 to the public, and that much more .38 Spl ammo is sold....even when I carry a M65, I carry the FBI .38 +P load in it...I think the poll should have included it...though I agree it's better to have the option to shoot both .38 and .357 when ammo is in short supply...my favorite is .44 Special....

Originally Posted by submoa

.410 shotshell with triple ought buckshot (Taurus Judge).

I see this as an ideal weapon to keep on the car seat to quickly resolve an attempted car-jacking. When a punk jerks the car door open, a face full of triple ought should rapidly dissuade the social misfit from wanting anything to do with your car, and should also render him unable to pass the eye exam for a driver’s license for the rest of his miserable life. If this seems cruel, so be it. If someone sneaks into a parking lot and hot-wires a car, that is one thing, but if he tries to forcibly take an occupied vehicle at a traffic light, he can learn to read Braille in prison as far as I’m concerned.

I like the way you think!! ROTFLMAO!!!!

From back in the day----.357 magnum, one Ruger GP100 then the Colt Trooper Mark IV. Enjoyed them both, don't have them any more, the only two revolvers I have ever owned. I'm totally auto pistol now. Do I miss those days? Just a little bit, and I'm a better person today because of those days.

Originally Posted by hideit

CHARLIE:
i had a ruger 45 and handloaded the 45 colt to 44 mag specs per hornady's book
the results at the range was swollen brass!!!
I didn't shoot the rest of the handload cartridges and considered myself lucky to miss an accident

You have hit upon the problem with hot rodding the 45 Colt to 44 mag specs. The Ruger or Freedom Arms revolvers will take the pressure but the brass is the weak link.

John Taffin has several loads he uses and pushes some of the loads in the revolvers designed to take it. Check it out:

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt45lc.htm

22 lr Revolvers are really fun to shoot. When I bought my K22 my buddy asked why I would buy something in 22? I took him out shooting and he was really impressed. I sure was impressed with the smile on his face as he shot it.

Originally Posted by hideit

CHARLIE:
i had a ruger 45 and handloaded the 45 colt to 44 mag specs per hornady's book
the results at the range was swollen brass!!!
I didn't shoot the rest of the handload cartridges and considered myself lucky to miss an accident

I've got an old Ruger Blackhawk .45 convertible. When I want .44 Magnum performance, I shoot a .44 Magnum.

.45 Colt - Taurus Tracker, Ruger Vaquero, Ruger New Vaqueros, and ASM Colt clone.

loose powder - .36
brass - .45 colt in ruger vaquero
after that it blurrs into want vs favorites

Not speaking from experience but I'm considering picking up a .357 686 or GP100. Being able to shoot .38's, .38+P's and .357's......not a great CCW gun but at the range, in the woods and in the home I think it makes for a versatile gun.