I voted .357 but it was a close call with a .22.
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I voted .357 but it was a close call with a .22.
I have a s&w model 28, the old Highway Patrol model and a stub nose model K. I shoot 38, 39 + P, and 357. I enjoy both of these guns, but I cary a Sig 2022, 9MM. For fun I shoot a Kimber Grand Raptor 45. I just enjoy shooting!!
.357
:smt023
Barry
I voted for other. I have a 9mm revolver that I carry about the same amount of time as my 357 mag next.
41 mag for me. Can do everything a 44 mag can do with less recoil and more penetration.
.45 Colt. A handloaders dream as long as you are shooting a Ruger or Freedom Arms.
It's the .357 for me in revolvers - .45 in auto's.
:smt1099
10 mm for sure. Flatter shooting then the 357, bigger bullet and more usable bullet wts and types and with the power of factory 41 Magnum. Number two is 44 Remington Magnum for Revolver, 10 mm for automatic followed by 45ACP second choice.
A friend of mine has a .357 whuich i've seen a couple of times,it looks just right.
Not overkill,not too small.
With a .44 magnum I load .44 russians, or .44 specials, or .44 magnums from mild to wild. I can kill anything that needs to be killed or defend myself appropriately with something that will come out of that revolver. That can't be said for handguns that are larger (.44 russians are very weak loads and appropriate for small game while other big bore revolvers simply don't have weaker ammo available), or smaller (.357 magnum limits are black bear and most hunt those with .41 or .44 mag or larger). I had two 357 mag revolvers for a long time (a 686 S&W and a model 15 Dan Wesson), and I gave them to lifelong friends who would enjoy them more than me when I realized a never took them out anymore as I had no reason.
And a .41 mag cannot do what a .44 mag can do. It doesn't have near the top end potential despite what those who cling to that cartridge may think. I think .41 mag is a great round, but it's upper limits stop far short of a .44 mag. (Why do you think the recoil is less?) The only thing that is as close to being as versatile as a .44 mag revolver is the 45 LC, but you have to hand load to match the versatility and ammo is difficult to find sometimes if you don't reload for regular shooting; therefore, the nod goes to the .44 mag.
That being said, I've shot, and it's probable that everyone who shoots or has shot quite a bit, more .22 than anything else. And a carry a Colt Commander for general defense every day unless going to the woods, but that's not a revolver.
You can't go wrong with a .357, .44 MAG is too much and 454, well hope you have an arm when you get done.
I've got revolvers in about a dozen different chamberings, and they're all my favorite. Just depends what the given task or objective is. Variety is the spice of life.
However, I have recently developed a deep appreciation of my S&W 610 chambered in 10mm. The 10mm full house loads are roughly equivalent to the 41 mag, and the 40 S&W make a very pleasant "light" load. I bought 100 moon clips for it at 75 cents each so reloading at the range is a snap. I load the moon clips at home while watching TV, and take the loaded moon clips to the range. The large N frame is very accurate and dose a good job of absorbing recoil.
And even better, I have never had a problem finding ammo for it. Even during the height of the ammo shortage, I could find 40 and 10 ammo. Just about everyone had 40 in stock, and 10 was always available via mail order. 38 and 357 were virtually non existent during the crunch, and are still hard to find. And 40 is also cheaper than 38 or 357. So yea, I like 10mm.
The problem with the J-Frame .357 Magnums are that they are all heavy, too heavy for effective pocket carry in slacks. Although some "super Metal" .357 Magnums are made, they are a bear to shoot and have problems with bullets jumping their seating. I own a 60 and a 640, but they are for winter belt carry. The 642 and 637 are my "summer" guns. I have also found that the Airweights work better for me with standard pressure .38 Spcl.
I like .38 S&W. It's weak and underpowered, but fun to shoot in my old Enfield revolver!
38 spl in just about any revolver.
very nice cartridge with great case life.....
I'm going with the good old .357 I have 2 of them and never had a problem hell my shub nose u wouldn't even haved to hit anybody the muzzel flash and noise will make them s&%t themselves and take off running. Also u can shot .38 in them.:smt033
.357 in my 686 but .38 Special in all of my snubbies. When ammo is available (which isn't right now!) .38 Special can be found in many different loadings, from hot to tame.
My favorite revolver is has to be my new 432pd smith&wesson. I zig when others zag. So it's 6 shots of .32 magnum for me.
38 Special/357 Mag... I've been packing that way for years.
My favorite revolver is a S&W model 610 4". It is a 10mm cut out for moon clips. It will of course shoot the 40 S&W cartridge also. I have shot three of these revolvers and they all shoot great right out of the box. Nice and flat and puts em in the ring nicely.
Jeff
At the moment, .44 Special. Subject to change as new wheelguns get added to my collection... :mrgreen: Lets more air in and more blood out than a .38 Special, and doesn't try and remove my wrist when fired out of a snubbie the way a .357 Magnum does.
.38special Got the wife one and she loves it. She couldn't handle more than 5 rounds of .357 at the range.
S&W .357 mag
44 Magnum.
By far, the most versatile caliber for a reloader.
Kind of disappointed the 38 Special was not listed.
Love an afternoon with a model 14 and a bunch of cast lead reloads.