Hi Everybody.

Note: I'm begging you, please do not turn this into a 'caliber war'!

I've been rationalizing calibers again and, while I don't think there is one 'perfect' caliber, I'm wondering if there is a more practical and versatile cartridge than the .38/.357 combo.

I should point out that I reload and can make .38 rounds for about 13 cents with coated LSWC's. Not much more expensive than (cheap) .22.

Just seems to fit the bill for all the target shooting and plinking. Can even load up some XTP full-house .357's if I want to hunt with using a lever gun. I can also load whatever I want in between for SD, etc.

So, here's the question; is there a more practical, versatile, all-purpose caliber, or caliber combo, than .38/.357?

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But then, what do I know?

No, I think you are right as far as saying that caliber covers most all of the bases. I'm sure there will be the bigger bore devotees, but all things considered, the .357 chambering is king.

It may not be the best round for a purpose, but I agree. It can be used for almost all applications. ESP if you load your own.

And, bring in a rifle in .357, you can do it all.

'Cept maybe a bear. And I'm not openin' that can o worms.

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Reg. Magnum wants/Rossi wallet

It is hard, if not impossible, to argue against the versatility of the .38/.357 round and just about any firearm chambered for that cartridge.

.44 Special/Magnum comes close, albeit at increased cost.

When I had the time and money to shoot, I shot a LOT of .38 Special. I've got over 5,000 .38 Special cases.

The thing I like about .44 Special/Magnum is that while it can be loaded down to .38 Special wadcutter levels, it can be loaded to levels that make me FAR more comfortable in stopping large game than I'd EVER be with a .38/.357.

That having been said, I own multiple guns in BOTH calibers.

That versatility is in large part the basis for the reasoning I employed when I purchased my 686+ this past December.

The other part of the equation, (aside from recreational use), was that I wanted a handgun for home / self defense that I felt confident my wife could use in an emergency without having to deal with the potential issues that can result from lack of familiarity and training with semi-automatics, rifles and shotguns.

'Point and click' is about as simple as it gets without the fear of causing a failure to feed or fire due to 'limping' or any of a number of other reasons.

Like my 12ga Remington 870, the .357 / .38 combo results in an excellent multipurpose firearm.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

I think it probably comes down to where you live. I'd say the 38/357
might be the most practical here in IN because we don't run into
Grizzles very often while out in the Deer woods. But if I lived out west
or or in Alaska I would probably say the 44spl/44mag or bigger would
be the best.

over half my meager collection of smiths are .38 specials. a few .357s, a few .44 specials and a couple of .45 acp revolvers and a few .22 lr revolvers round it out. I "need" a lever gun in .38/,357 just for the heck of it. lee

I'd go with the .44mag/spl if availability wasn't a factor and I have a bunch of .44spl loads and brass.

I can't imagine carrying all of it but odds are better that I could find some .38 or .357 if I was separated from my stash.

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Dum vivo cano

Now if there was just such a thing as a .22 LR adapter for a .357 revolver....

NO!!! I own more .357s than any other caliber and I have always thought a .357 would kill anything I would ever encounter that walked, flew or crawled on its belly. Larry

cmort666 makes a good argument for the .44, if your a reloader.
Until I become a reloader, the .38/.357 combo is readily available in a huge range of types/weights/power-levels. My lever action makes all of them easy to shoot.

I lean more toward the .44 Special as being an all purpose handgun round. However, due to ammo availability, I have to give the nod to the .357. In fact, I own more .357 revolvers than any other caliber simply due to its great versatility. It truly is the Jack of all trades.

I own a lot of different calibers and platforms to shoot them, but it just seems the ones I keep coming back to the most are the 38/357's.

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- Change it back -

At least for caliber versatility in a single weapon, nothing beats a Model 1911. For mine, I have it set up to use .22 LR, 9mm, .38 Super, 9x23 Winchester, .400 Cor-Bon, and .45 ACP on the same frame. And it's possible to add a few other rounds to the list. If the day ever comes when we are limited to owning only one gun, I'm ready.

I live in a lower-Midwest metro area of 1.3 million people, and can no longer hunt. I'm quite happy with .38 Special--don't even need the .357 Magnum option to feel adequately armed.

The range of loadings in .38/.357 is so extensive that for a city-dweller it can offer anything that might be needed.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I'm also of the opinion that the 38spl/357mag combo is king.

But as others have said, for those who can roll their own, the 44spl/44mag combo is a very close second.

For those who don't reload the 38/357 is the definite winner due to both availability and affordability.

Even though you didn't explicitly state it, obviously you are talking about handgun calibers. For those, enough has been said.

But for a truly "most versatile" cartridge, I would nominate the 12 gauge, 2-3/4" / 3". Bird shot, Buck Shot, and Slugs will cover a wide range of home defense, hunting, and even survival use. Certainly better for bear than any handgun you can mention. If I could only have one gun, it would be a 12 gauge shotgun.

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You're shy a few manners.

No. I could live the rest of my life with just my model 19 and 442

Make that 442 a model 60 chambered in 357, and add a 357 lever action carbine and a 12 gauge pump and you'd have all the bases covered.

Yes, the .44 Magnum. At one time I did not own any smaller bored centerfires and could buy 180 grain cast .44 bullets from a local commercial caster less expensively than I could buy scrap lead. I fired thousands of them through .44 Magnums at about 750 fps. Except for concealed carry there's the substitute for a .38 Special. A .357 is a piss poor substitute for standard .44 Magnum loads and that is not even considering 300 to 320 grain .44 bullets. The biggest limit to .44 Magnum versatility, revolver size, has been partially mitigated by the availability of L frame .44 Magnums. While a Model 69 does not substitute for a J frame one is more versatile than a Model 686.

Definitely a Jack Of Many Trades.

Not for me there isn't. Love these calibers and the wheelguns that shoot them

That said, if only they made a 1911 in these venerable calibers, my life could be complete!

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Dave

I give you what I think is a valid analogy here. The 38/357 combination is akin to a 12 gauge shotgun for it's particular discipline. You'll get factions that prefer other gauges but it's hard to argue that the will do anything better than a 12 gauge. I've said it before: If I could only own 1 shotgun it would be a 12 gauge magnum in probably an autoloader.
I have fired and re-loaded countless thousand of rounds of 38SPL over the years and I still derive a great deal of enjoyment shooting it out of one of my Colt or S&W revolvers.
Jim

John Taffin writes that if given 1 choice in a center fire rifle, he would choose a lever gun in 38/357. I agree.

Going out on a limb here. I nominate the .41 mag. This only holds true if you are a reloader. While you can buy .41 Special brass, simply downloading to 8-900 fps in magnum brass accomplishes the same thing. Only drawback is that it needs to go in a N frame. If S&W would build a L frame .41 Special that would handle loads up to maybe 1200 fps,that would be even better.

As a reloader, I'd go with the .44 Mag. From mouse fart light bullet target loads, to fast jacketed self defense use, it will do everything the .38/.357 will do with proper handloads. When it comes to deer sized game, and larger, the .44 Mag. is a definite step up. My big bore Smiths and Rugers are some of the most accurate handguns I own.

Larry

IDK, I'll play devil's advocate here, and say yes, the 9mm Luger.

I know, the revolver can shoot more different bullet shapes and weights, but IMO the .38/.357 revolver rounds have kind of been superseded by the 9mm Luger semi-auto round. You can get standard pressure low velocity 9mm Luger ammo for target/plinking/small game, on up to hot +P and +P+ loads that rival or match 357 SIG semi-auto loads for velocity and energy. The 9mm Luger has replaced the .38 Spl as the most popular handgun round, IMO, and is available cheaper, and pretty much worldwide, and is chambered in revolvers, pistols, carbines and sub-machine guns. I believe that more research goes into developing new 9mm Luger bullets than any other, because right now that is where the bulk of the pistol ammo market is.

If you can kill it with a .357 Magnum, it can probably be killed with a 9mm Luger, too.

Don't hate me, I like 'em all.

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Buy American!

A real devil's advocate would nominate .25 ACP.

Generally speaking, NO. The .44 spec / .44 mag comes close (as previously commented), but at a considerable increase in size, weight and cost. I would not deliberately go out after a big cat or bear with a .357 even with a really good load, but I wouldn't drop it and run if faced with such a critter and that is what I had with me.

I personally keep going back to the 356 GNR by Gary Reeder. A 41 magnum necked down to 357. Spitting out bullets at rifle velocities. I love it.

GNR Wildcat Cartridges


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Here you can find such things (also for .44 and/or .45):
In Germany Lothar Walther they are known as "Reduziersysteme"

and in English:

1. Revolver barrel adapter Calibre .22l.r.
Lothar Walther

2. Despatcher for the smaller predators for revolver
Lothar Walther

P.44

Lots of great comments here!

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But then, what do I know?

Well, as long as this is America, we should never have to make the choice. But although I reload for 20+ calibers, and have many dozens of guns in many calibers, if I WERE limited to just one, I would agree that the 38/357 would be the one. I already have a great little model 92 Winchester clone that will handle either one flawlessly, and can pair it with everything from J frames through N frames, plus a bunch of Colts. I would feel pretty confident with any combination of those guns in the 38/357.

That does not stop me from having a lot of others, though.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I guess as an old retired cop who started with .38/.357 revolvers, I'm a bit prejudiced, but I believe they are the most practical and versatile. I've carried and shot everything from .38/.357 to 9mm to .40/10mm to .45 ACP to .44 Spec/.44 magnum and I really don't think there's anything that has a wider range of applications. I still have plastic pistols in other calibers but I find that I most often carry a 340 M&P or 640 loaded with BB 158+p FBI loads at 1000+ fps. or a 1911 in .45ACP (or both). I must be getting nostalgic. Lately, I keep finding myself buying more S&Ws in .357 mag.

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Dave Frost

Snowman.45:

10-4, I'm with you, brother!!! My most often carried EDC is my 340 PD, and next is the 340 M&P, followed by the 640-1 Pro Series. I use the 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .357 Mag in all three.

Occasionally I will carry something else; I have dozens to choose from, but those three are my main choices.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

les.b; good stuff. I definitely like your choices for concealed carry. A man can never have too many revolvers. I'm trying to find a little of the GDHP-SB 135 .357 mag. to carry in my guns. I'm also about to get an old Model 60 .38 I bought new back from another retired buddy of mine whom I sold it to back in the 80's. He's finding it hard to carry a revolver these days and wants my Shield in 9mm. The way I see it, I can always get another Shield, but the old .38 60s are hard to come by.

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Dave Frost

Long ago I saw a Lothar Walther adapter kit to convert a Luger to .22 LR which belonged to a former boss. I did not fire it so I don't know how well it worked. It also involved a barrel liner with a sort-of nut at the muzzle to secure it in place. There was also a different blowback breech system and magazine. I have not seen a revolver adapter for .22. I would imagine they are quite expensive.

Dave:

The 357 version of the 135 gr GDSB has been so hard to find, I've had some on backorder from Midway for like 9 months. I have several boxes in hand, but recently ordered some of the .38 +P version of the same cartridge. It comes in 50 Rd boxes for less than they charge for the 20 Rd boxes of the .357 version. Sometimes SGAmmo has it in stock, (just checked, they have it in stock now for $26.95 per box of 50), and I have found it at some of the other internet vendors as well. It doesn't have quite the velocity as the 357, but uses the same bullet, at almost as high a speed, supposedly 860 fps out of a two inch bbl. the .357 is somewhat faster, can't remember exactly how much, also from a two inch bbl.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Thanks Les. I'm scouring the sporting goods stores and FFL's around here.

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Dave Frost

Dave:

Sent you a PM, re: ammo.

Best, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I've always been of the opinion that for the reloader, there aren't too many cartridges more versatile than the .44 Magnum.

I love the .357 Magnum, and the .38 Special. I shoot the .38 Special more than any other cartridge.

So when we're looking at both the .357 and .44, and talking versatility, let's consider the range each can be used for.

Each can be loaded down to a power level that a beginner would be comfortable with. Powder-puff target loads. Yes, I know the .44 throws heavier lead, but a 200 gr. WC in my 629-4 still feels like shooting my K38.

At the upper end, however, the .44 Magnum stands head and shoulders above the .357 Magnum.

So, I'm still of the opinion that the .44 Magnum is the king of versatility, with the .38/.357 as the runner-up.

No there is not.

It's not strictly a 1911, but the Coonan Classic is a 1911 type pistol that shoots the 357 Magnum. They aren't cheap but they are fairly available nowadays. And they are an absolute hoot to shoot too, but a reloader's nightmare. They scatter brass all over the range.

Here's mine:


And here is an action shot at the range running some hot 296 reloads:


And I agree that the 38/357 is a great "all in one" caliber. But the 44 Special/44 Mag is a close second. I have rifles, revolvers and auto pistols in both calibers.

There is no doubt that a .44M can be loaded to more power than a .357M but most people don't need or want that much power and recoil. Because .44 bullets are heavier than .357 bullets the .357 can be loaded to have less recoil than the .44. The .357 with 125 gr. bullets can be loaded to a real mouse load or load a 158 gr. to over 1400 fps and it is more buck and roar than most people can handle. Larry

OkTime for another caliber for consideration.

The 327 Federal and compatible.

You have the 32 s&w which is just right for repelling hamster invasions.

The 32 s&w long, a good practice and low end defense round.

The 32 h&r magnum for a 38 special level defense round.

The 327 Federal for near 357 magnum power.

And for the experimenter the 32 acp.

All in 6 round j frame sized guns.

Someone needs to come out with a lever long gun in this caliber too and you would have hunting up to deer sized game covered.

I certainly don't think I am near as qualified pass judgement on handguns/calibers, so I will abide by this gentleman's guidance:
Skeeter Skelton:
My Friend, The .357

That surprises me. I'll have to look up that article and read it. Must have something to do with having a handgun / rifle combination which can share a common round for when you are traveling light, far from civilization.

To my thinking, that's not much better than choosing an M1 Carbine as your only center fire rifle. Sure, it's a good little rifle, but obviously a choice for someone who doesn't hunt much with a rifle, and certainly not at longish ranges to get larger sized game.

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You're shy a few manners.

You won't get an argument from me. I love to experiment. I shoot the softest bunny poot loads to anti-tank rounds. The wide range of bullets available only add to the fun.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

There are None more versatile than the 38/357, close second would be 44 Mag imho.