.357 Magnum is obsolete

[beemerphile]

I usually get started on something about the time it becomes obsolete. I have an affinity for obsolete guns, cars, motorcycles, radios, tractors. Since I have started buying .357 magnum revolvers, it may be a sign that the OP is right and they are indeed now obsolete. Obsolete just means "the crowd" has moved on to something different. Different doesn't always mean better and the logic of "crowds" is sometimes difficult to fathom. The results of recent elections speak volumes on the wisdom of crowds.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I agree with you Beemerphile.

That is why I like the 357 sig, 357 Maximum, 357 Mag, 38-55, 38 Super, 30/30winchester, 25-06, 220 Swift, 222 etc.

I love the obsolete rounds. By the time they get to that stage they are just right for me to jump in, get nice pieces from the shooters that don't like them anymore because they are "obsolete" and really use them. Yes they are niche pieces to most, but to me they are fun!

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

357 as obsolete? Hmmmmm....

Fact: 357 revolvers are the most versitile (sic) weapons out there...can handle everything from 38 short Colt, shotshells, all the way up to armor piercing 357 rounds.

Fact: 357's can be had in everything from J frame Smiths up to something that can only be mounted in the back bed of a large pickup (so to speak)

Without getting into the semiauto/revolver feud, most defensive situtations occur in just a few feet with only a few rounds fired. A 357 (and even 38+P) with proper loads are a sure stopper.

I often carry a Charter Arms (1980's) Tracker 357 snubby during road trips and on hikes in the woods and have complete confidence in it. A "survival" gun, if you will. Today, I will be packing my M28-2 4". (loaded with Remington 158 SJHP's)

As far as obsolete, I think if it ever came down to it, the 357 Magnum would probably be around long, long after the others have fallen.

No, it's not going to stop everything (what does?) but what it does it does very very well and has done so since 1935.

 

[Centenniel]

The 357 Magnum isn't obsolete at my house.

 

[pace40]

Rubbish...

 

[Nanuk]

People tell me my 72 3/4 ton Power wagon is obsolete too. I just tell them they don't know what they are talking about.

People will always pick the example that tips the scale towards the point they are trying to make.

 

[flop-shank]

Anyone price .44 magnum ammo lately?




















Touche!

 

[Red Tex]

Someone argued this point to me the other day.

The argument was that if you were looking for a woods gun or something to defend against predators, the .44 magnum is a better choice, whether it's a S&W 29, Ruger Redhawk, etc. If the recoil of the 44 is too much for some shooters, they can use downloaded rounds that are manageable but still more effective than the .357.

If you are looking for defense against humans, rounds like the .40 S&W and .45ACP are better, because they have plenty of knockdown power without the recoil, flash, or muzzle blast of the .357 magnum. This is not a revolver vs. semiauto thread, but a Glock 22 will hold 16 rounds vs. 6 rounds of .357 in a S&W 686 and still only weighs a little over half as much as the 686.

What do you think? I am not saying that I agree with this argument, and I will always be fond of the .357 magnum, but I find myself perhaps agreeing to an extent. If I am in the woods I take my .44, which I can load with anything from light to hot 44 specials up to magnums. For civilian (or even LEO) self-defense, I don't feel like the .357 magnum does anything that the .40 S&W can't do, with less recoil, blast and noise. You could argue that the 45ACP does not have enough penetration, or that the 9mm doesn't have enough power, but the 40 seems to do well enough.

It would appear your debate opponent doesn't understand the term, "obsolete."

 

[Nframe357]

I'd have not even argued with this obviously ignorant individual, I'd have laughed and told him that he's a fool(or something worse) and left it at that. And comparing the 357 to the 40 is friggin laughable, the 40 is a unecessary round these days. When it was introduced it did fill a void but with todays bullets it's uneeded. The 9mm or 45 will do the same job.

 

[44forever]

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

What this means in this context is that if the .40 is more powerful, it will have more recoil - simple phisics. To try to fault a cartridge for having both too much recoil and too little power shows a lack of understanding. Education today is clearly lacking.

To say something is obsolete implies there is something else that gives equal or better results faster, cheaper, etc. and that something else is both more widely distributed and accepted. What pistol cartridge is more widely distributed and accepted than the .357 magnum?

 

[Beauetienne]

I can see how number crunchers might make a case for this based on ammo sales.
Not an accurate assessment due to lack of available ammo in the recent past, LEO use of automatics and handloaders.

I can see how number crunchers might make a case for this based on revolver sales.
Without actually checking, I would bet that comparing sales of new revolver vs automatics purchased for HD or SD today with numbers from 1960's or 1970's would indicate a notable decrease in revolver sales.
This is thanks mainly to better powders and quality control in ammo manufacturing, high capacity magazines and calibers such as the 40 S&W, 10mm and the 357 Sig. I believe that there are more quality automatics available at reasonable prices to choose from today.
If a depedable 357 Magnum auto-pistol could be had at a reasonable price, the story might be a little different.

If I had to be forced into choosing only handgun caliber, it would be the 357 Magnum. It is my very favorite handgun caliber. My 686 protects my home. But, away from home I bring a 40 or 45, higher capacity, pistol. I've also condidered a 357 Sig but, not yet.

Not obsolete, just less popular with today's generation. IMHO, it's due in large part to a drop in the popularity of revolvers as compared to automatics used for HD, SD and by LEO's .

Oh well, maybe some will want to rid themselves of 357 revolvers. More for me.

 

[Pete99004]

I better give away all my .357s then

So - do you need my address to ship them to???

 

[luckyalaska98]

Since the 357 is dead I should'nt have any problems getting all those neat little 3" S&W ones I want then.

 

[SatCong]

.357 mag will take out most men or beast in North America but yet is still small enough for everyday carry. Hardly obsolete.

I agree, but hate to use it on the big bears to save my but.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I don't care as I'm obsolete as well.

 

[44wheelman]

Remind me again, how many rounds of .44 does a J frame hold? 0?
So the .44 may be ballistically superior as a hunting weapon, try dragging one around all day every day.

And the same argument could be made for obsoleting all automatic cartridges except the 10mm. & Oh wait, I can shoot 45 Colts from my 454 Casull, better make the 44 obsolete too. Especially since I can shoot 44spcls from my 445 Supermag.

Lets get rid of .22's while we're at it, they're kinda whimpy too.

Ooops, wait, bullets & powder are sold by the pound...nevermind.

Just silly.

 

[s2harry]

No modern cartridges are really obsolete. You can hunt with .303 Savage or .250 savage. The 30-30 isnt obsolete. A Ruger Blackhawk in .45 colt with 300gr bullets will shoot clean through a Elk and thats 100 years old. When people talk about obsolete maybe they mean old fashion. Tell them well meet them in the hills with our 357s they can bring their 40s and well pick them off at 150 yards.

 

[MTKTM]

I have roughly a dozen handguns in .357, all Smith&Wesson.....and one rifle, a Marlin1894. I find it a very versatile, accurate, and "do anything" (well, within some reason) round that is easily obtained (and way moreso if you include 38Special), inexpensive if you reload, very accurate, not too much recoil, effective for personal defense and up to deer-sized game. Are there better rounds for hunting? Yeah, probably. Are there better rounds for PD? Possibly there are some that are the equal of the .357, but none that are superior.

The 44 Magnum is unsuitable for daily carry, Dirty Harry notwithstanding, albeit better for hunting. The 40 S&W and the 45acp are not generally considered good hunting rounds. The .357 does it all.

 

[jframefreak]

I don't care as I'm obsolete as well.

I'm obsolete too, so don't feel alone. I'm keeping my 357's too. I had a guy tell me that my 10 gauge was obsolete, and that I could get the same performance from a 12 gauge. He's probably right, but that 10 gauge is still real cool. I guess there's a lot of opinions out there.

 

[michael thornton]

so who will be the first one that says that to let me shoot at them at 200 yards with my 4 inch 27-2 ? thats what i thought!