For me, my Colt Python and S&W Highway Patrolman see nothing but Magnums. I put in the gun what it was designed to shoot, nothing less.
If I want to shoot .38 Specials or +P I shoot a .38 Special (which I probably shoot often than anything).

Magnums, to me, are for Magnums. Same thing with my .44 Magnum Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk...I don't care for .44 Specials in that gun, Magnums are more fun to shoot.


Way I see it, if you're going to carry, handle and shoot as bulky a gun as a Magnum usually is, make it worth the while.

My 357 magnums(a 19-3 and a PC 27) only see 38 specials,no plus Ps or anything like that.
And for the 38 special ammo,most of it is just wadcutters.
I just like heavy duty guns with the look of the magnum lug, and mild ammo.

Model 629 and 29 get about 75% Magnums, 180 grain JHP lately.

Model 19, I am moving toward .38 special as of late due to experience and consensus on this model.
Recently acquired a Model 28-2 for High Volume Magnum useage.

I will "download" Magnum cases to lower velocities so that I can practice the feel of the handgun without top end recoil.

But I never shoot shorter cases ammunition in a longer cases cylinder. I do not want to deal with the extra cleaning chore.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Magnums only for me. I have a .22 pistol if I want to shoot the whimpy loads. I get a "kick" out of the magnums.

Cost is no issue since I reload...to be casting as well soon.

I don't reload at this point so my 357 Magnum only rarely sees any Magnum ammo. Sometimes when I'm feeling really "flush" I'll run a box of American Eagle 158 gn. SJSP downrange in my 620 but at 30 dollars a box that doesn't happen very often.

As for the carbon ring from shooting 38 spl. I've found it's pretty easy to clean up as long as I'm shooting the American Eagle 130 gn. 38's, with Winchester White box it's a totally different story. Frankly, I find WWB to be plain foul so I do my best to avoid using it. On the other hand American Eagle, Blazer Brass, and Speer Lawman are very clean shooting and easy to clean up.

Depends what I'm doing. If I'm target shooting, .38 reloads or factory .38. Self defense or in the woods, .357 magnum for sure.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

I do not shoot magnums unless I want to sight in the gun for them and then carry it for protection in the woods. I see no need to shoot magnums for fun.

1. It is more expensive.
2. I will catch flak for this next statement. But I am secure enough in my manhood that I can shoot 38's or reduced 44 mag loads in my guns for plinking and target shooting.
3. It is easier on and the gun.
4. The only time I need a magnum is when I want protection form bears, wolves and mt lions.

I could just as well shoot a 44 special or 38 special only gun but the magnum gives me the vesatility to chamber a hotter round for added protection when I choose to do so.

John

I shoot 357s out of my 686 and 44 mags out of my 629 Classic. 38s are boring as all get out out of my 686. Haven't even tried 44spl out of my 629 yet. I practice with what I will have in my handgun when it counts out in the woods. How good can you be with full house mags in your 357 when all you practice with is 38s? That's just my personal opinion....

Well, my N Frame .357 was designed to shoot .357, .38+P, and .38, nothing less. Look, it's your prerogative to only shoot .357, but hey, I like the flexibility.

The big N frame gives me great recoil control, it fits my hand, and in my closet right now are three different kinds kinds of .357 JHP Federal Premium, and PNC JSP .357, as well as Speer .357 Short Barrel, Winchester .38+P, Winchester .38, and .38 CCI Shot. Everyone (except the CCI shot) has at least one full TKC match grade moon clip next to it (Federal Premium Personal Defense barely fits). Federal Premium Reduced Recoil .357 JHP is in the weapon with two more full moon clips below my car radio. Nice to have choices.

I make reduced loads for my 629. That makes shooting far more enjoyable for longer range sessions, which makes a better handgunner. The full magnum loads shoot about 3/4" higher, and that is hard to measure in the field on an animal.

With one exception all of my handguns are chambered for the .357 magnum cartage. With the exception of my M-19 I shoot full charge .357 Magnum ammo in all of them. When used for home defense or carry use I load my M-19 with .357 Magnum ammo.

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Always Stay Strong!

.38 for target/plinking. .357 for protection/hunting.

I mostly shoot 38 specials out of my magnums.

At the range I shoot CCI Blazer 357 magnum 158gr Hollow Points. I shoot this round in my K frame magnums and my L frame. Heck I shoot this round in my Ruger 357 magnums too. I will sometimes shoot the 125 gr hollow point mainly from Black Hills. I like this round. I sometimes shoot 38 specials in my 357 magnums only because of cost.
I agree with the OP about shooting 357 magnums in a 357 magnum revolver.
Regards,
Howard

Hot 44 spl loads in 44 mag cases in my mod 29. If I want to feel recoil I practice with my SRH in 454 Casull with hunting loads. The older I get the less fun the hot loads are becoming.

From my Model 65 3" on the range I prefer to shoot .38 with an occasional .357 round mixed in for the "charge". With my 6" barreled 586 I normally shoot .38 as a cost consideration but will shoot .357 by the box for the enjoyment. The 65 with magnas and a Tyler shoots the 158 grain .357 w/o any great discomfort, the 586 mellows them out completely.

I have two .357s and two .500 Mags. My loads for both calibers are similar in intent.

I load fairly heavy .357s for CCW practice as well as some moderate stuff for plinking fun.

I load light Trail Boss loads for plinking fun in the .500s and then generally shoot 3 cylinder full of much more robust ammo for grins and keeping my accuracy proficiency up as much as practical. I can't shoot much more of the heavy stuff in one session as it takes a toll on my nerves and accuracy goes to hell. Don

I have been using S&W 44 Mags since @ 1971.

The beauty of the 44 Mag, and any magnum for that matter, is that they are capable of shooting ammo at power levels from light target loads to full power magnums.

Kinda like a car that can drive 20 MPH in a school zone, to 70 MPH on the highway.

So I have light loads to full power loads for my 44's, and use them as the situation fits.

Sir, I don't currently have any magnums, but when I did, I shot different loads depending on what I was doing: mild loads for plinking, full power to retain proficiency, etc.

I did prefer to stick with magnum brass even for mild loads so as to avoid the "fouling ring" that can be caused by shooting specials in magnum chambers.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

I prefer to use my .357 Magnums for what they're designed to shoot.

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Calmer than you are.

My 66 gets 75% .38s 25% .357mag, my 629-1 gets 100% mags, I've never shot a .44spl in my life.

I guess Im weird (maybe not that weird) but part of the enjoyment for me is the recoil. I was in the USAF way back when we shot the model 15 (.38) ball ammo only. Not fun at all. I bought a model 19-3 which I usually took to the AF range and did my qual shooting with it, no one ever knew unless I told them. Todays .357 factory loads are so lame (or else Im just used to them) that anything less of a boom than that and I wouldnt even bother.

My model 19 has seen many boxes of 125gr 110gr 158gr and some hot hand loads. Ive had it for 30 years. Its still a nice gun, no forcing cone issues but I dont carry it any longer.....got a 686 for that and it has a steady diet of factory magnum loads too.

My .500 has never shot a .500 special and I think being used to the .500 magnum is why I cant feel the .357 recoil anymore. my 686 shoots like a .22 as far as felt recoil (to me)

Varies with gun:

Mostly 357s in the 357s. Wife shoots 38s in hers (for cowboy action). Exception: 38+P in my Model 19 snubby.

44 mags have always bothered me for some reason. Usually shoot 44 spls but I also have more 44 spl guns than magnums. For full power, I'll shoot my 454. In 45 Colt: about even between light loads in my cowboy guns, 45 MAGNUM in my Rugers.

I'm in the same boat.

I love shooting full-house .357 Magnum. I even picked up a .357 Magnum barrel for my Bond Arms Century 2000. It provides a very fun experience.

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Calmer than you are.

Plink with 38's,carry with 357 in the woods.

I shoot 357 magnum in the 357 magnum and shoot 38's in 38's. I don't own a 44 magnum, but I have pumped up some 45 Colts.

ROTFLMTEO!!! You mean nobody noticed the BOOM BOOM of a magnum among all the little bang bangs of the .38 ball ammo?

Like this: Police Academy - Gun Play - YouTube Sorry, your story just reminded me instantly of this scene.

My first Magnum was a 6" Model 28. That was back in about 1978. I used it as a concealed carry gun and loaded it with Speer .357 140 grain JHP factory loads. I subscribed to the theory that a single torso hit from a .357 would stop the fight consistently. I've owned other .357s and a couple of .41 Magnums along the way.

Over the years I've come to see all handgun cartridges as having only marginal power. I now see a greater need for getting good multiple hits on vital areas(brain, spine, heart, lungs, etc) of the threat quickly while shooting two-hand, strong hand only, or weak hand only, with a load that penetrates deeply enough and expands consistently. My anticipated targets are wild dogs and 2-legged predators, so I don't worry about dealing with bears or other larger animals.

I only have one Magnum now, a .357 (649-5), and I load it with CorBon .38 +P 110 grain DPX. I prefer .38 +P as a fighting load because of its lower blast and flash, and faster shot to shot recovery, relative to .357 loads. I also use the same load in my 642-2s. I can't remember the last time I fired any .357 loads or even had any onhand; it's been a decade or more. I typically train with various +P .38 FMJ/TMJ loads.

Specifically i choose .38 +P loads that provide sufficient penetration and reliable expansion in ballistic gelatin, according to FBI and IWBA standards. As far as I know, in 2" barrels, only the aforementioned CorBon load, some lots of Speer's 135 gr Short Barrel Gold Dot, Hornady's Critical Defense loads in std pressure and +P, and Winchester's 130 gr +P bonded load meet these requirements consistently.

I don't see the somewhat greater terminal ballistic effects of a .357 load as being worth the greater blast, flash, and recovery time between shots. It is a tradeoff, and other folks will arrive at different conclusions from me.

I have a smattering of magnums in 357, 41 and 44. I shoot almost exclusively home cast lead bullets of the Keith pattern, both SWC and SWC hollowpoint. When an afternoon of fun shooting is on the agenda, I sometimes shoot 38 specials with a 148 grain wadcutter in the 357. 2.7 to 3 grains of BullsEye pushes it. Every now and again I will load 500 or so rounds on the Dillon using 357 brass and the 148 WC. Still use BullsEye but just a few more grains/tenths to make up for the larger case volumn.

I don't shoot a lot of factory stuff, there's just no reason to spend the extra bucks. I don't shoot a lot of full house 44 magnums anymore either unless I'm carrying the pistol hunting. The 41 goes hunting more than the 44.

I shoot mainly .38's in my .357's and mainly .44 Specials in my .44 Magnums. I do occasionally shoot Mags in my M66 because I carry it with Mags and want to be proficient with it......

I use Magnums in my K-frames, but the only the medium-powered loads like the Golden Saber and Corbon DPX.

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

I shoot both through my Model 66 K-frame....too worried about damaging a gun not produced anymore with hot .357 loads. However, our mid-range reloads are shot often through it.

For my 686 no dash, I only shoot .357 magnums through it. The L-frame was designed for that, so nothing but goes in it...though usually only reloads that are mid-range.

In my 60-9, I have put probably a whole box of .357 magnum reloads through it when I first got it, but mostly shoot .38s out of it and carry .357s in it. I am too wary of the small J-frame shooting dozens of cylinders of magnum loads...

Just my .02 FRN...

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NRA Certified Pistol Inst.

I bought my 340 M&P with the intention of shooting magnums and I did shoot a few for practice (as I carried it with them) until I learned that there wasn't really a ballistic advantage over .38 +P's from such a short barrel. Now I practice with .38's mostly and +P's a little.

With my 329 PD I practice some with Buffalo Bore's low recoil magnum rounds as that is what I carry in the woods. The rest of the time it sees specials.

When I decide to get a "real" magnum one of these days instead of the lightweight versions I have it will probably see a lot more magnums.

I shoot handloaded wimpy 158gr LSWC most of the time out of my (old) 10 and 36, and usually in my 64 as well - but carry something like 125gr +P SJHP for CC in all of those.

I shoot the same .38 rounds for practice in my 686 but also shoot some .357 out of it. Backwoods - its my 686 with .357.

For me it has more to do with cost than anything else.

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But then, what do I know?

In my 19's and other carbon steel K-frame magnums I use Speer 158 grain for serious use and Winchester 357's and 38+P for practice or competition.

In my stainless K-frames like my 66 carry guns, I shoot 357's often. I have yet to see a shot loose 66, or one with a stretched frame, but its only been 39 years. Regards 18DAI

Whenever I took the model 19 to the base for qual....I used the normal AF ammo so it sounded just like everyone elses......but one time the range control officer (a friend of mine) asked me to load a .357 for the last round and see if anyone noticed...............oh YA they noticed.....lol

I bought a 38/357 scadium for a matress gun.
It has 6- .357's thru it---and that is all. That snubby and .357's is more than I want.
It is 38's from now on--and--it aint a range gun.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

Standard velocity 38s in my Mdl 19, two 581s, 686 and Sp101. Shooting magnums unnessarily, just so you can say ya done it is asking for eventual degenerative arthritis of the hands and wrists. If there is a serious reason for shooting a magnum in a pistol I will. I keep several boxes around the house. I also shoot a lot of magnums (mid-range loads) in my two lever guns that are chambered for 357 magnum, simply because they feed better and don't leave a lead ring in the chamber.

Only factory ( Garrett Defenders ) magnum loads in my 44. I also didn't get a magnum to shoot 44 specials or download 44mag ammo for it. If I can't handle/enjoy shooting factory loads then I really don't need a magnum and will sell it. I might add the Garrett Defenders are pretty mild as far as 44 mag recoil goes and won't hurt the S&W 629.

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44 Garrett Defender Ammo 4 me.

degenerative arthritis.........well its been 30 years. Ive shot mostly .357 magnum, a little 44 magnum and some .500 magnum lately. I suppose I should be glad I can still type this message huh? Give me a break.......If one is gonna get degenerative arthritis one is gonna get it no matter what you do or do not shoot.

Shoot away my friends, have fun and dont worry about saving those fragile hands, thats just too funny. Shooting .500 Magnum loads is just what you need to make those full power "DANGEROUS" .357 mags feel like a pop gun.

Chrisj357,
I do not know your age but your reply sounds like it is full or testosterone and youth.
I use to think I was tough as nails and could do anything. I didn't understand what the older guys were talking about, but now I am there I wish I wasn't so hard on my body when I was younger.

Be kind to us older guys. You have a right to your choices and to do as you want as do those of us who do differently than you. And should state them openly here. Just don't ridicule us older guys with more experiance and age than yourself.

Remember us old guys do not care to get in a fight to prove how tough we are----we will be loaded with MAGNUM loads and just blow the other guys butt away. We are just to old to fight!

John

Im not trying to ridicule anyone for their shooting choices. I just found it rediculous to say shooting .357 magnum will cause degeneritive arthritis. Some may prefer less recoil, some may like it. All Im saying is do what you like and if you reach old age and have arthritis and can no longer do what you like......at least you have done it when you could. Ill be 53 years old in June 2012, that may be young, may be not so much anymore. I started shooting guns regularly in 1977 when I entered the military and joined special forces. I bought my first personally owned weapon in 1981 (.357 Magnum) and still have that gun plus a couple more.

My hands work just fine even though they have adapted to the recoil of the .500 magnum round of late.

Thats why its so funny to think that the .357 will......you know

Peace

The Redhawk: pretty much all magnums as it loafs with them and
puts em on target every time.
6" 629: Mostly lead these days at 900 fps.
4" 629 Mountain Revolver: a mix of 200 gr XTP full house and
same bullet under 11 gr Universal. Also some lead loads at 750.
All in magnum cases.
I am 62 and have arthritis. I have never found that to be a problem.
I have yet to need the wrist brace I see some of the fellas wear
at the range. I have one. Luckily have not needed it yet for shooting.
I do use it for weight lifting.

---
Nemo

I am a reloader and have my choice of what to run through my revolver and I just plain like full house .357 magnum. I shoot cast bullets and like the noise and smoke I get from them.

My wife shook her head at me, she was grinning though, when I put about 50 rounds into a mud hole shooting at the mud and gnats.

I like the recoil, smoke, noise etc. associated with .357 mag. and I just plain have fun "blasting away".

I use Speer Gold Dot .357 magnum ammo when I carry a .357 pistol.

Since the age question was raised I'll share that I am 33 years old and lift weights a few days a week.

I have .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum chambered revolvers only because the choice, availability, and price of such is far better than in their respective fare in 'Special' offerings. The only 'Magnum' revolver that I shoot regularly with hot loads is my recent 632 Pro in .327 Federal Magnum. While my 629's have seen some real Magnums, other than under test at S&W, my .357 Magnums have never launched anything more stout than a +P .38 S&W Special. My self defense loads are 200gr Gold Dots in .44 S&W Special and 158gr LHPSWC's in +P .38 S&W Special. My Magnum cased loads are mild - a reloading choice.

I guess I got the desire for a big boomer out of my system with my early production .454 Casull SRH, traded away over seven years ago. I had developed severe CTS problems, by then, by turning thousands upon thousands of small objects by hand on a wood lathe, making gripping a handgun laborious at best. Things haven't gotten better - but I have adapted by going to 'more fun' to me - plinking. I was sixty over three years ago when I finally bought a .22 LR revolver (4" x10 617) - a great aid for those days when you want to plink and your CTS, pinched nerve in the neck, and arthritis in the hand all conspire to make such an endeavor memorable, if even possible. The rest of the time I shoot what I want from my cf revolvers simply because, well, they are mine and I choose to do so. If you choose to shoot ear splitting Magnums, have fun!

I do get a lot of pleasure shooting more frugal, in cost and recoil, big-bores - like .45 ACP's and .45 Colt's - even from my recently acquired Governor. I cheat there - I put some .500 Magnum grips on mine!

Stainz

Since I have several to choose from, my magnums get magnum loads, if I need to download I just use .44 special or .38 special designated guns. But a one gun person, id load to what ever level I need at the time.

I've got a .44 mag that I load with magnums when I'm camping or something like that, "just in case". But I never shoot magnums for fun anymore, my wrists are just too tore up for that nonsense. That, and price, was the reason that I decided to go with a model 64 for my new house/truck gun...but if I can find a screaming deal on a S&W .357 I might try .357 again, plus would always have the option to relegate it to .38 special for practice.

ETA - Also, I agree that shooting magnum loads doesn't "cause" degenerative arthritis, but neither does it make it feel any better when the range time is through.

i reload so I have lots of choices. If I shoot anything less than 1000fps my point of aim has to change because the .38's always group higher. I prefer to shoot point of aim so I stick with mag loads ranging from the 1000fps 158SWC to full boat H110 or Blue Dot loads with 140JHP's.

I have several magnum revolvers and several magnum rifles. I shoot only magnums. My favorite gun to shoot is a S&W 629-7 from the Performance Center. Whata hoot. Purchased a Savage 111 Long Range Hunter in .338 Lapua last week. Can't wait to get it scoped, then to the range.