.357 No good in snubbies? apparently all handgun rounds the same?

[auburn2]

In terms of stopping power a .357 is fine in a snubnose revolver. You do lose a lot of velocity and energy going from a 4" barrell to a 2 or shorter inch barrell but it will always be faster than a similar weight .38 round out of the same length barrell.

Whether it is "no good for carry" for you or not really depends on a lot of factors. I can tell you this, I keep a 6" .357 by the bed but one of my carry guns is a J-frame .38. I think the .38 is better for me as a CCW simply because with that small package it shoots quicker, more accurately, is easier for me to control and it is slightly more concealable than a similar sized .357 revolver. Those things make it a better CCW weapon for me and it certainly will get the job done.

If you can handle either weapon with the same ease, make follow up shots as easily and quickly and practice such that the flash and bang will not be a problem then a .357 may be marginally better for you. But if you can't do these things it probably is worse and any gun you can hit with is better than any one you can't hit with.

Comparing a .357 snubbi to an auto puts a lot more variables into the equation including bullet design, reliability and capacity but suffice it to say most centerfire calibers larger than .32 are powerful enough with good bullets if you can get the rounds on target.

 

[Mickey D]

In comparing the virtues of various calibers, using hollow point ammo: it is absolutely undeniable that, while a 9 mm or .40 S&W may or may not expand, a .45 will never shrink.

 

[FishyOne]

I've pretty much given up on the caliber wars. There is so much BS out there on the internet that you could write a book about the phenomenon. My Browning Hi Power is about the size and weight of a three-inch K-frame. If I look at what common, controllable .357 loads get out of a three-inch barreled Smith, is it worth it for me to sell my BHP (my only firearm), for an S&W? Probably not. Is it worth it for you to sell that short-barreled Model 19 or 13 you've had for a few years and get a 9mm like mine, or a 1911 (cuz everybody says they all fall to hardball, right?)? Probably not.

In my opinion, the late Stephen A. Camp was the best at injecting some common sense into this and a lot of other handgun debates. His articles are still accessible at "Hi-powers and Handguns".

Thanks! This looks like a great website! Hi Powers and Handguns

 

[blujax01]

Follow up of my post #39 340PD in 357 magnum..
Well I bought a model 36 2 weeks ago..$200.
It shoots the same .38 spl. +P the 340PD did. ..And sold my 340PD..for $635.

The cost of the extra 8.5 oz to carry around and velocity loss of 250FPS... $435 in my pocket!

The cost of not losing the use of my right hand due to hitting it senselessly with what amounts to a 12oz hammer.. "Priceless"

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/273712-pawn-shop-reject-model-36-a.html

That's been my question all along - if all a guy's going to put down the pipe is .38 spl. why go to the expense of buying a .357. I did a poll and found this to be the case for 80% of .357 owners. Still makes no sense to me. Then again it isn't any of my business so live and let live.

 

[Roadtrash]

I've always been told that the biggest round you can handle comfortably is the best for self defense. If you can handle the 44 mag comfortably then it is going to be a better round than the 9mm but if not then you need a smaller caliber.

Yes it takes several seconds for a person to "bleed out" even if shot directly in the heart but most people will stop their charge if hit in a vital area. Something in the subconscious will tell them "that hurt I need to get the h*** out of here. Granted drugs will make a big difference in their thinking but looking down the barrel that is almost a half inch across the bore will sometimes change even the druggie's mind.

Me I carry a 40 in auto and a 38 when I want to carry a revolver. These are my choices and either will make you just as dead as the other. These are small enough to carry comfortably and I shoot them well enough to place a shot accurately when under attack. But these are just me and my preferences.

A lot of the bigger guns 357, 45, etc. are probably better man stoppers but a lot harder to carry in your pocket. If I am able to carry in a holster on my side or in a shoulder holster then I do love my 45 and that is what I will carry.

Just my two cents.

 

[5Wire]

Here's a test I did with a friend a few years ago

686-5 MG is a 686-5 Mountain Gun

 

[JayCeeNC]

Just use a .45....why, heck, my uncle's next door neighbor's brother was in VeetNam and saw a guy hit in the hand with one...took his dadgum arm off!

 

[Smith61]

"The 9mm will also trump the .357 in expansion every time, provided the bullets expand properly."

Now THAT's a pretty unscientific statement! YIKES!!

 

[Revolver-dude]

The moral of this story is, "don't shoot me with your snubby at 1220 FPS. It is gonna leave a BIG mark. I have several S&W 357's and I am not letting them go. Absolutely beautiful guns.

 

[GREATOZ1]

Not an expert here but therer are one or two things I do know. It is not so much what you hit them with, it's that you hit them in the right place. Secondly, shoot to stop. Keep pulling the trigger until you are out of ammo or the intruder stops. I trust most have heard of the old double tap made popular during the training of English agents during WWII. Also, it was a .22cal that killed Robert Kennedy in 1968.

 

[medxam]

I carry a .44 Special and I am anxiously awaiting an answer to the question about a .44 Special round that will quickly expand. I do not reload, so is there a commercial round that does the job?

medxam

 

[rclmd]

357 snubbie

I am by no means and expert, but I defer to those whose lives depend on their weapons. I have been told that police officers in New Jersey used to get 9mm's for standard issue, but in towns like Plainfield and Camden where drug dealers and users are common, there was a complaint that the 9mm did not stop a crazed individual. After a lot of complaining, many returned to the 45 acp for their standard weapon. Some, however, have changed to 357's, but I am not sure what the barrel lengths are on that weapon - probably 4" but I am not sure. I notice that most still use automatics, though some have revolvers as well. Might be nice to get some input from some of these officers to get the low-down on this subject. When your life depends on it, you make decisions that count.

 

[bullboo1]

the 45 acp

The .45 ACP round was made to be used in a minimum barrel length of 5 inches. Thats why you saw the advent of the short barrel round come out in .45 ACP first so shorter barrels would have a round for them. The 45 has evolved and is about 200 fps more then when it first came out. As far as the .357 in my opinion yes it needs at least 4 inches no less to benifit from the use of heavy 158 gr and above lead HP rounds to mushroom out. Rember back in the earl1980s when they starred talking about the thresh hold velocity to mushroom lead and semijacketed HP rounds out..it was like 1120 fps around there. Now rounds are amde of special alloys and have been prefragmented or cut to make the rounds mushroom out like Ranger Talon and and also hydro-shock HSP2 rounds...the old model 10 .38s started the snubbies first with FBI and police only allowed to special order them and years went by before the industry saw the public was hungry for the snubby. The .38 special and .44 speical are the original snubby rounds..the .357&.44 magnums need a longer barrel to achieve magnum velocities 4 inch is about the shortest to be used but 5-6 inch best for normal carry on the job. The same goes for 9mm and 45 ACP high pressure rounds are wasted on short barrels of 2 inches...I have all the calibers and truthfully my old model 10 custom order Smith & wesson snubbie out shots my full size 1911, my model 29 and model 57 both 4 inch barreled nickelled old production guns...not leaving out my S&W 637 which could never match the heavier model 10 snubby so I put a crimson trace laser on it..

 

[jkwhaley]

I load a .38 +P followed by a .357 in my Model 13. Alternating loads like that makes for a faster follow-up shot.

 

[Ahab]

I guess I've asked too many questions,

It seems I've asked something that comes down to opinions past the measurements...

What do you all think of the 44 special round for expansion and knonkdown power though?

Yup, a lot of BS and opinions here. In answer to your question, my opinion is the .44 Special is special based on a bunch of LEO's I know who use it as thier back up. By the way, my wife prefers her .357 snuby as a carry and at the range outshoots those with longer barrel .357's.

 

[tinkerunique]

leviathon - I shoot ( amung others) an old .44 Spl (HE) with reloads. I load 240 gr semiwadcutter for target and hollowpoint ( Black Talons) for hunting and home defense. The "cutters are loaded down for ease of shooting by myself and others <starting at age 11]. The 'Talons were purchased @ a gun show some time back. The main thing to remember is that the .44 Spl is/was a rifle shell at one time AND you can still get (spl order) a Winchester carbine in that round. <One of the "cowboy shooting" weapons used in competition. MY main consideration is SHOT PLACEMENT A 9mm will allow faster ACCURATE fire than a 44 Mag. >size doesn't always matter< A 115 gr pill "up the nose" will work better than a 240 gr "belly ache".

 

[leediablo]

Snub Nose 38

I'm a retired LEO and was involved in a few shootings. On two occasions I used my 2" S&W with the 850fps semi-wad.

Both went to the morge! I would suggest you use a firearm you feel comfortable with, and worry more about getting the second shot off on target. 90% of shootouts occur within 7 to 21 feet. Need I say more?

Amen!

 

[Hawgleg44]

I'm a retired LEO and was involved in a few shootings. On two occasions I used my 2" S&W with the 850fps semi-wad.

Both went to the morge! I would suggest you use a firearm you feel comfortable with, and worry more about getting the second shot off on target. 90% of shootouts occur within 7 to 21 feet. Need I say more?

Amen!

Actually, per FBI stats, 60% are within 5 ft, 30% were 6-18 ft and 10% 19+ ft.

I carry a .44 Special and I am anxiously awaiting an answer to the question about a .44 Special round that will quickly expand. I do not reload, so is there a commercial round that does the job?

medxam

This is absolutely not scientific, only my personal opinion, but I prefer a LSWCHP, like the Federal 200gr load.

 

[DonJack100]

Any modern ammo used in a quality firearm, plus accurate shot placement = self protection=" only if you carry it ".

 

[goldenlight]

Wikipedia is not a trustworthy source of information on any topic. It is entirely opinion based and edited as such.

...Nearly as bad as reading gun forums. Nearly.