.357 Revolver as a SHTF Gun? Really?

There is a fair point to be made for auto pistols, but to categorically dismiss the .357 revolver as a viable option is a bit small-minded. The most dangerous predator you're likely to run in to is the two legged kind. I'll admit that.

When I'm in the great outdoors, I carry my 35 year old Ruger Security Six. The only spare part it's ever needed was a hammer spring assembly, which Ruger provided free of charge 10 years after the revolver went out of production. I usually carry it with Federal 158 Gr. JFP magnums. It's a 'knock around' carry gun and I don't have to worry about dropping it, scratching it, or getting it wet. It's been through a lot and it still goes 'bang'.

Most of the other fishermen and hikers I see carrying are carrying revolvers. What does the author of this article know that they (and me) don't?
 
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Disabled1 said:
.357 Revolver as a SHTF Gun? Really? ...
Let's see what this author thinks is appropriate. And, do you agree? Opinions?
...
Click to expand...

My opinion? Someone really likes his plastic striker-fired 9mm.

That's fine.

However, it's not exactly like it provides substantive proof to support going off on a tear about the supposed disadvantages of the .357 Magnum revolver, though.

I've got 3 smallish 9's myself (and 5 other plastic pistols) ... but I still like my .357 Magnum revolvers.

The idea of a "SHTF" gun being focused around being a handgun is where I think things become a bit short-sighted. ;)

Handguns are handy to carry around when circumstances and activities don't really merit (or permit) the regular carrying of a shotgun or a rifle. You know, when you want to have your hands free, and don't feel like slinging a long gun (or when it's not a polite, or even lawful, thing to do in public).

If someone is building their "SHTF" long term Doomsday preps around a handgun, they may find themselves a bit less well prepared for many serious potential "threats" than they may imagine.
 
gen3guy said:
There is a fair point to be made for auto pistols, but to categorically dismiss the .357 revolver as a viable option is a bit small-minded. The most dangerous predator you're likely to run in to is the two legged kind. I'll admit that.

When I'm in the great outdoors, I carry my 35 year old Ruger Security Six. The only spare part it's ever needed was a hammer spring assembly, which Ruger provided free of charge 10 years after the revolver went out of production. I usually carry it with Federal 158 Gr. JFP magnums. It's a 'knock around' carry gun and I don't have to worry about dropping it, scratching it, or getting it wet. It's been through a lot and it still goes 'bang'.

Most of the other fishermen and hikers I see carrying are carrying revolvers. What does the author of this article know that they (and me) don't?
Click to expand...

It's not what he knows that you don't. It's his reply to those who think 357 is the "ultimate" SHTF caliber. I don't fish but when I hike I don't carry a handgun. Chances of me running into a bear are slim to none but they are out there and I want something with more rounds and more ft-lbs. Just because you seen hikers carry revolvers doesn't mean they "know something". Same goes for carrying semi auto or rifle. It's not about some sort of deep wisdom, it's about comfort level

"I don't have to worry about dropping it, scratching it, or getting it wet" ..... Same applies to semi autos.

The only SPARE PART you needed....So you did need a spare part. In his reply is that there won't be a Ruger to provide a free spare part or a gunsmith to install (if one is needed).

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
I always thought the Medusa would be the ultimate SHTF handgun, along with a double action .22 revolver.

In any case, friends and property will be a lot more important than how many cool guns you have. Ten guys with Mosins and Hi Points will always beat the lone wolf with a $3000 AR + ACOG, Wilson Combat .45, and a Benelli 12g.
 
hkcavalier said:
I always thought the Medusa would be the ultimate SHTF handgun, along with a double action .22 revolver.

In any case, friends and property will be a lot more important than how many cool guns you have. Ten guys with Mosins and Hi Points will always beat the lone wolf with a $3000 AR + ACOG, Wilson Combat .45, and a Benelli 12g.
Click to expand...

Hey! Don't you poop on my benelli SBE as a survival tool!! Haha lol. Taking out creatures great and small. With precision. Who said it's a "duck gun"?
 
As for answering the OP's stated question, and then the link he posts to the article; it's clearly an apples 'n oranges thing - To the OP's question of what side-arm to take on a deer hunt in big-game territory, I'd prefer my .44 mag but would take the .357 all day long over the glock 9. In the linked article about apocalypse type scenarios, I'm sure the 9mm would be a better choice. Seems kind of obvious, and stupid, to me.
 
gen3guy said:
There is a fair point to be made for auto pistols, but to categorically dismiss the .357 revolver as a viable option is a bit small-minded. The most dangerous predator you're likely to run in to is the two legged kind. I'll admit that.

When I'm in the great outdoors, I carry my 35 year old Ruger Security Six. The only spare part it's ever needed was a hammer spring assembly, which Ruger provided free of charge 10 years after the revolver went out of production. I usually carry it with Federal 158 Gr. JFP magnums. It's a 'knock around' carry gun and I don't have to worry about dropping it, scratching it, or getting it wet. It's been through a lot and it still goes 'bang'.

Most of the other fishermen and hikers I see carrying are carrying revolvers. What does the author of this article know that they (and me) don't?
Click to expand...

When I lived in FL. I had accumulated quite a firearm collection. I had (2) upright safes, (1) which I purchased at WM and the other from the classified ads. They would hold up to (22) rifles. I would fill in the holes with hand guns, but, where they were accessible. I also had my friend, whom was a carpenter, build me some shelves in my closet (It was a HUGE walk in closet).
Anyway, I had several Security Six revolvers, and (1) Speed Six in 9mm, and another Speed Six in .357. Those were my "TANK" firearm revolvers! The only aforementioned animal that I had to worry about was the hogs. They are quite thick in FL. Also, the King Rattler of the US, the Eastern Diamondback.
I had come across a few in my endeavors (Eastern Diamondbacks), but, luckily I never had to shoot them. Whenever I went on my hikes, hunts, trails/woods rides with my 4-wheeler, my 6" Security Six, or, my 6" Speed Six, loaded with Hydra-Shoks, went with me. Either one of those would do the job if needed be! IMHO, a 9mm will kill a snake, but, if you were to shoot a bear with it, you would just (urine) him off to High Heaven!
 
If it's a real SHTF situation...

Big bears and hogs with a 9mm? You are looking for deer, but these will likely ATTACK you and you can't shoot when you want to Probably would take a few rounds WITH THE RIGHT AMMO. With those animals I'd consider a bigger gun in both categories. A .44 magnum or a .40 or 10mm semi auto. And some hunting type bullets as well as something lighter.
 
rwsmith said:
Big bears and hogs with a 9mm? You are looking for deer, but these will likely ATTACK you and you can't shoot when you want to Probably would take a few rounds WITH THE RIGHT AMMO. With those animals I'd consider a bigger gun in both categories. A .44 magnum or a .40 or 10mm semi auto. And some hunting type bullets as well as something lighter.
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agreed. I live and hunt primarily in black bear and Moose country. Neither one of them makes me feel very 'threatened'. Ironically it would be a big bull moose in rut, that would give me far more fear for my life, or my dog's, or my friend's, and consideration of the caliber I'm packing. But it would STILL be .357 mag. Without a question. Without hesitation. The 9mm just does NOT come with, on any hunt in the North Wood. Maybe at the cabin, but why? If everyone has .357's laying around? Fire fight with..... who? No sense or practical purpose.
 
Man it would probably be my j frame. Its with me pretty much everywhere I go. One in the hand is worth more than a arsenal at home. I agree with Jimmy's post above in reference to the glock 10mm. 15 rounds of thunder & lightening when hiking in the woods.
 
I would likely chose a handgun that I might possibly find locate/trade ammo for it.
1. .357 can use .38 ammo
2. 9mm
3. .40 S&W
4. .45acp

I think back in the near past where ammo was scarce:
1. 22 Rf is what everyone thought would be plentiful was the first to become almost non-existence

2. .38/357 disappeared next

3. any type .41/44/.45 - forget it

4. 9mm maybe

5. .40 S&W maybe

6. 10mm are you serious

*** The only ammo in my area was a few boxes of .357 Sig--and who has a weapon in this caliber?
 
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In the words of Skeeter Skelton, make mine a .357......can't think of anything I would encounter in the woods here in the east a 158 grain JSP can't deal with..
 
BAM-BAM said:
I'd at least want a Pennyslvania Long Rifle over a Brown Bess musket.

:D hey something new to argue/debate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Smoothbore for versatility. The musket has the ability to be a capable fowler loaded with birdshot. Seems to me the 20th Maine held Little Round Top with buck and ball. Primers may get hard to come by, but it's kinda hard to ban rocks. The only black magic involved is making springs and hardening a frizzen, otherwise rudimentary skills can keep one going.
 
old tanker said:
Smoothbore for versatility. The musket has the ability to be a capable fowler loaded with birdshot. Seems to me the 20th Maine held Little Round Top with buck and ball. Primers may get hard to come by, but it's kinda hard to ban rocks. The only black magic involved is making springs and hardening a frizzen, otherwise rudimentary skills can keep one going.
Click to expand...

Didn't they have rifled muskets?????
 
FWIW: Recently, I was shown a GoPro vid by a man who went after a mountain lion wounded by a hunter in his party. When he caught up with it, the cat had one of his dogs down, and he chose his Glock 9mm to end the fight at close range. In the vid, he fired 7 rounds into the shoulder and chest area of the cat from a distance of about 15 feet before it finally went down. He said they retreived all the bullets, which had completely penetrated to the opposite inside hide layer and mushroomed as intended.
Just proves a wounded animal can be hard to put down with a minimal caliber for the job. I do know of an elderly woman killing a young mountain lion in her yard with one .22 LR round that struck it in the heart.
 
I think I pretty much agree with the author considering the context and his perspective.

In any realistic SHTF scenario, I think a 9mm handgun makes the most sense. I'm referring to Hurricane Katrina, Civil unrest type events which we actually do sometimes see. Prepping for Disaster: The Role of the Handgun - The Truth About Guns

I don't put much thought into the TEOTWAWKI SHTF type events which I pretty much dismiss as fantasy, but a 9mm would still make more sense than a .357 due to capacity and worldwide prevalence.

I don't hunt and don't mess with bears and think it's not very hard to completely avoid any possibility of encountering one if you really want to, so it's a non-issue to me although I just might might prefer a canister of bear spray over a handgun if I were in that situation for some bizarre reason.
 
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