.357 Revolver as a SHTF Gun? Really?

[31FordA]

If I am only going to have one handgun it is going to be a .357 revolver. Out of my current herd I'd take either the 3" SP-101 or 3" GP-100. Concealable but still capable of hitting a man sized target at 100 yards. Very reliable, will shoot any .38 or .357 ammo I can scrounge up to feed it. No worries about magazines, and I keep the brass. I have carried one or the other for years and know how to use them really well.

Besides, one of the guys on the zombie TV show carries a .357 revolver, so it must be the ultimate gun for the apocalypse, right?

 

[walkin' trails]

Can't dispute the author's argument that the Glock is probably the simplest, highly reliable handgun to have for a number of good reasons. I suspect, however, that the vast majority of Americans who might find themselves in mass hysteria SHTF situation will find that their SHTF gun is the gun they're carrying at the time society decides to suddenly break down and completely collapse - the SHTF guns are going to range from nothing, to Ruger LCPs or J-Frames, to maybe those who can or are required to be armed with something meeting the author's definition of a SHTF gun. I would say that a 6 shot .357 Magnum revolver would be as good as anything if the person lucky enough to be packing it at the time if proficient in not only shooting skills, but also in evasion and survival tactics. The lockwork of a revolver may not be as simple as that of a Glock, but the .357 wheel gun is still a pretty versatile handgun.


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[Darkenfast]

I used to think the six-inch barrel .357 was the best SHTF gun for me (and it is STILL a very good choice), but my six-inch barreled Glock 17L has won me over as my TEOTWAWKI companion. It has too many good features to be overcome by the revolver's greater power per shot. But the main thing (IMHO) is to have with you the gun that YOU shoot the best and YOU are most comfortable with.

 

[Protected One]

I can keep your...."posterior" scratching for cover at 150-175 yards with any of my 357's....Have killed big deer with the 357 and CAST bullets......I don't like plastic 9mm bullet squirters......

Perhaps, but can you claim it was self-defense?

 

[Biggfoot44]

The author of the linked article :

1. Really likes Glock 17 , and framed his perameters to suit his preestablished solution.

2. Came of age long after the Revolver Era , and catagicly dismisses them.

But I remain comfortable with revolvers fir defensive use. And just as in Skeeter's day; a .357 has great deal of versatility , owing to the wide range of usable ammo. Yes, there are better cals for pure big game hunting/ bear defense , but will sacrifice the low to middle range options.

Depending on how you draw your perameters, next step would be either AR-15 , or single shot .22lr .

And if going BP shoulder arms, then indeed a smoothbore musket . Greater versatility to load shot, buck and ball. And a .72 or .69 cal round ball will be plenty potent on even very large animals, just have to be able to get within moderate range

 

[Bill Bates]

I agree totally with irrifleman and 44wheelman on this one. This article was written for survival. Not ours, mind you, but the author's.

You see, guys like this get paid to write articles. If the publisher doesn't like their article, the article doesn't sell. If the article doesn't sell, the author doesn't get paid. If the author doesn't get paid, he goes hungry or is forced to go work for his brother-in-law filling the soap dispensers at the local car wash.

As a result, these guys have to come up with catchy subjects that are either extremely interesting or they tweak the public's noses with some kind of controversy. Thus, the aforementioned article.

I mean, let's face it, who's going to buy an article entitled The Fun of Shooting Empty Tomato Soup Cans with a .22?

Why does he favor the Sig P239 SAS Gen 2 9mm as the ultimate SHTF gun? Simple. Because he has one.

Have you noticed that most of these so-called writers always tout a particular firearm that they just currently happen to own? I've never heard one say, "Y'know, I own a (insert particular firearm) and I think it sucks!" Of course not, they want us to believe that their opinion outweighs ours and that they only have the best.

Okay, rant over. But that's why I take the opinions of various writers with the proverbial "grain of salt."

I agree with you almost 100%. You're spot on but that article about shooting a .22 at empty or better yet slightly swollen tomato cans just need to be wrapped up in a story on a page called "Me n' Joe". Then we would all read it and look forward to another story like it each month.

 

[Bill Bates]

i'm lucky to live in an area with a secondary civil structure that has encouraged prepping for more than my 62 years. I have neighbors That ar prepared and would work together so a real SHTF society collapse may be a little less traumatic here than it would be elsewhere.

I'm also in the camp that things a side arm is there just to get you to your long gun. I do disagree with the authors selection but his needs may very different than mine.

I feel a medium framed .357 revolver is really the ultimate "Jack of all trades but master of none" handgun. It does most things very well but in almost every situation there may be a better choice. If I'm chasing small game with a handgun I would much rather have a nice K Frame .22 long rifle. If I'm chasing big game I'll grab one of my .44 magnums or much better a bolt rifle in a caliber like .30-06 or .308 Winchester. If it a mano a mano type of thing and handgun is all I have a high capacity 9mm, .40 S&W or .45acp would be something I would want.

If it is a handgun on my belt for what ever might come then a revolver like a Model 19 .357 with a 4inch barrel is just fine. It will do the job most of the time and do it very well.

SHTF can be lost of things. These days when hunting grouse in my local mountains I either have a 4 in ch Model 19 or an old S&W .44 special on my belt. I might find a bear or cat that might be a problem with the dogs and we've found more than one cartel grow so I'd rather have more than ounce of 7 1/2 shot in such situations. Both guns ride on my belt unnoticed and both will hopefully do the task at hand.

 

[Mr.Harry]

i'm lucky to live in an area with a secondary civil structure that has encouraged prepping for more than my 62 years. I have neighbors That ar prepared and would work together so a real SHTF society collapse may be a little less traumatic here than it would be elsewhere.

I'm also in the camp that things a side arm is there just to get you to your long gun. I do disagree with the authors selection but his needs may very different than mine.

I feel a medium framed .357 revolver is really the ultimate "Jack of all trades but master of none" handgun. It does most things very well but in almost every situation there may be a better choice. If I'm chasing small game with a handgun I would much rather have a nice K Frame .22 long rifle. If I'm chasing big game I'll grab one of my .44 magnums or much better a bolt rifle in a caliber like .30-06 or .308 Winchester. If it a mano a mano type of thing and handgun is all I have a high capacity 9mm, .40 S&W or .45acp would be something I would want.

If it is a handgun on my belt for what ever might come then a revolver like a Model 19 .357 with a 4inch barrel is just fine. It will do the job most of the time and do it very well.

SHTF can be lost of things. These days when hunting grouse in my local mountains I either have a 4 in ch Model 19 or an old S&W .44 special on my belt. I might find a bear or cat that might be a problem with the dogs and we've found more than one cartel grow so I'd rather have more than ounce of 7 1/2 shot in such situations. Both guns ride on my belt unnoticed and both will hopefully do the task at hand.

Ha! Isn't upland bird hunting a wonderful thing? Never know what you'll what you'll find! Don't have the big cats where I'm at, but Just about anything else you could imagine. Found some 'gardens' myself too!