The unpopular 357.

[michael thornton]

well not at my house! got seven 357s , i stick with the 158 gr bullets

 

[586L-Frame]

Don't know what your talking about or where you are getting your information. I see alot of new shooters at the range now with .357 magnums. I myself have eight that I enjoy shooting. Just because you don't see much in ammo on the shelf does not mean it is not a popular cartridge. I reload.
586L-Frame

1 - 66-2 4"
1 - 586 L-Frame 4" no dash
1 - 586 L-Frame 6" no dash
1 - 686 L-Frame 4" no dash
2 - 686-4 L--Frame 6"
1 - Ruger GP100 6" blue
1 - Rossi 92 .38/357mag Carbine

 

[guy22]

I love .357. Back in the day most cops carried .357 wheel guns. They did this for relibaity, and power. They usually carried only five shots. The hammer rested on a empty chamber. They usually were DA/SA weapons. Most were S&W.
The bad boys knew this and saw that .9mm was close enoungh in power, and in a auto held a lot more rounds. ~ 10 to 17. So they started carrying 9's. Easy to handle, fast to shoot, fast reload.

The cops started saying they were out gunned! They were as far number of rounds fired in a short period of time.
So Glock came around. Every LEO jumped on the 9mm.
Years go by and they realize the 9mm is some what weak. So the .40 cal. & 10mm start showing up. They had the .45acp in front of them for ~ 80 years go figure?

When I carry it is a Ruger 5450, Caliber: .357 Mag, LCR. It will shoot every time I pull the tigger, .357, .38 +p, or .38spc.
You double tap two .357 rounds in the chest, the bad boy is out of the fight.
JMHO

Guy22

 

[StatesRightist]

Is that really it?!? Surely it is more. That can't be much more than 1000 or so revolvers per year.

I see where your confusion is, I meant S&W sells 600-800,000 units per year, not up to $800,000.00 dollars worth.

 

[keith44spl]

GF,

I's always been paschal to Super-Vel for the lite bullet weights and Norma for the heavier bullets.

Either one 'll make the ponies jump...

I asked my new boss if he was gonna issue ammunition...

He said,"Get the best your own money can buy!"

So I'm gonna load my own...Mabee, 158 gr. FBLSCWHP over a freight wagon of 2400 and
sparked off'n with a hot lit'l magnum primer of sum sorts.

Hows 'bout them Seirra full patch RN 180 grains for stoppin the thick skinned stuff.

But then again, ya know I'm really a 44 Special kinda guy.


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[therevjay]

How did you determine it is on the down slide?

Why to people consider the 40 SW "short and weak" it's probably one of the best calibers ever.
( I am aware of how the term originated)
Apparently most LE agencies have not heard the news.

Indeed, the .40S&W 180gr has virtualy identical ballistics to the 38/40. Hardly what I'd call "short and weak."

 

[Fishslayer]

Indeed, the .40S&W 180gr has virtualy identical ballistics to the 38/40. Hardly what I'd call "short and weak."

I call it the "10mm Kurz."

 

[The Highlander]

I think (yeesh) I have more .357's than any other caliber, excepting the .22 lr which is far and away in the lead. The only thing giving it a run for its money in the centerfire arena is the 9mm. Gots me a few of them critters too. If I had to go to one, it would be a .357. Probably not a Smith, more likely a GP-100, 4", adjustable sights. My L-Comp is a VERY close second.

 

[tops]

.357 mag. is the best pistol cartridge ever made. There was not a good reason to develop new cartridges after 1935. My 2 cents worth. Larry

 

[ColbyBruce]

If I could only afford ONE handgun, I would want a 4" barrel, adjustable sight, medium frame, stainless steel .357 magnum revolver. Like this one, that I gave my son.

This can handle anything from shotshells, target loads, lightweight HS hollowpoints, heavy flat nose lead rounds. It can be concealed easily, and used by most anyone eight to eighty years old.

But I have way more than one handgun, and can easily live without a .357 magnum. I still have two, a 2.5" 66 and a 3" 65; and I carry them often. But they are not necessary.

 

[NE450No2]

I must say that I agree with the original post. nation wide I think the 357 Mag is DEAD with the Police, and Federal Agencies...
This might be the fastest extention in History.

Now I have never been a 357 Mag kind of guy, Personally, as I started with a 1911 in 45 ACP and went straight to the 44 Mag.

But I still recognize that the 357 Mag is a great calibre. I have owned several/shot several, but I am just a believer of the 40+cal bore.

With Citizen concealed carry increasing, I think the 357 Mag is a viable choice.

I cannot believe that S&W does not reintroduce the K Frame 357 Mag.

Even I like the 2 1/2" Mod 19 and 66 as a carry gun.

I think it is Civilian Concealed carry that has rebirthed the 357 Mag.

 

[Cyrano]

I just bought a (not very cheap) 27-2: 8 3/8 inch barrel,TG, TH, TT. Beautiful gun. It'll get shot a lot and will be with me for a LONG time.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I think you will find that the autopistols vs. revolver issue is the more significant variable.

Good point. If the semi auto pistol had never been invented, the 357 would be the king of ALL handguns.

I look up to and revere my father. When he bought his first gun for self defense it was a S&W 19-2 357 magnum. Which I now have and always will. Sweetest shooting revolver I ever shot.

 

[quneur]

I keep it simple, .38sp & .22lr. Those two rounds killed more people in the last 100yrs except for military ammo.

And don't forget black bears. The 357 have killed more imaginary black bears in the lower 48 than any other caliber.

 

[mr.jbk79]

My only issue with the 357mag is finding 158gr ammo on a regular basis around here.

 

[Smith357]

My only issue with the 357mag is finding 158gr ammo on a regular basis around here.

Yeah, what he said!!!

Why is it retailers sell that 9mm weight .357 ammo, if I wanted to use those wimpy Euro style 125 grain HPs I would buy a Wunder9, give me big heavy hunks of lead 158 grains or more.

 

[venomballistics]

Yeah, what he said!!!

Why is it retailers sell that 9mm weight .357 ammo, if I wanted to use those wimpy Euro style 125 grain HPs I would buy a Wunder9, give me big heavy hunks of lead 158 grains or more.

never really thought about it from the store shelf perspective. I have a few guns that have never fired a factory loaded round since they were born.
the light weights, I suspect again, to be a product of CCW's impact upon the market.
357 is a little on the light side as a sportsmans pistol caliber. theres little it can do that the 41 44 and 454 cant do better when antlers are floating along the treeline.
357, when chambered in a rifle, on the other hand, becomes rather blessed due to the additional precision and energy.
Its also very kind to the shooter as a sportsmans rifle.
At the end of the day, sportsman oriented 357's are the exception to the rule of this defensive caliber

 

[keith44spl]

How did you determine it is on the down slide?

Why to people consider the 40 SW "short and weak" it's probably one of the best calibers ever.
( I am aware of how the term originated)
Apparently most LE agencies have not heard the news.

I'll just say this about that right thar.

From personal first hand experience...I was in this lit'l dust-up where there was this kinda running fight.
One of the parties involved thought it would be a distraction to shoot up my un-mark car with a pistol. (with your's truly onboard)

Long story short...Out of 4 or 5 hits not one projectile entered my passenger compartment.

A pard on mine was in a little gunfight with this doper/murder suspect one time.
The suspect took 3 or 4 rounds and fled to another county 30 minutes away.
Only to barricade himself up for a week before surrendering.

Another close personal friend shot this armed suspect...I personal saw said suspect limpin' in to the Federal Court House a year later.

As y'all see where I going with this...Jest glad they's was shootin a 40 S&W and not a .357 Magnum...The nite I got ambushed!

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Fishslayer]

My only issue with the 357mag is finding 158gr ammo on a regular basis around here.

Easily fixed...