Which would you choose?

[cjwils]

Say your tasks were home defense, campground defense in an area where black bears could appear, and non-competitive target shooting. You can pick one of these two S&W revolvers. What would be your choice? Please don't go off on a tangent about some other gun. Thanks.

686, .357 mag, 3" barrel, 7-shot

625, .45 ACP, 4", 6-shot

 

[petepeterson]

686.

Decent power, extra round. Lotsa good loadings from light .38s to 180 gr. .357s.

 

[NYlakesider]

Say your tasks were home defense, campground defense in an area where black bears could appear, and non-competitive target shooting. You can pick one of these two S&W revolvers. What would be your choice? Please don't go off on a tangent about some other gun. Thanks.

686, .357 mag, 3" barrel, 7-shot

625, .45 ACP, 4", 6-shot

You mentioned black bears, none of the above!

I used to camp in a area with a lot of bears and my choice does not apear in your post! Nuffsaid!

 

[kozmic]

A shot gun. No wait. Both are a little on the light side for an angry bear. I love .45acp in a bottom feeded, but would lean toward the 686 in this scenario.

 

[g8rb8]

This was an artful way to start another bear thread.

If these are the only two choices then I would vote for the 686 which will easily cover your desire for target shooting and home defense. Load it with the ".357 Hope & Change Magnum" cartridges when on the lookout for bears. "Hope" bears don't show up. "Hope" that if bears do show up and head your way they "change" in some positive way in response to the .357 - either change direction or drop.
John

 

[Watchdog]

This was an artful way to start another bear thread.
John

It was, wasn't it?

 

[Dale53]

I have both revolvers. My choice would be a reloaded .45 ACP with a Lyman cast 454424 bullet (250 gr Keith - my choice is an NOE mould for this bullet). You can safely get 900+ fps with a nice large meplat using 7.0 grs of Unique. This load will shoot through a bear with excellent results. I have only taken one black bear (with a rifle as handguns are not allowed in Canada) but have been in on the autopsies of about 35 bear. This load (7.0 grs of Unique behind a 250 gr Keith) should work about as well as most anything short of a .454 Casull.

That's what I would do. I am not partial to the .357 for large animals. Good for penetration but down on terminal effect compared to a properly loaded .45.

I believe Buffalo Bore has similar rounds if the OP is not a reloader.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[22hipower]

Once again I'm with Dale53; the 625 with heavy handholds for that bear (which isn't likely to show up or require shooting) and lighter cast bullet loads for the target and home defense roles. Nothing I own is more fun to shoot than a 625 with Auto Rim brass and 200 grain cast bullets. Enjoy!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[diyj98]

I've seen quite a few black bears killed with 357 magnums. I'd go with the others and pick the 686

 

[DR505]

YES! Another bear thread!

Either will work...average black bears are not that tough. Which do you you shoot more accurately with quick follow-up shots?

If nothing else, the 3" .357 magnum might light his fur on fire.

 

[tjpopkin]

I would have to go with the .45acp 625. Great target gun, especially with the mount adaptor to replace the rear sight with a window-style red dot (Leupold, Burris, J-Point, etc). Great target acquisition, great accuracy. With hot loads using a flat lead bullet it would make a fine skull crusher (remember Bear have sloped skulls, so you need lead bullets or risk a ricochet. Also, the emergence of the new G2 RIP cartridges in .45acp, would make it a gun with a devastating round.

 

[Arik]

Bear? I would lean towards the biggest cal with the most amount of firepower. ..12G with 6+1 or 8+1.

There is no one do it all caliber. You pic the tool for the job. Home defense ....357...sure. woods defense 12G or something in 7.62 semi auto and lots of ammo. My woods gun is a AK or a VZ58. 30 rounds of 7.62 x39 in semi auto

 

[rwsmith]

If I had to pick....

Handloads for my 686. I know those can stop bears. ..45 is a proven man-stopper, but I don't know its reputation on bears, besides I feel that a revolver is more reliable though I won't knock the reliability of a good .45.

 

[Fishinfool]

Personally, I would pick a 4 inch 625 over a 3 inch 357 for the uses you describe.

The 625, loaded with heavy Buffalo Bore loads would work as well, or probably better than a 357 for bear defense. 45 acp ammo, at least around here, is cheaper and easier to find than 357 ammo. The 45 acp has less blast than a 357 mag., and offers excellent man stopper loads using bullets like Gold Dots and Ranger bonded loads. Some people would find the 4 inch barrel a little easier to hit with than a 3 inch. The slightly flatter trajectory and higher velocity of a 357 doesn't really factor in for the use you have in mind for these short barreled handguns.

Larry

 

[Coaltminer]

I'd go with the 686 with Buffalo Bore loads with heavy bullets in 357. Good enough for black bear, fine for the range with 38's if you have to pick one of those 2 guns. Ideally, a 12 gauge with slugs, or if a handgun, a longer than 3" 44 Magnum, 4 or 6", but, for me, they're hard to control for follow-up shots, but with 44 Specials, nice range guns, but expensive if you're not a reloader. I'd take the 686 and eventually get a short barreled pump gun. They're available for less than $300. Too many good choices out there! All the best.

 

[Martya]

I think either would do the job. Given your criteria, I give the nod to the 357. Both would get the bear's attention.
By the numbers:
.45 cal -- 900fps with 250g = 449 muzzle energy (ME).
.357 cal -- 1250fps with 158g = 548 ME.

You would likely get more shots off quicker with the 45, but the 357 does hit rather well.

And you can get both rounds with even higher ballistics, and even "Double Tap" sells a .357 round with a 125g advertized at 1600 FPS round = 710 ME.

For target practice you can get mild rounds for both. Shooting 38's in a magnum is like popping popcorn.

 

[eyegots2no]

Either one of those would be perfect for if/when the bear shows up.


Just be sure and point it upwards as your stick it in your mouth and squeeze twice as fast as you can.

 

[Highhawk1948]

I would go with the 686

 

[RacinbobSW]

A few just have to post dumb comments no matter what.

In sticking with the OP I would definitely go with the 686. Strong revolver and loaded properly it will do the job for you if you do your job.

 

[Desert Pete]

While I lean toward the 625 with a 250 grain Keith style bullet, Hodgon's load data has a 180 grain 357 bullet at 1422 fps. That's plenty of power up close and personal. So the data supports the 686.