Compact 40 vs 357 snub for woods carry

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I have carried my SP101 for woods/river duty. I like to load one or two shotshells for snake shooting, then three hardcast 158s.
However....
My compact 1911 is almost exactly the same size as my 2.25" SP101. The 1911 has better sights, longer barrel, longer sight radius, is flatter, is quicker to reload, is easier to carry reloads, holds 3more rounds (with one chambered).
As much as I like revolvers, I'm not convinced that the revolver is inherently more reliable either. I have had spent ammo hang in the cylinder, and cylinders that wouldn't open due to the extractor rod getting backed out just a bit.
All variables weighed....I prefer my auto for woods carry and as a ccw, Even though I have a bunch of revolvers.
 
Woods Revolver .. gun fight Auto load high capacity mags . Well in my opinion at any rate ..
 
I have carried my SP101 for woods/river duty. I like to load one or two shotshells for snake shooting, then three hardcast 158s.

However....

My compact 1911 is almost exactly the same size as my 2.25" SP101. The 1911 has better sights, longer barrel, longer sight radius, is flatter, is quicker to reload, is easier to carry reloads, holds 3more rounds (with one chambered).

As much as I like revolvers, I'm not convinced that the revolver is inherently more reliable either. I have had spent ammo hang in the cylinder, and cylinders that wouldn't open due to the extractor rod getting backed out just a bit.

All variables weighed....I prefer my auto for woods carry and as a ccw, Even though I have a bunch of revolvers.


I'm not convinced they're more reliable either.

Besides a kel tec I used to have, my most problematic gun was an SP101 357. I still miss that thing though.
 
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I still have and still use my SP101 but I have some convincing pics as to the size comparison between a supposedly small snub revolver and a compact 1911. I'm not necessarily pushing the 1911 over other quality autos but it is what I have pics of......

except they wont load here for some reason. grrr.
 
If you already have a G20 and reload for the 10mm then a G29 seems like a great solution.
I really thought when they brought out the 29sf that I was finely gonna have to buy a Glock, but my short fat trigger doesn't work with Glock's ergos.
 
If you already have a G20 and reload for the 10mm then a G29 seems like a great solution.

I really thought when they brought out the 29sf that I was finely gonna have to buy a Glock, but my short fat trigger doesn't work with Glock's ergos.


I had an OD 29. I loved that gun, but it wasn't an SF, so I sold it for the 20 gen 4.

Kinda just want something different.

I will get another 29 one day though, but with SF or gen 4.

BTW that 29 was the most accurate handgun I've ever shot.
 
Now that this thread has died, it looks like my pics will load.
...anyway these pics are what i wanted to post several days ago. They show that a snub isnt necessarily smaller than a mid sized auto.
 

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K. Listen up. Everyone, EVERYONEEVERYONE carries more than they shoot (defensive weapon), therefore, pick the weapon you like carrying and Will carry. Happy St. Patrick's Day (Yes I had a few). With me it's always a .357, 13, 640, 65, Vaquero 5.5, Vaquero 4.5, Marlin 1894. 357 WILL get 'er done in the lower 48.
 
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Amazing how a 2 3/4 or 3in 357 magnum becomes so weak unless it is not a 4in or better. I carry my Speed Six and it has never left me wanting. The 2 3/4 in barrel in plenty. I shoot Remington 125gr sjhp out of it. I have shot two coyotes, a badger and a bobcat with it here in Kansas. All were gutted like a water balloon exploding. All were shot with in 30 yards. Dope dealer, to four legged critters it will do the job. Now I would not want to come across a grizzly with it though.
I carry two reloads. To many people fantasies about a rogue cat attacking them, Or a bear lurking in the woods waiting to attack. In truth, these days it is man you need to worry about. I will stick with my 357's and 44s. Not knocking the 40. Just saying I know what works for me.
 
How big can that 10mm possibly be? If it's a semi-auto, I've never seen one that fit your description. 6.5" N-frame, ok.

But if it's a local hike, so what if it's "big and heavy?" You're not carrying very far, so what's the problem?
That's what I was thinking...when I go hog hunting, I've got my day-pack, Bow, Arrows in quiver,
and my Glock 20 strapped on just in case it all goes sideways...using an M-9 beretta holster which holds an extra mag...
if just waltzing thru the woods on hiker trails, it goes into either my backpack's special side pocket, or in a FP...
usually forget its there unless something odd occurs...then my hands kinda automagically gravitate its way ;)

A few years back I bought a great little water-bottle holder that had a center pouch for snax...
it got repurposed to hold the snax and my Glock 20sf between the bottles ;)
Nothing looks more innocuous than a water bottle carrier...
 
That's what I was thinking...when I go hog hunting, I've got my day-pack, Bow, Arrows in quiver,

and my Glock 20 strapped on just in case it all goes sideways...using an M-9 beretta holster which holds an extra mag...

if just waltzing thru the woods on hiker trails, it goes into either my backpack's special side pocket, or in a FP...

usually forget its there unless something odd occurs...then my hands kinda automagically gravitate its way ;)



A few years back I bought a great little water-bottle holder that had a center pouch for snax...

it got repurposed to hold the snax and my Glock 20sf between the bottles ;)

Nothing looks more innocuous than a water bottle carrier...


Nice
 
I carry a SA XD SUBCOMPACT 40 cal. For self protection, and for the occassional hog my dogs will bay. I have wacked many large hogs and in my mind the 40 has proven itself for me
 
I consider both the 40 and 357 plenty adequate (depending on ammo choice) but the 357 is much preferred for bears and lions. The reason? When you rush your shot and miss the 357 is louder and has more chance of scaring the animal away! ;)
 
SINCE THE 44magnum came around, the 357 in a short under4 inch barrel is only for people usage, and in a 4 inch or longer barrel just marginal for use on critters.
 
SINCE THE 44magnum came around, the 357 in a short under4 inch barrel is only for people usage, and in a 4 inch or longer barrel just marginal for use on critters.

Total nonsense. I would trust a 3" .357 with heavy, warmly loaded, ammo as a defense gun in black bear country any time. I would trust a 4" or longer barrel for hunting purposes on deer sized game up to 75 yards away (based on my eyes not ballistics) any day of the week.

Does the 44 magnum outperform the .357 out of the same length barrel? Sure it does. But this totally fails to acknowledge the trade offs with potential capacity and weight differences of an L or N frame .357 (7 or 8 shots) vs the new model 69 S&W (5 shots) or 6 round capacity of N frame 44 mags.

To say that the 44's creation made the .357 less useful or marginal is totally inaccurate. It's an apple and oranges comparison.

That's like saying the creation of the motorcycle made bicycles only marginal for getting from point A to point B. It just isn't true. It's a matter of preference, and trade offs. But a motorcycle does not affect the usability or application of a bicycle simply because the motorcycle now exists.
 
SINCE THE 44magnum came around, the 357 in a short under4 inch barrel is only for people usage, and in a 4 inch or longer barrel just marginal for use on critters.

Critter armor was upgraded after the 44 Magnum was released. They no longer fell to the puny 357 Magnum and now the 44 Magnum is becoming marginal at best against these super critters. Pretty soon anything less than a 460 S&W will be relegated to small varmint duty as the arms race escalates.
 
Critter armor was upgraded after the 44 Magnum was released. They no longer fell to the puny 357 Magnum and now the 44 Magnum is becoming marginal at best against these super critters. Pretty soon anything less than a 460 S&W will be relegated to small varmint duty as the arms race escalates.

EXACTLY! The 454 did not make 44 mag marginal for similar tasks, and the 460 did not make the 454 marginal or less effective either.

By the way, congrats to the OP on your new gun. I hope you like it.
 
My approach is "Do it right, or not at all."

Compact 40 will give you a 40S&W performance.

357 Snub will not give you full 357 performance, and may give you pain and contol issues.

Want 357? Shoot it out of a proper gun.
 
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My approach is "Do it right, or not at all."

Compact 40 will give you a 40S&W performance.

357 Snub will not give you full 357 performance, and may give you pain and contol issues.

Want 357? Shoot it out of a proper gun.

I'll shoot 357 out of whatever the hell I want. The difference between a snubby 357 and 40 S&W ballistics is negligible anyways.
 
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