357 Mag Revolvers for Self Defense

[Olon]

Those of you who have hunted with 357:

Do you use ear protection? Out of my 4 5/8" barrel blackhawk, my blue dot 357 mag loads are LOUD. And very fiery. This has led me to prefer 44spl/mag because even with reasonably hot 44 mag I get way less concussion. Don't know if it's my load or just the characteristics of the cartridge. Obviously I'd sacrifice my ears to save my life but man those are some blasty sobs

 

[Ironicaintit]

357 Magnum is an excellent round.

I have carried a speed six, and an sp101, but loaded with 38 special.

ive had the displeasure of hearing them (357mag) fired indoors, without ears on, and I gotta tell ya, that’s not a thing I’d ever want to do again.

So, being de-tuned, loud, kinda heavy, and less capacity... I turned to my BHP and haven’t looked back.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

Updated crappy cellphone picture of my S&W Model 65-1 with Thai magnas and a Tyler T-Grip adapter. The front sight is painted Neon Orange with fingernail polish.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

Those of you who have hunted with 357:

Do you use ear protection? Out of my 4 5/8" barrel blackhawk, my blue dot 357 mag loads are LOUD. And very fiery. This has led me to prefer 44spl/mag because even with reasonably hot 44 mag I get way less concussion. Don't know if it's my load or just the characteristics of the cartridge. Obviously I'd sacrifice my ears to save my life but man those are some blasty sobs

Yes, I do. I wear electronic ear muffs that reduce loud noises to 85db and can increase softer noises to a volume where my battered ears can hear them. If awakened by the alarm and/or dog in the middle of the night, they rest on my nightstand, and I put them on. Back in the early/mid-'70s, I fired a .357 magnum in a hallway without hearing protection. (The target of my shot ducked behind a corner and survived. He threw out his .32 POS and meekly surrendered to the deputies on site.) I won't do that again. (I did, however, spend 20 years on tanks, and you can't wear enough hearing protection around them. I have permanent tinnitus.)

 

[P5 Guy]

The Ultimate Combat Magnum.

 

[Armored farmer]

Those of you who have hunted with 357:

Do you use ear protection? Out of my 4 5/8" barrel blackhawk, my blue dot 357 mag loads are LOUD. And very fiery. This has led me to prefer 44spl/mag because even with reasonably hot 44 mag I get way less concussion. Don't know if it's my load or just the characteristics of the cartridge. Obviously I'd sacrifice my ears to save my life but man those are some blasty sobs

Yes I did hunt with no ear protection and a .357, but I gave it up for .45colt.

 

[Rodfac]

I've carried one for the better part of two decades now, (a Smith M60 with 3" bbl.) ...not exclusively, but more or less on a regular basis. My loads are generally .38 Spl +P however when we go to town. Around the farm, it's Lyman's fine 358156GC backed by enough 2400 to get me 1000 fps from the gun's 3" bbl. YMMv, but this is an accurate, easy to control side-arm with plenty of smack if needed. Best Regards, Rod