.44 Mag. revolver vs. .357 Mag. carbine

[klingy]

Looking for opinions on what you would do, but first a little background information:

I have chronographed .44 Mag. & .357 Mag. cartridges out of several different barrel lengths. The muzzle energies are impressive for the .357 out of the carbine, but when you look at the power factor out of a .44 revolver, it beats the .357. So, in my mind, the .44 would "hit harder".

I'm stuck between buying a Marlin 1894C (18.5" barrel) & a Smith & Wesson 629 Classic (6.5" barrel). I already handload for .38/.357, so the Marlin wouldn't cost me any more to shoot. I shoot revolvers better than anything else, but I'd have to buy dies and other components in order to shoot "on the cheap". Also, with the carbine, one has to load each round individually through the loading gate. With the revolver, one has a quicker reload with speedloaders.

My intended use for either is for a more powerful option above my 6" barreled S&W 686. Something that I could defend me & mine and reliably take game with in a worst case scenario.

Thank you.

 

[whited]

.

44 magnum carbine ? Is that a possibility ?


But seriously, of the two you listed, I would choose the .357 magnum rifle.

 

[mavracer]

.357

If you already load for .357 A marlin makes a great companion much more accurate. easier to take game. either 158 gr remington jsp or 180 gr xtp or hard cast with large quantities of h110/296 are great for deer out to 100yards

 

[grimjaw]

Economically, it makes sense to go with the Marlin. You've already got reloading gear, a revolver in the same caliber, and factory .38/.357 is generally less expensive than factory .44Spec/Mag.

I say this without reloading experience, but given the two platforms (rifle vs revolver) I think you could work up some 180gr .357 Magnum loads that would give .44 Magnum a run for its money. Plus from a recoil standpoint, the .357 is going to be easier to shoot even at the high end of the load than .44 Magnum out of revolver at the low end.

jm

 

[3 gun]

You're not going to win a fire fight with either, so I don't really think reloading speed is a big factor. East or West of the Mississippi? 357 even from a carbine can be a bit light for bear and big game on the West side. I'd go for the carbine over a handgun for the greater power from either caliber. The carbine also gives you an easier platform for making hits. Hits are what you'll need with a pistol caliber even from the carbine.

 

[44AMP]

+/-

Both calibers can be had in carbines. And the differrence in power remains.

Some +'s of the .357 in your situation are the fact you alread lead for it, and commonality of ammo with your current handgun. WARNING: You can make rifle ammo that it too hot for your handgun. Do NOT get them mixed up.

Carbine is easier to shoot well at longer ranges than a handgun.
Recoil of .357 in a carbine is very mild.

-'s: Smaller bullet diameter over the .44, risk of putting rifle ammo in pistol and damaging it, Marlin rifle has a very "short" action, and in order to use the long 180gr bullets you may have to seat them deeply, reducing powder capacity even further. And they still may give you feeding problems.

Don't be concerned with reloading speed, unless you plan to be a gunfighter or compete in games. While the carbine does only load one at a time through the loading gate, it can be refilled without taking the gun out of action.

One more benefit of the carbine is that it is legally a rifle, and so if you travel between states you don't have to be concerned with pistol permits.

You don't mention the price. If you are stuck between the Marlin carbine and the S&W, they must be about the same price. If this is the case, then you are either paying too much for the Marlin, or getting a hell of a deal on the S&W. MSRP on both guns is higher than I would pay for either (I may be a bit jaded, because I already have both). But I feel that new price for the Marlin is too high. I bought one last month (used but like new) for $300. You won't find an M29 for that price. There was a Marlin 1894 in the paper last week for $400. You might find an M29 for that, but not new. Personally, I donl't like the new ones anyway.

Either will do the job, only you can decide which one is the most advantageous in your situation. Both guns hold their value pretty well, but the S&W has a higher cash value to start with, and appeals to more buyers.

 

[5Wire]

1894, so many choices, so few bux

1894SS in 44 Remington Magnum, 44 SPL

Model 1894 in 44 Remington Magnum, 44 SPC

1894C in .357 Magnum, 38 SPL, Plus P

I have the 1894C to go with two .357 S&Ws and one .38 SPL, Plus P. It's a really nice rifle. I wish I had waited for the short run of the 1894C in stainless.

 

[kevin387]

I have two 357 carbines and one in 44. The 357's are about one of the funnest guns you can shoot. It's a no brainer (IMO).

 

[Furncliff]

I found a near new 1979 Marlin 1894C on Auction Arms. I love it. I really like being able to shoot the .38 sp. out of it (I don't reload). I like to introduce people to shooting (someone from Japan not too long ago) and the 357/38 is a great next step up from the .22 rifles. I fit mine with a red dot.

 

[svtruth]

.44mag

carbine. Mine is lots of fun and makes a nice companion to the .44 revolvers.
I hope you never face a threat that cannot be neutralized by the eleven, yes, eleven rounds of .44mag the carbine holds.
Oooh, does eleven rounds make it high capacity?

 

[Tom C.]

I have Marlins in .357 and .44 and revolvers in both as well. I have decided to use the 1894C in combination with either a Ruger GP100 or S&W 627 as a pair for the truck kit. The weapons are a little lighter and the ammo is a little lighter. East of the Mississippi, the .357 should take care of business.

 

[waynedm]

ooooo! I'm going to be one of those people that throws something totally different into the mix to be a pain in the . . .

How about .45 Colt!

 

[Hook686]

Now I see that as a really ugly gun.

 

[whited]

.

which one, hook ?

 

[ChristopherG]

Man, if you already reload for .357, you are the perfect candidate for an 1894c. I used to run mine in local 3-gun matches where everyone else shot AR's. Didn't give up a thing to the EBR's until (a) the range exceeded about 150 yards and my trajectory went all rainbowy, or (b) I ran dry and had to start shoving cartridges in one at a time. Really, it's a terrifically fun little rifle, and one of the last--maybe THE last--I'd part with.

Try this: get the Marlin and load the Hornady 158 gr. FP XTP over 18.0 grs of Lil' Gun (check Hodgdon; it's their max load). 2,000 fps and accuracy that's out-freakin'-standing.

If you need more power than the Marlin will give you--with this bullet or a heavier solid cast bullet--you don't need another handgun; you need a battle rifle.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Already having great revolvers in both calibers, it's a no brainer that I'd go for the carbine. I've actually been itching for a lever action in a magnum pistol caliber for a while.

I agree that if you're reloading .357s already that's a big plus for the Marlin. I'm probably a little biased, though.

 

[DogBonz]

357 rifle

For many reasons.
-You already have the reloading dies, brass, primers, bullets, and powder.
-In a defensive situation you can reload a lever action on the fly. You can fire a shot and then load another, like topping off.
-For taking game, the rifle will be more accurate at far distances
-In a SHTF situation, you would have ammo compatability, so you would only have to carry/ worry about 1 type of ammo.
-The 357 is a great defensive round, if not the best. The 44, while someone would be in a world of hurt, is not considered a defensive round due to slow follow up shots and heavy recoil, although with 44 specials this can be remidied, but then you are down th 45ACP levels, and might as well just get a 45.

Just my $0.02

 

[roscoe]

Power factor? I don't know what that it, but the .357 out of a rifle is more powerful than a .44 handgun, at least in terms of energy.

 

[Doggieman]

357 outta a carbine is just too puny. Why bother IMHO. Maybe to shoot holes in sheets of paper. You want to kill anything go with the big bore baby, .44!

 

[Hook686]

.357 magnum carbine not so wimpy ....

.... I've read that the .357 magnum carbine rivels the 30-30 inside 100 yards .... others seem to agree.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-160161.html

 

[MICHAEL T]

I have the 44 mag and pistol set up. I think in your case you should go with the 357. Your already 2/3 way their as you have pistol and reload .
The 357 carbine is no dog .