Any reason to own a 357 mag if you already own a 44 mag?

[MikeInOr]

I have been a semi-auto guy for the past 30+ years and only recently (about 6 months ago) purchased my first "Nice" revolver, a Dan Wesson 744 44 mag with a 8" barrrel. I love the gun! I recently picked up a 4" barrel for the 744 which makes for a much better balanced gun and the 4" shoots nicely with wimpy handloads.

There is a Dan Wesson 715 (stainless 357) with 8" barrel for sale locally at $700. I love the DW 744 so much adding a very simular 357 is very tempting! But I don't have any other 357's, don't reload for 357 and don't really want to invest in a new Dillon conversion kit for 357. Is there really anything practical that a heavy large frame 357 can do that a very simular but slightly heavier slightly larger frame 44 mag can't? For me revolvers are range toys and semi's are carry guns. The 715 isn't a size that I would ever want to carry, it is just to big and heavy. The only thing I can think of is the 715 can shoot even wimper .38 special target loads than my wimpy 44 mag loads.

I am kind of thinking I would be better off spending the money on a S&W 986 (7 shot 9mm) as I have many 9mm semi autos and already crank out 9mm rounds by the thousands. My only reservation about the 986 is the requirement to use moon clips. One of the things that really appeals to me about revolvers is the almost theraputic feeling of thumbing single rounds one at a time into the cylinder. If I want fast I will shoot one of my many semi autos. I like that loading single individual rounds into the cylinder slows my down which adds to the enjoyment of shooting.... instead of just blasting away with a semi.

As tempting as the 715 is I am thinking I should pass and find a good deal on a 9mm S&W 986 instead.

 

[TTv2]

Cheap factory ammo.

If you're not carrying them and just having fun, that's the only reason. Maybe better accuracy and faster follow up shots for competitions and such, but other than those two reasons, no. Big bore is the way to go for fun at the range.

You don't have to use moon clips with 9mm revolvers, they headspace off the case mouth and you can shoot them without the clips, you will just have to poke out each case with a plastic or wooden rod, something soft so you don't scratch up the gun. The moon clips only facilitate extraction with the ejector star, nothing more.

 

[MikeInOr]

Cheap factory ammo.
You don't have to use moon clips with 9mm revolvers, they headspace off the case mouth and you can shoot them without the clips, you will just have to poke out each case with a plastic or wooden rod, something soft so you don't scratch up the gun. The moon clips only facilitate extraction with the ejector star, nothing more.

This is good to know about the moon clips.

I am not opposed to carrying a revolver... but the Dan Wesson revolvers are big heavy target revolvers which aren't really amenable to being carried. The DW715 does seem pretty redundant to the DW 744... especially when I consider I would reload for both. I can reload a lot of 44 to what ever power level I like for what it would cost me to setup a 357 Dillon head.

 

[gotboostvr]

Practically, not really. Especially with a switch barrel like the 744.

I've got about a half dozen 357's to my one 44 (and a 45) though, but I wouldn't consider myself very practical with regards to what I keep in my safe.

Sometimes it's fun to have the fireballs without the recoil though.

 

[RodII]

I own both, for fun at the range I take the 357 most of the time. The 357 is cheaper to reload for and ammo is easier to carry. My favorite is a 4" Ruger Security Six with a 4" barrel. I bought my Ruger about a year ago and it was in as new shape for $450 total including shipping and transfer fee.
I also have a S&W 586 with a 6" barrel and a couple of Ruger single actions in 357.
A Smith model 19 with a 4" barrel would also be a good range and carry piece.

 

[Bandit67]

Of course you should buy the .357
You already have many semi autos so you obviously need more revolvers.

 

[mcb]

IMHO skip the 357 mag. I rather dislike the cartridge and have found little use for it where I did not have a better choice in my modest revolver collection.

I am a fairly avid practical pistol sport shooter and like to compete in those sports with a revolver so take the following in that context. YMMV.

Moonclips do more than facilitate extraction. They allow you to load the entire cylinder in one quick action. Moonclips are far less fumble prone than speed-loaders and faster. Moonclips ensure you eject all the cartridges and that you do not have a cartridge left behind or get under the extraction star (non-issue for rimmless cartridges).

7-shot revolvers are nice for carry but if practical pistol sports interest you at all the 7-shooters are very orphaned in those sports.
Completely illegal in IDPA and non-competitive in USPSA.

 

[Walkalong]

.357 mag is great fun if you reload, and cheaper to shoot than .44 Mag, and since you like the platform, and if you like shooting in general why not get it?

Then again, 9MM is fun to shoot as well. It really boils down to what you think you want. The DW deal may not come along again soon, while the S&W 9MM revolvers are easier to pick up.

 

[Speedo66]

If you enjoy target shooting, nothing nicer than some light loaded .38Spl wadcutters which will work fine from a .357.

 

[Milt1]

One option that you might want to consider is the .357 Ruger Blackhawk Convertible. This handgun gives you the versatility of shooting .357 ammo, .38 Special ammo or 9mm as a range pistol.

 

[Rodentman]

I think the .357 is great fun. I have the DW 715 with several bbls giving great flexibility. I use it more than the .44's I have. I reload for everything so I have the ability to vary the loads. Frankly I enjoy revolvers a bit more than autos so I am biased.

 

[hdbiker]

Moving on up !!!!!!, I started with a Single Six, few years later I bought a Black Hawk .357, and now also have a Super Black Hawk .44 mag. I shoot all three as often as I can. hdbiker

 

[SDGlock23]

I would say it's not a "need" but the 357 Mag is cheaper to reload for and there's a lot of cool .357's out there, so keeping a nicely versatile, decently powerful revolver that's easier to shoot on hand is definitely a good thing.

 

[CraigC]

It's been very easy for me to get along with the .357. I skipped right past it and got a .44Mag as my first centerfire revolver and never looked back. Just never cared much for the .357 cartridge. Much prefer a moderately loaded big bore to the ear splittin' blast of the .357. I do love the .38Spl and a nice set of 2", 4" and 6" K-38's are among my prized possessions. However, I do have a handful of .357's but it's more despite the chambering, rather than because of it. Some .357's are just classic sixguns and I feel compelled to own them. Like my model 27 and Highway Patrolman.





IMHO, the Old Model Blackhawk like this `58 flat-top fancy walnut, color cased hammer and nitre blued trigger, is the finest iteration of the .357Mag sixgun.



A suggestion I might make would be for a .44Spl, like the 5" GP's from Ruger. You get a much smaller, lighter and handier sixgun but all you'll have to buy is brass to handload for it. Isn't adjusting your 650's dies easier to change the whole shebang? I bought another 650 just to avoid changing the priming system.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
I would get a .357Mag revolver.
It will open up an entirely new cartridge to you to experiment with and reload for.
I have multiple revolvers in just about every centerfire caliber and don't consider the extra expense of dies and components to be a burden.
If I couldn't switch back and forth between calibers and loads, I would get much less enjoyment out of shooting.
I generally start a range session with a few cylinderfuls of .22LR and work my way up through the calibers with .38Spl, 9mm, .40S&W, .357Mag, .45ACP, .45AutoRim, .44Spl, .45Colt, .41Mag and finish off with .44Mag. Often, I will then shoot one of my son's 10mm autoloaders.
Variety is the spice of life...why limit yourself to one or two calibers?

 

[sequins]

I enjoy shooting max loads of lil' gun behind 158gn LSWC bullets (I prefer the coated mbc bullets) in my 357. I enjoy shooting my 44 as well but the 357 is just a lot faster handling and that's fun. I also load 148gn DEWC with minimal charges of HP38 and new shooters think that's a great time almost universally.

I have a GP100 with a red dot on it and like I said it's a hoot. Both 44 and 357 have their place.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I would try a 9 mm just for the cost savings and light recoil. You really won't gain anything with a 357. I like my 357's, I have several, but for range fun go with a 9 mm. I would have one but I don't like the quality of the new S&W's. I have a 625-8 that is OK but nothing to brag about. I'm disappointed every time I compare it to my old revolvers. Can anyone make a decent revolver these days? Your experience may be different, especially if you don't have anything to compare it to.

 

[gotboostvr]

I could get along perfectly fine with just my 5" 629. Other than a strickly deep concealment gun like a J frame or LCR.

But like @CraigC said, there's some very fine revolvers worth owning despite their chambering. My M19's and 4" 686-0 are just fantastic guns that just wouldn't be the same in 44mag. Although the recommendations for 44 special are very strong.

 

[Tallball]

I'm a revolver guy. If I didn't have any handguns and had to start over from scratch, my first purchases would be three good-quality revolvers with great sights and triggers: a 22lr, a 38/357, and a 40-something. If you don't have all three, you're missing out on something.

A nice revolver in 22lr is elegant. It's more accurate than anyone who will shoot it. Women and kids and new shooters can enjoy it. It costs nothing to shoot. Varmints and small game can be dispatched by it easily. The lack of recoil and expense makes it excellent for training.

The 40-something caliber revolvers are loads of fun. They go BOOM! In 44 special or 45acp, in particular, they are not all that tiring to shoot. They put big holes in things. In 44 magnum or hot 45colt (or something more exotic) they are hand cannons that make fireballs and make things explode.

38/357 revolvers are nice middle-of-the-road shooters. They go blam and put biggish holes in things, unlike the 22's. Mild 38's are extremely easy to shoot, and you can shoot them accurately for long periods of time without getting tired. Hot 357's make fireballs, crack the air as they break the sound barrier, and smack into things like a hot lead whiplash.

Once you get used to them, the 38/375 revolvers are probably the most useful. With light loads they are almost as easy to shoot as a 22. With heavy loads they are as effective on medium-sized game or predators as a 40-something caliber. I have a lot of handguns. The one I CC the most is a Ruger LCR in 38 special. My preferred HD handgun is a Taurus Model 689 (357) 4". My preferred hunting handgun is a Ruger Blackhawk 357 6.5".

 

[kscharlie]

Life is short. For me, there is joy and pleasure in shooting. I have revolvers in .22, .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .38 Spl., .357 Mag, .45 ACP and .44 Mag. They all go somewhere between "pop" and "BOOOOOM!". Each and everyone of them make me smile. I have semi-autos in .22, .380, 9mm and .45ACP. Of all my handguns, the one caliber I like the least is 9mm. I'm not sure why. The one I enjoy the most is my S&W Model of 1955 pre-25 in .45 ACP. I live out in the boonies and spend a lot of time outdoors. Whenever I am out and about, the caliber that accompanies me 98% of the time is either .38 Spl. or .357 Mag. Accurate, easy to shoot, easy to carry. I very seldom shoot .38 in my .357. If I want .38, I carry a revolver chambered in .38. Perhaps it is a reflection of the era I grew up in, but life without a .357 Magnum would be just a little bit dull. As I said, life is short.

 

[BobWright]

You need a reason to buy a gun?

Bob Wright

 

[bluejeans]

i hate to say this, because i love .357 and i alway advise buying the gun if one can afford it.... but in this case there's no reason for the .357 that wouldn't apply to the S&W 9mm as well.. and its a caliber you already stock for. get the S&W 986 as long at moon clips aren't a game stopper for you.

calibers are largely irrelevant , IMO, for guns that will only be used at targets/range... for a hunting or SD use i believe the .357 has a solid role seperate from the 44.

 

[Boarhunter]

I have a PC snubby 986, and it is a sweet, sweet shooter. And do not discount the moon-clip system until you have tried it. I like it much.

BOARHUNTER

 

[Obturation]

Everyone should have a 357 mag, unless you're a commie.

 

[Riomouse911]

The variety of the ammunition is a great reason to buy a .357, especially a DW that is similar to the .44 you have.

I have two DW-15 frames and five VH barrel/shrouds for them, and I like shooting the guns with any reasonable .38 or .357 load out there. From 3.0 gr Bullseye under a 148 gr WC in a .38 case up to 180 gr JSP rounds powered by H110, it does a lot.

Since the new DW 715's offer 4-6-8 in barrels, I see nothing wrong with starting with the 8" and getting the shorter barrel(s) like you did with the .44.

But then again, I can talk myself into just about any gun purchase if I try hard enough...

Stay safe!