Gold Dot and Buffalo Bore .44 Special ammo is pretty impressive.
.357 is a fantastic load, when loaded to it's full original pressures.
I'm nowhere near as impressed with the current ".357 light" ammo put out by most ammo companies.
Not impressed with their .38+P or .44 "Magnum" offerings, either.
Even with the modern, wussified (K and J frame friendly) ammo, .357 is still a good load.
I just prefer my magnums to actually be magnums.
My GP100, Dan Wesson, Dan Wesson, and 586 don't mind the hot stuff at all.
My 66-1 gets the .357 wussified loads, and .38 "+P".
My Charter Bulldog gets Gold Dot .44 spl.
I used to run some pretty stout .44 Spl loads through my 431.
I wish I'd never sold it.
The real question is why would you carry a revolver for self defense?
Don't you know they're outdated, obsolete, don't hold enough rounds, and aren't Tupperware enough for "serious" self defense use?
Geez. Get a clue.
Yeah, I'm just kidding. I frigging love revolvers. I feel just as secure with my Bulldog .44 as I do with my SR9 or 1911.
Sometimes, I go really old school and carry my Ruger Blackhawk .45.
Talk about obsolete and outdated. It's so obsolete, I can't believe it's as accurate and reliable as it is.
Yeah, I'm a dinosaur.
I'm happy to be.
I love revolvers, especially old ones.
BTW, .357 and .44 Spl will both ruin a bad guy's life.
Difference is, .357 will ruin your hearing.
I love .357. I'd better, I have enough of them. But, the temporary deafness, ringing ears, and hearing damage just aren't fun.
Outdoors, not so bad. Still bad, but nothing like indoors.