Picking a trail gun (10mm vs .44 Mag)

[Certaindeaf]

All this talk about .357 got me thinking...
If I were to go the Ruger route, I'd love to get a 4" in either GP-100 or SP101.

So, how about it: GP vs. SP

The GP is a big 'ol lunk, that's for sure. I'd have no qualms against defending myself against black bear, dogs, etc with a good .357.

 

[pingpingping]

I tried this experiment myself. I'm selling my beast of a .44 to fund a Glock 20...Just a much more practical and versatile gun for my purposes.

 

[mavracer]

They should have named the 4" sp101 "trail gun" IMHO it's another Perfect Packin Pistol.
But then again I have a bunch that I concider PPP and yet none that are really perfect lol.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Where are you finding the load data that actually attains these velocities?

Consider me a toned-down version of Clark as reloaders go. That's not a book load.

Starline brass, CCI 350 mag primers, 10.8 Grs. IMR-800x, averages 1,406 from my 1006 and Kimber ST II, 1,430 from my 5-1/4 poly rifled Witness Limited. It still gets 1,342 from my 3.5" Witness Compact. I haven't chrono'ed it from the G20 yet.

 

[Macchina]

Originally I thought that the .40 S&W was very close in energy to the .357 Mag. While hot .40's and cold .357's do overlap, the .357 appears to go much hotter (I never realized the .357 could be loaded past 800 ft-lbf)!

I don't have grizzlies to worry about and if I tell myself the truth I don't think I'd carry around a 48oz. gun to shoot .44's. So .357 it is going to be!

I think I'm going to go for the new Ruger 4.2" SP101.

 

[Manny]

That 4.2 SP101 is a sweet piece for sure, when they came out with the .22lr version I was hoping they'd follow up with a one in .357 and happily they did.

I think you've made a terrific choice that should serve you very well, best of luck with it.

FYI: Buffalo Bore makes some bear loads in .357 if you want to try them out.

 

[RalphS]

All this talk about .357 got me thinking...
If I were to go the Ruger route, I'd love to get a 4" in either GP-100 or SP101.
So, how about it: GP vs. SP

My 357 "bear load" is a 185 grain Beartooth bullet at 1300 fps out of my 4 inch GP-100, similar to the Buffalbore load except I load it myself and it doesn't cost me $1.50 per round. This is a very stiff load to shoot but I can handle it with the GP100 because its a 40 oz gun with a full size grip. I seriously doubt that I could handle it in an SP101. The grip is too small for me.

Has anyone tried shooting heavy loads in the SP-101?

 

[David E]

Consider me a toned-down version of Clark as reloaders go. That's not a book load.

I didn't think so. That's all I needed to know.

 

[lloveless]

I have a 3 inch sp 101 in .357 mag. I have shot 200 gr hardcast from CorBon through it with out any problems. Recoil is snappy, but so are Remington's 125 gr jsp!
ll

 

[MachIVshooter]

While hot .40's and cold .357's do overlap, the .357 appears to go much hotter (I never realized the .357 could be loaded past 800 ft-lbf)!

Yeah, most off-the-shelf .357 ammo is a bit watered down. You won't see those numbers out of a 2.5" gun, though. 4"-6"

The .357 mag in true form is the ballistic twin of full power 10mm Auto, in the 700-800 ft/lb range. We've just become accustomed to 500-550 ft/lb loads and tend to think of it in those terms.

 

[Hamilton Felix]

Dig up an original 1935 ad for the new .357 Magnum. It claimed 800 ft. lbs. with a 158 grain bullet at 1510 fps. In the Lyman 45th Edition, the "factory duplication" load was 11.6 grains of Herco behind a 158 grain cast gas check SWC. Back when I was younger and bolder, I tried that load behind some semi-wadcutters out of my RCBS mold, that actually ran about 162 grains. I averaged 1503 fps with those 162 grainers and broke 800 fp, out of my 8-3/8" Model 27. Interestingly, I averaged 1488 out of my 6-1/2" Blackhawk.

BUT: Out of two cylinder loads, I pierced primers twice and seriously cratered the rest. I'm not surprised the next edition of Lyman dropped that load back a lot. In fact, I think Lyman and the more cautious Speer settled around 9 grains.

I'm not sure but what the original claimed .357 ballistics were from a test barrel. Or maybe, with a thinner flash gap than my 70's M27 and the original 8-3/4 barrel, they really did hit the mark. I read the original loads leaded badly, too.

 

[rxspeed88]

IMHO there isnt a round that does better for what you are asking than the 10mm especially if you reload. I cc the 29sf also and will be getting a 20c here soon. The .44 is an amazing caliber but shooting a light .44 with stout loads is gonna be hard to get more than one shot off accurately. With the 20 or even the 29 you have enough to power to stop most of anything and more than 6 rounds not to mention that follow up shot should be a lot easier.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I agree, the .357 will whack some critters but good.

 

[jmr40]

A G-20 or G-29 is about perfect. I use the G-20 for that use. A good 357 revolver would be my 2nd choice. The 44 mags and bigger are way too much gun for that use. Remember if you actually do need to use the gun it will likely be against 2 legged predators. Choose a gun with that in mind first, large 4 legged predators are secondary, and way down the list of possibilities.

The mag capacity, much smaller and lighter package combined with loads that equal the hottest 357 mag loads in the 10mm are the perfect compromise. The fact that the Glocks will be more reliable in outdoor conditions are a big plus over a 6 shot revolver as well.

 

[Certaindeaf]

.Remember if you actually do need to use the gun it will likely be against 2 legged predators..

I like the 9mm too.

 

[harrygunner]

I purchased both a .44 Mag Redhawk and a 10mm Glock 29 for woods carry.

Most of the time, I bring the Glock 29. However, in certain regions where grizzly or moose could be present, I carry the Ruger Redhawk.

For ammo, Glock magazines are loaded with 200gr WFNGC or 180gr XTP. The Redhawk gets Hornady 300gr XTP or Buffalo Bore 340gr LBT-LFN GC thumpers. I'm out west and load heavier bullets, the further north I go.

 

[Hedgemeister]

The Sirius patrol in Greenland is issued the Glock 20 for polar bears. Good enough for me to think it will handle the black bears here in AZ just fine.

 

[exavid]

ACB -You don't need a big badass gun. Black bear are not very aggressive. I've had many run ins with them over the years, and yelling at them usually makes them run away if they don't when they see/smell you. A gunshot, from any weapon, is sure to run them off. Don't shoot at them, you don't want to wound them. Just fire a shot into the ground nearby.

You ought to tell that my neighbor in Juneau, AK who was killed by a black bear. Look at the list below and tell me how non-agressive a black bear is. I'd argue that they are the most unpredictable species of bear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America

 

[Hunt480]

Get an SA or a DA Ruger in 44mag, it will last 3 or 4 lifetimes and you can get one in just about any size to suit you. The new Rehawk 44's are perfect for a magnum load in a small package...