Should I go .357 or .44?

[..]

I have boiled down to a GP100 .357 or Redhawk 44 for my revolver. I will shoot only .38's out of the GP100. This will be mostly a range/fun gun but it might pull some house gun duty. Which should I choose and why?

 

[CommanderPoopyduX]

If you are wanting to shoot it for fun, and don't plan on reloading, .357 can be cheaper to shoot as you can put .38s in it. Also, .357 would make a fine home defense gun imo.

I guess my vote is .357 for what you described its use to be.

 

[mavracer]

with your criteria .357

 

[MCgunner]

Dot, dot????

 

[JackCrow]

Yup, .357

 

[..]

But the 44 is so cool. How does recoil compare between .38 and .44?

 

[CommanderPoopyduX]

well, that depends on the size of the guns obviously, but in my opinion compare maybe a 9mm to a 45ACP....

 

[Marshall]

I have them both. If you would ever stand the possibility of going hunting with it, I would go with the Redhawk. Other than that, the GP-100 would be my choice. I sure like 44Mag's though, fun, accurate, and powerful.

 

[Walkalong]

For practicality, the GP-100, but I voted .44 cause I love the Redhawk.

I have 4 .357's though, including a GP-100.

If you reload the .357 is extremely versatile. If you don't you still have two choices (three really) light .38 target loads, heavy .38 loads, and screaming .357 loads.

Get em both, but if you can't do that, get the GP-100 for starters.

 

[cookekdjr]

Hard to beat a Redhawk shooting Blazer .44 specials for plinking fun. Its also a wonderful self defense load (200gr Gold dot at approx 875 fps).
-David

 

[glockman19]

I went S&W 686 & 629. The 686 4" .357 Magnum is enjoyable to shoot All Day Long. Ammo is less expensive and plentiful. The 629 5" .44 Magnum is one beast of a gun. much heavier recoil, a real fire breathing dragon. Fun to shoot at night. Ammo is more expensive.

Do as I did, Get the .357 first and then go with the .44.

I like the GP 100 & the SP 101 and the Redhawk .44 is nice too. I would only consider Ruger & S&W revolvers in my collection.

Budsgunshop.com has great prices.check them out:
http://www.budsgunshop.com

They offer a GE Money Credit card with NO payments & NO Interest for 90 days a great way to go.

GP100 3" $471.50:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_49_76/products_id/70265

Redhawk 44 Rem Mag 5½" Blued $544.11:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_49_76/products_id/70249

What ever one you get enjoy.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

I have both calibers, and to sit down and pick just one would be quite difficult. I have several .357s of varying barrel lengths, and each get loaded currently with Winchester Silvertip 145 grain .357s. The 4 inch S&W 629 gets loaded with Speer Gold Dot shirt barrel 200 gr Magnum loads. All of them are a hoot to fire and play with.

A side note, you probably won't shoot a .44 much if you don't reload. Those things can get quite expensive. I typically buy 100 WWB .38 rounds for slightly more than 50 .44 Magnum rounds (that is, in those rare times when I buy ammo).

 

[GunTech]

You can always split the difference and go 41.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I love .44 Magnum. I've got a 5" 629 Classic and a 3" "Bounty Hunter". For carry/defense, I use 240 grain Hyda-Shoks in the big one and I'm trying to decide between Winnie 210 grain Silvertips or Cor-Bon 165 grain JHP in the shorty.

I'm unimpressed with the ballistics of Speer's "short barrel" .44 Magnum load. All they did was water .44 Magnum down into, heck, .45ACP +P range. If that's as much as you want to shoot, you may as well get a 625 and get the benefits of moonclips and cheaper ammo.

However, if you're new to sixgunning the .44 is probably not the best choice. While a full sized gun like the Redhawk will be an utter pussycat to shoot with .44 Special cowboy loads, said loads are not commonly found and are expensive, often more expensive than regular .44 Magnum. If you're coming from a background of shooting 9mm/.40/.45 exclusively, the .357 is a better choice, as you can work your way up from .38 Special, to .38+P, to mild .357 (most 158 grain loads), to mid-range .357, (most warm 125 grain loads) to real .357 as sold by Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap.

 

[swingpress]

I'd go for the 44. Here's why. You're talking about a Redhawk (not Super Redhawk) vs. the GP100. These guns are quite a bit different in shape. To my hand, the Redhawk points better.

If you really have it limited to these two guns, all you should need to do is handle one of each and the answer will be obvious.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

you're one dot short of an ellipsis.

.357 magnum shooting 38s. You can shoot more for less and it'll be easier to pass it around amongst friends at the range or to teach people to shoot.

 

[Fumbler]

I will shoot only .38's out of the GP100.

Why in the world would you only shoot 38s out of the 357?

If you'd only consider shooting 38s out of a 357 (for the cheaper price, less recoil, or whatever) then a 44mag really makes no sense at all.

Get the 357

 

[Gator]

Hmmm....I have four .357s and 21 .44s. 44s are a lot more fun! But, I have recently been bitten by the .41 Mag bug.....

Once you go big bore, there's no going back!

 

[Snapping Twig]

Go to a range that rents both and try them.

For my money, nothing beats a .44, but I'm a reloader (another habit you'll soon enjoy).

A 4" .44 is the do-a-be-all revolver. Shoot specials for SD, full house for hunting - you get the picture.

If you don't reload and figure you aren't going to, then the .357 is the economical alternative.

Either weapon will serve you well and no matter the brand or model, there are numerous grips that can make them fit your hand. A proper fit is the key to success.

 

[Jim March]

If you want to know what the 357 is capable of...

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357

 

[jungleroy]

I like all the options that a 357 has to offer for reloading.
You can buy or make rounds as light as 90 grains or as heavy as 180 grains and make it work for most any smaller than 250Lb animal you hunt.
I also think that the 357 is cheaper to shoot than a .44 mag.
But please don't quote me on that. I just ordered my components for the next half year and it cost as much as last years entire budget for loading.

 

[10-Ring]

A quality 357 magnum revolver is a must have in every collection!

 

[Neophyte1]

Gp 100

Without question: GP100 3" 4" 6" and they will be around for a long time.
Balanced weight bearing.

Craig

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Go with the .357. Start reloading (if you don't already.) You can shoot anything from powderpuff .38 Specials to rompin', stompin', ear-splittin' full magnums out of it. You'll get a lot more use out of it than the more specialized .44 Magnum.

Now, if you want to hunt deer with a handgun, choose the .44. Otherwise, the .357 is the best choice.

 

[PO2Hammer]

GP-100 if your not reloading, Redhawk if you are (or will).

.44 Rem Mag is one of the best calibers for the handloader IMO. Everything just seems to work well with the bigger bore.

I pick up my Redhawk next week.