Who Would Choose .357 Mag Over .45 ACP For Home Defense?

[S&Wfan]

Either one will work for me, but my HD .357 revolvers get loaded with .38 Special to keep penetration down and, of course, my J-frame snubbies do too (since they are .38s anyway).

That being said, my two favorite HD guns are both in .45ACP and have 3 and 3 1/4" barrels. One has night sights, and the other is "six for sure."

I've said many times, if trouble comes I hope I've got that Model 25-2 short barreled .45ACP revolver in my hands . . . for that's what I shoot best.

Also, the edges of the front sight on that gun are filed nice and sharp. There's not much barrel for a BG to grab and he's probably gonna get sliced up trying to hang onto it. That front sight is wicked.

BTW, I have a friend whose brother survived an attack by a burglar when he lived alone. He managed to get his S&W .38 revolver but it was a long and bloody battle to see whether he, or the BG would end up with it.

Even the wood stocks were smashed off the revolver during the life-or-death fight for control of the gun. In the end, the BG only ended up with the BULLET . . . and took a permanent dirt nap.

Revolvers are generally easier to use under stress, and less liable to be disabled vs. an automatic too.

 

[S&Wfan]

Oh yeah, don't discount the plain old .38 Special round, fired out of a snubbie!!! It will do the job if you do yours!

Even a single round, shot nearly point blank in the GUT can kill a fella almost before nearby cops can rush ya to the hospital.

The killer in this short video (the link is below), shot his victim in the gut. "I wanted him to hurt as much as possible before he died." The gun was a Colt Detective Special snubbie, similar to it's twin brother here, the aluminum framed 1961 Colt Agent pictured here.

It was a revenge killing. The man he gut shot had killed a cop just a couple of days before . . . also with a .38 special.

In all shootings, no fancy high-tech bullets were used either!

Anyone remember this? The fella went RIGHT DOWN too . . . a single shot that removed all fight from the man . . . and he was dead not too long afterward at the Emergency Room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQUksn7Idmw

 

[scottishclaymore]

Well, I am a wheelgun man, first and last. That said, my 6 rounds of .357 Magnum (sometimes .38 Special +P) is only a backup to my 8 rounds of 00 Buckshot when it comes to home defense.

Bring enough gun.

 

[Sagetown]

Nice Pics S&Wfan;
That old Colt in pretty neat.

 

[Choclabman]

I own a small collection of pistols, as I sure most here do. However, a 4" GP-100 sits on the night stand.

 

[S&Wfan]

Nice Pics S&Wfan;
That old Colt in pretty neat.

Thanks Sagetown,

That Colt is my late dad's Colt Agent. He owned a junkyard and it was his "always" gun, carried in his back pocket. It has lots of honest wear!

That Colt, in my dad's hands, probably saved a Florida trooper's life one night on a lonely, 2-lane road in the middle of nowhere. He came upon a trooper getting the crap beat out of him and the trooper was in danger of losing control of his firearm to a really big guy.

Dad hopped out, "Officer, would you like some help?" "I sure would," he exclaimed.

Dad, in his manner so like many of America's greatest generation, rushed over and put the sights on the BG's head and said, "HE is trained not to shoot you, but if you don't get on the ground NOW you are one dead "N_____." The guy took no time at all complying. (BTW, he was no racist . . . he just knew how to get someone's attention)

I miss Dad. He's been gone since late 2002, and he was the best man I've ever known.

 

[KarenTOC]

I'm relatively new to shooting and guns in general. But I'm going to give my opinion anyway

I would pick the .357 because I actually own one.
I'd use .38 instead of .357 because that's what I'm able to shoot.

Do I think that's the absolute best choice? I don't know enough yet to make a fully informed decision, free forum opinions notwithstanding.
Will that still be my choice a year from now? I don't know. Depends on my knowledge and skill level a year from now.

However, if we're talking theoretical perfection, I'll hire a handsome bodyguard to repel the bad guys and let him fight the caliber wars.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

LOL!

 

[rishooter]

45

I love 357's but I live in an area where houses are close together and I would hate to have a wild .357 go through my wall into my neighbors house.I go with a 45ACP DA revolver for bedside gun-occasionally a 45 Colt Blackhawk.
For the ACP I use 230 gr Winchester Rangers and for the 45 Colt I use 250gr Speer Gold Dot HP's.

 

[DDeegs]

pick what you shoot best, a friend (Police officer) had to use his gun in self defence, he said that he heard the shot but it was muffled. also reading Lt. Grossmans books "on killing" and "On combat" Grossman talks about how in a high stress/shooting situation most people do not hear things as loud as they really are ( audio exclusion ?) and do not suffer from hearing loss post event.

 

[DrLaw]

For years, revolvers were the only guns I had outside of long guns. Any gun will do. Just depends on what you feel comfortable and secure enough with, and know how to use well enough to feel comfortable and secure enough.

The Doc is out now.

 

[noob_shooter]

personally, i think a .357 mag is a bit overkill for HD. 9mm-45acp is the right choice to me. Missing with the .357 could cause more troubles..

 

[kmrcstintn]

boy did you pick a hot subject to discuss...just messin

if I had a reliable da/sa semi (like a Ruger P90 or P345) or da revolver (like a S&W 625) in .45 acp, I would go this route with something affordable to stock up (Winchester WWB 230gr jhp or Remington UMC 230gr jhp);

since I don't I will lean the way of .357 mag revolver (like my 4" Ruger Security Six or 6" Ruger GP100) and opt for a load that isn't a monster to shoot and affordable to stock up (like Winchester WWB 110gr jhp);

I recently shot some out of the Winchester 110gr jhp out of my 6" GP100 and found the recoil very comfortable, but the muzzle flash is still evident, and the audible report was stout...not as harsh as fullbore 125gr jhp loads; I have a hunting buddy with a bum elbow and tore up wrists (construction worker) and he shot the same stuff from the same gun and didn't complain about hurting...kinda sold me even though it is lighter than the standard 125gr jhp's that are the 'golden standard'

unlike you, I have decided to use .38 spl +p indoors cuz it doesn't deafen me, it doesn't blind me, and is easy to place followup shots (Remington 158gr lead semiwadcutter hollowpoint -- aka FBI load or Chicago load)...

good luck whichever way you go

 

[Diggers]

scottishclaymore

Now thats talking sense.

At home use the best tool you can; that would be a shotgun of some sort.

Handguns are a great compromise for when you are walking around but IF you have the choice of something else USE THAT.

Ok but say you don't, I would really check out the ammo you are using in a low light situation. There is some really amazing low flash stuff out their that will not kill your night vision. I've been doing some night shooting lately with a .40 auto and the ammo used produces basically no flash at all. Really cool.

 

[christcorp]

Ballistic wise; I choose the 45 acp for home defense. Especially with my sig P220. Couldn't ask for anything better. However; for the novice shooter (goes to the range 3-4 times a year); I suggest a 357 mag. Not because of the caliber, but because it's a revolver. In the world of Microsoft; the revolver truly is "Point and Click". A lot of potential problems with a semi-auto when you might need it. In my house, the gun that my wife will have access to if needed is our trusty S&W Model 13-1. Nice 125 grain Golden Sabers. One of the best revolvers I've ever had. And it's as dependable as they come. For me personally; either carry or at home; I use my Sig P220. But then again, I have been shooting guns for more than 30 years. Civilian, military, federal/state government, etc... I purposely practice with 1 or 2 dummy rounds in the magazine (Mixed up); and rapid fire on target and practice clearing misfires, stovepipes, etc... But for the average person who isn't shooting at least 500 rounds a year out of the same semi-auto; I'd recommend a nice double action revolver.

 

[2ndamd]

Of the choices you list I would opt for the 3" SP101 with .357 mag rounds in it (125 grn).

Wheel gun vs auto thing and the snubbie minimizes a gun grab in those tight areas of a house.

 

[Throwingdown]

I am more of an autoloader shooter. I have two nightstand pistols. A Glock 23 with a TAC light and a S&W 649 in 357.
All things considered, I would prefer to have more rounds, and harder hitting rounds. Having said that, under stress, the "keep it simple" idea works best.
I have and love my 45's. But they don't have rails for lights, which would come in very handy at night to see your target and blind them briefly enough to have a advantage to do your business.
As was stated before, shot placement is of utmost importance. Also, unless you practice a lot, you may forget to click off the thumb saftey under stress with a 45 ACP.
That is why IMO, the point and shoot of either the Glock or revolver keeps it simple.
As to the noise and flash. Any firearm discharged in the dark will cause momentary blindness - and as far as the loudness of the 357, I would rather be alive with hearing damage vs. other.
357 vs. 45 for home defense would go to the 357.
Just my .02

 

[gmh1013]

I use a snub with .38 158 HP's
No plus +P, I want a 725-750 fps bullet.
Worried about going through walls etc.
.357 blast is just to loud.
I have a 9mm SIG loaded with
147 grain sub-sonics too JIC

 

[Oyeboten]

If I had a .357 Magnum intended for Home Defense, I'd handload to +P or +P+ ranges ( depending on Barrel length, ) using 148 grn Pure Lead, Hollow Base Wadcutters, set into the Cases backwards.


This would impart full Ft-Lbs to any recipient, with little danger of over-penetration.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

All I know is I would not want to shoot my 28-2 in the hallway of my house. I have enough hearing problems. I love the gun but not indoors. Bad eyes, I need night sites.

 

[BlindJustice]

I choose to load my .357 Mags with Double Tap 125 gr. Speer Gold Dot rated at 1175 FPS. It's controllable recoil for fast recovery and
not that big of a muzzle blast compared to .357 Mag.
my .357s
S&W 686P 4" Bbl. & S&W Model 60 3" bbl.

The 60 is a hideout gun in a place other than the night stand...

CUrrent Nightstand gun is a CZ 75B 9mm Luger double Tap 147 gr.
speer gold dot jhps. It's been 100% reliable

I also have a 1911 fullsize and a 625 .45 ACP revolver - working on resolving an issue with the 625. The 1911 is my carry gun, so it is sometimes the Nightstand gun.

I wouldn't care to light off a .357 Mag with the 3 ft of muzzle flash
and the sonic BOOM, and I just shoot the 75B and 1911 best

Randall

 

[christcorp]

Sorry to disagree about the noise, flash, and such issues of a 357 mag in the house. I can understand if the 357 mag is too much recoil for you. But those other issues are no issues. You won't be practicing in your house. You won't be shooting intruders on a regular basis. (If you do, you need to move to a new neighborhood). But 1 experience; with 1 shot (Probably); and 1 loud bang; and 1 flash; is not going to cripple you for life. And even if it did cause me some hearing loss; you have to be ALIVE to have hearing loss. Thus; the gun did it's job.

Not to say that the 38 special and 45 acp aren't great calibers. They are. But they will both be very loud at 2am when an intruder breaks in. And the flash will be just as shocking. Use 38 specials or +P because they kick less. Not because they are quieter.

 

[RippinSVT]

Sorry to disagree about the noise, flash, and such issues of a 357 mag in the house. I can understand if the 357 mag is too much recoil for you. But those other issues are no issues. You won't be practicing in your house. You won't be shooting intruders on a regular basis. (If you do, you need to move to a new neighborhood). But 1 experience; with 1 shot (Probably); and 1 loud bang; and 1 flash; is not going to cripple you for life. And even if it did cause me some hearing loss; you have to be ALIVE to have hearing loss. Thus; the gun did it's job.

Not to say that the 38 special and 45 acp aren't great calibers. They are. But they will both be very loud at 2am when an intruder breaks in. And the flash will be just as shocking. Use 38 specials or +P because they kick less. Not because they are quieter.

I have to respectfully disagree. If you were to get into an in-home confrontation with a BG, it might not be a one-shot thing, perhaps 3-6 shots. As somebody who has had a home invasion and foiled it using both my 9mm Beretta and a Smith .357 (no shots fired, thankfully), I can tell you that had I touched off my 357, I would have been flash-blind and deaf for many seconds. Not to say that I wouldn't be somewhat shocked by the 9mm or a .45, but a full-house 357 out of a shorter barrel is cannon. Shoot a 2" .357 in a low-light CQB type setting and it will change your outlook. I'm telling ya, I did it, and I would not do it again. My first shot MIGHT hit the BG, but my follow-ups would certainly be handicapped by the muzzle-flash and shear BOOM of the .357 from a shorter barrel.

 

[msiley]

.357 for me. I have low flash 125 Gr. DoubleTap Gold Dots for Home Defense. (or any Defense for that matter).

Right next to my GP100 is a pair of ear muffs. I don't have a .45
but I do have a .40. I'd pick either, both will do their job. I
just prefer the .357, I shoot it slightly better and noticed
I shoot well even if my grip isn't perfect, which may
happen under stress.

Plus the 6" of stainless steel barrel is a little more intimidating.

 

[altitude_19]

+1 to christcorp. Read up on your actual confrontations, folks. Audio exclusion, tunnel vision, profuse palm sweating, and post lethal-confrontation hangovers. Most people don't even remember hearing the shots they fired! I know we all like to believe that we will be the most level-headed people God ever put on two legs come that crucial moment, taking pause mid gunfight to strike that Kurt Russell-esque pose and brushing the the splinters from the annihilated door-frame from our shoulder, but I'm afraid it just ain't the case. Believing you will even be sufficiently cogent to take note of the specific decibel level of those six shots you just fired is tantamount to thinking you'll be able to consider how comfortable your seatbelt is during a 5 car pileup! Firing ANY handgun indoors presents the possibility of hearing loss but the odds of hearing loss DO NOT exponentially increase from 45 ACP to 357 mag....THAT'S like saying you'd notice the difference between being hit by a family sedan and being hit by a station wagon! F$%#in' painful is f$%#in' painful like f$%#in' loud is f$%#in' loud, so let's not split hairs. More importantly, permanent, noticeable hearing loss as a result of only 6 shots is BY NO MEANS a certainty. Hell, let's say it's 8 shots! It's not like looking at a NUKEFLASH people! Don't get me wrong, I side with the 45 ACP on this one. I COULD have jumped on the "you'll be deaf and blind the rest of your life" bandwagon, but it's just not an argument making/breaking consideration.
Consider the ballistics, velocity, projectile material, accuracy, reliability, and controllability. Sweat the irrelevant details like volume after you've come down from your "I nearly just died" high. Then PM me with to say how happy you are to be alive and feel free to complain about that annoying ringing in your ears that you only hear if you still have a pulse.