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Joined: Apr 2002
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OP
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Hi everyone,
Wanted to start friendly debate regarding which you think is the most versatile: 357mag or 45acp.
The platforms are: 4" barrel revolver for 357mag and Full Size Govt model 1911 for 45acp.
I can see the virtues and vices of both cartridges.
For sheer versatility across the board, which do you like better and why?
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
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For sheer versatility, the revolver wins easily. The 1911 carries better and has a higher capacity, but the revolver can digest .38 wadcutters up to full house .357 hardcasts; making it a small game to bear defense, and everything in between pistol. As good as the 1911 and .45ACP, they don't cover that breadth, and for versatility (as was your question) there is your answer.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Molon Labe
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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Yep, he stumbled into the truth again.
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Joined: May 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
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I'll be the contrarian, I guess.
The 1911 can be easily set up to digest light target loads and everything up to +p with the same configuration. With just slight changes you can bump up the power level with a little higher entry point. My 1911's have had no problems cycling everything from soft swc loads to hot jhp - and including CCI shot loads.
A more salient questions might be "which platform is more versatile? " With the 1911, you can easily convert to some other calibers, notably .22lr. OTOH, the revolver needs no extensive proving when switching from one load to another. If it fits, it will cycle (although poi may vary).
IMO, either caliber and platform is effective for social use and either can satisfy a wide range of demands. I like both and don't consider either more versatile than the other, unless qualified by specific needs.
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Joined: Jun 2016
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2016
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Most definitely the .357 Magnum revolver - 700fps to 1300+fps loads.
Don
NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
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Joined: Feb 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Winner, winner. Chicken Dinner.
George Orwell was a Prophet, not a novelist. Read 1984 and then look around you!
Old cat turd!
"Some men just need killing." ~ Clay Allison.
I am too old to fight but I can still pull a trigger. ~ Me
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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With the 357 revolver, you can work with 38 or 357 length brass, any safe pressure level, any bullet nose profile, any OAL within cylinder spec, bullets from under 100 gr up to 230 gr, birdshot....
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2008
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Well, without modifying any guns, i would have to go with the 357.
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Joined: May 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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L With the 357 revolver, you can work with 38 or 357 length brass, any safe pressure level, any bullet nose profile, any OAL within cylinder spec, bullets from under 100 gr up to 230 gr, birdshot.... True, but can your .357 revolver be quickly converted to a .22lr?
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Joined: May 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Well, without modifying any guns, i would have to go with the 357. Would you call a spring swap and firing pin stop swap "modifying"?
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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L With the 357 revolver, you can work with 38 or 357 length brass, any safe pressure level, any bullet nose profile, any OAL within cylinder spec, bullets from under 100 gr up to 230 gr, birdshot.... True, but can your .357 revolver be quickly converted to a .22lr? No, but it can easily digest any powder-puff load.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I'll be the contrarian, I guess.
The 1911 can be easily set up to digest light target loads and everything up to +p with the same configuration. With just slight changes you can bump up the power level with a little higher entry point. My 1911's have had no problems cycling everything from soft swc loads to hot jhp - and including CCI shot loads.
A more salient questions might be "which platform is more versatile? " With the 1911, you can easily convert to some other calibers, notably .22lr. OTOH, the revolver needs no extensive proving when switching from one load to another. If it fits, it will cycle (although poi may vary).
IMO, either caliber and platform is effective for social use and either can satisfy a wide range of demands. I like both and don't consider either more versatile than the other, unless qualified by specific needs. If you are talking platform without caliber included as a specific parameter (which the OP did specifically include), then yes, a semi-auto is going to be a more flexible all-around platform if it can take slide/caliber swaps over a revolver. Sticking to just the two in question that the OP posed, though, it's not even close; the .357 beats the .45ACP for "most versatile". Hell, have the cylinder on the revolver cut to accept moon clips in addition to rimmed cartridges, and you can run .38S&W, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9x23, 9x21, 9x19, and 9x17, in all ranges of power loads and bullet profiles. Whipping on THAT versatility takes some considerable doing, and it essentially requires the .22LR slide conversion of a semi-auto to do it.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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With a 357 revolver, you can switch from 125gr street ammo, to whatever, without any mods.
Heck, you can go out doors with 180 ghr Hardcast in four or five chambers, and a wadcutter or two onboard also, if grouse or small game presents itself.
I like the 45ACP as much as anyone, mine are Glock 21, and Ruger Blackhawk convertible. When you load the 45ACP in a revolver, then the comparisons of versatility get real close, IMO.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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for me the model 60 smith, 3 inch barrel, over any 45ACP, the lock still sucks.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Hell, have the cylinder on the revolver cut to accept moon clips in addition to rimmed cartridges, and you can run .38S&W, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9x23, 9x21, 9x19, and 9x17, in all ranges of power loads and bullet profiles. Whipping on THAT versatility takes some considerable doing, and it essentially requires the .22LR slide conversion of a semi-auto to do it.
Now, THAT would be a modification. Spring and fps changes require no gunsmith.
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Joined: May 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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L With the 357 revolver, you can work with 38 or 357 length brass, any safe pressure level, any bullet nose profile, any OAL within cylinder spec, bullets from under 100 gr up to 230 gr, birdshot.... True, but can your .357 revolver be quickly converted to a .22lr? No, but it can easily digest any powder-puff load. Can digest it - but can it put it on target without a sight adjustment? Maybe....maybe not. OTOH, a slide swap can already have the sights regulated.
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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