Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 357 Magnum just about dead

That's just a damn nice, nice sized gun for whatever.

Very nice, sir!

And I wholly agree with you about the factory version.

Yep, the guy clearly knows what he's doing.

Interesting thread. When out hiking , fishing or hunting, I am usually packing a Ruger Bisley 4.5 “ in 45Lc, or a 44 special bulldog. Lately thinking what might be ideal for this , would be a 3 or 4 inch stainless 357 . Many times out for deer or elk , I run into grouse , where I could also pack some lower powered 38 spl ammo for them, but loaded with some 180 gr. hardcast for defense.
Yes, another excuse for a new revolver !

The 357 mag is not dead in my house. I like my revolvers and my carbine, which does an excellent job with a 357 mag as well.

For me the .357 became attractive when I moved back west to the high desert. Now mostly I use .38 Specials, but the magnums can be fun on long shots on predators. I think the ideal place for the .357 magnum is actually in a carbine, it's a perfect light carbine round. Just enough to take care of deer, bear, or a murder-kitty at close ranges, yet small enough it can still leave a little meat on a cotton tail.

A bit off subject for the Handgun forum but...

Local gun store is finally getting the new Marlin 1894's available, both .44 and .357. They only had a .44 Magnum the day I was there but I was impressed by the wood to metal fit and very crisp albeit a tad heavy trigger pull. Action was smooth for a brand new rifle as well.

Didn't want to start spurting arterial blood in the store so I didn't run my finger too hard inside the loading port or action but a light digital exam of the various edges showed them to be no sharper than some older JM Marlins I've had.

Best draw was the price, they're listing them for several bucks under $1000, everybody else around here is asking mid-1100 dollar range or more.

I have no actual need for a .357 Magnum carbine but since the round is apparently in hospice care I feel a strong humanitarian urge to keep it alive by buying one.

The reason I started this thread , I went to two different Academy's and no 357 and only a few 38 Special rounds on the shelf. There was however a 10 round pack of snake loads for $23. The shooting range had some actual 357 ammo but at $51. for 50 seemed a bit high. I reload all my 38 and 357 ammo so I don't have a real grasp of the current market. It is nice to see the number of people on the forum that are still fans. My 357 collection has dwindled to a 4" 586 which does all I need but it is seldom in the truck or on my hip anymore. My two 1911's are almost my most carried handguns along with my fishing pistol, a 38 P85 Taurus loaded with shot loads. Back in the 70's my 1911 was the dresser drawer gun and various 357 pistols got all the fun. From snakes to deer. Then I went off track and started using a Ruger 45 Colt a lot. Then the 45 ACP pretty much took over. I like the round and revolvers but I just moved on to bigger bores.

Fun read from the old days...

http://www.darkcanyon.net/MyFriend_The357.htm

Thanks for the link, Skeeter was a favorite, probably why in my early days the 357 was my favorite pistol.

Seems to me that no handgun ammunition aside from 9/40/45 is available at what I consider reasonable prices. Of course it’s economy due to those being the most common cartridges in use. But if you’re going to seriously shoot any revolver cartridges you’d best reload or have plenty of money. I looked for some 41 Mag for a family member a while back. At $79 a box for what I could find I could have been fully equipped to load for it including a bullet mold for the cost of 3 boxes.

Reloading is the only way I can justify (fiscally) shooting several of the calibers/cartridges that I do.

I hope so, as I lusted for a Model 19 for years. Once they cartridge is dead, I should be able to pick one for next to nothing.

I shoot a 5" SW 686 plus and fav load is the 200 grain WFN-Hard Cast at 1,200 mv.

The 357 is very much alive and well in my stable of guns.

It's so giving of you to do your part. 😜

Just a note that Mackay’s ammo for the 357 170 grain Keith SWC at 1350 fps us nice also

The 357 mag steps into sort of another league out of carbine length barrels. This is especially true if you reload and are picky with your bullets. I’ve loaded a couple rifles year ago with everything from 2400, H110 and RE7 and can tell you the package is an honest deer rifle from 100 yds to a bit more. Some rifle cranks I’ve known swear a hot loaded 357 carbine delivers enough energy even to 150 yds. I knew these older men, knew their experience and believed them.

Now there are all kinds of people who will swear with no actual physical proof that the S&W K frames can’t handle 40-45K of pressure but the old US Border Patrol used to put 30K stiff rounds through their 19’s, year after year. I realize the famous Jim Jordan shot a model 27 N farme but if you ever saw the size of his hands the 27 looked like a J frame. So if you’re the type the shoots this kind of regimen in your K frames then I guess the L frame is your ticket. Same grip size but heavier frame and yoke. This was factory’s answer to the buying public’s fear of worn out worthless K frames, believe it or not. When I was in the business about 60-70% of my work load was revolvers and especially K frames. I took care of rental guns at two indoor ranges and have seen my share of abused handguns including cracked Sig 9mm frames, and yes cracked K frames in way of the barrel threads but not that common. Otherwise K frames with lots of work at high pressure loads do stretch. It’s actually pressure related frame distortion originating from the top strap. So you’ll get varying degrees of end shake but this is far from the death of the gun, depending on measurements. Any decent mechanic can tighten the revolver up again and a new lease on life.

Rick

I cannot speak personally as to the durability of the L-frames. Though, it appears that they live up to their sturdy reputation.

I can say, I have found little to dislike about the 686 Plus's that I have in various barrel lengths. I like the shorter cylinder rotation in double action, the single action trigger pull, and the cylinder length.

I've had two L-Frame S&W .357 Mag revolvers. Both of them were Model 586s. One was a six inch polished factory nickel, and the other was a four inch dull blue (black?). The latter was a product of the Performance Center at S&W. I've sold both. Just couldn't warm up to the L-Frame, for some reason.

Those 66-8s 2.75” and 4.25” are rock solid minus the lock. I plugged them. 3” 686 7 shot has made a great trail gun on a chesty.
S.