45acp recoil vs 357

[45_acp]

looking to get a revolver for home defence type use. I am thinking the 45 would be better due to less recoil. This would improve follow up shots. Is this correct or am I wrong. I have shot a 1911 and liked the feel of it. Would the recoil change much in a revolver platform and is the recoil similar between .357 and 45 in a revolver. I am sure barrel length would play a part but if we consider same length barrel would there be much difference.

thanks,

[unltd]

A semi-auto pistol will absorb a considerable amount of recoil in working the action, so between two identical pistols in exactly the same caliber and same weight the felt recoil will be more with the revolver than with the semi, even though the actual force will be the same.

Now to add my 2 cents. If I were you, going into this wanting a revolver, I would get the .357 Mag. Specifically, I'd get a Smith and Wesson 686 Plus, which is a gorgeous piece and, let's be honest, if you can't stop the threat with 7 .38 specials (or .357s for the macho types) 8 .45 ACP won't do you much better.

As an aside, I find that as long as you get a medium or large frame revolver, the .357 recoil will not be much worse than .45. Most people I know use .38 special in their HD revolver just to reduce flash and noise, and the most paranoid of the bunch loads 3 .38 followed by 4 .357.

Be warned, if you already like the 1911, then maybe that's the gun for you. I hear once the 1911 bug bites, the only cure is more cowbe- , I mean, more 1911's.

[Air]

I haven't shot a 357 in awhile, but I didn't find it unmanageable at all...Out of a single action Beretta Stampede. 45 is downright pleasant to shoot IMO.

[rgs1975]

I have two .357 Magnum revolvers, neither of them small (586 & 65) and two .45 semi-autos (Glock 36 & 1911). The recoild in both my .357's is significantly more than the recoil in both my .45's.

That being said, I don't find the recoild from the .357's to be overbearing at all.

[kurac]

The recoil of a .357 is not bad but with hot loads the muzzel blast can get to you.

[dfletcher]

Are you trying to compare the recoil of a 357 revolver with a 45 ACP 1911 or a 45 ACP revolver?

[gorenut]

For purely home defense, I'd just go with a medium framed revolver. Less maintenance, less parts to go wrong. Ultimately, it should really come down to what you want and what you shoot better.

I own a Ruger GP100 and seriously, I feel less recoil vs shooting my or friends' semis. Even hot loads of .357. With .38sp, I feel practically no recoil.

[PutTogether]

A.357 out of a normal sized revolver isn't "worse" than out of a .45ACP semi auto. It's just a bit louder, a bit sharper.

Picture .357 is like being whacked with the narrow end of a baseball bat, a .45 is the fat end.


Sometimes (usually) I have a 1911 in the nightstand, and sometimes I drag in a .357 revolver. They are both kind of the definitive "home defense" handgun rounds.

[Bug Splat]

Used to keep a 357 as my HD gun. Did for years until one day I was out on my parents land a shot the 357 without ear protection once just to see how it sounded and I was def for like 30 minutes and had ringing in my ears for days. I still have some damage in one of my ears from it. This was outside, I don't even want to know what it would sound like in a hallway. After that day I put the 357 in the safe and never gave it a second thought as a HD gun ever again. 45 is more than enough to drop a 2 legged intruder.

[toadman]

I have many .45's & .357's but for a home defense gun I usually keep my S&W
625 with 5" barrel. My thinking was that I didn't want overpenetration hitting things I don't want hit. The revolver is simple & utterly reliable. That .45 muzzle on the 625 is very intimidating.
All my 1911's
are also reliable but keeping one cocked & locked around the house just made me nervous. I also didn't like having it cocked & locked under my pillow & having a bad dream & shooting something in my sleep. I would rotate my magazine every month but I'd still worry about spring set. The trigger pull on all my 1911's are pretty light & under stress situations I'd rather have the trigger pull of my revolver.

[hybridatsun350]

Used to keep a 357 as my HD gun. Did for years until one day I was out on my parents land a shot the 357 without ear protection once just to see how it sounded and I was def for like 30 minutes and had ringing in my ears for days. I still have some damage in one of my ears from it. This was outside, I don't even want to know what it would sound like in a hallway. After that day I put the 357 in the safe and never gave it a second thought as a HD gun ever again. 45 is more than enough to drop a 2 legged intruder.

Not to mention that .357 has significant over-penetration problems! I would never use .357 as a HD round.

[HalfEvil]

I would recommend a 1911 with night sights.

I personally keep a 44mag Desert Eagle in my nightstand, with a 12ga close by.
No it is not the most practical thing, but I shoot it great, and there should be enough sound to wake up my entire block to start notifying authorities.
Although I really hope I never have to use it in that manner.

[JAGGUY]

IMO a 357 is too much for HD due to over-penetration, muzzle blast and and muzzle flash. I don't want to be deaf and blind for a followup shot that will shoot through several walls. I keep a 44spl for this and would say a 45 acp or 45 long colt to be ideal.

[45_acp]

So it seem that the 357 is a little much for HD. I am thinking I like the s&w nightguard 325. But with the short barrel do you think the recoil is dramatically increased or should I go with a 4 inch barrel.

[chiselchst]

My first handgun was a Ruger Security Six in .357 Mag. Now I own several 45's, and in my opinion, the recoil of the .357 Mag is substantially greater than a .45 ACP. Especialy when I used +P Winchesters. But that was a long time ago...