.38/.357 vs .44???

[sealocan]

another vote for 38 / 357.

[mikeyr]

I have both 38/357 and 45LC handguns and lever, I much prefer shooting the 45LC lever and revolver. I basically only shoot the 38/357 (with 38) when my wife or daughter goes with me.

For hunting, I think the 357 is about equal to the 45LC, yes the 45 is a bigger bullet but the 357 is a mighty fine round.

[teetsjones]

It depends on the anticipated use of the rifle. The right tool for the job. I personally would use .44 as I already have a .44mag wheel gun. Having said that, .44 special and .44 magnum run very close in price per round and in some cases .44 special costs more than magnum ( I can't speak for the reloading costs). There is a about a $.20 per round price difference between .38 and .44. The .45lc cost is about the same as .44.

[3006mv]

did you forget to add .44 S&W Special to the equation because it is so hard to find or are you not a reloader?

[mikenewgun87]

I dont reload....yet

Looking something for plinking, home defense and a truck gun combo.

[ChrisC]

I have both and prefer my 44 magnum out of the 2. My wife likes the 38/357 because it has little to no kick.

[TripleThreat]

44 lever action with a 44 revolver sidearm. It's doesn't get better or more powerful. But everybody knows that.

Triple

[Not a Cook]

I dont reload....yet

Looking something for plinking, home defense and a truck gun combo.

.357 is more than ample for all of the above; .44 is even more so. Is cost per round a factor? Then .357. Is loudness of report a factor? Assuming your comparing roughly equivalent firearm models with no differences in porting, etc, then .357. Do you just want the biggest, loudest, "badest"? Then .44.

[jazman]

I really like a .38/.357 Trapper length lever gun, and pairs well with all of the various same caliber wheel guns.

[rp55]

Man up and go 45-70.

Marlin 1895


Magnum Research BFR45/707 - legal in CA

[The Last American Hero]

.

Wonder if anyone is going to make an AR that shoots 44mag? That would be a ton of fun.

What do you think of my idea for scaled down autoloader shotgun action that shoots 357 or 44mag rimmed cases. I figure it is proven possible since shotgun shells are rimmed.

I like the form factor of lever guns and shotguns with long mag tubes, and always liked ability to 'top off' the mag without disabling the gun or carrying extra mags, but still want semi-auto. Might even make it upside down to put bore axis lower.


IIRC there is an AR that shoots a BIG slow mega-pistol 'thumper', but it is 'exotic' and not rimmed like 357/44mag.

[CK_32]

Shot barreled, long barreled.


Close range? Medium range plinking?


Do you have any other 44 or 38/357 guns?


You want a small gun or big gun?

[stix213]

.44mag is better if you're being eaten by a bear or tyrannosaurus. .38/.357mag is better if you're being hunted by paper silhouettes. Anything in between is up for debate.

[jeffrice6]

.44

[Kokopelli]

My pair in 38/357.