357 vs 44?

[chiefnpd]

Delete Please

[tozan]

My choice would be a Ruger Carbine 44 mag and a S&W mod 629 6 in 44 mag

[Spyder]

Sounds like a heckuva good excuse to buy a couple new guns that you don't really need!

[lmudave]

I doubt you'll run into any grizzlies out in the desert... I'd think the .357 would be plenty of gun for anything you'd run into out there.

HOWEVER, I try to convince myself on rational reasons for buying new guns all the time.

i.e. How will I survive a zombie invasion with only a standard 16" AR.... What about longer distance shooting, must get a varmint upper too... Was I glad I bought it? Yes... did I really convince myself that I needed it? Almost...

[Cowboy T]

For the desert, I'd say stick with your .357M. I don't foresee too many bear encounters in the desert. Now, if you were talking about the woods, i. e. brown bear encounters, I'd say go for the .44 setup.

But I'm sensing here that you'd just like to do it. Nothing wrong with that one bit! The .44 is also a fun round to shoot and very easy to reload, so if you just want to do it, go for it! For the sidearm, I would suggest a Redhawk or Super Redhawk since you already own a GP-100. SRH stripdown/cleaning is exactly like the GP or the Security-Six.

[Texas Boy]

If it was Grizzlies, then 45/70 would be the way to go in the rifle. But given where you are, the .357M should be more than enough. Of course, as others have stated, if you are looking for reasons to buy new guns, go for it! You can never have too many guns or too much ammo.

[GeoffLinder]

.357 is good for any soft skinned target up to deer/man sized, especially with the higher velocity from the carbine. Basically great for small predators, big cats and deer.

Even a .44mag in a carbine ain't enuff for a black bear or boar IMHO. If I was shooting boar with a .44 I would want to be up in a tree. If I was shooting bear with a .44 I would want to be in the next county. I have seen multiple 12 gauge slugs not stop a 300lb black bear very quickly at all :-(

[S&W629Lover]

One gun that does it all and beyond for what you've described is the 44 Magnum. I carry the 629-6, 4" barrel. I spend a ton of time in the Sierras, and have been up close and personal with black bears. No fun. The 357 is fine for black bear, but the 44 is better. When you're in or around any bear country, carry bear spray too.

Just for fun, check this out. Grizzly attack stopped by a single shot...

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

[LGB Loader]

357 mag for side arm is enuff but i would bring my 44 mag just because. As far as what to carry in the scabbard, if you are hell bent on a lever action for nastalgia, I would bring my 375 WIN but a simple 30-30 WIN would do. Ain't no Grizzlies in the desert here in Cali. There are, however, snakes so perhaps a scatter gun my also be recommended. Food for thought...

I would still buy a new gun and rifle anyways... 45/70 is always good to have as is a good 44 Mag revolver.

LGB

[Fishslayer]

Sounds like a heckuva good excuse to buy a couple new guns that you don't really need!

Reading my mind...

[forgiven]

I'll second that ^^^^^

[the big ravioli]

Marlin Lever Action 44 MAG gets my vote. Why not just tell the wife you need this. Not want this. It works for me.

[buffybuster]

There's absolutely no valid reason to get a 44mag combo, if you already have a .357Mag set. But any excuse is excuse enough to get new guns.....

Full power .357Mag loads from a carbine are getting into 30WCF (30-30) territory. I would definitely not feel undergunned with it for anything you might encounter in CA.

[Maddog5150]

I LOVE 44mag but in all honesty, 357 will kill anything in California. Boar, black bear and puma. If you just want to buy another set of weapons though then I'm all for that

[coyotebait]

357 mag will do whatever you need in most parts of the country...however, a 44 mag gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. I had to get rid of my Super Black hawk for reasons out of my control a while back. I will be purchasing another before too long though.