My first experience with the 357mag was in 1958 on a humid, dark summer night in rural eastern Kansas (Johnson County). My stepfather had a friend over who had a Blackhawk 357. The image and sound of what I now know was probably the Keith/Sharpe 158gr LSWC on a dark summers night is a memory that has influenced my shooting and firearms purchases to this day. As a young Marine, the first handgun I ever purchased was a 4" Colt Python at the Camp Butler BX in Okinawa in i966 for $89.00. Carried it back to the states in Feb 1967 in a carry-on bag with ammo in the belt loops through customs in Hawaii. The customs agent looked in my bag and asked if I had any fruits of vegetables with me. Times have changed.
The .357 is, to me, the .30-'06 of pistol cartridges. It will do almost anything one could ask of a pistol round, the recoil is manageable for most people, with practice, and it's incredibly versatile.
@Wesley FortneyI prefer .44 Magnum myself..44 Magnum is basically the most powerful round that most people can or are willing to control. Very few rounds are as versatile. Can be loaded for just about anything you want or need from light target loads to rounds powerful enough to take some African game. Underwood and Buffalo Bore makes all manners of such rounds.
@@oneofthoseguys2019 I'd stick with .454 Casull if I were you. Here's are a few reasons why: 1. More packable. .454 Casull is still within the size range of most normal large frame revolvers without the need for chest rigs, slings and such. A simple strong side holster will do 2. It's more than powerful enough to and has dropped anything two or four-legged that walks or crawls on this Earth with one or two well-placed shots Especially with Underwood and Buffalo Bore options. 3. Decent for street use as well as in the field when loaded with modern, non-Cowboy Action .45 Colt ammo that despite what some manufacturers say, I wouldn't shoot it in a Colt SAA or direct clones, modern steels or not. That said, even if the latter is loaded with with Cowboy Action loads, it's still 230-255 grains of solid, flat nose lead moving at 800 to 1000 feet per second, tops. That will do nothing nice to anyone . 4. Six-shot revolver. The vast majority of .45+ super-magnum class handguns are all five-shot revolvers and in some Freedom Arms revolvers have no transfer bar or other mechanism against firing if dropped the right way, limiting capacity to four. Don't get me wrong, .460 and .500 are both excellent rounds performance wise but rather unwieldy, even for shooters highly experienced with super-magnum revolvers.
I want to own a .357 Magnum; however, I live in Canada, where the most anti-gun Ministry (the Trudeau Ministry) in Canadian History is on a slaughter spree on Lawful Gun Ownership right now; recently, they enacted a “Handgun Freeze” (its a Handgun Ban) since October. Unless there is an election where the Conservatives come to power & repeal this pointless PR stunt, I will never legally own a handgun in Canada. I’m against this & i’m 27. You are lucky to have the 2A; make sure you cherish it to the hilt. Take Care.
I keep praying for Canada as I do for the U.S. This shall all come to pass. Fear not and read Matthew 28:18. These people you mention are not the ones in control and they know it. Their time will be short, count on it.
@@CapNCreampie ...and "Enjoy" the souless wondernine and experience it's pride(?) of ownership. The Glock is a first rate combat handgun, but it is neither beautiful nor elegant like a traditional revolver. It does not now nor will it ever bestow any pride of ownership for me. The only two autoloaders that could ever provide the feeling that a top quality revolver can provide are the High Power and the 1911, and the 1911 had better be assembled with some love to make the cut.
A friend who was in Vietnam while serving as a C Bee told me his personal 357 saved his life when three Viet Cong came after him when his 30 carbine ammunition ran out. He said three shots and three enemy dead . He was a Bull Dozer operator hence the 30 carbine at that deployment during that time.
I'm a grandma. A .45 semiauto beats my wrists up. A big revolver with .357 is not too much for me. I can shoot it all day. The nice flat trajectory makes it great for ringing steel at 100 yards. That Blackhawk is a beauty. I am super fond of single actions.
Too many people nowadays are unaware of how phenomenal the 357 Mag is. My girlfriend is from up North and had never shot a gun before she met me, so to teach her I made some very lightly loaded 38 special rounds and loaded them into my old 357. Once she got comfortable with those I made some more rounds that were a bit more powerful and repeated the process. It didn't take her long to get up to using full power 357 Mag rounds and now that's what she carries with her everyday. Being able to tailor ammo to be exactly what you need it to be is an extremely underrated feature nowadays.
Good deal. I wish that I could have gotten my (now ex) wife to carry. Especially now that I'm not around and she is the primary guardian of our kid. Mine just wouldn't carry. I tried to get her to carry time, and time again, but would find her pistol on top of the refrigerator everytime. (She's hardheaded, part of why we are split). I just hope that it doesn't cost her, or my child injury. A .357 will certainly protect your girlfriend. My grandmother has one in her house, and one that she keeps in the car.
I've been carrying a .357 for many years, back in the early 70s they use to call them blockbusters and they rated it as one of the best LE carries rounds for years. Some 60 years later, Im still carrying an old Smith model 10 and am very happy with it.
@@jorgesolis9468 12:45, i own 2 S&W revolvers, a 649 steel and a 438 airweight. I think it's hilarious to see 357 Magnum, then *on top of all that* a "357 magnum+"
Excellent video. I carry a .357 magnum or a .44 magnum. People over-estimate the number of rounds they need, and underestimate the power they need. At the short range typical of self defense encounters, .357 magnum is devastating.
My old high pressure .357 reloads are completely miserable to shoot in small framed revolvers. A polymer famed Taurus made my hand bleed after two shots. That gun wouldn't last 50 rounds with those loads. My arthritis wasn't too happy either....lol
Make sure it’s a Glock brand mag…since you can’t hit shit obviously ought to atleast point you in the right direction for reliability so you don’t jam after you run most of your mag. So you can miss the rest too without a hiccup🤣🤣🤣
My dad killed an elk at 125 yds with a .357 mag. This was back in 1958 or so, out of Tollgate, Oregon. I'm not saying it was good, bad, or unethical. But, it happened. My dad and uncles were sitting, taking a break, at the top of a clearing. All rifles were leaned against a tree. A spike elk crossed the clearing down the hill a ways. My pappy pulled out that pistol and dropped him. That night he cut the liver into slick slices and cooked 'em real good on the woodstove in our tent. Man - if you had epoxied some of that elk liver to the soles of your boots, they wouldn't be worn out to this day. Hey - the statute of limitations has run out on this thing a long time ago. Plus, my pappy left us in 1995, so they'll never catch him. Classic.
GREAT VIDEO, once again. The .357 is one of the most well rounded handgun cartridges ever. As an owner of many of them, they are very versatile. Revolvers always will have a purpose, just like bolt action rifles, and will continue to live on.
I Wholeheartedly agree, I have a S&W Mod 19, an Oldie but goodie, has the fireing pin mounted on the Hammer. A .357 lever action carbine. I feel well armed for whatever I encounter in the lower 48. Am a Happy Camper. 😃k.
I've owned a Ruger Security Six .357 magnum since 1977 with a 4" barrel . That firearm has been an absolute workhorse I even used as my service gun during my stint as an armed courier and had no problems with my yearly qualifications. Very stable when firing rounds down range.
Just acquired one with your specs with a set of black pachmayers. Gorgeous specimen for being over half a century old.Not cheap but I got a fair price. Had a 357 Hi-Standard Sentinel several years ago and regret ever getting rid of it. However, I must say that this replacement seems heavier built to include windage and elevation. Can't wait to fire it. Good day to you.
Other than Colt Single Action Army in .45 Colt (the greatest revolver ever made), S&W 686 is my favorite all around revolver. I own semis, but there is something about a revolver that no semi can reproduce.
My Ruger GP 100 in 6" is unbeatable.Even friends who own 686 asked me if we could make a change. Thd GP's grip is just way better than S&W's grips. But i'm on your side.Revolvers are much better than semi plastic toys😂
@@TexasChilliMassacre "GP's grip is just way better than S&W's grips" -- It's got to be something about hand shape. As much as I like SP101, the GP never did anything for me. The 686, though, has to have the old style wood grips with wide bottom. That fits and fills my hand the best.
@@mountainhobo then you are one out of a lot.All my friends from our gunclub are very dissapointed with the S&W grip.They mostly like the GP grip. But you are right. It all depends on the handshape and size. It's the same with AR's and AK's.I am an AK guy.In our gunclub they mostely have AR's.Only 3 of us have AK's and i am one of them.😄
I have the ruger 8 shot redhawk and my stepson loves taking pictures of me firing it at night,he was bragging about it to a neighbor that guy was bragging about a Grzzly winchester 45 magnum ,I told my stepson tell him bring it we will try it right off my back porch,that's the last I heard about that nonsense,good thing probably my neighbors probably would have called the police,thank you for a great review on a timeless cartridge
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 this video and comments like this are what drove me to go get a .357 lever action. I’ve always wanted one to pair with my 686 S&W. Saw this and the stats for buffalo bore and similar rounds out of a 16” barrel, .357 really transforms into far beyond just a pistol cartridge. I got the new ruger made marlin trapper and I’m very pleased with it so far. Thanks for such in depth and informative content!
You earned a half a gallon of diesel for mentioning heeled bullets. Most people don't seem to know that anymore. Have a great week and be safe. Oh, thanks for the information on Gene Moe and the knife vs. brown bear. I found an Outdoor Life article and Mr. Moe was definitely a much tougher hombre than me.
I have my Late fathers Smith & Wesson K model 19-3 he used back in the 70's as a deputy sheriff. And I treasure this revolver with all my being. To me it is the best handgun ever made. And thank you for educating me and reassuring me on this and the ammunition.
That's the one to have!!!... I rented one years ago & loved the trigger, balance of the 19. Trigger weight or reset was no problem. Smooth & short cycle like Smiths 5946 DAO 9mm.
I was a Police Officer in the 80s. I carried a Ruger Security Six 357 which I loved. The Department bought S&W model 659 which I hated. Mind you this was back in the time we are basically shooting NATO rounds, the hotter stuff didn't come until later. They taught us "double tap" because they knew one shot wasn't going to get the job done. Which made no sense to me. ON AVERAGE the typical gun fight is settled within 6 rounds. Yes, there are shoot out that seem to go on forever, but the average is six rounds. The downside of the 357 as you stated, is the reduced loads the companies are selling today. Carrying for personal protection with handloads is legal suicide. So today I carry the immortal 1911 in 45acp. Limited to 8 rounds you train to carefully place your shots. I go to the range weekly, honing my craft. While the 9mm has emerged to be a versatile round, I'll stay with my 45acp than to follow the "spray and pray" 18 rounds of the 9mm.
My EDC is a S&W 686 with a 4" barrel. My first handgun was a .32 caliber Sears and Roebuck revolver my grandfather bought me for my 11th birthday. Revolvers have been, and always will be, a part of me.
@@mattbrown5511 maybe I got a skinny ass. I can hold up a subcompact polymer or a 2 inch snubby but when I tried my Glock 19 my jeans were falling down all day
This feature struck a chord with me in so many ways! Back when I wore a uniform we started out with revolvers. My favorite was a S&W M686-1 with a four inch barrel. We were eventually compelled to switch to a semi-auto. I went with a Glock M20 in 10mm Auto. I eventually had to give up the 10mm when the department standardized the Glock M22 in .40 S&W. I honestly never felt at a disadvantage with my .357 Magnum regardless of all of the arguments; there was no arguing the confidence I had in the weapon or my ability to hit with it. With a moon clip conversion I would feel the same way today. As an aside, I prefer cast bullets in all of my hunting revolvers for all purposes; they never let me down and their performance was predictable. Thanks for another great presentation DDO!
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 According to Evan Marshall it is still at the very top of the heap. I think I still have a few boxes of the old SuperVel ammo that I used to use somewhere...very hot stuff but effective!
I felt like I needed to modernize; but I had what I needed the whole time: my GP100 .357. Thanks for doing this video. I just need to buy a new holster and diversify my ammo.
I love my 4" GP100 too. Glad I got lucky enough to snag a good one pre pandemic before prices and quality control got bad. They're going for more than 200 bucks more than what I paid for mine.
@@d3ltaohniner261 - I never did get my GP100 in time. Was planning on a $500 price point, then it shot to $800 in a few years. I settled for a Rossie RM66 at $512 which I like ok enough.
I have the GP100 Match and absolutely love it. Ruger pistols are just tanks. The Match takes care of the one issue, overblown IMO, that people have with Ruger’s, the triggers.
My Grandfather was A Chief Deputy Sheriff and Interim Sheriff in Southern WV in the 80s, when I was 18 he gave me his personal duty gun he bought for himself when he first became a Deputy, it is a model 19-2 Smith with a 4 inch Barrel, I love that Gun and carry it often.
I bought my Colt Python with a 6 inch barrel when I was 10 years old in 1963. My mother hated it but my father and uncle loved it. This was before the repressive gun laws when children could buy guns. I still have it and love it thanks for the ammo tips.
Having Custom built a few hundred .357 revolvers, Colt, Ruger,Smith and WESSON as well as Dan Wesson. I find the accuracy unparalleled for ranges beyond 50 yds with controlled recoil and follow up shots. Indeed Phillip Sharp had major input in development, however its safe to say ( having met and shot with Elmer Keith) Elmers influence with several developments of handgun and rifle cartridges is note worthy. We have shot several deer and one bear with the .357 cartridge. All with single well placed shots. Knocking down consistently 55 lb steel Rams at 200 meters in International Handgun Metallic Silhouette competition in late 70’s, 80’s and come back in the 90’s demonstrates the accuracy and capability of the .357 Handloader potential. Your complete analysis of the opportunities and historical synopsis has never been seen so humbly stated by me. I am appreciative of your inspiration to revisit the .357 as such an iconic metallic cartridge with such revealed diversity. Your Illustrated chart in the beginning was indeed a deal maker for would be buyers and owner alike. Continue as you are able. Many will continue to watch. I am indeed sharing your post with other old time .357 shooter/ hand loaders/ enthusiasts.
nice video, in France, the 357 Mag is still used by intervention groups like GIGN, and in a hostage rescue from a plane in 1994, the operators used manhurin chambered in 357 Mag with great success.
General Patton.. not only carried a single action army.. he had one of the early 357 magnums he carried customized with his initials on the grip.. along with a 32 Colt hammerless semi-auto
👍👍I love revolvers and own several in 357 magnum which has been my favorite caliber for years. For me I’ve found that shooting my revolvers in double action has helped me become a better shot with my semi autos. Thanks DD for a well done video.
I also have a harem of .357's. I fire them almost exclusively in double action mode. If the stuff hits the fan, you will (or should) only use your revolver as a DA weapon. Therefore, train the way you'll use it, and you'll use it the way you've trained. --Old Guy
Great video. I have the same Smith Performance 357 as in your video and I always use it to renew my ccw. Long story short, my local gun range included a complementary gun cleaning as part of the fee and I actually had their gunsmith come out and thank me for bringing this gun. He told me he usually pretty much only gets semi autos, and no offense to anyone, but rarely sees revolvers. He also checked it for any issues but said these guns are pretty much perfection and a work of art and so nice to see one. I carry a 4 inch 686 plus for my ccw loaded with Underwood or Wilson Combat personal defense ammo and there is no other caliber I would trust my life with, god forbid.
My first handgun I owned was a Ruger Security six. I regretfully sold it decades ago. I sold it to a guy that sold it to another guy. Both have since passed on. I tried to buy it back from the final owner and he said, no way. It’s unregistered. I will never sell it. I seem to recall reading an article that claimed the .357 mag had more one stop shots than any caliber commonly carried by LEOs.
You are referring to the Evan Marshall/Ed Sanow research in the 1990s where they tabulated actual shooting statistics and found that the 125 grain Federal .357 magnum JHP had something like 92% one shot stops. Their research was highly flawed as they had no controls and only looked at srtain shootings and others. However, they popularized the concept of the "one shot stop." Dr. Martin Fackler fine tuned his ballstic gel testing and used various intermediate obstructions and minimum and maximum penetrations to account for cross torso shootings. The FBI adopted the methodology from Dr. Fackler's research and testing protocol. The main problems with Facklers protocols is that no ine has compared his predicted performance to actual real world results. The ultimate question is "how well does this theory match actual performance?" No one has done this so I will withhold judgement until and unless Fackler's research theory has been validated.
I have always been a semi auto guy. When I was in the USN we transitioning from the 1911 to the Beretta M9 and it was the first firearm I qualified with. The Remington 870 and M14 rifle being the other two. So it was kind if written into my DNA when I got out and for 20 years the M9 (or the 92FS) was my EDC. Then a few years ago I was in my local shop and they had a brand new Ruger GP100 357 Magnum with SS finish on sale. This one has the 7-shot cylinder and a 4" barrel with the black rubber grips that have the wood inlay. Beautiful pistol. It felt perfect in the hand, so I purchased it. And that has really opened the door for revolvers in general. Aside from the power and performance of the 357 cartridge, my favorite feature is the choice of ammo you have. I can run 38 Special wadcutters to full power Hornady Critical Duty and everything in between. I have a deep fear of over penetration and collateral damage. So I run the 38 Special +P hollow points for my home defense loads and EDC but the full power stuff when used as a sidearm for hunting in the open woods. I know if I am surprised by a black bear or cougar or even a boar hog that I have startled and I can't get to my rifle in time, the 357 will do the job just fine. And having a powerhouse with that kind of weight and mass it absorbs all the shock and recoil well. Which means the accuracy is just going to get better.
The Hornady Critical Duty is a decent round, but it is nowhere near full power by .357 standards. It propels a 135gr bullet at 1275fps, developing 475 ft lbs of energy. For comparison, companies like Buffalo Bore and Underwood make 125gr rounds that will do more than 1600fps, and 140gr rounds that will do more than 1500fps, developing 750-800+ ft lbs of energy. They are in a completely different class from the Hornady ammo. Hornady is just mild defensive ammo, not full power.
Glad that you mentioned lever action carbines chambered for the .357 magnum. My 20-year experience with .357 magnums from a lever action carbine demonstrated that I had trajectories similar to the US M1 Carbine and when the .357 magnum 158-grain jacketed soft point (1800 fps nominal velocity) load is used, sighting in iron sights at 10 yards puts me about 2.5" high at 70 yards, almost zeroed at 125 yards, about three inches low at 150 yards, about half a foot at 175 yards and about a foot low at 200 yards. Aiming for the chest of a two-legged predator and with a four-inch five-shot group at 100 yards (bench rest) this means a high probability of hits out to 150 yards and better than 50% hits to 200 yards (even minus that Kentucky Windage). The Assault Weapon Ban was still federal law when I purchased a Winchester Trapper carbine and a revolver in the same caliber as travelling companions. When feeding .38 Specials through the carbine, my chronograph told me that the longer barrel shifted my velocity up so that standard-pressure .38 Specials achieved +P revolver barrel velocities and .38 Special +P ammunition gave me .357 Magnum revolver velocities. Warning--a bullet designed to expand at 1400 feet per second (.357 Magnum 158 grain jacketed hollow point) can achieve more than 2000 FPS and may fail to achieve deep bear-killing penetration inside of 25 yards. The .30-30 Winchester does better beyond 100 yards--and may do better on large animals inside of 25 yards because the .30-30 bullets are more stoutly constructed because the .30-30 is expected to be fired from a rifle barrel of 20 inches but the .357 Magnum is expected to be fired from revolvers with barrel lengths of 3 to 6 inches. There are better rifles on the market when rifle performance is the only consideration. I wanted to feed both carbine and revolver from the same 100 cartridge ammunition supply. I expected only 25-yard revolver performance and 100-yard carbine performance but the .357 magnum from either gave me double what I expected. If I were a better revolver shooter, I might have 200-yard game-getting accuracy with the revolver, too.
Bought the Ruger Blackhawk Convertible years ago which comes with extra cylinder for shooting 9mm. Reload 9mm, 38 Special and hot .357 mag hunting loads. Great gun!!!
I used to work with a retired NJ State Trooper, and he was issued a .357 Mag. He said all of the Troopers he knew loaded them with .38 Special +P due to the recoil. He held on to his wheel gun as long as he could, resisting the move to an automatic. I'd love to get a .357 Mag, espessially with the ability to fire lower powered rounds. It seems like automatics can be a little picky about the rounds it can load and fire reliably. I love how such an old round is still used as a benchmark for newer caliber and powder load combos.
Semi autos used to be picky about the loads as ammo makers didn't talk to gun makers and they went one way designing and making rounds they thought woukd be good, but not talking to gun makers to determine what would feed. But the last 30 years have see a convergant of gun makers making very reliable pistols and ammo makers making very feedable and reliable rounds. But if you're going to use snake shot or specialty rounds loke flat semi was cutter loads, a revolver will be much more reliable.
My absolute favorite cartridge, and probably one of the most versatile platforms available. If you get close, a good 357 magnum hard cast bullet will take down a moose if needed. With the same gun you can hunt squirrels with light loads in 38 s&w, or 38 special. Plus as you stated, it's a legend in the streets. Not too big, and just enough.
Yep - it's that good!... I have no doubt that a good .357 Magnum could drop a moose through my 6" barrel S&W 686. Surprising power; I consider it to be the small 'hand cannon' round! 💥
@@scottsherrill9133agreed, especially since in the films he admits to using downloaded .44 Special ammunition to make it more controllable. Rather counter intuitive, and one of my only real gripes with the movies.
The 357 Magnum is also very underrated as a rifle cartridge with maximum velocity from a sixteen inch barrel. Hard hitting enough to make a 357 carbine a decent deer rifle. As to handguns I settled on the relatively new Kimber k6s after a frivolous purchase and subsequent range trip won me over.
For instance, some facts that almost anyone could understand, courtesy of a ballistic calculator: Using a 18.5" Marlin lever action and Buffalo Bore 180gr ammunition, you can extend a 4" barrel revolver muzzle energy exactly 155 yards further out. Whereas a 4" revolver produces 756 ft-lb muzzle energy, the same load in a 18.5" barrel moves that muzzle energy 155 yards further out. Or look at it this way: at 50 yards, the 18.5" barrel gives that same load 80% greater energy over the same range from a 4" barrel.
I currently have a lever action 357. I'm looking at the K6 Kimber as well, but I have heard bad things about the brand as a whole. (Is that just their 1911's?)
I think the 4" double-action .357mag revolver is one of the most versatile handguns available. If I could only have 1 handgun, the .357mag would be it.
I have a 686 SSR .357 6 shot with 4” barrel, and a 686 plus .357 7 shot with a 2.5” barrel. Great revolvers, and my go to carry weapon when headed to the great outdoors. Thanks for a very good video history on the .357.
Great video, DD! Although I have never owned a .357 (went to .45 Colt and .44 Mag for backcountry carry and 9 mm and .45 ACP for concealed carry) I readily concur all your valid points on the .357 and since I am now an “old guy” and don’t particularly enjoy the .44 Mag recoil anymore I may rethink about the .357. Thanks for a great video.
I only use my 44 magnum for hunting. I have several 357’s and 38 special’s. Never liked any of the semi- autos that myself an$ a friend tried. Guess you could say I a revolver nut. Yes and a very old person.
@@christinamoneyhan5688 I hunted for over 50 years with a .44 Magnum via an old Marlin 1895c levergun. Couple of years ago I handed down that rifle to my oldest son and bought a Henry levergun in .357/.38 to replace it. When hunting with this rifle I’m always wearing my Ruger Security Six on my hip. If this don’t meet the definition of “jack of all trades” cartridge, I don’t know what does . . . And, I’m one of the few who took to the .357 Sig like a fish to water for autopistol carry. I’ve also converted most of my .40 S&W pistols to .357 Sig with a simple barrel swap.
I once owned two different Colt Trooper Mk III’s, one with a 6” barrel and one with an 8 3/8” barrel. Both were outstanding revolvers. Folks praise the snake pistols but I never felt under gunned with the Trooper MK III’s.
Just got a Colt King Cobra 3” yesterday- my first revolver. The .357 Magnum has always been attractive to me as I live in a rural area with black bears and allegedly mountain lions as well. This is a great video, and I appreciate the work you put in to make it so informative. Subscribed
Great job 👍 I bought a 6" S&W 586 a few years ago and it's has been a beautiful revolver to shoot. I carry it whenever I go out in the woods or fishing on the river.
Fantastic, clear presentation. I realize I don't know it all but I thought I was well versed on the .357 having owned several, and I clearly didn't know as much as I thought. I learned alot today. Thank you.
Mr DDO thank you for producing this video and for the "home work" involved in the making of it. I love the 357 mag cartridge, and couldn't agree more with your assessment of it. My father was a sheriff deputy most of my life and ran the reserves in our county for over 26 years and most of that time he carried the same service revolver a 6" Colt Python with the "midnight blue" finish. When autos started becoming popular my father wouldn't switch he argued that when he "needed more than 6 rounds he'd consider it", and "I just hit what I'm shooting at, I dont 'spray & pray' why do I need more?" I'm not sure if I agree whith that philosophy but it worked for him. He touted many of the same attributes of this caliber you mentioned. When dad finally retired he was the last officer in the entire county that still carried a "wheel gun" Dad has long since retired and in his mid 80's and I've been the owner of said Python for over 20 years now. It is the most prized possession I own. It's still the most used gun in my collection, and one of the many firearms chambered for that great caliber that I own. Thanks again for the great content.
I have been shooting the 357 since the mid '70's with a 4" Colt Trooper Mklll, a solid hogleg. I had been shooting Colt 45's since 16 and the 357 was an eye opener. I was successful hunting deer with a 6" Python, I had 2 of them and sold them off because of performance issues. I picked up a used 4" Ruger Speed 6, I still have it and I swear it has a better trigger than my Python's and is just is a ball to shoot. Now a days I CCW a 3" 7 shot Ruger GP100. I keep it stoked with 125gr XTP's leaving the barrel just over 1250fps, not the hottest but a good compromise between power and controllability. I also have a 20" Rossi M92 Puma lever gun in 38/357, I handload and with 158 XTP's leaving the barrel at almost 1800fps with large charges of 2400 it makes a great truck/camping/backup gun during deer season. Best of all I also cast my own bullets and powder coat them. No smoke or leading even in the Rossi lever and I can load them down with cast Lee FP 125's and 3.0gr of 700x for cheap shooting with the most expansive part being the primer. I'm still working off my cases of small pistol primers bought at 30 bucks a thousand and with over 1500 rounds per pound of powder and scrap lead given to me it's cheaper shooting than a 22 and a lot more fun in either a pistol or rifle. With the grandkids going through as many rounds as I'll give them on a weekend my Dillon SDB gets a solid workout.
Thank you for your post. I purchased my first .357 Magnum revolver in the summer of 1965. It was the Colt Trooper with a 6" barrel. Since then I have added a Rossi P92 carbine, a Taurus 627 with a 4" barrel and an EAA Windicator with a 3" barrel.
As always I find my self in total agreement. You are the best I have seen on firearm reviews. Keep up the great work. I have a 357 HIGHWAY POTROLEMAN 6 in. Barrel it's a tack driver. Can hit 20 Oz. Bottels all day at 50 yards. I'm no expert but very impressed with performance .
This guy summed up what is my understanding of the .357 magnum round, particularly a revolver chambered in that round. I've never hunted with one, but I've read articles by people who have used the same revolver to hunt everything from squirrels with low velocity .38 Special rounds to deer with full power .357 magnum rounds. And it's effective at stopping evil humans.
Yes, you were preaching to the choir with me. Great video that put a lot of the reasons I got a 357 in one great spot. Learned more too! Thanks a ton! A grizzly at over 130 yards!? Amazing!
357MAG has been my favorite wheelgun cartridge for a long time - I never could put my finger on it, I just loved it right away. This is an excellent video. Thank you!
At the beginning of my law enforcement career I carried the same Colt Python that my dad carried during the 60s and 70s. I was always confident with the 125 gr JHPs we used.
Your grandfather was a very intelligent man and knew his firearms. He couldn't have made a better choice. His firearm was the same thing that I own and prefer over any of the others in my small arsenal
Good vid! I bought a S&W Mod 66-2 when it came out in 1983 (?-'82). Have been reloading for it all these years. Yes, the 124/25 gr. bullets are gold. This is my carry gun when out on the property in the mountains. Was also my duty weapon for many years. No complaints. No fear of only having 6.
I've always found it fascinating that the 357 Magnum was created as a way for police officers to shoot through a old Ford or Chevy car with it's heavy all steel build quality. I've heard stories or Tommy guns chambered in 45 ACP not being able to penetrate a V8 Fords doors or body. Also the first ballistic vests were becoming popular with gangsters of the time and the only handgun cartridge that had the power to penetrate a all steel car or bullet proof vest at the time was the Colt 1911 38 Super. The police wanted a revolver that had the same performance because revolvers were the preferred handgun of most police departments back then. Hunters also use the 357 revolvers to great effect against bears and moose.
I keep a Ruger 77/357 carbine sighted at 100 yards with 158grJSP and a Ruger GP100 .357, along with that a desert eagle .357. which I keep both chambered with 125gr jhp. The noise is incredible however out of the revolver and the DE. thanks for the video.
Your videos' are always some of the most informative I have found after years of TH-cam content. Thank yo so much for your in depth review of anything you cover, So much appreciated!!!
Well I've been reading and watching tributes to the .357 Magnum for 60 years, but I believe I'm going to have to say this was probably the best. That's saying a lot. I read everything Skeeter Skelton ever wrote about it, Read private communications between Sharpe and Keith when Phil was developing the specs for the cartridge and Elmer had to sit back and keep his hands in his pockets. You did a great job on this. I bought my first .357 when Ruger came out with their first double action. You couldn't buy a Smith & Wesson in those days with Vietnam going on. I've remedied that many times over since then. Thanks for carrying the torch to another generation. I'll salute you when I take my Highway Patrolman out when the weather dries.
I was in LE when the swap from .357 to autos following the FBI shootout in Florida. The first Smith autos were like trying to grip a brick. Speed loaders and hit what you shoot at! Then it went to 9mm .45 ACP, then to 357 sig. then .40 . 357mag rules.
Seeing a mountain lion on the thumb nail gave me a warm feeling inside as this is the primary reason I tell people why .357 is my choice for being in the high desert of california
My first handgun was bought by me for my 19th. birthday. A Ruger standard Black Hawk in.44 Mag. It was $79.00 at a discount sporting goods warehouse in 1963. I just couldn't afford the $98.00 Super Balck Hawk. Put the gun and my C&H press, dies, scales all in law-a-way and paid on them for two months. Right out of high school the year prior and working as a construction laborer for $2.89.00 per hour. Got married in 1969 and a few months later my wife bought me a Rugar .357 Black Hawk. Have owned many guns over the years but that old Ruger 3 screw, .357 Black Hawk is still with me to this day. I'll never part with it. It is a favorite for all the reasons you describe in your presentation.
I agree, the 357 Mag and 10 MM are the two best overall revolver and pistol cartridges. I carry a Colt Lawman Mk III as backup when I hunt. As far as carry and self defense goes, there are many thing to consider and it comes down to a personal choice. I also say there is no such thing as a bad gun. (some of course are better than others) It comes down to what you are comfortable with.
Still probably my favorite handgun cartridge. Credit to my buddy (who passed away in 2017) in firing his Colt Python which was his dad's service revolver. After that camping trip, I then found out how hard it is to find Colt Python's. So I found a SP101 and GP100 instead. To this day, they are on my hip for camp trips and mountain hikes loaded with Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman 180gr hard cast Keith loads.
Fantastic video, very interesting, thanks for confirming the .357 magnum's versatility. One of the first handguns I handled in my RPAL class was a Smith and Wesson 686 6" and I found it-and the Sig 226 clone and 1911-very intuitive. To reinforce what you said, our instructor said "When someone fires a .357 in the next lane, you'll hear and feel it!".
Just found your channel. I am new to reloading and I seem to gravitate to 38, 357 and 44 spec/mag. They are so much fun. Next I want a lever gun in 44. I have a Henry in 357 and they are a blast to shoot. Thanks for the work,
Reconnected as I wanted to share, that we ( son, wife and l ) have acquired more Henry rifles in our also beloved cartridge for hunting and recreational shooting. Lever Action Tactical and single shot. Both easily grouping 2” with open sights and under 1 “ at 50 yds. The Federal 158 gr. Hot loads are accurate to 1” at 100 yard with Leopold Scope attached. My wife also purchased a 1873 Winchester ( Miruku) in .357 for my birthday this year. ( currently in layaway) It was great to revisit this posting. I especially enjoy you letters posting with the tips and wisdom ( from knowledge experiences) each month. Quality over quantity. TRJM🙏🦅
Great video! I too started shooting Ruger revolvers as my first handgun. My favorite carry gun is a two inch GP-100 7 shot .357/.38. My first revolver was a Ruger security six, loved that gun.
Hi desert dog. Im glad i found your channel. You are very good. I agree 357 and 38 spl. Are awsome. Im watching this again. Your Pennsylvania buddy Jeff.
Yet another very informative and entertaining episode DD! I had a .357 for years but ended up selling it to a neighbor. It had a 4 inch barrel. I’d like to have another one but with a 6 inch barrel.
Very good video!! Carried a S&W Mod 19 while in LE until the Glock Mod 22's .40 became the standard. Have taken 5 whitetail deer with the Mod 19 over the years, not a problem retrieving any of them, short tracking on all.
One of the most fascinating gun videos I’ve probably ever watched. Really enjoyed all you had to share. I’ve been longing for a long time now for the Henry 357/38 side gate lever action as I’m a lever action mover and I don’t have a side gate model yet that I love to have. And I love that of if I get a 357 revolver that I only need to carry one type of load for both pistol and rifle. Just load it up in the pocket and run 😂 You’ve made me even more hungry to make this move. Btw I’d be fine with a 9 with solid brass loads for bear protection but hey, this is way better. So cool.
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My first experience with the 357mag was in 1958 on a humid, dark summer night in rural eastern Kansas (Johnson County). My stepfather had a friend over who had a Blackhawk 357. The image and sound of what I now know was probably the Keith/Sharpe 158gr LSWC on a dark summers night is a memory that has influenced my shooting and firearms purchases to this day. As a young Marine, the first handgun I ever purchased was a 4" Colt Python at the Camp Butler BX in Okinawa in i966 for $89.00. Carried it back to the states in Feb 1967 in a carry-on bag with ammo in the belt loops through customs in Hawaii. The customs agent looked in my bag and asked if I had any fruits of vegetables with me. Times have changed.
Colt Python, now we are talking!!! I own one made in 1966, great gun!!!!//Lars
@@1339LARSthe best
@@1339LARSI bet that you paid more than $89.00 for it!
@@Urbicide Hi, I bought my Python during my military service and paid no more than 40 bucks!!! //Lars
@@Urbicide I bought it during my military service (1973) and paid 20 bucks for It, Beat that!!//Lars
The .357 is, to me, the .30-'06 of pistol cartridges. It will do almost anything one could ask of a pistol round, the recoil is manageable for most people, with practice, and it's incredibly versatile.
27:43 - He literally said the exact same thing 😂 I saw this comment right after he said it lol
I want a 460
@Wesley FortneyI prefer .44 Magnum myself..44 Magnum is basically the most powerful round that most people can or are willing to control. Very few rounds are as versatile. Can be loaded for just about anything you want or need from light target loads to rounds powerful enough to take some African game. Underwood and Buffalo Bore makes all manners of such rounds.
Plus you can shoot 38 special rounds in it that are cheaper !
@@oneofthoseguys2019 I'd stick with .454 Casull if I were you. Here's are a few reasons why:
1. More packable. .454 Casull is still within the size range of most normal large frame revolvers without the need for chest rigs, slings and such. A simple strong side holster will do
2. It's more than powerful enough to and has dropped anything two or four-legged that walks or crawls on this Earth with one or two well-placed shots Especially with Underwood and Buffalo Bore options.
3. Decent for street use as well as in the field when loaded with modern, non-Cowboy Action .45 Colt ammo that despite what some manufacturers say, I wouldn't shoot it in a Colt SAA or direct clones, modern steels or not. That said, even if the latter is loaded with with Cowboy Action loads, it's still 230-255 grains of solid, flat nose lead moving at 800 to 1000 feet per second, tops. That will do nothing nice to anyone .
4. Six-shot revolver. The vast majority of .45+ super-magnum class handguns are all five-shot revolvers and in some Freedom Arms revolvers have no transfer bar or other mechanism against firing if dropped the right way, limiting capacity to four.
Don't get me wrong, .460 and .500 are both excellent rounds performance wise but rather unwieldy, even for shooters highly experienced with super-magnum revolvers.
I want to own a .357 Magnum; however, I live in Canada, where the most anti-gun Ministry (the Trudeau Ministry) in Canadian History is on a slaughter spree on Lawful Gun Ownership right now; recently, they enacted a “Handgun Freeze” (its a Handgun Ban) since October. Unless there is an election where the Conservatives come to power & repeal this pointless PR stunt, I will never legally own a handgun in Canada. I’m against this & i’m 27. You are lucky to have the 2A; make sure you cherish it to the hilt. Take Care.
I keep praying for Canada as I do for the U.S. This shall all come to pass. Fear not and read Matthew 28:18. These people you mention are not the ones in control and they know it. Their time will be short, count on it.
Move to the US. We'll take you. We have some crazy crap going on right now, but we can change that in 2024.
I sincerely hope you guys get Trudeau out of office and into a jail cell.
@@CapNCreampie ...and "Enjoy" the souless wondernine and experience it's pride(?) of ownership. The Glock is a first rate combat handgun, but it is neither beautiful nor elegant like a traditional revolver. It does not now nor will it ever bestow any pride of ownership for me. The only two autoloaders that could ever provide the feeling that a top quality revolver can provide are the High Power and the 1911, and the 1911 had better be assembled with some love to make the cut.
Trudeue the son of the Communist Fidel Castro..Canada is still armed so never Ever give them up !
A friend who was in Vietnam while serving as a C Bee told me his personal 357 saved his life when three Viet Cong came after him when his 30 carbine ammunition ran out. He said three shots and three enemy dead . He was a Bull Dozer operator hence the 30 carbine at that deployment during that time.
EO's, the original OG Seabees.
Come 'n' get it, Charlie!
Yeah I heard that them VC didn’t like the.357
I'm a grandma. A .45 semiauto beats my wrists up. A big revolver with .357 is not too much for me. I can shoot it all day. The nice flat trajectory makes it great for ringing steel at 100 yards.
That Blackhawk is a beauty. I am super fond of single actions.
why in hell are you shooting a revolver all day
@@crankyinvestorwhy the hell not?
@@crankyinvestorbecause he's a "grandma"
Too many people nowadays are unaware of how phenomenal the 357 Mag is. My girlfriend is from up North and had never shot a gun before she met me, so to teach her I made some very lightly loaded 38 special rounds and loaded them into my old 357. Once she got comfortable with those I made some more rounds that were a bit more powerful and repeated the process. It didn't take her long to get up to using full power 357 Mag rounds and now that's what she carries with her everyday. Being able to tailor ammo to be exactly what you need it to be is an extremely underrated feature nowadays.
Good deal. I wish that I could have gotten my (now ex) wife to carry. Especially now that I'm not around and she is the primary guardian of our kid.
Mine just wouldn't carry. I tried to get her to carry time, and time again, but would find her pistol on top of the refrigerator everytime. (She's hardheaded, part of why we are split). I just hope that it doesn't cost her, or my child injury.
A .357 will certainly protect your girlfriend. My grandmother has one in her house, and one that she keeps in the car.
Other side of the coin, my wife is from down south and never fired a gun until she move to northern Maine!
Thats exactly how I trained the women in my family and in the military logistic support where few ever fired a hand gun.
Blue dot covers multiple loads
Very good!
I've been carrying a .357 for many years, back in the early 70s they use to call them blockbusters and they rated it as one of the best LE carries rounds for years. Some 60 years later, Im still carrying an old Smith model 10 and am very happy with it.
A model 10 is not chambered in .357, maybe 19 or 66?
I mean decades later everything still gets compared to it
357 sig was made to match 357 mag
10mm is always compared to 357 mag
@@jorgesolis9468 12:45, i own 2 S&W revolvers, a 649 steel and a 438 airweight. I think it's hilarious to see 357 Magnum, then *on top of all that* a "357 magnum+"
@@Defender78 what do you mean
To bad a model 10 is a 38 special
Excellent video. I carry a .357 magnum or a .44 magnum. People over-estimate the number of rounds they need, and underestimate the power they need. At the short range typical of self defense encounters, .357 magnum is devastating.
Absolutely.
My old high pressure .357 reloads are completely miserable to shoot in small framed revolvers. A polymer famed Taurus made my hand bleed after two shots. That gun wouldn't last 50 rounds with those loads. My arthritis wasn't too happy either....lol
@PeterAngles-jq7gr "Crickets"
What I carry depends on where I'm going to be carrying it.
@PeterAngles-jq7gr ask the 300 unarmed kids that got gunned down by hamas terrorists.
I love my .357 magnum. I've had semi autos in the past but nothing compares to a good revolver.
Make sure it’s a Glock brand mag…since you can’t hit shit obviously ought to atleast point you in the right direction for reliability so you don’t jam after you run most of your mag. So you can miss the rest too without a hiccup🤣🤣🤣
I prefer to carry my Glocks, but I appreciate those revolvers. I recently bought the resurrected Colt Python. I don't plan on shooting it.
My dad killed an elk at 125 yds with a .357 mag. This was back in 1958 or so, out of Tollgate, Oregon. I'm not saying it was good, bad, or unethical. But, it happened. My dad and uncles were sitting, taking a break, at the top of a clearing. All rifles were leaned against a tree. A spike elk crossed the clearing down the hill a ways. My pappy pulled out that pistol and dropped him. That night he cut the liver into slick slices and cooked 'em real good on the woodstove in our tent. Man - if you had epoxied some of that elk liver to the soles of your boots, they wouldn't be worn out to this day. Hey - the statute of limitations has run out on this thing a long time ago. Plus, my pappy left us in 1995, so they'll never catch him. Classic.
GREAT VIDEO, once again. The .357 is one of the most well rounded handgun cartridges ever. As an owner of many of them, they are very versatile. Revolvers always will have a purpose, just like bolt action rifles, and will continue to live on.
I prefer carrying Glocks, however I agree that those revolvers are cool. I recently bought the resurrected Colt Python.
I Wholeheartedly agree, I have a S&W Mod 19, an Oldie but goodie, has the fireing pin mounted on the Hammer. A .357 lever action carbine. I feel well armed for whatever I encounter in the lower 48. Am a Happy Camper. 😃k.
Great comment. My first 357 mag was a Ruger Blackhawk. That really opened my eyes, literally, my old 1911 seemed under powered after that.
I've owned a Ruger Security Six .357 magnum since 1977 with a 4" barrel . That firearm has been an absolute workhorse I even used as my service gun during my stint as an armed courier and had no problems with my yearly qualifications. Very stable when firing rounds down range.
Just acquired one with your specs with a set of black pachmayers. Gorgeous specimen for being over half a century old.Not cheap but I got a fair price. Had a 357 Hi-Standard Sentinel several years ago and regret ever getting rid of it. However, I must say that this replacement seems heavier built to include windage and elevation. Can't wait to fire it. Good day to you.
Other than Colt Single Action Army in .45 Colt (the greatest revolver ever made), S&W 686 is my favorite all around revolver. I own semis, but there is something about a revolver that no semi can reproduce.
My Ruger GP 100 in 6" is unbeatable.Even friends who own 686 asked me if we could make a change.
Thd GP's grip is just way better than S&W's grips.
But i'm on your side.Revolvers are much better than semi plastic toys😂
@@TexasChilliMassacre "GP's grip is just way better than S&W's grips" -- It's got to be something about hand shape. As much as I like SP101, the GP never did anything for me. The 686, though, has to have the old style wood grips with wide bottom. That fits and fills my hand the best.
@@mountainhobo then you are one out of a lot.All my friends from our gunclub are very dissapointed with the S&W grip.They mostly like the GP grip.
But you are right. It all depends on the handshape and size.
It's the same with AR's and AK's.I am an AK guy.In our gunclub they mostely have AR's.Only 3 of us have AK's and i am one of them.😄
I have the ruger 8 shot redhawk and my stepson loves taking pictures of me firing it at night,he was bragging about it to a neighbor that guy was bragging about a Grzzly winchester 45 magnum ,I told my stepson tell him bring it we will try it right off my back porch,that's the last I heard about that nonsense,good thing probably my neighbors probably would have called the police,thank you for a great review on a timeless cartridge
@@TexasChilliMassacre none of them are as nice as the old 66-1 or no dash k frames. Those things are works of art
I have an Astra 357 magnum with a 6 ins barrel ,I bought it when I was 18 yrs old , now I an 73 yrs old and it still shoots like the day I bought it
I love my Astras and Llamas too
A .357 Mag. Revolver paired up with a.357 Mag. Lever Action Carbine are a combo that is hard to beat!
I agree
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 this video and comments like this are what drove me to go get a .357 lever action. I’ve always wanted one to pair with my 686 S&W. Saw this and the stats for buffalo bore and similar rounds out of a 16” barrel, .357 really transforms into far beyond just a pistol cartridge. I got the new ruger made marlin trapper and I’m very pleased with it so far. Thanks for such in depth and informative content!
I have used that combo for 50yrs. It's fantastic.
Despite the apparent interest in semi autos these days, .357 magnum is the single most important center fire handgun cartridge in my opinion.
You earned a half a gallon of diesel for mentioning heeled bullets. Most people don't seem to know that anymore. Have a great week and be safe. Oh, thanks for the information on Gene Moe and the knife vs. brown bear. I found an Outdoor Life article and Mr. Moe was definitely a much tougher hombre than me.
Mr. Moe was an absolute badass!
Half a gallon. 🤣😂 Ain't that true!!!
I have my Late fathers Smith & Wesson K model 19-3 he used back in the 70's as a deputy sheriff. And I treasure this revolver with all my being. To me it is the best handgun ever made. And thank you for educating me and reassuring me on this and the ammunition.
Great gun!
That's the one to have!!!... I rented one years ago & loved the trigger, balance of the 19. Trigger weight or reset was no problem. Smooth & short cycle like Smiths 5946 DAO 9mm.
Nice heirloom friend! I'm sure you know the old saw about " practice with .38Spec., save the Mags. For on duty!" Enjoy! Blsgs, gg
I was a Police Officer in the 80s. I carried a Ruger Security Six 357 which I loved. The Department bought S&W model 659 which I hated. Mind you this was back in the time we are basically shooting NATO rounds, the hotter stuff didn't come until later. They taught us "double tap" because they knew one shot wasn't going to get the job done. Which made no sense to me. ON AVERAGE the typical gun fight is settled within 6 rounds. Yes, there are shoot out that seem to go on forever, but the average is six rounds.
The downside of the 357 as you stated, is the reduced loads the companies are selling today. Carrying for personal protection with handloads is legal suicide. So today I carry the immortal 1911 in 45acp. Limited to 8 rounds you train to carefully place your shots. I go to the range weekly, honing my craft. While the 9mm has emerged to be a versatile round, I'll stay with my 45acp than to follow the "spray and pray" 18 rounds of the 9mm.
My EDC is a S&W 686 with a 4" barrel. My first handgun was a .32 caliber Sears and Roebuck revolver my grandfather bought me for my 11th birthday. Revolvers have been, and always will be, a part of me.
How do you keep your pants up?
With a belt. How do you keep your skirt from flying up?@@repetitivemotion
@@mattbrown5511 maybe I got a skinny ass. I can hold up a subcompact polymer or a 2 inch snubby but when I tried my Glock 19 my jeans were falling down all day
For your information, I use a shoulder holster due to injuries I received in Iraq. Now what is your excuse again?@@repetitivemotion
This feature struck a chord with me in so many ways! Back when I wore a uniform we started out with revolvers. My favorite was a S&W M686-1 with a four inch barrel. We were eventually compelled to switch to a semi-auto. I went with a Glock M20 in 10mm Auto. I eventually had to give up the 10mm when the department standardized the Glock M22 in .40 S&W. I honestly never felt at a disadvantage with my .357 Magnum regardless of all of the arguments; there was no arguing the confidence I had in the weapon or my ability to hit with it. With a moon clip conversion I would feel the same way today. As an aside, I prefer cast bullets in all of my hunting revolvers for all purposes; they never let me down and their performance was predictable. Thanks for another great presentation DDO!
Think a .357 would stop a drugie high on something?
@@WhiteTrashTennessee Yes.
@@WhiteTrashTennessee one of the few that can create hydrostatic shock
The 357 probably has the best record of doing that.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 According to Evan Marshall it is still at the very top of the heap. I think I still have a few boxes of the old SuperVel ammo that I used to use somewhere...very hot stuff but effective!
I felt like I needed to modernize; but I had what I needed the whole time: my GP100 .357. Thanks for doing this video. I just need to buy a new holster and diversify my ammo.
Great history lesson. I’ve loved my stainless GP100 since year one and I learned some things today I never knew Thanks !
I love my 4" GP100 too. Glad I got lucky enough to snag a good one pre pandemic before prices and quality control got bad. They're going for more than 200 bucks more than what I paid for mine.
@@d3ltaohniner261 - I never did get my GP100 in time. Was planning on a $500 price point, then it shot to $800 in a few years. I settled for a Rossie RM66 at $512 which I like ok enough.
I have the GP100 Match and absolutely love it. Ruger pistols are just tanks. The Match takes care of the one issue, overblown IMO, that people have with Ruger’s, the triggers.
There's nothing like a reliable revolver! Always been a fan of the .357 Magnum.
My Grandfather was A Chief Deputy Sheriff and Interim Sheriff in Southern WV in the 80s, when I was 18 he gave me his personal duty gun he bought for himself when he first became a Deputy, it is a model 19-2 Smith with a 4 inch Barrel, I love that Gun and carry it often.
I bought my Colt Python with a 6 inch barrel when I was 10 years old in 1963. My mother hated it but my father and uncle loved it. This was before the repressive gun laws when children could buy guns. I still have it and love it thanks for the ammo tips.
Having Custom built a few hundred .357 revolvers, Colt, Ruger,Smith and WESSON as well as Dan Wesson. I find the accuracy unparalleled for ranges beyond 50 yds with controlled recoil and follow up shots. Indeed Phillip Sharp had major input in development, however its safe to say ( having met and shot with Elmer Keith) Elmers influence with several developments of handgun and rifle cartridges is note worthy. We have shot several deer and one bear with the .357 cartridge. All with single well placed shots. Knocking down consistently 55 lb steel Rams at 200 meters in International Handgun Metallic Silhouette competition in late 70’s, 80’s and come back in the 90’s demonstrates the accuracy and capability of the .357 Handloader potential. Your complete analysis of the opportunities and historical synopsis has never been seen so humbly stated by me. I am appreciative of your inspiration to revisit the .357 as such an iconic metallic cartridge with such revealed diversity. Your Illustrated chart in the beginning was indeed a deal maker for would be buyers and owner alike. Continue as you are able. Many will continue to watch. I am indeed sharing your post with other old time .357 shooter/ hand loaders/ enthusiasts.
very good presentation. I was unaware of the small frame revolver over pressure issue. thanks for the vid!
nice video, in France, the 357 Mag is still used by intervention groups like GIGN, and in a hostage rescue from a plane in 1994, the operators used manhurin chambered in 357 Mag with great success.
A few do,,, now they only have to kill about one million more and they will catch up to the plain jane 9mm numbers.
Da parecchi la Francia ha standardizzate le sue armi corte eha adottato la Beretta 92sb in 9mm parabellum prodotta su licenza
The GIGN pistol is pretty nice as well. However I’m told they have gone to a semiauto now.
General Patton.. not only carried a single action army.. he had one of the early 357 magnums he carried customized with his initials on the grip.. along with a 32 Colt hammerless semi-auto
👍👍I love revolvers and own several in 357 magnum which has been my favorite caliber for years. For me I’ve found that shooting my revolvers in double action has helped me become a better shot with my semi autos. Thanks DD for a well done video.
I also have a harem of .357's. I fire them almost exclusively in double action mode. If the stuff hits the fan, you will (or should) only use your revolver as a DA weapon. Therefore, train the way you'll use it, and you'll use it the way you've trained. --Old Guy
Great video.
I have the same Smith Performance 357 as in your video and I always use it to renew my ccw.
Long story short, my local gun range included a complementary gun cleaning as part of the fee and I actually had their gunsmith come out and thank me for bringing this gun.
He told me he usually pretty much only gets semi autos, and no offense to anyone, but rarely sees revolvers.
He also checked it for any issues but said these guns are pretty much perfection and a work of art and so nice to see one.
I carry a 4 inch 686 plus for my ccw loaded with Underwood or Wilson Combat personal defense ammo and there is no other caliber I would trust my life with, god forbid.
Fellow 686 carrier here (SSR 6 shot) and also have a stash of Underwood feeding it. It's an awesome combination.
My first handgun I owned was a Ruger Security six. I regretfully sold it decades ago. I sold it to a guy that sold it to another guy. Both have since passed on. I tried to buy it back from the final owner and he said, no way. It’s unregistered. I will never sell it. I seem to recall reading an article that claimed the .357 mag had more one stop shots than any caliber commonly carried by LEOs.
You are referring to the Evan Marshall/Ed Sanow research in the 1990s where they tabulated actual shooting statistics and found that the 125 grain Federal .357 magnum JHP had something like 92% one shot stops. Their research was highly flawed as they had no controls and only looked at srtain shootings and others. However, they popularized the concept of the "one shot stop." Dr. Martin Fackler fine tuned his ballstic gel testing and used various intermediate obstructions and minimum and maximum penetrations to account for cross torso shootings. The FBI adopted the methodology from Dr. Fackler's research and testing protocol.
The main problems with Facklers protocols is that no ine has compared his predicted performance to actual real world results. The ultimate question is "how well does this theory match actual performance?" No one has done this so I will withhold judgement until and unless Fackler's research theory has been validated.
I have always been a semi auto guy. When I was in the USN we transitioning from the 1911 to the Beretta M9 and it was the first firearm I qualified with. The Remington 870 and M14 rifle being the other two. So it was kind if written into my DNA when I got out and for 20 years the M9 (or the 92FS) was my EDC. Then a few years ago I was in my local shop and they had a brand new Ruger GP100 357 Magnum with SS finish on sale. This one has the 7-shot cylinder and a 4" barrel with the black rubber grips that have the wood inlay. Beautiful pistol. It felt perfect in the hand, so I purchased it. And that has really opened the door for revolvers in general. Aside from the power and performance of the 357 cartridge, my favorite feature is the choice of ammo you have. I can run 38 Special wadcutters to full power Hornady Critical Duty and everything in between. I have a deep fear of over penetration and collateral damage. So I run the 38 Special +P hollow points for my home defense loads and EDC but the full power stuff when used as a sidearm for hunting in the open woods. I know if I am surprised by a black bear or cougar or even a boar hog that I have startled and I can't get to my rifle in time, the 357 will do the job just fine. And having a powerhouse with that kind of weight and mass it absorbs all the shock and recoil well. Which means the accuracy is just going to get better.
The Hornady Critical Duty is a decent round, but it is nowhere near full power by .357 standards. It propels a 135gr bullet at 1275fps, developing 475 ft lbs of energy. For comparison, companies like Buffalo Bore and Underwood make 125gr rounds that will do more than 1600fps, and 140gr rounds that will do more than 1500fps, developing 750-800+ ft lbs of energy. They are in a completely different class from the Hornady ammo. Hornady is just mild defensive ammo, not full power.
Glad that you mentioned lever action carbines chambered for the .357 magnum.
My 20-year experience with .357 magnums from a lever action carbine demonstrated that I had trajectories similar to the US M1 Carbine and when the .357 magnum 158-grain jacketed soft point (1800 fps nominal velocity) load is used, sighting in iron sights at 10 yards puts me about 2.5" high at 70 yards, almost zeroed at 125 yards, about three inches low at 150 yards, about half a foot at 175 yards and about a foot low at 200 yards. Aiming for the chest of a two-legged predator and with a four-inch five-shot group at 100 yards (bench rest) this means a high probability of hits out to 150 yards and better than 50% hits to 200 yards (even minus that Kentucky Windage).
The Assault Weapon Ban was still federal law when I purchased a Winchester Trapper carbine and a revolver in the same caliber as travelling companions. When feeding .38 Specials through the carbine, my chronograph told me that the longer barrel shifted my velocity up so that standard-pressure .38 Specials achieved +P revolver barrel velocities and .38 Special +P ammunition gave me .357 Magnum revolver velocities. Warning--a bullet designed to expand at 1400 feet per second (.357 Magnum 158 grain jacketed hollow point) can achieve more than 2000 FPS and may fail to achieve deep bear-killing penetration inside of 25 yards. The .30-30 Winchester does better beyond 100 yards--and may do better on large animals inside of 25 yards because the .30-30 bullets are more stoutly constructed because the .30-30 is expected to be fired from a rifle barrel of 20 inches but the .357 Magnum is expected to be fired from revolvers with barrel lengths of 3 to 6 inches.
There are better rifles on the market when rifle performance is the only consideration. I wanted to feed both carbine and revolver from the same 100 cartridge ammunition supply. I expected only 25-yard revolver performance and 100-yard carbine performance but the .357 magnum from either gave me double what I expected. If I were a better revolver shooter, I might have 200-yard game-getting accuracy with the revolver, too.
Bought the Ruger Blackhawk Convertible years ago which comes with extra cylinder for shooting 9mm. Reload 9mm, 38 Special and hot .357 mag hunting loads. Great gun!!!
One of the smartest idea lately...!
I used to work with a retired NJ State Trooper, and he was issued a .357 Mag. He said all of the Troopers he knew loaded them with .38 Special +P due to the recoil. He held on to his wheel gun as long as he could, resisting the move to an automatic. I'd love to get a .357 Mag, espessially with the ability to fire lower powered rounds. It seems like automatics can be a little picky about the rounds it can load and fire reliably. I love how such an old round is still used as a benchmark for newer caliber and powder load combos.
Semi autos used to be picky about the loads as ammo makers didn't talk to gun makers and they went one way designing and making rounds they thought woukd be good, but not talking to gun makers to determine what would feed. But the last 30 years have see a convergant of gun makers making very reliable pistols and ammo makers making very feedable and reliable rounds.
But if you're going to use snake shot or specialty rounds loke flat semi was cutter loads, a revolver will be much more reliable.
😊😊
Thank you for what is perhaps the best lecture on any cartridge ever! Phil Sharp, Jordan and Keith are smiling. Yes it is a great one and my favorite.
My absolute favorite cartridge, and probably one of the most versatile platforms available. If you get close, a good 357 magnum hard cast bullet will take down a moose if needed. With the same gun you can hunt squirrels with light loads in 38 s&w, or 38 special. Plus as you stated, it's a legend in the streets. Not too big, and just enough.
I think Clint Eastwood would have been better off with full power .357 magnums in dirty harry..than the mighty ..44 mag
Yep - it's that good!... I have no doubt that a good .357 Magnum could drop a moose through my 6" barrel S&W 686. Surprising power; I consider it to be the small 'hand cannon' round! 💥
@@scottsherrill9133agreed, especially since in the films he admits to using downloaded .44 Special ammunition to make it more controllable. Rather counter intuitive, and one of my only real gripes with the movies.
Sorry, but the 38s&w will not fit into a 357mag. The casing is wider than the 38special/ 357mag. I tried it before and it is a no go.
@@AleisterCrowly2 Wow, didn't know that....well you can still load really light 38 special loads and tale small game.
The 357 Magnum is also very underrated as a rifle cartridge with maximum velocity from a sixteen inch barrel. Hard hitting enough to make a 357 carbine a decent deer rifle. As to handguns I settled on the relatively new Kimber k6s after a frivolous purchase and subsequent range trip won me over.
For instance, some facts that almost anyone could understand, courtesy of a ballistic calculator:
Using a 18.5" Marlin lever action and Buffalo Bore 180gr ammunition, you can extend a 4" barrel revolver muzzle energy exactly 155 yards further out. Whereas a 4" revolver produces 756 ft-lb muzzle energy, the same load in a 18.5" barrel moves that muzzle energy 155 yards further out.
Or look at it this way: at 50 yards, the 18.5" barrel gives that same load 80% greater energy over the same range from a 4" barrel.
In Germany a rifle in .357 Magnum would be not allowed for deer ( Hirsch), only for roe ( Reh) and seal ( Seehund) for reason of german hunting laws.
Kimber k6S fantastic
same in Norway, only roedeer.@@brittakriep2938
I currently have a lever action 357. I'm looking at the K6 Kimber as well, but I have heard bad things about the brand as a whole. (Is that just their 1911's?)
love these bulletins. always interesting with some great history lesson
"The .357 is a good weapon"
-Inspector Harry Callahan
Outstanding and Thank you.
One of the best presentations I have heard in decades.
Loved the History.
Former USN RSO
I think the 4" double-action .357mag revolver is one of the most versatile handguns available. If I could only have 1 handgun, the .357mag would be it.
Very detailed and informative. You had me glued to the end!👍
I have a 686 SSR .357 6 shot with 4” barrel, and a 686 plus .357 7 shot with a 2.5” barrel. Great revolvers, and my go to carry weapon when headed to the great outdoors. Thanks for a very good video history on the .357.
Great video, DD! Although I have never owned a .357 (went to .45 Colt and .44 Mag for backcountry carry and 9 mm and .45 ACP for concealed carry) I readily concur all your valid points on the .357 and since I am now an “old guy” and don’t particularly enjoy the .44 Mag recoil anymore I may rethink about the .357. Thanks for a great video.
I only use my 44 magnum for hunting. I have several 357’s and 38 special’s. Never liked any of the semi- autos that myself an$ a friend tried. Guess you could say I a revolver nut. Yes and a very old person.
@@christinamoneyhan5688 I hunted for over 50 years with a .44 Magnum via an old Marlin 1895c levergun. Couple of years ago I handed down that rifle to my oldest son and bought a Henry levergun in .357/.38 to replace it. When hunting with this rifle I’m always wearing my Ruger Security Six on my hip. If this don’t meet the definition of “jack of all trades” cartridge, I don’t know what does . . . And, I’m one of the few who took to the .357 Sig like a fish to water for autopistol carry. I’ve also converted most of my .40 S&W pistols to .357 Sig with a simple barrel swap.
Lol I am just using .38 or 9mm for my carry guns. I don’t want to kill neighbors in the condo complex.
@@christinamoneyhan5688 I understand, but have become a plastic gun fan.
@@tonyromano6220 not a thing wrong with your choices. That’s why I stated carry what you like. I should have added for your own situation. 👍🇺🇸🙏🏽✌🏻
I've been carrying my 357 Ruger Security Six with me into the woods for years. Yes, it is very loud even in the deep woods.
I once owned two different Colt Trooper Mk III’s, one with a 6” barrel and one with an 8 3/8” barrel. Both were outstanding revolvers. Folks praise the snake pistols but I never felt under gunned with the Trooper MK III’s.
Just got a Colt King Cobra 3” yesterday- my first revolver. The .357 Magnum has always been attractive to me as I live in a rural area with black bears and allegedly mountain lions as well. This is a great video, and I appreciate the work you put in to make it so informative. Subscribed
Had a Colt King Cobra back in the 80’s. I miss that work of art.
Congratulations!
Be safe out there with cougars and bears! Blsgs, gg
Great gun you got there. My Colt is a vintage Agent 38 Special snub nose revolver, so I just stay indoors.
Great job 👍 I bought a 6" S&W 586 a few years ago and it's has been a beautiful revolver to shoot. I carry it whenever I go out in the woods or fishing on the river.
Good choice, on my buy list.
Good day Sir,
This is, in my opinion , the best video on this topic Ive yet seem.
Thank you.
With FIVE .357 Magnums in my safe I am sold on the round and have been since my 1st Colt Trooper MKIII purchased in 1973 and still going strong.
Great video! When in black bear country I always have my SW 686, in grizzly country I have my SW 629. But in reality, I just really love my 357 mag😊👍
Great video. I hope 357 continues to get more and more popular.
Fantastic, clear presentation. I realize I don't know it all but I thought I was well versed on the .357 having owned several, and I clearly didn't know as much as I thought. I learned alot today. Thank you.
Mr DDO thank you for producing this video and for the "home work" involved in the making of it. I love the 357 mag cartridge, and couldn't agree more with your assessment of it.
My father was a sheriff deputy most of my life and ran the reserves in our county for over 26 years and most of that time he carried the same service revolver a 6" Colt Python with the "midnight blue" finish. When autos started becoming popular my father wouldn't switch he argued that when he "needed more than 6 rounds he'd consider it", and "I just hit what I'm shooting at, I dont 'spray & pray' why do I need more?" I'm not sure if I agree whith that philosophy but it worked for him. He touted many of the same attributes of this caliber you mentioned. When dad finally retired he was the last officer in the entire county that still carried a "wheel gun" Dad has long since retired and in his mid 80's and I've been the owner of said Python for over 20 years now. It is the most prized possession I own. It's still the most used gun in my collection, and one of the many firearms chambered for that great caliber that I own.
Thanks again for the great content.
I have been shooting the 357 since the mid '70's with a 4" Colt Trooper Mklll, a solid hogleg. I had been shooting Colt 45's since 16 and the 357 was an eye opener. I was successful hunting deer with a 6" Python, I had 2 of them and sold them off because of performance issues. I picked up a used 4" Ruger Speed 6, I still have it and I swear it has a better trigger than my Python's and is just is a ball to shoot. Now a days I CCW a 3" 7 shot Ruger GP100. I keep it stoked with 125gr XTP's leaving the barrel just over 1250fps, not the hottest but a good compromise between power and controllability. I also have a 20" Rossi M92 Puma lever gun in 38/357, I handload and with 158 XTP's leaving the barrel at almost 1800fps with large charges of 2400 it makes a great truck/camping/backup gun during deer season. Best of all I also cast my own bullets and powder coat them. No smoke or leading even in the Rossi lever and I can load them down with cast Lee FP 125's and 3.0gr of 700x for cheap shooting with the most expansive part being the primer. I'm still working off my cases of small pistol primers bought at 30 bucks a thousand and with over 1500 rounds per pound of powder and scrap lead given to me it's cheaper shooting than a 22 and a lot more fun in either a pistol or rifle. With the grandkids going through as many rounds as I'll give them on a weekend my Dillon SDB gets a solid workout.
Thank you for your post. I purchased my first .357 Magnum revolver in the summer of 1965. It was the Colt Trooper with a 6" barrel. Since then I have added a Rossi P92 carbine, a Taurus 627 with a 4" barrel and an EAA Windicator with a 3" barrel.
my first hand gun was a S&W 686, bought it when i got back the states after getting out of the army
As always I find my self in total agreement. You are the best I have seen on firearm reviews. Keep up the great work. I have a 357 HIGHWAY POTROLEMAN 6 in. Barrel it's a tack driver. Can hit 20 Oz. Bottels all day at 50 yards. I'm no expert but very impressed with performance .
My Highway Patrolman was bought new by my Grandad in '62....4" Barrel....Incredible Pistol
Ditto on the Highway Patrolman!
Yep. Same here.
This guy summed up what is my understanding of the .357 magnum round, particularly a revolver chambered in that round. I've never hunted with one, but I've read articles by people who have used the same revolver to hunt everything from squirrels with low velocity .38 Special rounds to deer with full power .357 magnum rounds. And it's effective at stopping evil humans.
I still have my .357 Mag, Highway Patrolman. Love it.
Yes, you were preaching to the choir with me. Great video that put a lot of the reasons I got a 357 in one great spot. Learned more too! Thanks a ton! A grizzly at over 130 yards!? Amazing!
Dammit, now I have to explain all this to my wife...
Thanks.
357MAG has been my favorite wheelgun cartridge for a long time - I never could put my finger on it, I just loved it right away. This is an excellent video. Thank you!
A little bit late , but as I sit here I have a SP101 with old school silver tips under my shirt , feeling good and safe
For a brief time, 1929-1934, Colt 1911 used .38 Super to penetrate. Then .357 came out and .38 pretty much got washed away.
At the beginning of my law enforcement career I carried the same Colt Python that my dad carried during the 60s and 70s. I was always confident with the 125 gr JHPs we used.
Your grandfather was a very intelligent man and knew his firearms. He couldn't have made a better choice. His firearm was the same thing that I own and prefer over any of the others in my small arsenal
Good vid! I bought a S&W Mod 66-2 when it came out in 1983 (?-'82). Have been reloading for it all these years. Yes, the 124/25 gr. bullets are gold. This is my carry gun when out on the property in the mountains. Was also my duty weapon for many years. No complaints. No fear of only having 6.
I've always found it fascinating that the 357 Magnum was created as a way for police officers to shoot through a old Ford or Chevy car with it's heavy all steel build quality. I've heard stories or Tommy guns chambered in 45 ACP not being able to penetrate a V8 Fords doors or body. Also the first ballistic vests were becoming popular with gangsters of the time and the only handgun cartridge that had the power to penetrate a all steel car or bullet proof vest at the time was the Colt 1911 38 Super. The police wanted a revolver that had the same performance because revolvers were the preferred handgun of most police departments back then. Hunters also use the 357 revolvers to great effect against bears and moose.
Great video thanks for sharing.
357 is my favorite revolver caliber.
This was one of the best gun videos I’ve ever seen on TH-cam. Excellent job, sir.
Of all of the guns I’ve owned & shot in my 60+ years, the .357 is my all time favorite for so many reasons! Great video, thanks!
I keep a Ruger 77/357 carbine sighted at 100 yards with 158grJSP and a Ruger GP100 .357, along with that a desert eagle .357. which I keep both chambered with 125gr jhp. The noise is incredible however out of the revolver and the DE. thanks for the video.
Your videos' are always some of the most informative I have found after years of TH-cam content. Thank yo so much for your in depth review of anything you cover, So much appreciated!!!
Back in the early 70's I had a big calluse between my thumb and pointer finger the 357 had some good recoil and I shot a lot. GREAT review.
Well I've been reading and watching tributes to the .357 Magnum for 60 years, but I believe I'm going to have to say this was probably the best. That's saying a lot. I read everything Skeeter Skelton ever wrote about it, Read private communications between Sharpe and Keith when Phil was developing the specs for the cartridge and Elmer had to sit back and keep his hands in his pockets. You did a great job on this. I bought my first .357 when Ruger came out with their first double action. You couldn't buy a Smith & Wesson in those days with Vietnam going on. I've remedied that many times over since then. Thanks for carrying the torch to another generation. I'll salute you when I take my Highway Patrolman out when the weather dries.
Thank you for a particularly thorough analysis of the .357 Magnum.
I was in LE when the swap from .357 to autos following the FBI shootout in Florida. The first Smith autos were like trying to grip a brick. Speed loaders and hit what you shoot at! Then it went to 9mm .45 ACP, then to 357 sig. then .40 . 357mag rules.
I 'm very happy with the 158 grain Soft point round out of my 357 .
Sitting back and relaxing. 😌 Great Video.
By far the most complete video of the 357 I have ever watched. Thank you for that. Greetigs from Argentina.
Seeing a mountain lion on the thumb nail gave me a warm feeling inside as this is the primary reason I tell people why .357 is my choice for being in the high desert of california
My first handgun was bought by me for my 19th. birthday. A Ruger standard Black Hawk in.44 Mag. It was $79.00 at a discount sporting goods warehouse in 1963. I just couldn't afford the $98.00 Super Balck Hawk. Put the gun and my C&H press, dies, scales all in law-a-way and paid on them for two months. Right out of high school the year prior and working as a construction laborer for $2.89.00 per hour. Got married in 1969 and a few months later my wife bought me a Rugar .357 Black Hawk. Have owned many guns over the years but that old Ruger 3 screw, .357 Black Hawk is still with me to this day. I'll never part with it. It is a favorite for all the reasons you describe in your presentation.
I’m 19 and I just got my dad to buy me a Cimarron .357 cattlemen revolver💪🏼
I agree, the 357 Mag and 10 MM are the two best overall revolver and pistol cartridges. I carry a Colt Lawman Mk III as backup when I hunt. As far as carry and self defense goes, there are many thing to consider and it comes down to a personal choice. I also say there is no such thing as a bad gun. (some of course are better than others) It comes down to what you are comfortable with.
My Coonan Classic is hands down my favorite pistol. It has filled my freezer enough to earn it’s keep
Still probably my favorite handgun cartridge. Credit to my buddy (who passed away in 2017) in firing his Colt Python which was his dad's service revolver. After that camping trip, I then found out how hard it is to find Colt Python's. So I found a SP101 and GP100 instead. To this day, they are on my hip for camp trips and mountain hikes loaded with Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman 180gr hard cast Keith loads.
Great video i love a Revolver i just Bought my First 357Mag it's the Rossi RP63 great gun and i love the grips they help with Recoil
Fantastic video, very interesting, thanks for confirming the .357 magnum's versatility. One of the first handguns I handled in my RPAL class was a Smith and Wesson 686 6" and I found it-and the Sig 226 clone and 1911-very intuitive. To reinforce what you said, our instructor said "When someone fires a .357 in the next lane, you'll hear and feel it!".
Thank you. I have that revolver you showed; a beautiful gun.
Just found your channel. I am new to reloading and I seem to gravitate to 38, 357 and 44 spec/mag. They are so much fun. Next I want a lever gun in 44. I have a Henry in 357 and they are a blast to shoot. Thanks for the work,
I have a GP100 & Henry X in .357 magnum. Next I need to get into reloading for them.
Reconnected as I wanted to share, that we ( son, wife and l ) have acquired more Henry rifles in our also beloved cartridge for hunting and recreational shooting. Lever Action Tactical and single shot. Both easily grouping 2” with open sights and under 1 “ at 50 yds. The Federal 158 gr. Hot loads are accurate to 1” at 100 yard with Leopold Scope attached. My wife also purchased a 1873 Winchester ( Miruku) in .357 for my birthday this year. ( currently in layaway) It was great to revisit this posting. I especially enjoy you letters posting with the tips and wisdom ( from knowledge experiences) each month. Quality over quantity. TRJM🙏🦅
Great video! I too started shooting Ruger revolvers as my first handgun. My favorite carry gun is a two inch GP-100 7 shot .357/.38. My first revolver was a Ruger security six, loved that gun.
Hi desert dog. Im glad i found your channel. You are very good. I agree 357 and 38 spl. Are awsome. Im watching this again. Your Pennsylvania buddy Jeff.
Yet another very informative and entertaining episode DD! I had a .357 for years but ended up selling it to a neighbor. It had a 4 inch barrel. I’d like to have another one but with a 6 inch barrel.
Try a 5" if you have the opportunity. Leave nothing to be desired over the 6" ones
No
@@Neomalthusiano I agree. My 627-5 performance shop is fantastic. I'm starting to think 5" is the perfect revolver barrel length.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 What do you think on the performance of the 7.62×25mm Tokarev and the
and the 7.5 FK?
Excellent presentation on the history, versatility and relevance of the .357 Magnum. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Very good video!! Carried a S&W Mod 19 while in LE until the Glock Mod 22's .40 became the standard. Have taken 5 whitetail deer with the Mod 19 over the years, not a problem retrieving any of them, short tracking on all.
One of the most fascinating gun videos I’ve probably ever watched. Really enjoyed all you had to share.
I’ve been longing for a long time now for the Henry 357/38 side gate lever action as I’m a lever action mover and I don’t have a side gate model yet that I love to have.
And I love that of if I get a 357 revolver that I only need to carry one type of load for both pistol and rifle. Just load it up in the pocket and run 😂
You’ve made me even more hungry to make this move. Btw I’d be fine with a 9 with solid brass loads for bear protection but hey, this is way better. So cool.