Ruger Forum

Nick0410 · July 3rd, 2012, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Spencer

I have an opportunity to purchase a stainless .44 mag (5.5") from a friend who's had it a few years but has never fired it. He's asking less than a new .357 BH costs.

P.S. I do handload so I can control my costs pretty well for both calibers.

To me its obvious with these 2 statements.

TMan51 · July 7th, 2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Spencer

.357 or .44 mag? P.S. I do handload so I can control my costs pretty well for both calibers.

I have one of each, and shudder at the thought of getting rid of either. I handload for both.

How much do you actually shoot? These days a large volume of .44 is gonna be quite a bit more no matter what you load. A guy that shot a .357 a lot, is maybe deadlier that a guy that shoots a .44 not too much. As bears go, people that actually live in griz country often put their faith in a dose of bear pepper spray, certain that pissing a bear off with a poor shot is a disaster.

Handloading makes a big difference as anyone can load the .44 to equal .357 performance. Matching .44Mag performance with a .357 is a tough mission. You could get by with the Federal 180gr cast stuff, or make up the same on your own, but it will not be a .44. If you don't have trigger time with a .44Mag using full power stuff and heavy bullets, you might want to check that out too.

ThreeScrew · July 7th, 2012, 12:26 PM

I'm with Tman51. The .357 will afford more practice, especially if you don't handload.

I wouldn't consider bear-protection a factor in your purchase. I you're hunting with an HP rifle, a .44 mag on your hip is just going to be a heavy backup in the event a bear gets you on the ground. In that case, I'd want a DA revolver so I just had to pull the trigger. If bear attack was a serious possibility, like around the Alaskan coast or one of the islands, I'd save my pennies for for an SR Alaskan, .454 Casull.

If you choose to hunt with either, practice, practice, practice.

Douglas Wesson killed about every big game species in North America with a .357 magnum to publicize the cartridge when it was introduced, including brown bear. But he was able to carefully pick his shots and no doubt had at least one person with a big HP rifle backing him up.

Scott Spencer · July 7th, 2012, 01:20 PM

I wound up buying the .44 mag and happy that I did. I may not shoot it as much as my 9mm XDm but I still plan to have lots of fun with it. It really is a great looking pistol and while it might never get used on a bear I hope to one day hog hunt and maybe deer hunt with it.

I will post a photo of it in the next day or so.

Scott

rclark · July 7th, 2012, 02:10 PM

You made a good choice. Enjoy the big bore .44! Reloading for it will be fun too. I rarely shoot 'magnum' loads in any of mine.

ratgunner · July 7th, 2012, 02:28 PM

The .44 would be a bit lighter too I think.

TMan51 · July 8th, 2012, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Spencer

I wound up buying the .44 mag and happy that I did.

That's the important part.

Mine shoots pretty much to POI with a pair of loads. 7.5gr of Unique and a cast 250gr Keith type SWC, and 22gr of W296 with a 265gr Hornady FP. Neither load is max, and I played with the combination a while to get them to land in nearly the same spot at 25yds, but I do need to drop the sight 3 clicks for the 265's @ 50yds.

Recoil with the Keith bullet is in the range of a peppy .357 load in my BH.

To get used to the gun, you might want to grab some of the Hornady 180gr Cowboy bullets, and 6gr of Trail Boss.

Good luck with it.

Scott Spencer · July 10th, 2012, 07:05 AM

Sorry for the bump but I wanted to post a photo of the .44mag I went with and bought. It was actually built July 2011 and it had never been fired. I got it for $465.
Sorry the picture is a touch blurry.

Scott Spencer · July 10th, 2012, 07:07 AM

Thank you so much for the advice on the loads!! It will give me a great starting point and something to have some fun with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMan51

That's the important part.

Mine shoots pretty much to POI with a pair of loads. 7.5gr of Unique and a cast 250gr Keith type SWC, and 22gr of W296 with a 265gr Hornady FP. Neither load is max, and I played with the combination a while to get them to land in nearly the same spot at 25yds, but I do need to drop the sight 3 clicks for the 265's @ 50yds.

Recoil with the Keith bullet is in the range of a peppy .357 load in my BH.

To get used to the gun, you might want to grab some of the Hornady 180gr Cowboy bullets, and 6gr of Trail Boss.

Good luck with it.

TomP5 · July 10th, 2012, 07:27 AM

Scott, good choice. Nothing wrong with the .357, but I like the .44 mag. (See my avatar.) It is funny, but unless I'm shooting really heavy loads, my .44 mag has less perceived recoil than my wife's .38 spcl S&W J frame. The .44 mag has a lot of versatility. And that is one pretty gun you've got there for a decent price!

Meeteetse · August 28th, 2012, 05:44 PM

Great choice. Growing up in WY I always carried a .357 while hunting so the pistol was secondary to my rifle. I figured out I would rather carry a .44 all the time and not worry about if I had a rifle or not. I shoot a lot of specials for fun but carry .44 mag hardcast loads for serious work. The only problem I have is that I don't reload anymore.

41RED · August 28th, 2012, 06:46 PM

I think you made the right choice. Be careful now you may find you're shooting that 44 far more than the 9! Get the 357 and you can moth ball that 9!

Pitbull1022 · September 2nd, 2012, 03:21 PM

both. you will not go wrong.

opos · September 2nd, 2012, 03:45 PM

I have both 357's and 44 mags..The toughest 'game" we have around here are he drug cartel members that live in Tijuana so a 357 would be just fine...I load all magnums light...I got bad hands....so I load both the 357 and the 44 in full length cases but lighter loads...no carbon ring, easier on me and on the gun...but every now and then I get 'that urge" and make things go boom...Got to love the 44 mag but the shorter barrel will give you a sore hand...with wood grips to make the mistake of putting your "pinkie" below the grip...