.357 Mag question - The Firearms Forum

oldredneck · 11-29-2007, 11:31 AM

Okay, all you revolver folks go ahead and have a good laugh and then give me a valid answer.

I own a couple of .22 revolvers and four autoloaders. I'm looking for something my wife can easily load and fire if I'm not home and she has an intruder. She has very little experience with firearms and would probably have big problems with an autoloader if put under stress. I would like something I could also use on wild hogs and coyotes. I was thinking about getting a .357 Mag. Now, for my question. Can you safely fire .38 special and .38 +P rounds in a .357? I don't think the wife would want to shoot .357 plus I wouldn't want a stray round to go through a neighbor's house. I guess another solution would be to get her a .32 and get the .357 for myself.

Crpdeth · 11-29-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldredneck

Can you safely fire .38 special and .38 +P rounds in a .357? I don't think the wife would want to shoot .357 plus I wouldn't want a stray round to go through a neighbor's house. I guess another solution would be to get her a .32 and get the .357 for myself.

YEP!

Thats one of the nice things about the .357 is that you can shoot the lower powered .38 Special (or +p) rounds while saving money and practicing with the lower recoil.

Crpdeth

FranklyTodd · 11-29-2007, 12:21 PM

The answer is yes, and I also would add that it's a good choice! Don't feel bad about the question, mathematically and common sensically of COURSE .38 inches and .357 inches are different!

I got a super-light .357 - don't recommend that, especially for home defense; it's a handful. But a quality .357 revolver is a fine, fine home defense weapon. Maybe get her some laser grips, since you said "easily fire"? I used to think they were cheesy, but after playing with them, it's hard to deny they make things simpler. Expensive, though.

Also quality +Ps are fine for your self-defense load, too. Don't feel like you have to load 357s in it for her, ever!

Best,
FranklyTodd

358 winchester · 11-29-2007, 12:37 PM

Henry of all the guns that I own the ONE i will never be without is a 357 revolver.
I love the 357 magnum, I love lots of guns but the 357 is top draw to me.
The 357 manum in a four inch (Ilike 6 inch) barrel with adjustable sights will shoot all 38 spec. and 357 without a problem. A 38 spec. shot shell to the face of an intruder is mighty nasty followed by a factory round will make any man stop DRT ( Dead Right There)
a light target load and the wife will spend more time shooting and there fore become if not a better shot at least very comfortable with the handgun.
If she was to every use it in real life she would know if it was loaded with a target load or a full house 357 mag load.
I would not get anything smaller then a 4 inch nor larger than a 6 inch for her. Stick with either a S&W or a Ruger used price range 300 to 450 for a fine pistol.
Ron
My night stand gun is a S&W 4 inch 45ACP revolver back up is a 6 inch S&W 686 followed by a 12 ga. police riot pump loaded with #4's

oldredneck · 11-29-2007, 05:30 PM

Thanks for the replys. I've been looking at a Ruger with 4" barrel. I've shot a S&W Airlite with .38+P and that has a good little jolt. I imagine it would be uncomfortable to say the least with .357 loads.

Tom · 11-29-2007, 08:08 PM

The confusion results due to the minor problem that .38 Special is really .357” and .357 mag is just a lengthened case.

My 4” Ruger GP100 weighs 39 oz. My 3” S&W 360 Kit Gun weighs 16 oz. with Pachmayr grips. Shooting .357 mag loads in them is night and day different. The Kit Gun has really nasty recoil. The GP100 isn’t bad, but probably more than your wife will want. There are slightly tame .357 loads that are more than .38 special, but much less than full power .357. You might consider trying those in 125 gr. for home defense.

Neverhome · 11-30-2007, 09:20 PM

I have a .357 SS Taurus Tracker with a 4" ported barell, and seven round cylinder.
I love the gun. It is accurate and the porting makes a big difference in the recoil.
Sights are adjustable and the grips are soft ribbed rubber which take some of the bite out of full 158 grain magnum loads. It also comes with a lifetime warranty and can be locked by a screw on the hammer for those who like a lock.

I previously owned a Dan Wesson with a six inch and the Taurus by far, is much easier to bring up on target and the trigger pull is much smoother.

Neverhome

BillP · 12-01-2007, 10:05 PM

The only thing I don't like about the .357 is the muzzle flash in 4" and shorter barrels. Repeat shots are tough at night because factory rounds are loaded with powder that doesn't completely burn in short barrels. Since a high percentage of shootouts take place at night you owe it to yourself to make a night trip to the range or get your range-master to turn off the lights. Another thing you will learn is how easy it is to acquire your target in the flash from your last shot. .38+P rounds are designed for police use so manageable muzzle flash at night is a priority. That makes them a good choice for home defense.

Taurus_9mm · 12-05-2007, 08:12 PM

The .327 Federal Magnum may be worth looking into as well. Ruger offers it in their SP101s.

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-SP101-327.htm

www.gunnerforum.com

www.taurusarmed.net

Best Wishes

neophyte · 12-05-2007, 08:25 PM

oldredneck: Sir' the missis's will love you for thinking of HER

With the GP100 4' you have enough mass to help with recoil. Practicing with .38's regularly .357 isn't quite the jolt. We had a 11yr with us Thanksgiving
he weighs 45lbs? not good at this? Had never shot. gave up my Single Six and loaded .9mm-.38-.357-.40-.44 in handguns. He had any and all with the exception of the .44? Don't know why? Young man was Small, thin, non athletic.
He got attached to the .357's GP100-Blackhawk 6 1/2" approx. 300rds and never complained about being beat up. NON MACHO young man

Crpdeth · 12-05-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldredneck

Thanks for the replys. I've been looking at a Ruger with 4" barrel. I've shot a S&W Airlite with .38+P and that has a good little jolt. I imagine it would be uncomfortable to say the least with .357 loads.

Redneck, I guess it just depends on who you are and all that, but I shoot full power .357 Mag loads in this one frequently...Granted it is heaver than that Airweight which helps for recoil, but I have small hands and wrists which have been broken pretty badly.

I think just getting used to it helps a lot as well.

Crpdeth

358 winchester · 12-06-2007, 05:12 AM

Crpdeth, I like your apron

Oh the gun is a nice one also

hankroberts · 12-06-2007, 09:20 AM

38 in 357 OK: NOT 357 in 38.

Excellent cartridge, and several very good revolver platforms available. I grew up shooting a Smith Highway Patrolman and love it. Smith 65/66 and the Rugers are fine weapons. However, if you can find one, absolutely the BEST deal in town is the Rossi 971 with the short barrel/built in compensator. They are no longer cheap, as when they were still in production, but they're still not bad, and an excellent firearm. They come stock with rubber grips on a rounded butt, adjustable sights, stainless. 3" barrel, INCLUDING the compensator. A small frame Smith speedloader fits them so they're quick/easy to load.

Even with magnum handloads I can fire six shots into a paper plate at 20 feet in three seconds: the front sight never leaves the target.

I have two of them, and would have six if they hadn't gone up so much in price.

Pistolenschutze · 12-06-2007, 09:33 AM

I've always had mixed emotions about the .357 Mag, at least in relatively small-frame revolvers. I currently own five revolvers chambered for the .357 magnum: two Taurus, one Rossi, a Ruger, and a Smith. The Taurus revolvers and the Rossi are all medium-frame 2" snubbies; the Ruger is a 6" Model GP-100, and the Smith is a Model 28 N-frame with a 4" barrel. All of them shoot well and accurately, but I gotta be honest, the snubbies are not comfortable to shoot with full-power .357 loads. Perhaps I'm just a wuss, but they hurt! Loaded with .38 +P ammo, they are fine, however. My most often carried CCW is, frankly, a J-frame Smith Mod 637 loaded with +P .38s. There is simply no doubt the .357 is a very effective caliber, but in any revolver with less than a 6" barrel, I can't hit well with it due both to muzzle blast and recoil. Just my $.02 worth.

ciwsguy · 12-15-2007, 10:43 AM

Does anybody else have a problem (i.e., geez- that thing sure is funny looking) with the revolvers that have no exposed hammer? Maybe its just me, but I cannot get used to it. Give me the hammered-version.

Pistolenschutze · 12-15-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciwsguy

Does anybody else have a problem (i.e., geez- that thing sure is funny looking) with the revolvers that have no exposed hammer? Maybe its just me, but I cannot get used to it. Give me the hammered-version.

I'm with you on that issue. The advantage to a shrouded hammer is, of course, that it doesn't snag on clothing when drawn from concealment, but personally I like having the availability of single-action use if needed, even with a snubbie.

Bindernut · 12-16-2007, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taurus_9mm

The .327 Federal Magnum may be worth looking into as well. Ruger offers it in their SP101s.

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-SP101-327.htm

www.rugerforum.net

Best Wishes

Now that's an interesting twist on the 32H&R Mag in the SP! I used to own a 32Mag SP101...great little pistol and a real zinger on small game. Still miss that pistol, but money was tight at the time it left me. My biggest problem with it was, like a a short-barrel 357, it was also a real zinger on the ears and had lotsa muzzle-flash.
For small game, I loaded it hot...5.5gr of BlueDot pushing a 100gr HP for about 1050fps-1150fps out of the 4" tube. But even factory loads were heck on the ears.

I wouldn't have been afraid to use the 32Mag for personal defense either...has about the same power as a 38Spcl but a little less recoil...but I'd probably go with a .357 loaded with .38+Ps if just for defense use though.

sabashimon · 12-16-2007, 11:21 PM

My wife has slowly come around to the idea that it's not a bad idea for her to get familiar with guns, partly because there's a number of them in the house, and also for defending herself.
I've spent a lot of time going over with her the plusses and minuses of each choice that might serve as a home defense weapon for her. (she's not quite at the concealed carry idea yet

).
She has shot revolvers and autos, including .380's, 9's, 45's, and 38sp's.
In the end, it was a used Ruger GP100 with a 3" barrel, blued, that won the day.
I like (more importantly, she likes) the feel, and I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy, and like that I can go .357 mag if I want (she didn't want to go there

).

kmcsween · 06-04-2008, 07:15 PM

if you get a 357 you can shoot all 38&357 rounds and different grain bullets . including rat shot . a 2" 357 packs a wallop of recoil. get a 3-4" . (s&w model 60 3" 5 shot is nice gun). also may want to look at the new 327 magnum . less recoil .

Ursus · 06-06-2008, 07:07 AM

Option # 1 OK. But #2, would imply buying 2 guns. Much better.

user · 06-09-2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crpdeth

...I shoot full power .357 Mag loads in this one frequently...Granted it is heaver than that Airweight which helps for recoil, ... Crpdeth

I've got one like that, and I find that I can practice with it all day using .38 wadcutter factory reloads, and still stoke it for actual use with a .357, though I go for a low-power Golden Saber 125gr. cartridge. I wouldn't want to do that with an alloy framed gun.

OldRedNeck: I noticed the date of your original post was last November - what did you decide? Or are you still thinking?

noslolo · 06-10-2008, 12:13 AM

I have a S&W 686 6inch and I love it, it is my wifes favorite gun to shoot. My brother-in-law has a 686 4inch, and that it is a great hangun! Hard to go wrong with the 686. I have had several people new to firearms, shoot my 686 and they all loved it!!!!! You can plink with target .38 loads and you can light up the night with mag rounds. None will hurt your hand if you stay in the 4inch+ barrels. Snubbies can be a handfull. A handfull that gets the job done, but I like shot placement.

MikeTx · 08-28-2008, 04:28 PM

My wife has one of these:

..and so far it is easy and reliable. It likes all the ammo I have fed it too!

And yes, it gobbles up all the .38 ammo I can feed it.

Terry_P · 08-28-2008, 06:31 PM

I think Taurus's idea of the 327 SP101 was an excellent idea. You could even start with the mild 32 SW Long for your wife and then let her move up to 32 H&R. Great idea.

Bindernut · 08-30-2008, 05:07 PM

I know the original post was asking towards the .38/.357 but I also agree with the suggestion of an SP101 in .327Mag. An SP in .357 can be quite a handful though...I'd probably stick with a medium frame for that calibers.

If your wife has small hands, the SP101 ideal. It's got a great trigger and is a solid machine. I've got fairly small hands and both my SP101s have Hogue grips on em for a little better handle than the factory grips...but whatever fits the hands of whoever will be using it.
The .327 is one real zinger of a cartridge on the ears...think of the old .30 Carbine Ruger Blackhawks and their sharp crack...but even if you stick with .32H&R Mag it's more than enough for coyotes. Not sure about the wild pigs though, not many of them in my neck of the woods.

11-29-2007, 11:31 AM	#1
oldredneck V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW Mississippi Posts: 126	.357 Mag question Okay, all you revolver folks go ahead and have a good laugh and then give me a valid answer. I own a couple of .22 revolvers and four autoloaders. I'm looking for something my wife can easily load and fire if I'm not home and she has an intruder. She has very little experience with firearms and would probably have big problems with an autoloader if put under stress. I would like something I could also use on wild hogs and coyotes. I was thinking about getting a .357 Mag. Now, for my question. Can you safely fire .38 special and .38 +P rounds in a .357? I don't think the wife would want to shoot .357 plus I wouldn't want a stray round to go through a neighbor's house. I guess another solution would be to get her a .32 and get the .357 for myself. __________________ "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson "The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others." ~ Unknown -->

11-29-2007, 12:21 PM	#3
FranklyTodd Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 34	Re: .357 Mag question The answer is yes, and I also would add that it's a good choice! Don't feel bad about the question, mathematically and common sensically of COURSE .38 inches and .357 inches are different! I got a super-light .357 - don't recommend that, especially for home defense; it's a handful. But a quality .357 revolver is a fine, fine home defense weapon. Maybe get her some laser grips, since you said "easily fire"? I used to think they were cheesy, but after playing with them, it's hard to deny they make things simpler. Expensive, though. Also quality +Ps are fine for your self-defense load, too. Don't feel like you have to load 357s in it for her, ever! Best, FranklyTodd

11-29-2007, 05:30 PM	#5
oldredneck V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW Mississippi Posts: 126	Re: .357 Mag question Thanks for the replys. I've been looking at a Ruger with 4" barrel. I've shot a S&W Airlite with .38+P and that has a good little jolt. I imagine it would be uncomfortable to say the least with .357 loads. __________________ "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson "The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others." ~ Unknown

11-29-2007, 08:08 PM	#6
Tom V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 197	Re: .357 Mag question The confusion results due to the minor problem that .38 Special is really .357” and .357 mag is just a lengthened case. My 4” Ruger GP100 weighs 39 oz. My 3” S&W 360 Kit Gun weighs 16 oz. with Pachmayr grips. Shooting .357 mag loads in them is night and day different. The Kit Gun has really nasty recoil. The GP100 isn’t bad, but probably more than your wife will want. There are slightly tame .357 loads that are more than .38 special, but much less than full power .357. You might consider trying those in 125 gr. for home defense.

11-30-2007, 09:20 PM	#7
Neverhome V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 199	Re: .357 Mag question I have a .357 SS Taurus Tracker with a 4" ported barell, and seven round cylinder. I love the gun. It is accurate and the porting makes a big difference in the recoil. Sights are adjustable and the grips are soft ribbed rubber which take some of the bite out of full 158 grain magnum loads. It also comes with a lifetime warranty and can be locked by a screw on the hammer for those who like a lock. I previously owned a Dan Wesson with a six inch and the Taurus by far, is much easier to bring up on target and the trigger pull is much smoother. Neverhome

11-29-2007, 12:37 PM	#4
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	Re: .357 Mag question Henry of all the guns that I own the ONE i will never be without is a 357 revolver. I love the 357 magnum, I love lots of guns but the 357 is top draw to me. The 357 manum in a four inch (Ilike 6 inch) barrel with adjustable sights will shoot all 38 spec. and 357 without a problem. A 38 spec. shot shell to the face of an intruder is mighty nasty followed by a factory round will make any man stop DRT ( Dead Right There) a light target load and the wife will spend more time shooting and there fore become if not a better shot at least very comfortable with the handgun. If she was to every use it in real life she would know if it was loaded with a target load or a full house 357 mag load. I would not get anything smaller then a 4 inch nor larger than a 6 inch for her. Stick with either a S&W or a Ruger used price range 300 to 450 for a fine pistol. Ron My night stand gun is a S&W 4 inch 45ACP revolver back up is a 6 inch S&W 686 followed by a 12 ga. police riot pump loaded with #4's __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand?

12-01-2007, 10:05 PM	#8
BillP V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: On a lake near Detroit Lakes, MN Posts: 192	Re: .357 Mag question The only thing I don't like about the .357 is the muzzle flash in 4" and shorter barrels. Repeat shots are tough at night because factory rounds are loaded with powder that doesn't completely burn in short barrels. Since a high percentage of shootouts take place at night you owe it to yourself to make a night trip to the range or get your range-master to turn off the lights. Another thing you will learn is how easy it is to acquire your target in the flash from your last shot. .38+P rounds are designed for police use so manageable muzzle flash at night is a priority. That makes them a good choice for home defense.

12-05-2007, 08:12 PM	#9
Taurus_9mm V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 345	Re: .357 Mag question The .327 Federal Magnum may be worth looking into as well. Ruger offers it in their SP101s. http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-SP101-327.htm www.gunnerforum.com www.taurusarmed.net Best Wishes Last edited by Taurus_9mm; 08-28-2008 at 06:26 PM..

12-05-2007, 08:25 PM	#10
neophyte V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NC Posts: 63	Re: .357 Mag question oldredneck: Sir' the missis's will love you for thinking of HER With the GP100 4' you have enough mass to help with recoil. Practicing with .38's regularly .357 isn't quite the jolt. We had a 11yr with us Thanksgiving he weighs 45lbs? not good at this? Had never shot. gave up my Single Six and loaded .9mm-.38-.357-.40-.44 in handguns. He had any and all with the exception of the .44? Don't know why? Young man was Small, thin, non athletic. He got attached to the .357's GP100-Blackhawk 6 1/2" approx. 300rds and never complained about being beat up. NON MACHO young man __________________ Craig By the standards of many

12-06-2007, 05:12 AM	#12
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	Re: .357 Mag question Crpdeth, I like your apron Oh the gun is a nice one also __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand?

12-06-2007, 09:20 AM	#13
hankroberts Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 38	Re: .357 Mag question 38 in 357 OK: NOT 357 in 38. Excellent cartridge, and several very good revolver platforms available. I grew up shooting a Smith Highway Patrolman and love it. Smith 65/66 and the Rugers are fine weapons. However, if you can find one, absolutely the BEST deal in town is the Rossi 971 with the short barrel/built in compensator. They are no longer cheap, as when they were still in production, but they're still not bad, and an excellent firearm. They come stock with rubber grips on a rounded butt, adjustable sights, stainless. 3" barrel, INCLUDING the compensator. A small frame Smith speedloader fits them so they're quick/easy to load. Even with magnum handloads I can fire six shots into a paper plate at 20 feet in three seconds: the front sight never leaves the target. I have two of them, and would have six if they hadn't gone up so much in price.

12-06-2007, 09:33 AM	#14
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: .357 Mag question I've always had mixed emotions about the .357 Mag, at least in relatively small-frame revolvers. I currently own five revolvers chambered for the .357 magnum: two Taurus, one Rossi, a Ruger, and a Smith. The Taurus revolvers and the Rossi are all medium-frame 2" snubbies; the Ruger is a 6" Model GP-100, and the Smith is a Model 28 N-frame with a 4" barrel. All of them shoot well and accurately, but I gotta be honest, the snubbies are not comfortable to shoot with full-power .357 loads. Perhaps I'm just a wuss, but they hurt! Loaded with .38 +P ammo, they are fine, however. My most often carried CCW is, frankly, a J-frame Smith Mod 637 loaded with +P .38s. There is simply no doubt the .357 is a very effective caliber, but in any revolver with less than a 6" barrel, I can't hit well with it due both to muzzle blast and recoil. Just my $.02 worth. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)

12-15-2007, 10:43 AM	#15
ciwsguy Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: KY Posts: 31	Re: .357 Mag question Does anybody else have a problem (i.e., geez- that thing sure is funny looking) with the revolvers that have no exposed hammer? Maybe its just me, but I cannot get used to it. Give me the hammered-version.

12-16-2007, 11:21 PM	#18
sabashimon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PNW/Israel Posts: 672	Re: .357 Mag question My wife has slowly come around to the idea that it's not a bad idea for her to get familiar with guns, partly because there's a number of them in the house, and also for defending herself. I've spent a lot of time going over with her the plusses and minuses of each choice that might serve as a home defense weapon for her. (she's not quite at the concealed carry idea yet ). She has shot revolvers and autos, including .380's, 9's, 45's, and 38sp's. In the end, it was a used Ruger GP100 with a 3" barrel, blued, that won the day. I like (more importantly, she likes) the feel, and I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy, and like that I can go .357 mag if I want (she didn't want to go there ). __________________ "We sleep safely in ours beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." George Orwell "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." Thomas Paine Last edited by sabashimon; 12-18-2007 at 06:54 AM..

06-04-2008, 07:15 PM	#19
kmcsween Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: northeast ohio Posts: 4	Re: .357 Mag question if you get a 357 you can shoot all 38&357 rounds and different grain bullets . including rat shot . a 2" 357 packs a wallop of recoil. get a 3-4" . (s&w model 60 3" 5 shot is nice gun). also may want to look at the new 327 magnum . less recoil .

06-06-2008, 07:07 AM	#20
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	Re: .357 Mag question Option # 1 OK. But #2, would imply buying 2 guns. Much better. __________________ SI VIS PACEM, PARABELLUM.

06-10-2008, 12:13 AM	#22
noslolo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Johnstown PA Posts: 1,558	Re: .357 Mag question I have a S&W 686 6inch and I love it, it is my wifes favorite gun to shoot. My brother-in-law has a 686 4inch, and that it is a great hangun! Hard to go wrong with the 686. I have had several people new to firearms, shoot my 686 and they all loved it!!!!! You can plink with target .38 loads and you can light up the night with mag rounds. None will hurt your hand if you stay in the 4inch+ barrels. Snubbies can be a handfull. A handfull that gets the job done, but I like shot placement. __________________ I'm a heck of a "obesito illegitimo"

08-28-2008, 04:28 PM	#23
MikeTx Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 27	Re: .357 Mag question My wife has one of these: ..and so far it is easy and reliable. It likes all the ammo I have fed it too! And yes, it gobbles up all the .38 ammo I can feed it. Last edited by MikeTx; 08-28-2008 at 04:30 PM..

08-28-2008, 06:31 PM	#24
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: .357 Mag question I think Taurus's idea of the 327 SP101 was an excellent idea. You could even start with the mild 32 SW Long for your wife and then let her move up to 32 H&R. Great idea. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle

08-30-2008, 05:07 PM	#25
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,453	Re: .357 Mag question I know the original post was asking towards the .38/.357 but I also agree with the suggestion of an SP101 in .327Mag. An SP in .357 can be quite a handful though...I'd probably stick with a medium frame for that calibers. If your wife has small hands, the SP101 ideal. It's got a great trigger and is a solid machine. I've got fairly small hands and both my SP101s have Hogue grips on em for a little better handle than the factory grips...but whatever fits the hands of whoever will be using it. The .327 is one real zinger of a cartridge on the ears...think of the old .30 Carbine Ruger Blackhawks and their sharp crack...but even if you stick with .32H&R Mag it's more than enough for coyotes. Not sure about the wild pigs though, not many of them in my neck of the woods.