The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Thoughts on selecting a home/self defence rifle

mordis · April 25, 2010, 08:05 AM

What this boils down to is use what you have on hand for personal defence. With regard to the lever guns in .357 vs .45 colt, i feel that the .357 may have the edge with regards to utility and usability. Unlike the .45 colt it isnt limited to certain pressures due to revolver strength. Unless your shooting a Freedom arms, or Ruger redhack/blackhawk/OLD VAQ you will be limited to standard pressure rounds. Which develop around 850-950fps out of a pistol, would only reach around 1200-1300fps out of a carbine lever gun. Where as a .357 can and will start out at 1200-1400fps from the pistol and can reach anywere from 1700-1800fps+ from the carbine. Which if your using a hardcast solid bullet, will give you a bit of lee way in range, at 300yards your hardcast 158grn bullet will still have the velocity and energy of a starndard pressure .38special.

I love shooting both the .45colt and .357/.38 but the .357 just has more going for it. Now if i had a ruger or freedom arms...then the story changes dramaticly.

April 25, 2010, 08:05 AM	#31
mordis Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2005 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 560	What this boils down to is use what you have on hand for personal defence. With regard to the lever guns in .357 vs .45 colt, i feel that the .357 may have the edge with regards to utility and usability. Unlike the .45 colt it isnt limited to certain pressures due to revolver strength. Unless your shooting a Freedom arms, or Ruger redhack/blackhawk/OLD VAQ you will be limited to standard pressure rounds. Which develop around 850-950fps out of a pistol, would only reach around 1200-1300fps out of a carbine lever gun. Where as a .357 can and will start out at 1200-1400fps from the pistol and can reach anywere from 1700-1800fps+ from the carbine. Which if your using a hardcast solid bullet, will give you a bit of lee way in range, at 300yards your hardcast 158grn bullet will still have the velocity and energy of a starndard pressure .38special. I love shooting both the .45colt and .357/.38 but the .357 just has more going for it. Now if i had a ruger or freedom arms...then the story changes dramaticly.