.357/.38 or .45Colt?

ZVP · September 10, 2011, 03:22 PM

Personally I shoot a Stainless 4 5/8" .357 Vaquero. Initally the lower costs of inexpensive reloaded .38 Specials drew me to the gun, but soon the versitility of the .357 became evident and I really got into the gun! I started shooting full power 125gr Remingtons and understood the smashing power of the 357 Magnum (I used to have a Model 66 Smith). Somehow the cartrige is very well matched to the overall of the Vaquero and it soon became my primary carry gun. Just something about the handling characteristics of the big Single Action...
When at the range or playing at anchoring steel targets I use the .38's but out in the real world it is full of the 125gr Remington H/P's.

What calibers do you all shoot, and why? This is not to start knocking anyones choices,, I just wondered about the consenscensus is around here?
Thanks, ZVP

Stephanie B · September 10, 2011, 03:35 PM

I tend to believe that there is no substitute for diameter when it comes to handgun cartridges.

So I go with the .45 Colt.

Shotgun693 · September 10, 2011, 04:24 PM

There's nothing 'wrong' with a .357, I carried one for years.
I now carry a .45 Colt. I can load it down, load it up. It makes a big hole. It has a ton of history. For me, the .45 seems to shoot easier with less kick and less crack. For some odd reason the local gang members are really afraid of my .45 especially in a Colt's SAA.

ZVP · September 10, 2011, 04:55 PM

Ya know you have got something there! People Do get more scared of a big Single Action than they do of other types! Maybe it just says business? I know it says confidence because you only have 6 shots and you wouldn't be carrying it if you weren't good with it!
I know that you can vary the .45 through a wide spectrum of loads but you can also do that just by switching up from a .38 to a .357.
Both are versitle as heck!
ZVP

Bill Akins · September 10, 2011, 06:38 PM

Both are great calibers, but I agree with Stephanie B and Shotgun693 that the larger diameter of handgun projectile is important to me. That's why both of my Uberti '73 peacemakers are in .45 Colt.

.

Hawg · September 10, 2011, 07:04 PM

44-40, rifle and pistol.

bobn · September 10, 2011, 07:18 PM

i dunno, for me i thought smith and wessons were 38s. before that cowboy guns started with .4X.....fwiw, bobn

rodent.22 · September 10, 2011, 08:16 PM

.45 Colt for me....my two Vaqueros and my '94 Winchester, my Bond derringer and my 1st Model Dragoon conversion. Easy to load, economical supplies, and FUN to shoot!!!

Hawg · September 10, 2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

i dunno, for me i thought smith and wessons were 38s. before that cowboy guns started with .4X....

Except for the .36's

Sarge · September 10, 2011, 09:22 PM

I am a known proponent of the 45 Colt but then I occasionally succumb to the urge to poke holes through 250 pound grasseaters, or wander around where large people munchers lurk. For those uses, I prefer a big heavy bullet and the 45 pulls that load easily.

Still, fine times can be had with a .38 or .357 mag, particularly loaded with swaged SWC's at barely 700 fps. Such loads are excellent for small game and you can always shift up a gear, when you need to. For about 90% of handgun chores, a .357 works fine.

Jim March · September 10, 2011, 09:36 PM

I went the same way as ZVP: NewVaq357 as a street carry piece, now my daily-carry-without-fail gun. Serious rip-snorting 125s from DoubleTap or Buffalo Bore are just no joke. Blew up a bowling ball with one from 20 paces out, split it in half and sent fist-sized pieces of the concrete core flying back past my feet. "That's GOTTA hurt!" Raw energy levels are up near 800ft/lbs energy, 1/3rd more than the best 40S&W loads, up into 10mm territory - and the Gold Dot projectiles will hold up at those speeds.

Lee McNelly · September 10, 2011, 09:43 PM

old model w extra 45acp cyl

colt didn't make a 46

mavracer · September 10, 2011, 10:06 PM

I like both 357s in a 3 screw and anniversary Blackhawk and 45 Colts in aa 3rd gen SAA and a USFA.

Hawg · September 11, 2011, 01:33 AM

Quote:

colt didn't make a 46

No but Remington did.

September 10, 2011, 03:22 PM	#1
ZVP Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2009 Posts: 1,102	.357/.38 or .45Colt? Personally I shoot a Stainless 4 5/8" .357 Vaquero. Initally the lower costs of inexpensive reloaded .38 Specials drew me to the gun, but soon the versitility of the .357 became evident and I really got into the gun! I started shooting full power 125gr Remingtons and understood the smashing power of the 357 Magnum (I used to have a Model 66 Smith). Somehow the cartrige is very well matched to the overall of the Vaquero and it soon became my primary carry gun. Just something about the handling characteristics of the big Single Action... When at the range or playing at anchoring steel targets I use the .38's but out in the real world it is full of the 125gr Remington H/P's. What calibers do you all shoot, and why? This is not to start knocking anyones choices,, I just wondered about the consenscensus is around here? Thanks, ZVP

September 10, 2011, 04:55 PM	#4
ZVP Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2009 Posts: 1,102	Respect Ya know you have got something there! People Do get more scared of a big Single Action than they do of other types! Maybe it just says business? I know it says confidence because you only have 6 shots and you wouldn't be carrying it if you weren't good with it! I know that you can vary the .45 through a wide spectrum of loads but you can also do that just by switching up from a .38 to a .357. Both are versitle as heck! ZVP

September 10, 2011, 06:38 PM	#5
Bill Akins Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Hudson, Florida Posts: 1,135	Both are great calibers, but I agree with Stephanie B and Shotgun693 that the larger diameter of handgun projectile is important to me. That's why both of my Uberti '73 peacemakers are in .45 Colt. . __________________ "This is my Remy and this is my Colt. Remy loads easy and topstrap strong, Colt balances better and never feels wrong. A repro black powder revolver gun, they smoke and shoot lead and give me much fun. I can't figure out which one I like better, they're both fine revolvers that fit in my leather". "To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target".

September 10, 2011, 08:16 PM	#8
rodent.22 Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2010 Location: virginia woods Posts: 129	.45 Colt for me....my two Vaqueros and my '94 Winchester, my Bond derringer and my 1st Model Dragoon conversion. Easy to load, economical supplies, and FUN to shoot!!! __________________ NRA, VCDL, USAF 1970-76 6200FMS CLARK FIELD,P.I.'71-'72- 18 SOS, NKP, THAILAND '72, BASE FLIGHT,KEESLER AFB,MISS '72-'74, CARSWELL AFB,TX '74-'76

September 10, 2011, 09:22 PM	#10
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	I am a known proponent of the 45 Colt but then I occasionally succumb to the urge to poke holes through 250 pound grasseaters, or wander around where large people munchers lurk. For those uses, I prefer a big heavy bullet and the 45 pulls that load easily. Still, fine times can be had with a .38 or .357 mag, particularly loaded with swaged SWC's at barely 700 fps. Such loads are excellent for small game and you can always shift up a gear, when you need to. For about 90% of handgun chores, a .357 works fine. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

September 10, 2011, 03:35 PM	#2
Stephanie B Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2008 Location: NWern SE Missouri Posts: 339	I tend to believe that there is no substitute for diameter when it comes to handgun cartridges. So I go with the .45 Colt.

September 10, 2011, 04:24 PM	#3
Shotgun693 Senior Member Join Date: September 3, 2011 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 959	There's nothing 'wrong' with a .357, I carried one for years. I now carry a .45 Colt. I can load it down, load it up. It makes a big hole. It has a ton of history. For me, the .45 seems to shoot easier with less kick and less crack. For some odd reason the local gang members are really afraid of my .45 especially in a Colt's SAA.

September 10, 2011, 07:04 PM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	44-40, rifle and pistol.

September 10, 2011, 07:18 PM	#7
bobn Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,105	i dunno, for me i thought smith and wessons were 38s. before that cowboy guns started with .4X.....fwiw, bobn

September 10, 2011, 09:36 PM	#11
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	I went the same way as ZVP: NewVaq357 as a street carry piece, now my daily-carry-without-fail gun. Serious rip-snorting 125s from DoubleTap or Buffalo Bore are just no joke. Blew up a bowling ball with one from 20 paces out, split it in half and sent fist-sized pieces of the concrete core flying back past my feet. "That's GOTTA hurt!" Raw energy levels are up near 800ft/lbs energy, 1/3rd more than the best 40S&W loads, up into 10mm territory - and the Gold Dot projectiles will hold up at those speeds. __________________ Jim March

September 10, 2011, 09:43 PM	#12
Lee McNelly Junior member Join Date: June 9, 2011 Posts: 325	vaquaro old model w extra 45acp cyl colt didn't make a 46