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Old December 17, 2008, 11:46 AM   #1
Hook686
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180 grain .357, or 200 grain .44 magnum ?

I have a S&W 627PC, an 8 shot .357 magnum. I also have a S&W 329PD, a 6 shot .44 magnum. Going out in the great outback (Sierra Nevada Mountains of California) would it be better to carry the 627, with 180 grain Winchester Partition Gold, or the 329 with Speer Short Barrel 200 grain Gold Dot HP ?

Black bear, Mountain Lion, druggies guarding their crop/lab, and wild dog/coyote strike me as my biggest concerns when I go up there to hike/fish/phograph nature.

Which would you carry, the lighter .44 magnum, or the 8 shot .357 magnum ?
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Old December 17, 2008, 12:08 PM   #2
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I'd take the 44, but I'd load it with a 240 LSWC @1000fps.
If I couldn't do that I'd take the 357.
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Old December 17, 2008, 12:25 PM   #3
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44mag for sure

if you want it for fun, probably go with the .357mag (cheaper and you can shoot longer with it comfortably)


If you are going to use it in the outdoors, get the .44mag!

I have both and love the 44mag more...BOOM BOOM BOOM
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Old December 17, 2008, 12:41 PM   #4
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Either one would be a good choice, but for hiking a lot I'd pick the 329 at one full pound lighter. That 200 grain Gold Dot will get the job done out of a 4" barrel for sure.
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Old December 17, 2008, 01:19 PM   #5
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Of those two, I would pack the .44mag.

They do also make 300 grain bullets for the .44mag. Back when I packed a .44 that is what I would load it with when considering bears. And even then happy to have never pulled the trigger concerning "bear encounter".

Have a safe journey!

Bears should mostly be hibernating this time of the year, at least up here they are.
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Old December 17, 2008, 01:21 PM   #6
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Take the one you shoot better.

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Old December 17, 2008, 02:00 PM   #7
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+1 for Take the one you shoot better....

but in my opinion, unless you're in Grizzly country ( and they are not in CA ) then the .357 mag caliber is plenty.
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Old December 17, 2008, 03:38 PM   #8
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For what you might encounter, I would opt for the higher capacity 357 myself.
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Old December 17, 2008, 05:13 PM   #9
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Quote:
+1 for Take the one you shoot better....

but in my opinion, unless you're in Grizzly country ( and they are not in CA ) then the .357 mag caliber is plenty.
I couldnt have said it better! I hike/canoe/camp in new england and great lakes and feel comfortable with a .357 loaded with Doubletap 180gr hard casts!
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Old December 17, 2008, 05:27 PM   #10
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Quote:
+1 for Take the one you shoot better....

but in my opinion, unless you're in Grizzly country ( and they are not in CA ) then the .357 mag caliber is plenty.
I am 72 years old and have been tramping the woods here in Oregon for a long, long time. I have had the occasion to come face to face with more than one black bear and, contrary to conventional wisdom, they don't always run the other way - not by a long shot.

A black bear can be a fairly large animal and in my experience can be doggone difficult to bring down.

IMHO if you have a chance of running into a black bear the 357 is just not enough. If you don't shoot a 44 mag particularly good then take the time to get good. Whenever you go into the woods always be prepared. Always!
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Old December 17, 2008, 05:33 PM   #11
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.357 is not sufficient for black bear, cougar (mountain lion) defense. Black bear are generally not aggressive, unless startled or a momma with cubs. Cougar, on the other hand, will track you down . . .

44 mag. 240 gr. JSP for animals. They'll work just fine for people too. No need to "expand" a 44 mag. in 240 gr. My experience with 44 mag loads is that 240 gr. OAL is max for a revolver. The 265 gr. and heavier won't clear the end of the cylinder.

But if you're headed into "bear country" with cougar, you should take a rifle. The handgun is basically a "back-up" to the rifle in bear territory. And the caliber I'd take for bear, cougar or "two legged skunks" would be like .308 or 30-06 and at least 150 gr. bullet, but more like 180 gr.

Last edited by MaxHeadSpace; December 17, 2008 at 05:38 PM.
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Old December 17, 2008, 06:15 PM   #12
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Your two ammunition choices are types of ammo which are totally incomparable. By that, I mean that the .357/180 is generally a hunting round, and, IME, not generally very good for anti-personnnel purposes, while the .44/200 GDSB is a very good antipersonnel round, but possibly less than adequate for bears or big cats.

On a personal note, I agree with the above poster that a 250 LSWC at 1000 fps is probably the best "do-all" round you're going to get, though I load mine a bit hotter, to about 1100 fps.
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Old December 17, 2008, 07:03 PM   #13
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On a personal note, I agree with the above poster that a 250 LSWC at 1000 fps is probably the best "do-all" round you're going to get, though I load mine a bit hotter, to about 1100 fps.
I was trying to be nice that 329 only weighs 26oz. In my 3" 29 I'd put 3-4 of my carry load (Hydroshocks) followed by 300gr hardcasts@1100fps
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Old December 17, 2008, 07:42 PM   #14
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+1 to Post #2

I'd take 44 Magnum in a heartbeat.
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Old December 17, 2008, 07:50 PM   #15
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329PD. It was made for woodspackin'. Why did you buy it otherwise?
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Old December 17, 2008, 07:55 PM   #16
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I appreciate the comments ...

.... I am a disabled veteran. I'm happy to be able to get up into the Sierras on foot once again. The 329PD is a light revolver. The 200 grain, loaded with 9.8 grains of Unique pretty much emulate the Speer Short Barrel 200 grain GDHP round. I can shoot those all afternoon.

I shoot more often the 627 with 158 JSP and 170 grain GDSP using 13.5 grains of 2400 powder and magnum primers. I also shoot occasionally the Buffalo Bore 180 grain LFN.

8 shots of .357 magnum is attractive to me. However I listen, The .44 magnum has certain solid advantages up in the high country. I cannot practice very long (1, or 2 cylinders) with 240 grain, or larger in the 329PD. I have decided I will carry it and load the 1st 4 chambers with 200 grain Gold Dots, # 5 with 240 grain LSWC and # 6 with 300 grain JSP.

Thanks for the input.

I bought the 329 only because my gunsmith/gunshop had it on consignment and offered it to me because the owner would not shoot it after the 1st couple of cylinders. He suggested .44 Special with it. I never tried a .44 Special and got interested enough to buy it. My first loads were Buffalo Bore 185 grain Heavy .44 Special. I still have a couple boxes of those and they are an option. These are pretty solid at 1150 fps. The 200 grain Gold Dots will do just as well at 1100 fps I figure, and recoil is similar. The light weight has me thinking of using it in the outback in lieu of the 627, which is my longer term revolver.
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Last edited by Hook686; December 17, 2008 at 08:05 PM.
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Old December 17, 2008, 10:49 PM   #17
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BTW.. In case it has not been mentioned, the X-frame grips fit the N frame and actually look quite attractive. The full sorbothane backstrap is said to tame the airweight revolvers viscous recoil somewhat and are available from S&W. Link to pic;
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/NEW/SW02.htm
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Old December 18, 2008, 04:16 AM   #18
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Choices

I might have to go with the 357 if that was my only ammo choices.I think that it will penetrate deeper than a 200gr 44 load.Like some of the other posters said I would prefer the 44 with a heavier bullet though.A couple of extra rounds don't hurt either.
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Old December 18, 2008, 08:23 AM   #19
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Now you got me thinking again ... Geeez Louise !
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Old December 18, 2008, 01:02 PM   #20
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The .44 Spl. with a 200 to 240 gr. load at around 1000 fps plus/minus a little will stop most things you are likely to meet including black bear provided proper shot placement. You can carry them with confidence.

Again though, a good load is of no use unless you can hit with it. Practice some with what you plan to use and see what suits you best. From what you say though the .44 Spl. may work best for you at present, without the need for a new gun. But your call.

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Old December 18, 2008, 01:16 PM   #21
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If bears were my #1 worry, you'd get better results from 180gr hardcast 357 than 200gr 44mag.
back to the sectional density discussion from a few weeks ago.
I would carry the lightest firearm with a more appropriate bullet.
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Old December 18, 2008, 01:46 PM   #22
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Quote: "44 mag. 240 gr. JSP for animals. They'll work just fine for people too. No need to "expand" a 44 mag. in 240 gr. My experience with 44 mag loads is that 240 gr. OAL is max for a revolver. The 265 gr. and heavier won't clear the end of the cylinder."

265 gr. and heavier will clear in a Dan Wesson or Ruger.

I'd definitely take the .44 mag as opposed to the .357 for outdoors where there are large predators.
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Old December 18, 2008, 04:44 PM   #23
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Have you considered Winchester's 210grn Silvertip? It's quite a bit more potent than the Speer load but the recoil is milder than most factory 240grn loads. Also, if you want deep penetration, Grizzly's 260grn Hardcast .44 Special load or Buffalo Bore's 255grn Hardcast .44 Special load should give excellent penetration with mild recoil.

http://www.winchester.com/products/c...VtIE1hZ251bQ==

http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/-str...ain/Detail.bok

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#44spl
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