.45 vs .357

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
What about an Anaconda? Definitely my favourite revolver!

Looks a lot like my Ruger Blackhawk! How about muzzle flash, anyone?

 

[hatt]

1911 is a poor choice for a new shooter. Takes a lot of practice to become proficient. I'd look at a used S&W. Something like a 4 inch model 19 is a nice starter. Or a Glock 9mm or S&W M&P if you want an auto.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: hatt
1911 is a poor choice for a new shooter. Takes a lot of practice to become proficient. I'd look at a used S&W. Something like a 4 inch model 19 is a nice starter. Or a Glock 9mm or S&W M&P if you want an auto.


Everyone I see recommends used S&W revolvers. I see it in google searches too. Where exactly are people finding these "good deals" on these S&W revolvers? Like otis said earlier, it's like looking for a unicorn. Usually when I find a good deal on a used revolver online they're already spoken for or the sale is pending.

Anyways I got a Hi-Point C9 Compact. Feels good. It will do the trick until I save up enough for something else. And who knows I may just like this once I get out to fire it. I will take all of the helpful advice in this thread and apply it to my future purchase of a revolver.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: hatt
1911 is a poor choice for a new shooter. Takes a lot of practice to become proficient. I'd look at a used S&W. Something like a 4 inch model 19 is a nice starter. Or a Glock 9mm or S&W M&P if you want an auto.


Everyone is different. I'm pretty mechanically inclined and had a good idea about firearms because of teachings when I was young, so a 1911 wasn't a big deal. As I said, it was my first handgun and it didn't present any special issues. It sounds like the op isn't as inclined so a revolver may make more sense.

 

[Fleetmon]

IMO, the biggest drawback of using .357 mags, especially at night is you're pretty much blinded and deaf after he first round which makes it very difficult for a follow-up shot (try it sometime). I think a .45 allows for easier follow-up shots, very little muzzle-flash, and more of a boom than a crack.

I carry a 3" 1911 at times when I'm dressed up but at 22 oz and a full mag, it gets HEAVY and I still feel 1911's are not for an untrained/practiced person.

A revolver "suits" most people and they are (almost) foolproof. I've had friends laugh at a 2" Taurus .22 WMR tucked away in the den for home defense but there's not many bad guys that can wade through a storm of 8 stinging hornets. The .22 Mag was purchased so my wife would have a revolver close by when in the den and because....well, because I wanted one!

 

[supton]

38's in a 357Mag is usually the ticket. Lots less flash, bang and recoil, and acceptable results (assuming decent hollowpoints, preferably in a +P loading).

That said, revolvers have long heavy trigger pulls. Ya gotta practice whatever you have, and a revolver doubly so. [Get it? double action, doubly so? Nevermind...] I think they tend to have worse recoil too, due to the high bore axis, when comparing equivalent gun weight/gun size/calibers. I haven't cared for how the S&W's fit in my hand, thus far; they feel huge for some reason. My LCR and SP101, good fit. But that's me, YMMV.

Everything is a tradeoff.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Everyone I see recommends used S&W revolvers. I see it in google searches too. Where exactly are people finding these "good deals" on these S&W revolvers?

Unfortunately, bargains on high quality firearms are long gone with Obama's re-election and the post Sandy Hook gun control frenzy.

Right now, there is panic buying and speculators stocking up hoping to sell later on at even higher prices. (Kind of like what will happen to silver and gold if the US dollar takes a dump).

I see S&W revolvers and Remington Police weapons on http://www.gunbroker.com/ that would have gotten little interest a year ago getting multiple bids and selling for crazy prices.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: Rock_Hudstone
Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Everyone I see recommends used S&W revolvers. I see it in google searches too. Where exactly are people finding these "good deals" on these S&W revolvers?

Unfortunately, bargains on high quality firearms are long gone with Obama's re-election and the post Sandy Hook gun control frenzy.

Right now, there is panic buying and speculators stocking up hoping to sell later on at even higher prices. (Kind of like what will happen to silver and gold if the US dollar takes a dump).

I see S&W revolvers and Remington Police weapons on http://www.gunbroker.com/ that would have gotten little interest a year ago getting multiple bids and selling for crazy prices.


Yeah I noticed. My friends are all buying guns too. I bought the last Hi-Point they had in stock at the shop and they had 5 the previous day. The guy was going to go to the back to get the Hi-Point and another salesman said that's the last one there in the case...I sold the other one 20 minutes ago. Ha!

Lots of folks are stocking up it seems.

 

[2cool]

Originally Posted By: OB4x4
If you have a range that rents guns nearby I would give them a try. Try out as many different firearms as you can so that you can get a good feel for what best suits you.

I disagree with DPARM. At least with my guns(1911, S&W mod 19 4") my .357 recoils way harder. But then again I load my own rounds, and load them all hot.

If you don't plan on practicing a great deal I would suggest a revolver, simple, reliable and no safety to muck things up in the heat of battle. Good luck...


+1 if you are not going to shoot at least 100 rounds a month AT A MINIMUM, get the revolver. If you elect the .45 auto, you'll need a lot of practice with snap caps to drill yourself how to remedy a stovepipe or misfeed. If you think about it, at the ranges you'd use a pistol, my thinking is that you'd only have the time for two or three shots. If the BG isn't down, you're then in hand-to hand combat; which is why I favor a revolver for a bed-stand pistol. Practice with .38spl. ammo and run a cylinder or two of .357 magnum full power to assure yourself you can get all six onto a paper-plate at 15 feet.

 

[MuzzleFlash40]

The .357 is going to be the more powerful round. Does that mean more "stopping power"? Depends on who you ask. I like both, but the .357 is going to be more likely to go through walls, which in a home can be bad. I myself use a .38 +p load for the nightstand. There are plenty to choose from, To me S&W is the best, but most of the name brands will work just as well. Nothing wrong with using a .45, but as that has been said before you MUST practice with dealing with malfunctions. Before I sold it I had a Glock 36 for my nightstand/carry gun. Great weapon, but even glocks can malfunction, they have no control over faulty ammo.

Don't over-look a wheel gun in .38 special. In modern ammo it will do everything the other big cailbers can do (.40, 9mm, .45, etc). With a good load such as the 135gr hollow point made by Gold-dot. It is +p rated and designed for short barreled guns.

Practice! Practice! Practice!

 

[Mystic]

Yes there is nothing wrong with a .38 Special revolver. A .38 at night is better than a .357 Magnum in a lot of ways because there is less muzzle flash, noise, and recoil. And a decent quality .38 Special self defense round will stop somebody. Or at least make it a more even fight. Of course you can shoot .38 rounds in a .357.

I remember these guys at the range that had an old target .38 in remarkable shape. With good sights and a 6 inch barrel. I would have loved to have that gun.

The .38s I don't like are the lightweight, tiny 2 inch barrel models that are concealable. I would not recommend a gun like that for any beginner shooter. They are hard to shoot accurately and they have considerable recoil. The only real good thing about them is that they can be concealed. With a concealed weapons permit they are okay for concealed carry. Better than nothing.

If a .38 Special in good shape is available for a resaonable price it would be worth having. Simple to shoot, simple to clean and maintain.

 

[Robenstein]

If you are going to shoot 38 specials in a gun for home defense the previous author is right. A longer barrel will get the most potential out of the 38 special or the 357 mag. My Ruger Security Six has a 6 inch barrel. 38 Specials feel almost like shooting a 22 and even the hot defense loads are not all that wild. Do that in a light alloy frame snubbie and it can be...unpleasant.