An "old dinosaur" talks the .357 Magnum

[PT7]

There have been a number of Forum threads in recent days/weeks about revolvers. I don't own many revolvers, so I supplement that "shortage" by finding web revolver articles or videos, and evaluations of my favorite .357 caliber. Here is one on the .357 Magnum. https://www.americanrifleman.org/articl ... ut-boring/ When the author commented in the first paragraph that "Shooting is fun, and the more shooting, the more fun," that's a spot-on focus for me -- FUN!

Opening his discussion of the .357 Magnum round, the author calls himself "...an old guy...a hopeless dinosaur." I like that because I kinda fit in that mold. He is also a wheel-gun fellow. I fit there, too. Finally, now that I've just purchased my Henry BBS Carbine in .357 Magnum, my favorite ammo just notched up and is even more appealing!

[Abnermal]

Good article! I also consider myself somewhat of a dinosaur. Have had a love of .357 magnums for some 40 years now. From mild to wild-the .357 can do the job!

[roddy]

Nice article. I don't have any revolvers, but I do have a couple of pump-action carbines chambered in .357 Magnum. Of the guns I have, they are by far my favorites.

[JEBar]

its now clear that the long held belief that us dinosaurs are extinct ain't necessarily so .. ... we own 5 handguns, 4 revolvers and 1 Luger passed down from my Grandfather .... the one that travels with us and that I fire at every opportunity is a Ruger Redhawk .... I don't see that changing any time soon

[Mistered]

Good article and I can concur having owned .357s for about the same length of time. IMO the .357 is the Most Versatile round in its class (straight wall pistol) compared to the other common straight wall rounds there are few that can exceed its performance. While the .44 mag has more energy at the top end the .357 isn't far behind and given its generally lower cost either to buy and reload and for most practical uses the .357 is the leader.
The only thing the OP didn't cover in the article was the issue with the forcing cones in the K frame Smith & Wesson .357s but it really wasn't a 'technical' article as opposed to a more 'informational' but it is something owners of K frame Smiths should be aware of.

[North Country Gal]

Because I have the most experience with the 44 mag, it's been my favorite revolver cartridge most of my life. Back in the day, nearly all of my deer hunting was done with a 44 mag handgun, either a revolver or, occasionally, a Contender. All my 100 yard target work, was with the 44 mag, too. When I carried a revolver in the woods for defense against bears, it was also a 44 mag. Now and then, I'd shoot a 357, but tended to go right to the 44 mag when I needed more than a 22 revolver.

Things changed for me when I met Bill and got married and we later retired. My hunting days were long behind me and so were Bill's. I continued shooting 44 mags, but Bill wanted nothing to do with them. He could not see the point of enduring all that recoil just to punch holes in paper. Enter the 357 mag. It still satisfied my need for a bit of recoil, but was not so harsh to shoot that Bill wouldn't shoot it and, of course, he could shoot 38s.The 357 was pleasingly accurate. Talking to a lot of locals who carried revolvers in the woods as protection against black bears, they reported that 357 with heavy loads was plenty for black bears. Black bears are not grizzlies.

Finally, when I decided to get out of reloading for lack of time and shoot factory ammo,only, the 357 was a no-brainer. Talking factory ammo of equal quality, I can shoot 357s for roughly half of what I can shoot 44 mags.

I still love the 44 mag and always will. I still shoot it, now and then, but nowhere near as much as our 357s. Really no need to do so. The 357 does it all for us, now. In fact, looking back at those deer I shot with a 44 mag revolver, they were under 50 yards, anyway, and could have been taken just as effectively with the 357. Still a pretty amazing cartridge after all these years.

[Travlin]

For anyone that loads their own ammo a revolver is the best handgun. All of the brass can be ejected right into your hand and not all over the countryside. My first "real handgun" was a six inch Colt Trooper .357. This has the same insides as a Python and after 50 years of shooting I dare say it's as smooth. I still shoot the Colt but it is semi retired with a stainless Ruger G. P. 100 taking up the slack.

[Todddanger]

My Dad has a 6 inch colt Python, circa 1965. He carried it during his police career and cannot miss a beer can at 25 yards with it.

He always shot 158 grain hollow points in it and dropped a bunch of whitetails with it. It's the smoothest handgun I ever shot.

[PT7]

Yet another revolver, which I think would be much fun to shoot. And I've read similar kudos for how this "Snake Gun" operates, quite similar to your assessment --- "It's the smoothest handgun I ever shot." Cool

As I mentioned when I wrote the start of this thread, I'm always reading about revolvers because I don't have that many, and sure would like to handle and shoot some of the "classics." Another article I found on these "Snake Gun" models was written last year by a blogger.
http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2017/0 ... -colt.html

Since I'm by no means an expert on revolvers, and don't have extensive knowledge of the history behind this Colt series, that is why this article was interesting to me. I cannot validate the accuracy, but I see a lot of specs/stats made available. And of course, there are some personal preferences by the blogger, as well. Not least, it's much fun to see the revolver photos posted.

Cool that you've shot your Dad's Python, Todddanger, and to have held a neat part of revolver history, too! BTW, are you able to post any photos of that Python? We'd like to see it. Thanks!
PT7

My Dad has a 6 inch colt Python, circa 1965. He carried it during his police career and cannot miss a beer can at 25 yards with it.

He always shot 158 grain hollow points in it and dropped a bunch of whitetails with it. It's the smoothest handgun I ever shot.

[North Country Gal]

Would love to hear more about the Python. At this point, most of us will never be able to own a Colt Python with the prices being what they are.

[Mistered]

At this point, most of us will never be able to own a Colt Python with the prices being what they are.

Don't know how many are actually selling at the 'prices being what they are' as I have seen several sitting for a while in LGSs, and some same ones showing up at repeated gun shows - and still for sale. It seems the prices have stabilized at the $2500 - $2700 around here for nice Pythons but not much movement.

[Todddanger]

I'll try and get some pictures of it and post them.

The first Sergeant I had when I joined the police department carried a 4 inch Python. He started out with a blued one then went to a 4 inch staineless steel one.He was probably the best shot I ever saw.

When he retired, he went to the Sheriff's Office and carried it. The rest of the guys carried semi autos and some would make comments about his revolver, until they saw him shoot.

[markiver54]

I know the Python is an extremely nice wheel gun. I have always leaned toward revolver for their dependability. My first one that I still have, which is probably my favorite firearm period, (except maybe my new BBS 357), is my early 80's vintage S&W model 686 6". I love it's accuracy and very slick action. I've read that if it ever drops out of manufacturing that it might rival the Python in terms of value. Would I love to own a Python as well?....Heck YES!

[Travlin]

I have an old model Colt Trooper six inch .357 It has exactly the same internal action parts as a Python. I bought it in 1968 so after all those years and several thousand rounds i dare say that it as is smooth as a Python. I guess that it's my poor man's Python.

[BigAl52]

[quote="Travlin"]For anyone that loads their own ammo a revolver is the best handgun. All of the brass can be ejected right into your hand and not all over the countryside.

I couldnt agree more with this statement. Its probably why my autos that I do own sit so much. I have single action 357's and one double action. I really like the caliber for alot of reasons. Easy on the wallet and a good plinking round. I have 3 leverguns in 357. One Henry a Uberti and a Remlin. But for me the 357 is still in second place at my house. I still like the 41 mag better and I always will. Its a personal thing for me and it requires one to reload to be able to shoot it much. It has a cult type following. I see there is more ammo available for it than there use to be. I own several 41 mag revolvers including a rare Smith 657 power port. The one I have is very accurate. I also own a Freedom Arms in 41 mag which is a very nice single action to shoot. Im truly lucky I even have that one. I feel the way about the 41 that the author felt about his 357. Im gonna keep them.