What you shoot is is always your business - but I just do not see any advantage of 9mm, 45 ACP, 32-20, 32 H&R Mag, 25-20, etc over a 357 Mag/38 Special. if you hand load. Bullets are about as cheap for the 38/357 as they get, primers the same, powder the same - so there is not advantage to shoot anything else. If you want more punch load up hot 357. If you buy your ammo, the 9mm is a little cheaper to shoot than a 38 Special, but if you want cheap, just get a 22 Rim Fire, it don't get any cheaper than that. If they made a 9mm barrel, you would be restricted to 9mm which has considerably less punch than a 357 Mag, costs as much to shoot as 38 Special (if you hand load). Buying ammo, it is a little cheaper, but not as cheap as 22 Rim Fire. We are talking about a single shot rifle; you are not going to be shooting up hundreds of rounds a day, just punching paper, like say - a semi-auto; so costs is not that much of a factor. If you are the rare individual who will spend all day shooting up a few hundred rounds in a single shot rifle - get a 22 Rim Fire. There is always the" I always wanted one", "it is different", or "I have something you don't" that you can not put a price on. I just do not see how a gun manufacturer can make enough "novelty" barrels to make it worth while + there is no advantage over a 38/357. This is a free country (so far, Thank God! and the many people who have sacrificed their lives for it) so if you have enough money you can do as you please - I just do not see any real advantage of shooting any thing smaller than a 357 barrel, other than a 22 Rim Fire. I am talking being practical, not any emotional factors. Good Luck and Good Shooting.