357 Mag Vs 44 Mag

[KRex]

I have a 357 Mag Handi (SB1 Receiver)and really don't want to bore out to 357 Max ... Would prefer a cartridge I don't have to reload for all the time. I'm thinking  about trading in on a 44 Mag which has more Bang for short range deer and Hogs (No 45-70's TOO much Kick on the shoulder end)! I once had to sell one and could kick myself in the _____for doing it !!!

I have some 360 DW Bras and it chambers with no problems but what are your experiences with these two(2) cartridges ?

[dave29]

.357 mag (not max) vs. .44 mag........

.44 mag wins hands down, especially with factory available ammo. the WWB 240 gr JSP and the 225gr LeverEvolution both shoot awesome in my .44 mag Handi. I would "Supermag" my .44 in a hearbeat if I could find some .445 brass though.  

The .357 max is a different story though, I would take handloaded Max ammo over a .44 mag almost any day of the week. 

[Dixie Dude]

Does anyone have any ballistics on the .357 max vs the 44 mag?  I heard the .357 max is very similar to the 30-30 or the 35 Rem cartridge? 

[tobster]

Ever consider the .45 Colt in the Classic Carbine?

[Spanky]

Does anyone have any ballistics on the .357 max vs the 44 mag?  I heard the .357 max is very similar to the 30-30 or the 35 Rem cartridge? 

I just got my 357 and am going to ream it to Max... I did some searching on the web for Max loads and found quite a few that blow the 30-30 right out of the water.   I even found some Max loads with 310gr. bullets. I've been wanting a 357 barrel for a while to rechamber it to 35 remington... after reading up on it I think I'll just go with the Max.
On a side note... I just bought a box of 38 specials at Wally World for $17 bucks... 158gr. lead round nose. Should make dandy small game ammo. I've got some 158gr. Mag ammo for the upcoming deer season and I plan on using 180gr. bullets when I Max it... that should cover just about anything that I'm bound to come across.



Spanky

[cwlongshot]

I have a 357 Mag Handi (SB1 Receiver)and really don't want to bore out to 357 Max ... Would prefer a cartridge I don't have to reload for all the time. I'm thinking  about trading in on a 44 Mag which has more Bang for short range deer and Hogs (No 45-70's TOO much Kick on the shoulder end)! I once had to sell one and could kick myself in the _____for doing it !!!

I have some 360 DW Brass and it chambers with no problems but what are your experiences with these two(2) cartridges ?

First off you have mentioned five cartridges, not two.  But I'm gonna guess your looking for performance on deer comparing the 357 MAG with the 44 MAG.

Both will work, the 44 Mag offers much greater room for error. Its performance is more in line with many peoples minimums for deer sized game. I'm a much larger 35 fan than a 44 fan. The 44 is a great caliber, so is the 357. Given the choice between the two I would pick the 45 COLT...   AHH I mean 44 Mag every time.

When you compare all five calibers you mentioned, my first choice would be a tough one and would be a toss up between the MAXI and the 45/70. Over all the 45/70 is the best choice as it offers more range.

CW

[briannmilewis]

Here is a great field report from someone that knows the 357 Max.
http://357maximum.com/the-357-maximum-rifle-in-the-field/

[Dinny]

There should be plenty of companies that load light 45-70 loads. I would bet you might find the 45-70 Handi much better than you currently give it credit for. So many Handiaholics can't be wrong.  

The 45-70 gets my vote from those you have mentioned.

 http://www.tenxammo.com/files/Shooter_Direct_Pricing_1-1-2010a.pdf

 http://www.tenxammo.com/files/Ballistics_Data_Sheet_9-22-2010.pdf

This link has a better selection. many of the listings have velocity and energy data. The factory Remington ammo seems pretty light too.  

http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=1&tabId=3&categoryId=7546&categoryString=653***690***

Thanks, Dinny

[spikehorn]

Remington 405gr green box ammo in 45-70 feels like a 20ga field load to me. The Hornady LE rounds on the other hand deffinately wake up your shoulder from the bench

[xhare]

Both cartridges essentially haves the same velocities and trajectories. The 44 mags are heavier and have more authority at both ends (though the recoil is not bad).  Thus the 44 mag is a better dear cartridge, the 357 mag is more fun for plinking.  Most factory 357 mags are designed for self defense, not all 44 mag loads are designed for hunting so you need to match the load to the chore with both cartidges.  FActory prices are only slightly less for the 357 mag.  Both are relatively cheap to reload for.  

[45-70.gov]

I have a 357 Mag Handi (SB1 Receiver)and really don't want to bore out to 357 Max ... Would prefer a cartridge I don't have to reload for all the time. I'm thinking  about trading in on a 44 Mag which has more Bang for short range deer and Hogs (No 45-70's TOO much Kick on the shoulder end)! I once had to sell one and could kick myself in the _____for doing it !!!

I have some 360 DW Bras and it chambers with no problems but what are your experiences with these two(2) cartridges ?

just load up  the 360 brass for special occasions
shoot  the 357  and 38s  the rest of the time
get  free 38 brass from the trash at any range
i  always keep a few  hundred  loaded and ready....for  serious plinking

BTW........you  also need a  44mag

i have  both  and carry what matches my handgun that day

[jeepmann1948]

Krex, All of my learned colleagues are steering you wrong ! The obvious answer is to get them all . Seriously any of the mentioned cartriges will work very well if you do your part .
Happy Trails
George

[petemi]

George, you said a mouthful.  I have all of them, and wouldn't be without one of them. 

Midway is expecting .445 brass shortly.  I have it on backorder with them.

There's a bunch of .38s  and the .360 that can used in the mag/maxi.  You can use .44 Sp, .44 Russian, .44 Mag and some others in the .445.  If you own both, it's almost like having eight or ten rifles.

Factory trap door level loads in the .45-70 won't dislocate your shoulder.  You can hand load it down to subsonic tiny collar buttons or up to mamoth bone crushers running over 2000 fps.

Then there's the .45LC....just another "gotta have".  Again, very versatile.

So many rifles.....so little time and money

Pete

[45-70.gov]

just  to add to the confusion

45 long colt  reamed  to  460 smith and wesson magnum

little  45 cowboy loads  up  to  a 45-70 equivelent   ,,,,in the same gun..with factory ammo

companion gun  to 45lc  or  the big smith  handguns
or  even  the intermediate  454 cassul...[never thought  454 would be refered to as ''intermediate'']

almost have  myself  talked into  doing it myself....i better  leave  now
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,217743.0.html

[quickdtoo]

Midway is expecting .445 brass shortly.  I have it on backorder with them.

Unfortunately Midway won't get it until Starline makes it, Starline has no date indicated yet when they'll make some, just (Backordered expected availability: NEXT RUN WHEN SUFFICIENT BACKORDER ACHEIVED ), a lot of their other brass has an expected date of availability. 

Tim

http://www.starlinebrass.com/index.php?cPath=1&osCsid=406225509e25d5c0cc352385d2554ca4

[petemi]

Thanks, Tim.  I don't really need it just now, the rilfle is sighted in and just one round should do it......I have more if I really mess up.   I doubt that will happen....I've gotten too old to chase Bambi around the woods at night.  Ya either put it where it belongs or save it til later.  I'm a great saver....some may even call me a hoarder.

This is difficult for me to explain.  2 years ago, I shot a buck DRT at 220 yards with the Handi .45-70.  It was midday, I knew my rifle and myself and I was confident in the shot.  He was trotting off the far end of the field.  Had I had a different rifle,...later in the day...etc. etc. I would have held the shot.  BUT, I knew the variables, and made a clean, instant kill.  If ya wanna get clinical, I shot a little high.

Pete

[myarmor]

I have owned both and even thought i like the 357 I prefer my 44Mag actually. The 357 will do just fine, but I like the thump impact of the 44Mag.




-Aaron

[petemi]

My .357 is a Maxi.  My .44 is a .445 Supermag.  I love them both.  The first two are very versatile and fun to load for.  I also have a .45-70 that I'd keep if I had to part with both the others.  It'll do anything I really need done.  I'm a big, slow, fat bullet lover, and these three are my favorites.  The .357, reamed to Maximum will do anything you need to do, and you can reload/buy/shoot it for a fraction of the others.  For fun, .38s are inexpensive to build and theres lots of brass to be had. I've got about 500 rounds loaded for the Maxi in .38, .mag and maxi.  As soon as deer season is over, I'm gonna play.

I neglected to say I have a BC .45LC carbine, she's a sweetie too, and has quite a bit of punch.  If my .44 wasn't .445, I think I'd prefer the carbine.

Pete