just me but i couldnt stand wearing ear plugs all day. i dont like things in my ear and wear walker muffs at the range. - got a set of hearing aids years ago and i think i wore them twice. and even the good self canceling ear plugs and muffs block some noise all the time and my hearing is bad enough. if i thought it was necessary all day id wear my hearing aids which both make normal things eieser to here and are self canceling for loud things and they sit at the outside of me ear not in it. but like i said just me. same with the 357.its loud and has a sharp recoil that slows down recovery but ill concede its a very effective first shot. it takes much more time for even seasoned shootrs to master than the 38, 9, or even 40 and 45s. revolvers unless in the hands of a pro are slower to reload, carry less ammo and tend to be heavier unless you have one of them hold on for the ride alloy 357s.
on the other end theyre much less effective on deer sized game than the 41 or 44s. to many strikes against them on both sides. revolvers are more expensive too. i can find smith shiels in 9. 40 and 45 for under 400 bucks and there dead reliable. whats a 357 snubby even a ruger rather than a smith set you back? theyre just a caliber that i shot enough in many situation found myself thinking why didnt i take something different. heck even my 44 mag 3" is easier on the ears.with a 44 special you can actually be more effective with less snappy recoil and MUCH quieter. id say this. we know not everyone is going to wear ear plugs 24/7 so build a small bedroom sized shooting house or find some junk camper and step in and put a target on the wall. shoot 2 shots as fast as you can, the second shot id about garanteed is wild ansd you will be on you knees deaf and feeling like a knife is through your head. ld say next do a 9mm or 45acp but youd better do that one first because your hearing wont return for hours, 357? to much for self defense and not enough for hunting unless your talking lever guns
