.357 for concealed carry

[DDZ]

I carry my SP101 with a 2.25 inch barrel in .357. In the summer for better concealment its a shield 9mm. I have never shot the .357 without hearing protection, and have always been afraid of what that may do to my hearing if I did have to shoot it without hearing protection. Especially since I only have hearing in one ear, due to losing the hearing in my other ear when I had mumps at 5 years old. I'm very cautious with the hearing I have left, and it worries me at any time having to possibly shoot my short barreled 357 without hearing protection. Especially if it was indoors. For that reason I have been thinking of switching to 38 +P rounds. Anyone ever shoot a 357 indoors with no hearing protection? If so what did it do to your hearing?

[Lloyd Smale]

personaly i think theyre to loud. if a 9s not enough id carry a 40. id bet if you were inside and shot someone it would hurt you as much as them but then ive never beem a fan of the 357 anyway. ive owned some but rareley kept them lone. only ones i own is my second handgun, a stainless 357 blackhawk that i havent sk=hot in a deade and a marlin 94 that i shoot quite a bit but at 38 spec level

[JustaShooter]

That Shield 9mm is plenty for self defense, just carry good ammo in it any you'll be fine. The difference in real-world shootings between any of the typical carry calibers is minimal.  Be sure to train and practice, that will give you a better result than carrying a more powerful cartridge - especially out of a 2.25" revolver.

[DDZ]

 Kind of always had a liking for a steel framed revolver. I have other long barreled revolvers, but the SP101 is the only one I have that is suitable for CC. I do own more than I need plastic pistol semis. Grew up shooting revolvers, and just have more of a liking for them than plastic semi's. I do have a 5 inch steel frame 1911 but its just a bit more to conceal. I do have a steel framed Interarms Star in .40 that I've always liked. Maybe I need to dust it off and start carrying it again. 

I agree well placed shots with a 9mm with good ammo is plenty. 

[Graybeard]

Get you some sonic ear plugs. Lee used to be the brand name on them but I can't find the Lee Sonics anymore. They have a little aluminum insert in a rubber shell them fits into your ears. You can still hear conversations and such but they sure take the bite out of the sound of gunfire. I've worn them for years shooting all sorts of guns. They work to let you hear what you need to but dampen the sound of gunfire.

Here is a link to them: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Sonic-II-ear-valve-rubber-earplug-and-the-silicone-diaphragm-that-is-housed-within_fig2_50399086

[ironglowz]

  My S&W 642 is rated +P, but I carry standard loads of Hornady critical defense rounds.

   I go by the old tank gunner axiom...   The one who gets in the first effective hit, has about a 75% chance of a kill by way of a second hit, since the one hit will
   momentarily be going through a serious psychological crisis...

[DDZ]

Get you some sonic ear plugs. Lee used to be the brand name on them but I can't find the Lee Sonics anymore. They have a little aluminum insert in a rubber shell them fits into your ears. You can still hear conversations and such but they sure take the bite out of the sound of gunfire. I've worn them for years shooting all sorts of guns. They work to let you hear what you need to but dampen the sound of gunfire.

Here is a link to them: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Sonic-II-ear-valve-rubber-earplug-and-the-silicone-diaphragm-that-is-housed-within_fig2_50399086

Thanks, I just ordered a pair of those. A lot cheaper than I thought they would be. With shipping they were $22

[Graybeard]

I love those ear plugs and use them for prolly 99% of my shooting and have been doing so for 40-50 years I guess. Yeah a LOT of .357 mag shooting done as unlike Lloyd I love the round.

[Lloyd Smale]

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

















 

[Land_Owner]

If you're talking home defense, then no matter what caliber you carry, it's going to be that pop of the first round be it 380, 9mm, 38 Spc, 357, or 40 from which to protect your ears. Wear your sound reducing hearing aids 16/7. Saving your life is more important than "what if". I doubt a one off is going to eliminate your hearing. I am willing to bet my hearing on it.

My hearing is down by 50% in both ears since childhood I think. Blowing up rolls of caps on the concrete curb under Dad's 16 oz. Carpenter's hammer. We didn't know! Box after box after box. Too late when we found out.

[DDZ]

If you're talking home defense, then no matter what caliber you carry, it's going to be that pop of the first round be it 380, 9mm, 38 Spc, 357, or 40 from which to protect your ears. Wear your sound reducing hearing aids 16/7. Saving your life is more important than "what if". I doubt a one off is going to eliminate your hearing. I am willing to bet my hearing on it.

My hearing is down by 50% in both ears since childhood I think. Blowing up rolls of caps on the concrete curb under Dad's 16 oz. Carpenter's hammer. We didn't know! Box after box after box. Too late when we found out.

Yeah back in the day conserving hearing wasn't a thing. Even when I started working construction hearing protection wasn't a thing.  Those were the good ole days busting caps with a hammer. Cap guns were fun too.

I agree saving your life is the first priority.  My go to home defense firearm is a short barreled pump shotgun with 3 inch #1 buck rounds. As for carry I don't find the recoil of my .357 sp101 to be over bearing. Actually I have a 4 inch Walter PDP in 9mm that the recoil feels snappier in than my .357 Not sure why that is because my S&W shields don't have that snappy recoil feel.  I bought a Holosun sight for the Walter that I'm not that keen on. Shot iron sights all my life, and have had a hard time adjusting to the Holosun sight and looking for the green dot. Should just take the holosun off and sell it. With my aged eyes the Walter using the Holosun sight is very accurate. Guess I just don't trust it in a pressure situation finding the dot and placing it on target.  Although through the Holosun the iron sights are visible.

[Land_Owner]

Ha ha. I am reminded of the Texas socialite. She had invited and met the sheriff at her door and said, I noticed you're wearing your pearl handled revolvers. Are you expecting trouble? The sheriff looked at the socialite and replied, No, ma'am, if I was expecting trouble, I would have brought my shotgun.

My own 2.xx" 357 Magnum Ruger SP101 is a pleasure to shoot and I feed it regularly, well used to, with 158 grain WC's over IMR 4227. At 21 feet or less I don't have to be the best shot under the sun, just a decent one. Center of mass is a really big target. Besides, years of practice has cemented my muscle memory. I should do pretty well although I don't want to be put in that position.