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Offline ronp

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357 mag
« on: September 11, 2009, 05:34:26 AM »
I've been getting the itch to buy my second handi.  There is a new synthetic stock 357 mag at the local shop for $250.  Good deal?  What would be the advantage of this chamber over my 30/30?  They are pretty similar, I think (I'm still new to rifles).  I will use it mostly for white tail deer.  Shots are usually less than 100 yards.  Or should I look for another size?  Also, how much are they to shoot, compared to my 30/30?  I need something fairly cheap to shoot...
Thanks for any thoughts or advice.
Ron
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Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2009, 06:05:33 AM »
The .357 and .30-30 inside of 100yards act pretty much the same, shoot a dee,r it dies, you eat well. the biggest diffrence to me is the .357 is more fun to shoot, normally cheaper to shoot, (more so with .38s) and a great plinking cal for kids or teaching someone new to shoot.
I like both but I usally grab the .357 first.

BTW reamed out to the max makes it another whole completely diffrent animal easally equaling or exceeding the .30-30.   With less recoil. 8)
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Offline searlock

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2009, 07:42:00 AM »
for the last ten years i have owned a gp 100 6 inch barrel 357 mag and have taken 1 white tail with it at about 25 yards, i have also owned a marlin 1894 in 357 mag  and taken deer with it at less than 100yds. i liked the rifle/revolver combination sort of like the old cowboy days. imo i feel the 357 under powered for hunting and sold the rifle keeping the gp100 for self defense and back up in the woods hunting. i think if you like the handgun round you would be better served with the 44mag handi or the 444 handi. recoil on the 44 is still less than your 30-30 and not much more in cost than the 357 to shoot. also if you like the rifle/revolver combination you can still have it with the 44. the 357 will do the job imo the 44 will do it better.
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Offline Doublebass73

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2009, 08:11:49 AM »
I think you will find that the general consensus here is the .357 Handi's are very accurate. I highly recommend one for the cost of shooting and versatility especially if you don't reload. It covers everything from squirrels up to whitetails (under 100 yards).
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Offline wreckhog

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2009, 08:37:08 AM »
For hunting, 30-30. Plinking, 357. Neither recoil bothers me.
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Offline BrianB

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2009, 09:12:23 AM »
I don't think you can find a rifle that is cheaper to shoot than the .357 Handi.  Once you have your dies (supposing you reload), your cost for plinking loads is limited to primers and bullets.  If you cast your own bullets, your plinking cost is limited to primers because it is hard to factor in a 2.5 grain powder charge.  .38 brass is the cheapest out there that I know of and the most plentiful.  Even when components were at their scarcest, there was no shortage of .38 brass. (I bought 550 mixed brass for $15 three months ago) There is an incredible amount of loads for the .357/38 and because the chamber is so long in this particular gun, the .360 Dan Wesson cartridge will often work and give you a little more hunting power if you want.   You can also ream to .357 max if you want.  Sold yet? (I can go on and on and on and on...I really like my .357.  I don't think there is a better "meat on the table" rifle.)
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Offline wreckhog

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2009, 09:18:49 AM »
Newer 357's are on SB1 frames. Some won't shoot Max on an SB1. Max is almost a handloader's cartridge, though custom can be gotten from GBO sponsors via mailorder, if your state allows. Vs 30-30 170 grain for $14 at any Walmart.
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Offline wreckhog

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2009, 09:23:41 AM »
38 is of course cheap and fun. No reamer needed.
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Offline Matt3357

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2009, 04:39:57 PM »
Oh man I want one of these real bad.  I reload for my S&W 686 and would love to have a barrel for my 223 frame.  If only I could find a barrel.  Has anyone ever really gone squirrel hunting with a 38?  Seems a bit overkill, but intriguing at the same time.

Matt
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Offline bigvarmnt

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2009, 05:45:23 PM »
I think they used to use a 36 a few years back.
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Offline petemi

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2009, 03:54:53 AM »
Matt, I use .38s in both my 2 Handis (.357 and Max) and Blackhawk for getting rid of red squirrels.  I kinda blows em up, but I don't eat reds.  Head shots on grays and fox would be fine.  Both Handis are deadly accurate  The .357 is redundant now that I reamed the other to Maximum, so I may ream it to .35 Remington or swap it for a 1~9 .223 extractor.

Ronp, The .357 is less than the .30-30 on deer.  Get the .357, ream it to Maximum, and you've got it all.

Pete
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Offline JerryKo

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2009, 06:59:08 AM »
38 not bad for squirrel.  I have a 30cal flinter thanks makes it even more intriguing tho...  8)
Got to wait for the smoke to clear or listen for the drop to know if u got em or not.Jerry
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Offline kodiakemt

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #12 on: September 14, 2009, 07:48:24 AM »
Quote from: petemi on September 12, 2009, 03:54:53 AM
Matt, I use .38s in both my 2 Handis

So no problems using 38's? Man it's getting harder and harder not to buy one of these!
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Offline 45-70.gov

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2009, 08:04:06 AM »
Quote from: ronp on September 11, 2009, 05:34:26 AM
I've been getting the itch to buy my second handi.  There is a new synthetic stock 357 mag at the local shop for $250.  Good deal?  What would be the advantage of this chamber over my 30/30?  They are pretty similar, I think (I'm still new to rifles).  I will use it mostly for white tail deer.  Shots are usually less than 100 yards.  Or should I look for another size?  Also, how much are they to shoot, compared to my 30/30?  I need something fairly cheap to shoot...
Thanks for any thoughts or advice.
Ron

30-30  is  best for deer hunting

357  is also  a good round

no  357 max  if its an  sb1 frame

you  will be very  happy  with  the 357 mag
its the cheapest  and  its  is  a ball  with  38s
you  will  shoot  the  357/38  rifle  year round  it is so cheap if you reload lead
and  the  38  is so quiet  i don't even wear ear protection with  it

you  will  only hunt with  the 30-30
go  for the 357
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Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #14 on: September 14, 2009, 08:24:42 AM »
Quote from: kodiakemt on September 14, 2009, 07:48:24 AM
Quote from: petemi on September 12, 2009, 03:54:53 AM
Matt, I use .38s in both my 2 Handis

So no problems using 38's? Man it's getting harder and harder not to buy one of these!
 

I shoot a lot of .38 out of my magnums and my maximum no problems.  I believe there are several maxis on sb1 frames. 8)
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Offline mechanic

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #15 on: September 14, 2009, 11:30:19 AM »
I've been shooting my 357 with both mag and max. on an sb1 for several months now.  While I don't "push" the load the only problem I had was with primer perforation.  This was true even on 38 "plinker" loads.  I almost had myself talked into shortening the firing pin a tad, when I decided to try small rifle primers instead of the pistol.  No more problems.  I have shot 3 shot groups at 100 yds. of less than an inch.  Thats as good as I can shoot, but probably not as good as the gun can shoot.  I'm loading 180 gr. jsp ammo, and I feel confident it will be a deer getter.  I'll let you know in a few weeks when the season opens.
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Offline Ranger J

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #16 on: September 14, 2009, 11:55:20 AM »
Have they 'cured' the long throat problem the 357 mags had a couple of years ago?  I got a barrel for mine and I couldn't load a 357 long enough to come close to rifling.  It shot all over the place with everything I ran through it.   Finally sold it to someone that was going to ream it out to max,  I think.  I thought about doing it myself but no gunsmiths around here do it.  When I had mine everyone was having the same trouble with them and now all I hear is how great they are.

RJ
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Offline mechanic

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #17 on: September 14, 2009, 12:29:25 PM »
Quote from: Ranger J on September 14, 2009, 11:55:20 AM
Have they 'cured' the long throat problem the 357 mags had a couple of years ago?  I got a barrel for mine and I couldn't load a 357 long enough to come close to rifling.  It shot all over the place with everything I ran through it.   Finally sold it to someone that was going to ream it out to max,  I think.  I thought about doing it myself but no gunsmiths around here do it.  When I had mine everyone was having the same trouble with them and now all I hear is how great they are.

RJ
Mine is definately long throated, but shoots extremely well just the same.  From low powered 38's to maxi brass that is trimmed just a bit all shoot well, some shoot better than others.  At 25yds. my 38's are minute of squirrel, and at 100 my slightly shortened maxi's are moa.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #18 on: September 14, 2009, 02:26:20 PM »
Long throats are the norm for the 357mag Handi, always has been, still is, same for the Contender, most H&R chambers will allow the use of 360 Dan Wesson brass, some will even allow trimmed Max brass to be loaded with no change to the chamber.  ;)

Tim

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Offline Antietamgw

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #19 on: September 15, 2009, 03:00:06 AM »
You ought to have both - and a .45-70 to boot! Where else can you get that much long term pleasure for a hundred bucks or so a pop? With cast bullets I can make either a kid's plinker or capable deer rifle. If I had to choose between the two and didn't reload, I believe I'd choose the .357, only because factory loads are available in different power levels. If you reload and buy your cast bullets, cost to plink is about the same. Truthfully though, equipment is cheap and there really isn't any reason NOT to reload - it's a hobby in itself. We are fortunate to have problems like this to solve.
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Offline petemi

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Re: 357 mag
« Reply #20 on: September 15, 2009, 03:10:37 AM »
Oh, I forgot to add......If you don't reload, 357 Maximum ammo is available from ammobank.com and reedsammo.com.

Pete
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Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
[size=7.4 pt]PLEASE DONATE TO THE GBO SERVER FUND  We're closer to the goal but not there yet, we can still use more donations, thanks

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,191112.msg1098959491.html#msg1098959491
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