CF Gallery Rifle Calibre
Discussion
Johnspex said:
Why would you want 44?
You're going to shoot holes in pieces of paper not bring down bears.
More control with a 38/357.
Why not just get a Webley Junior .177 FFS?You're going to shoot holes in pieces of paper not bring down bears.
More control with a 38/357.
Because it's his choice!
Not yours.
Why do people feel the need to tell other people what to do.
He may want to 'Practice' .44 for a good reason.
Having used both in pistols (in the olden days of course). I would say 38/357 for both economy and accuracy. The leads dearer for .44 and in order to drive them hard enough to be accurate they can involve quite a thump. The extra diameter on an inward gauging target makes little difference.
Big_Dog said:
Having used both in pistols (in the olden days of course). I would say 38/357 for both economy and accuracy. The leads dearer for .44 and in order to drive them hard enough to be accurate they can involve quite a thump. The extra diameter on an inward gauging target makes little difference.
Light loads mean that accuracy suffers, then? I wan't aware of this.Is it safe to assume you're new to this?
Do you have or intend to get an LBR?
If so you you might want to consider this- you will definitely get more control with a 38/357 LBR. I don't think anyone would argue with that especially if you're a relative newby. Blimey, even Dirty Harry used light loads in his S&W model 29 to give more control (ref Magnum Force).
If you accept that you'll be happier with a 38/357 LBR, it is logical, especially if you self-load, that having a 38/357 GRCF is the best and most economical way to go. That way you'll only need 1 set of dies, one size bullet heads, one size boxes, I don't know about primers, one size cartridges and so on.
And here's a tip, which will undoubtedly prove controversial. If you buy a Taurus LBR in 38/357 the bullet head you need is actually 357 and not 358 which is the size they are sold in.
We have a bloke at the range , been shooting for years and represented the country, and another who is a fine shot and former armed copper, who say that Taurus barrels when measured by forcing a slug of lead down the barrel measures 356. The bullet head should be 1 thou over barrel size, therefore 358 is too big. I haven't had a chance to try this out ( Covid and all that stuff) but if he says it's right then it probably is. I am currently putting all my 358 heads though a 357 sizer to shrink them a tiny bit. Obviously I don't use the smaller heads in my Marlin.
Do you have or intend to get an LBR?
If so you you might want to consider this- you will definitely get more control with a 38/357 LBR. I don't think anyone would argue with that especially if you're a relative newby. Blimey, even Dirty Harry used light loads in his S&W model 29 to give more control (ref Magnum Force).
If you accept that you'll be happier with a 38/357 LBR, it is logical, especially if you self-load, that having a 38/357 GRCF is the best and most economical way to go. That way you'll only need 1 set of dies, one size bullet heads, one size boxes, I don't know about primers, one size cartridges and so on.
And here's a tip, which will undoubtedly prove controversial. If you buy a Taurus LBR in 38/357 the bullet head you need is actually 357 and not 358 which is the size they are sold in.
We have a bloke at the range , been shooting for years and represented the country, and another who is a fine shot and former armed copper, who say that Taurus barrels when measured by forcing a slug of lead down the barrel measures 356. The bullet head should be 1 thou over barrel size, therefore 358 is too big. I haven't had a chance to try this out ( Covid and all that stuff) but if he says it's right then it probably is. I am currently putting all my 358 heads though a 357 sizer to shrink them a tiny bit. Obviously I don't use the smaller heads in my Marlin.
I am far more likely to opt for a .357 and shoot .38sp loads, but the number of .44 rifles in circulation has made me wonder what their appeal is. Having shot heavy loads in .44 in the distant past, I am not particularly enthusiastic about it but there seem to be plenty of people who disagree. I wondered what I was missing.
We have a guy at our place who, while a really nice bloke, can be a bit " my Willy is bigger than yours" . He came up with a good reason for shooting 44 instead of the women's gun 357.
The reason? The bullets are bigger and easier to handle!
Have you got fat fingers?
I'll leave it there as I'm probably taking to someone who knows far more than I.
The reason? The bullets are bigger and easier to handle!
Have you got fat fingers?
I'll leave it there as I'm probably taking to someone who knows far more than I.
357
nothing wrong with 44 but if you are buying ammo or handloading it will always be dearer
i think that you can get a more perfect load for 357 if you are just chucking lead down at 25 metres.
dont buy a Winchester though they have some problems in that caliber. Marlin is where its at and an older one with 'JM' markings . I just happen to have a nice one for sale (not sure if I ma allowed to say that)
nothing wrong with 44 but if you are buying ammo or handloading it will always be dearer
i think that you can get a more perfect load for 357 if you are just chucking lead down at 25 metres.
dont buy a Winchester though they have some problems in that caliber. Marlin is where its at and an older one with 'JM' markings . I just happen to have a nice one for sale (not sure if I ma allowed to say that)
I had a Ruger 77/357 which was an interesting bolt-action, they also do a 44 version but 38 special is perfect for 25 yards and 357's good for 100 yards. For me, 44 was 'more bang' but not more fun - you also get fewer rounds in the magazine. Check the maximum muzzle energy at your intended clubs, some places don't allow 357 or 44 indoors. Reloading pistol calibres is relatively cheap and easy. If you're shooting at more than 100 yards, I'd choose a rifle cartridge, probably a 223, but reloading is more expensive and complicated.
944 Man said:
What sort of price? I am at least six months away from buying, unless the new club that I choose is happy to house it. My two options are Wakefield and South Derbyshire but neither are ideal and joining two seems excessive.
RE the post above about Marlin quality. There was a period when Marlins were a bit crap. This has now been fixed and the new ones are fine. The next thing you need to figure out is if you want to use open sights or a scope or a red dot. If it is open sights, then this will decide which rifle you want - some come with buckhorn sights (which I find quite hard to be accurate with); some come with ghost ring sights. I'd figure on at least £1200 if you buy a new one. There is a Marlin which has a threaded barrel if you want a suppressor. If you want a scope/red dot, then there is a model which comes fitted with a long picatinny rail so you can put a standard scope on it, or a long eye relief scope.
I don't think the recoil of a full power .44 magnum out of a rifle is anything to worry about, but as I said in the first reply, it's pointless for target as 357 is cheaper and ammo is easier to find. I'd only consider a 44 if you have an open/lawful quarry ticket and you plan to hunt something like boar with it.
Edited by Iminquarantine on Sunday 28th March 16:11
I’m aware of the dodgy Marlin period. I’m also wary of rifles that have shot .38s as opposed the .38 loads in .357 brass.
Full tactical cowboy, but no intention of shooting anything with it. I wasn’t aware that PCCs were legal for this, but knowing a little bit about wild boar, I’d want something a lot heavier. 30-30 in a lever action, but a .308” would be better.
Full tactical cowboy, but no intention of shooting anything with it. I wasn’t aware that PCCs were legal for this, but knowing a little bit about wild boar, I’d want something a lot heavier. 30-30 in a lever action, but a .308” would be better.
944 Man said:
.357 or .44?
.44 would be my choice out of those two.As said, bigger .44 or .45LC (which I have) are easier to load into the side gates, than .38/.357. Almost all underlever designs have tube mags designed for the larger calibres, and in .38/.357 the rounds go in the tube slightly uneven, and can lead to feed problems in some guns, which can be hit and miss. You can get replacement narrow diameter sleeves for some of them to aliviate this.
Some makes do seem very finnicky with .38 Special and .357 ammo.
My mates wife's Rossi hates any .38 Special ammo, and seems to only want to work well with full power .357 mag ammo, it doesn't even like lighter loaded .357 'cowboy action' loads.
Anyway, bigger holes are just better
Edited by aeropilot on Thursday 8th April 22:03
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