The .357 Magnum for Survival: You Can’t Do Better

alloutdoor.com ^ | 5/13/2015 | Pat Cascio

[rktman]

As a martial arts/firearms’ instructor, I’m often asked what constitutes the “best” gun for a survival situation. My stock answer is, “A good .357 Magnum stainless steel revolver with a 4-inch barrel.” However, when asked this question at other times, I’ll simply tell the person that the gun they are carrying is the “best” because it’s what they are carrying at the time they might need it.

But really, when it comes to the .357 Magnum, there isn’t a better gun/ammo combination anyone could ask for in an all-around “best” gun set-up. I don’t make this statement lightly, either. The .357 Magnum round in a good, solid, stainless steel revolver can put meat on the table or save your bacon if need be.

[fso301]

A .22 long rifle is better because of weight of ammo, utility, accuracy, and quieter

Yep. Properly placed .22LR will take everything from small rodents to deer.

Throw a grasshopper onto the water and fish with a .22LR

.357 Mag. rounds per pound: 30.77

.22LR rounds per pound: 133.33

[semaj]

"Yes it was a lucky shot."

And a great shot, nonetheless. Makes for a good story as to what can be accomplished with a quality pistol.

[rw4site]

First off it is a wheel gun. Much less likely for it to jam or break than a semi auto.

It will shoot the many variations of 38/357 ammo.

9mm ammo is a puny load compared to the 357. Even most of the 38 ammo has more stopping power than the 9mm.

A two year old can fire a Glock. An uncocked 357 would be impossible for 99% of them to fire.

Neither gun has a safety, but the wheel gun doesn’t need one. In my opinion, Glocks do.

In the early ‘90s I got rid of my full size 9mm Glock because it was too easy for this old man to cause it to fire before I was ready.

[IluvmyKalashnikov]

That’s a fine pistol. All I got is an old German P-38 (old steel frame, not aluminum) and a surprisingly accurate
AK-47. Cool thing about my pistol is I can put plus p through it. Shoots about a foot wide at 20 yards, but accuracy falls way off with cheap ammo

[IluvmyKalashnikov]

I don’t seem to recall ever using hearing protection to shoot. The noise only bothers me after shooting for a few hours or all day. Maybe my P-38 ain’t loud enough.

[IluvmyKalashnikov]

How do you post pictures?

[Zakeet]

How do you post pictures?

1. For the picture you want to post, copy the image location into short term memory (best way is to right click and select the "copy image location" option).
2. Type the following command in the posting window: [img src=""] after changing the brackets [] to greater and less than signs <>. (I had to use brackets or the program would have tried to paste a picture, and failing to find one would have inserted a blank frame)
3. Insert the image location you just copied between the quotes (ctrl-P should do it).
4. Add any modifiers you want to size the picture. For example width=400 makes it 400 pixels wide; height=250 makes it 250 pixels high. I recommend that you go with one or the other but not both -- the picture will automatically adjust using one parameter and if you fiddle with both you are likely to get something you don't want.
5. Place a paragraph break after the picture if you want to set it off. Otherwise your text will start right after the picture with no break.

For example [img src="http://thefinereport.com/wp-content/imagescaler/59b6276ab0f04bad2b9b728fdf803422.jpg" width=300][p], after replacing the brackets, gives you the above fashion picture of the Aunt Esther.

Good luck.

/Zak

[SampleMan]

Ammunition? Yes, I’m ok for survival. If I considered it worth my time, I could have gotten 400 more rds today.
I’ve got ~2000 rds of .22 right now, and I can carry all of it on a day hike with a bedroll, water, and rifle. How many rds of .357 do you have? How much do you want to carry with you in a pack.

[Big Red Badger]

All I need is some tasty Waves and a cool Buzz and I’m Fine .

[Tijeras_Slim]

A thread I just posted on classic revolvers.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3290608/posts

[2001convSVT]

Thanks Zakeet.

[SgtHooper]

Good luck finding one, and when you do, expect to spend 5-10,000$. Gunbroker has versions for sale.

[Billthedrill]

Picked up a used Smith & Wesson Model 19 that had been somebody's duty gun. Tiny bit of holster wear on the muzzle is about all. It's my bedside gun - point and click interface.

I also acquired a 686 with a 2.5" barrel. My brother told me I had to have two of them to make sure I got both a Smith AND a Wesson. He's really smart about stuff like that.

[MileHi]

But really, when it comes to the .357 Magnum, there isn’t a better gun/ammo combination anyone could ask for in an all-around “best” gun set-up.

Yep

[MileHi]

What you said

[Big Red Badger]

Revolvers will always have a Home!
Thanks for posting.

[MileHi]

Because no other handgun shoots so many different types of ammo (.38 SP, .38+P, .357 Mag, shot shells, wad cutters, soft points, hollow points, solids). Very common in any back wood hardware store. No levers to work. Easy to clear a miss fire (pull the trigger again). Powerful enough.

What’s not to like?

[MileHi]

Did the same to a nice little muley buck with a Dan Wesson .44 at about 50 yds. He was DRT. Those 240s hit way hard. A good 300# boar black bear agrees.

[RC one]

I have lots of very nice .357 S&Ws but no Colt Pythons. My next revolver will be a Colt Python too. Unless another really nice Smith and wesson Revolver comes along first. here in Ohio, they go for about $1,700-$3,500 depending on condition and whether it has the original box and paperwork. I wouldn't spend more than $2,500 and it would have to be pretty immaculate.