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

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

[Roos_Girl]

That’s because I have it all! Bwahaha!

[rktman]

Nice! But I didn’t know they made them in mint flavor back then. :>}

[rktman]

Different grips? I know mine are pretty big.

[Roos_Girl]

Just kidding though. Every couple of months I make find some and make a bulk purchase. My husband humors me when I keep telling him we almost have enough, just a little bit more.

[Psalm 73]

"...what constitutes the “best” gun for a survival situation."

My 1st handgun was a Ruger .357 - loved that gun.
I agree, survival-wise, if I was to have just one gun that would perform many tasks it would be a .357 wheel gun:
a) easier to carry than a rifle
b) still has some "reach out and touch" ability
c) can take game (wide variety)
d) can defend against human predators
e) not too picky about the ammo you feed it
f) .38 and .357 very common ammo - easy to find even after the SHTF
g) fewer moving parts - more reliable, easier to clean

[FBRhawk]

I took several deer with a colt python before the tragic boating accident. Best pistol trigger ever.

[Myrddin]

.357mag with an 18” barrel performs like 30 carbine in an M1.
The matching caliber for your sidearm is an advantage.

[yarddog]

I certainly would not disagree with a .357 tho I would rather have a 6 inch barrel. A .44 mag, .45 Colt, a .22LR would also be good choices.

Never would limit myself to one gun unless I was absolutely desperate. Too much chance of one tearing up.

Living where I do, in the Florida panhandle, I might just choose a .22 Ruger single six with a .22 mag cylinder.

That would leave a big hole for the occasional hog, alligator, coyote etc. but for 99% of game it would be adequate. The main advantage to the .22LR for me is that I already have more ammo than I will ever need.

My old Remington nylon 66 which I no longer have just might be the best choice of all.

[Jack Hammer]

You nailed it.....

[USS Alaska]

The S&W 357 magnum, 4" stainless steel is my bedside protection tool of choice. Years ago I switched it our for a 9 mm but there were too many jams for me {one is too many in a critical situation}.

The guys at the gun shop told me about rotating the mags, thus relieving the stress on the spring but I just wanted to stick a reliable weapon at my bedside and forget about it until it is required.

I shoot that particular pistol every six months and it NEVER gives me any problem.

Semi-autos are OK but require too much TLC for me.

[circlecity]

I couldn't agree more with this article and, as noted above, you can't beat pairing a .357 handgun with a Marlin lever action .357 rifle. I believe a Ruger GP100 (or its almost identical equivalent the S&W 686)is dollar for dollar the finest handgun on the market and certainly the one I'd recommend for a first time buyer. And I'm not anti-Semi auto by any stretch - a Glock 19 or Sig 226 are close to heaven and must haves. But for me nothing feels better in my hand than a GP 100, 4", and I am more accurate with it than any other handgun. The Smith is a couple hundred dollars more expensive and has a better trigger out of the box. The triggers on the Ruger are, however, very easy to work on for a gunsmith and can cheaply be made as good as the 686. For me the Ruger feels better in my hand and more solid. As for the rifle, with a little practice, anything out to 100 yards with iron sights is pretty easy with a Marlin lever action. 'nuff said.

You can't beat a .357 round either. More stopping power and penetration than a .45 ACP with easily manageable recoil and the reliability of a revolver. If you're absolutely sure you'll need more than six rounds then you go with the semi. Obviously the goal is to hit what you're aiming at consistently with enough force to stop the threat so whatever accomplishes this for you is the best firearm for you.

[vetvetdoug]

I concur wholeheartedly.

[Captainpaintball]

Oh, crap ,it fell overboard, didn't it? They sell the barrels on ebay, which surprised me for some reason, although they are almost always 15 series. When I saw mine on gunbroker, I had to have it--it just looked right to me. There is nothing like the old school blue of the 14/15s or the Colts (Pythons, etc.) from that era. My next revolver, waaaaaaay off in the distance is a Korth or a Manhurin.

[Jeff Chandler]

A 10 mm pistol ain’t bad either

In a survival situation?

[UnwashedPeasant]

The writer does not say WHY the .357 Magnum is the best gun for survival.

Is it because it is more reliable, easier to load, so light that a child can shoot it accurately?

These days the standard handgun is a 9mm Glock, and this article gives no clue on why the .357 Magnum would be better in any way.

[Salgak]

The chain when TSHTF. . . .

A pistol gets you a shotgun that gets you a long gun. . .

[Noumenon]

+1

[PubliusMM]

Ahhh! 1911. A great gun. My std carry gun, the A1. But, my second favorite is my Dan Wesson 357Mag, with either the two inch or the six inch heavy barrels. And, just for showing off...the Dan, sporting the 8-inch Vent Rib, Heavy barrel. Sits nice in a roll-out shoulder rig.

[The KG9 Kid]

Even worse is that their price is justifiable.

[duffee]

“Hmmm. So depending on where you live, would there need to be an FFL initiated transfer required if they’re buried with you? :>}”

No, they’d just take the backhoe and dig a big hole behind the barn and dump me and my “stuff” in it.