Why is the 357 Magnum so well known?

[JEDI]

Ok, i thought i first heard of the 357 Magnum from Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry series of movies.

But apparently, Dirty Harry used .44 Magnum.

So why is the 357 Magnum so well known?

 

[KK]

why do you think the 357 is well known compared to any other caliber? Doesn't seem to me that its any more well known then any other.

 

[josepavento]

Because you can train with the cheaper .38 special in the same gun, which also is much nicer on the wrists. As far as handguns go, a pretty effective caliber.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

because they've been making them for 70 years?

 

[axelfox]

Sledge Hammer

 

[BlancoNino]

Because they are among the most powerful stopping rounds. They have a higher effective stopping rate than .44 magnums.

 

[themusgrat]

It is a good medium caliber between the .30 and .45 kind of, at least in caliber, which used to be the main ones, not much .40 except in military places. Plus, it sounds lots cooler than, oh, my .45. No buddy, I've got a .357 mag.

 

[tommywishbone]

Because it was the murder weapon in "My Cousin Vinny" ?

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Because they are among the most powerful stopping rounds. They have a higher effective stopping rate than .44 magnums.

Can you explain why the stopping power on a 357 would be greater than a 44 mag?

 

[TheBDB]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Because they are among the most powerful stopping rounds. They have a higher effective stopping rate than .44 magnums.

Can you explain why the stopping power on a 357 would be greater than a 44 mag?

Because it isn't just bullet size, it is how much gunpowder and muzzle velocity?

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: TheBDB

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Because they are among the most powerful stopping rounds. They have a higher effective stopping rate than .44 magnums.

Can you explain why the stopping power on a 357 would be greater than a 44 mag?

Because it isn't just bullet size, it is how much gunpowder and muzzle velocity?

uh, 44 has more gunpowder. unless you are using super hot loads in the 357. as far as velocity, it depends on load again, but if you use a 180 or 200 grain on the 44, then it probably will be faster. I know if I was in bear country, a 357 would not be my first choice.

 

[quakefiend420]

dunno...but i own one

 

[LikeLinus]

Make My Day

When Dirty Harry tittered those famous words, he definitely made S&W's day as they sold every .44 Magnum they could turn out.

 

[flyboy84]

Originally posted by: JEDI
Ok, i thought i first heard of the 357 Magnum from Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry series of movies.

But apparently, Dirty Harry used .44 Magnum.

So why is the 357 Magnum so well known?

Actually, in the Dirty Harry movie "Magnum Force," the villians are a group of vigilante motorcycle cops with military training who use .357 magnums.

 

[Tom]

The OP asked why it's famous, none of that crap about it's usefulness is why it's famous.

The phrase 357 Magnum has been widely used in movies for decades, it conveys an image of power and sounds cool. There are even movies with "357 Magnum" in the title.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The .357 Magnum was developed for police use who were used to the .38 but needed more stopping power. Thus, for a very long time it was widely used.

 

[SeminoleMarine]

Harry Callahan:I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?




Harry Callahan: Not bad.
Horace King: Not bad, my ass! You've got to strain the remains for the fingerprints.
Harry Callahan: Well, this is the .44 Magnum Auto-Mag and it holds a 300-grain cartridge. And, if properly used, it can remove the fingerprints.

 

[pontifex]

wasn't 357 used a lot by the police in the past?

 

[OpenThirdEye]

Originally posted by: axelfox
Sledge Hammer

Bwaha! That was a great series!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: TheBDB

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Because they are among the most powerful stopping rounds. They have a higher effective stopping rate than .44 magnums.

Can you explain why the stopping power on a 357 would be greater than a 44 mag?

Because it isn't just bullet size, it is how much gunpowder and muzzle velocity?

uh, 44 has more gunpowder. unless you are using super hot loads in the 357. as far as velocity, it depends on load again, but if you use a 180 or 200 grain on the 44, then it probably will be faster. I know if I was in bear country, a 357 would not be my first choice.

It wouldn't even make the top 10. A .44 Magnum would be the minimum I would carry for bear defense.

 

[Alex]

because it sounds cool

 

[JulesMaximus]

I owned a 4" .357 Magnum for a couple years. Great gun but kind of pales in comparison to my 8" Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum. I kind of wish I had kept the .357 though. It's a great gun for a revolver, plenty accurate and pleasant to shoot. It also makes a pretty loud boom at the shooting range.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I owned a 4" .357 Magnum for a couple years. Great gun but kind of pales in comparison to my 8" Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum. I kind of wish I had kept the .357 though. It's a great gun for a revolver, plenty accurate and pleasant to shoot. It also makes a pretty loud boom at the shooting range.

How much extra energy/velocity does a 8" barrel provide over a 4" (I realize it depends on a lot of things, but in general)?

Anyway, nice chart for a 44 here, but it's for a 4" barrel.

Same site has a 357 chart also for those arguing about energy and velocity.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: TheBDB

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Because they are among the most powerful stopping rounds. They have a higher effective stopping rate than .44 magnums.

Can you explain why the stopping power on a 357 would be greater than a 44 mag?

Because it isn't just bullet size, it is how much gunpowder and muzzle velocity?

uh, 44 has more gunpowder. unless you are using super hot loads in the 357. as far as velocity, it depends on load again, but if you use a 180 or 200 grain on the 44, then it probably will be faster. I know if I was in bear country, a 357 would not be my first choice.

I think you're taking his post incorrectly. The statement is it has a higher stopping rate, not that it's more powerful.

There are resources which detail actual shootings and the % chance of effective shots (usually a "one shot stop"). These don't take into account placement, distance, etc. generally, just round effectiveness in real world shootings.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: TheBDB

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Because they are among the most powerful stopping rounds. They have a higher effective stopping rate than .44 magnums.

Can you explain why the stopping power on a 357 would be greater than a 44 mag?

Because it isn't just bullet size, it is how much gunpowder and muzzle velocity?

uh, 44 has more gunpowder. unless you are using super hot loads in the 357. as far as velocity, it depends on load again, but if you use a 180 or 200 grain on the 44, then it probably will be faster. I know if I was in bear country, a 357 would not be my first choice.

I think you're taking his post incorrectly. The statement is it has a higher stopping rate, not that it's more powerful.

There are resources which detail actual shootings and the % chance of effective shots (usually a "one shot stop"). These don't take into account placement, distance, etc. generally, just round effectiveness in real world shootings.

i wouldn't trust those sites at all. there's so much that would factor into that that there is no way it can be accurate at all.