A Jack of All Trades & Master of Most

If I could only own ONE handgun, and that one handgun had to do it all, it would easily be the 357 Magnum. Power is more than adequate for anything short of the great Alaskan bears, it is fairly controllable under high-speed defensive action, and shoots a variety of loads, including the milder 38 Specials.

Originally introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1935, it is still going strong today. There ARE several larger caliber handguns available now, but that doesn't make the 357 obsolete by any stretch of the imagination.

It was originally designed to fill a law enforcement need. Most police departments were carrying the 38 Special, which was a pretty good round and superbly accurate, but lacked the power to shoot through barriers and the heavy car doors of fleeing bandits.

Many FBI agents were using the 45 automatic, which had better stopping power in the street, but at only 900 feet per second (give or take, depending on the load), it TOO lacked range and penetration in a lot of different circumstances.

It was generally agreed upon (with the various law factions), that the 38 seemed to be the most accurate------so if it just had MORE POWER------------

Smith & Wesson accepted the challenge. They built special 38-caliber test guns, heavier, with more frame and cylinder mass to stand up to the hotter powder charges that would be made up, as the old 158-grain bullets would now be pushed faster than they'd ever been pushed before.

Eventually, the loads were reaching pressure and speeds that would blow a standard 38 revolver apart, finally "dancing" around 1,600 feet per second! (about 600 feet per sond faster than the 38 it would be replacing, and 700-800 faster than the 45 auto).

Accuracy was still "acceptable" even at the higher speeds, but more importantly......the additional speed was allowing the bullets to drive through brick walls, car doors and even cast iron engine blocks (with the right ammo). This appealled GREATLY to most Highway Patrol Departments, and the FBI, who often had to shoot through barriers to get at some of the criminals.

Recoil of course was "stiffer", as you'd expect from a gun pumping out more power, but for MOST, it wasn't un-managable. A few of the test guns were taken out in the woods and were found capable of taking big game, including elk, moose and even walrus. I PERSONALLY downed a bull elk with a 357 back in 1985, from the short distance of about 20 yards.

It is prudent to clarify at this point through, that the 357 Magnum is NOT an elk or moose gun, per se........and is NO substitute for a good rifle, but at a short distance, where the bullet hasn't slowed down yet, a well-placed shot into the vitals WILL put a large animal like that DOWN. And a 200-ld "home -invader? No problem, Leroy.

(In MY case), it was a young bull who practically walked underneath of me, didn't know I was there----so his adrenilan wasn't up----the pistol was within easier reach than my rifle was at the moment......and at 20 yards, the bullet was still nearly at muzzle velocity when it hit him.

Anyway....back to the factory in 1935................

When they had what they wanted, they now had to design a gun for it. The "test" guns would stay at Smith & Wesson.

It was wisely decided that the cartridge cases would have to be made LONGER than the standard 38. There were hundreds of thousands of 38 Special revolvers still out in circulation, and you'd blow one up in a MINUTE with this new ammo.

So by making the cartridge cases a little LONGER, they wouldn't fit all the way down into the chambers of a standard 38, so nobody'd be able to load one in there by accident and close the cylinder.

They then built the new GUN heavier, to withstand the extra power of the cartridge, and made the CYLINDER longer and thicker as well----to accomodate this new "powerhouse" catridge. That's why you can shoot the slighter shorter 38 special in the 357 handgun, but not vice-versa. In fact, the 357 is considerably comfortable to shoot with the lighter 38's in it. The lighter charges barely move the heavier gun at all, in recoil.

OK. Got the new cartridge, and the gun to shoot it in. So........what do we call it?

Well.........the 38 caliber bullet------we CALL it 38-caliber, but it is actually .357 in diameter.(the numbers get complicated in the "caliber world").

This new cartidge was making the most of this fine old bullet and the original slow-burning powders pretty much FILLED THE CASE------------(stay with me now)------------

Back in the 30's, when you ordered a bottle of champagne, the LARGEST bottle was called a "magnum."

SO......the new gun would have that same "357" bore, with a powder charge that was FILLED with powder, as was the big "magnum" bottle of champagne......

And thus, it was called the 357 Magnum.

Ever SINCE then.......that term "magnum" has been applied to ANY caliber where the cartridge case is packed to capacity with gunpowder, and the gun built a bit heavier than normal, to handle it.

Twently years later, 1n 1955, Smith & Wesson did it again with their 44 Magnum......although until 1971's "Dirty Harry", most people had never heard of it. But by the time that Clint Eastwood had made it "screen-famous", the 44 had become a favorite among the hunters who carried a handgun into the DEEP woods.

I own a pair of 44's myself, but pretty much only carry one when I'm up in the hills hiking. The 44 Magnum is a field gun. You can use it for self-defense, but it's not a good choice. It's too heavy and bulky for continuous "carry", recoil is hard to manage under high-speed defense action, and in a "parking lot situation" (or if you remember my "highway 20" episode), gunfighting with a "44" Magnum, is like trying to swat flies with a hammer!

If it looked easy in the "Dirty Harry" films, one must remember that they use BLANKS in the movies.

But the 357 is MY preferred way to go out "in the street" The less-violent recoil doesn't leave your hands as high in the air as does the 44......so if you NEEDED a second shot for some reason, you could get back onto your next target much more quickly with the 357.

Because it also shoots the lighter 38's......it's pleasant to just go out and "plink" with for practice, when the added power of the Magnum cartridge isn't required.

It's a very versatile handgun, and ammo is fairly plentiful, usually available in bullet weights of 110 grains, 125, 140 and 158.

Best of all........if you decide someday to BUY one, this magnificent cartridge is only available in REVOLVERS, where you also have STRENGTH and RELIABILITY going for you as well.

I own a variety of pistols, both large and small caliber.....automatics & revolvers (or "wheelguns", as they are sometimes called). Each has a purpose. When you run into me on the street or in a store somewhere, I'm usually "packing" mostly concealled, but sometimes "openly" when the weather out there is warm.

And when you DO.......I'm almost always packing one of the 357's. Rarely anything smaller or larger. It's just a GOOD "all-around" caliber.

Sort of like what the 30.06 is, in the "rifle world."

It is truly a "Jack of all trades......yet a MASTER of most!"

As I always do, I suggest spending the few extra bucks for the Smith & Wesson or Ruger......particularly in the heavier calibers where structural integrity is often EVERYTHING. Rugers are exceptionally strong, especially the single-action Blackhawks.