357mag or 40cal?

[Mudman]

Opinions on what would be the best for protection and outdoor use?  It must be user friendly for a woman with little experience with pistols or guns.  It seems the 357mag would be best as it can shoot weak 38 ammo, and 357 is pretty potent and accurate for knockdown or maybe even bears?  Ruger or SW 4to6inch barrel revolver.  Dont know much about the 40 but hear good things.  Any thoughts and info?  A simple durable utility purposed if you had only one gun to meet these requirements with the womans requirement being most important.

[sirmissalot]

For a female I would shoot the 40 just for the reduced felt recoil and added capacity. I'm sure everyone is gonna say whatever she shoots best, which to me if I pull the hammer back and shoot a revolver single action I'm a great shot, no so much using it double action.

[troyspinetar]

I have a glock 27 (40 cal) which is probably not the most comfortable to shoot. However I got it for conceal carry. I also have a .38 snub revolver that is a bit more friendly for the wife to shoot. That being said...if I was to have one handgun it would probably be a .357 mag in a 4" barrel. I love revolvers, they are easy to use and very reliable.

[BigD]

I would go with the 357, practice with the 38 spcls and pack the 357's in the woods.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I would go with the 357, practice with the 38 spcls and pack the 357's in the woods.

 
No comparison between the s&w 40 and the 357mag.
 
-Steve

[FisherKing]

do those two belong in the same sentence, they are entirely different animals.

If its just washington you could get by with a .40 since we really don't have a grizzly bear problem.  I own a .40 and it takes practice to be good, especially when compared to a 9mm which seems like a pea shooter after shooting a 40. The .357 is a magnum caliber to me its not much great than a .40. The recoil impulse just not as sharp(IMHO) it would take practice to be good.

 So with that said whatever you buy just practice

[Mudman]

We had a Grizz chasing black bears around camp last year, NE WA.

[wildmanoutdoors]

If your girl is petite she may not even be able to rack a semi auto. I know mine cant. Better check that first.

If your gonna compare a semi auto to a 357 in power, better compare the 10mm.

[Arnbo]

Let he decide ,Get out and try them both my wife first carried a Taurus 605 357 but now carries a Taurus 911 in 9mm night and day ,But her choice.

[hillbilli]

if you're going to try to deer hunt with it.. get a .357, and be very picky about ammo (gold dot 158gr, etc) . If you are fond of revolvers, then yes get a .357, and you can also shoot .38's in it. if you plan to shoot mostly reloads, the revolver is not as picky about loads. Most guys tend to think of these two rounds as being not even in the same ballpark.. but if you compare similar bullet weights.. a 155gr .40&1200fps, and a 158gr .357@1250 arent much different. If it's purpose is not to deer hunt, but rather a general defensive gun for backwoods and other use in a state that usually doesnt have grizzlys.. then a polymer frame medium size .40 with twice the capacity of the revolver with less weight has a lot to be said for it. (my compact .40 is 13+1 capacity and weighs 10ounces less than the lighter of my .357's..) might recommend if you can you shoot one before you go buy one, but I've met a number of lady cops who shoot .40 auto's with no problem..

[boneaddict]

.357

[JLS]

Another vote for a .357, revolvers are so simple and have so little to go wrong.

[92xj]

357

[boneaddict]

Simplicity, versatility and deadly.  Its as easy as that.

[huntingfool7]

"It must be user friendly for a woman with little experience with pistols or guns."

Revolver