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Admittedly, this put up is partly for enjoyable. Poking the web bear, it’ll little question illicit opposite responses – and that’s okay so far as I’m involved. Totally different strokes for various of us, a lot of whom face dissimilar conditions that dictate various necessities. A .357 Magnum survival gun, even when stoked to its full potential, wouldn’t be the optimum massive recreation caliber, and it might be a dangerous selection for these sharing territories with the most important bears.
For that matter, so may the massively in style .223 Remington/5.56 NATO. In the meantime, for anybody dealing with day-to-day survival calls for, a growling abdomen will likely be crying out for some sustenance.
Gotta determine, if by design or circumstance, you wind up in the course of nowhere, alternatives to resupply will likely be scarce. And pickings will likely be lean from the beginning if the situation is accessed on foot. In that case, as a result of each ounce issues, necessities develop into simply that; the minimums wanted to outlive.
Both manner, a firearm will prime most lists and, for some, one other may simply be justified. For many people, the sensible mainstay firearm choose will likely be a sling-equipped shotgun or rifle. A few of immediately’s sling techniques even free each fingers, however a continuing state of readiness is best maintained via the inclusion of a holstered handgun.
Off-Grid Choices
For optimum versatility, just about wherever in need of essentially the most wide-open areas, it’s onerous to beat a 12 gauge shotgun – particularly one allowing QD barrel exchanges like a primary Remington or Mossberg pump. A brief and useful rifle-sighted barrel stoked with slugs will deal with any menace via the most important bears (in addition to massive recreation) in North America. A change to buckshot can nail protection, and the addition of a 26- 28” fowl barrel will cowl most different looking wants.
The downsides are principally house and weight associated. Shotgun shells within the all-around gauges (12 or 20 ga.) are comparatively massive and heavy so, even a single 25-shell field has some heft. That stated, such a system might be the sensible selection for a single-firearm person, ideally, if deployed from a base location.
Subsequent up rifles – with a rub. Calibers with sufficient punch to let the air out of huge irate critters will scale back extra frequent sources of protein – like squirrels – to some pre-masticated bites. A .22 LR makes an important small recreation getter however lacks the steam to handle bigger targets, whether or not 4 or two-legged. One other concern for these on the transfer is the transportation and preservation of meat.
A windfall deer of common dimension is none too moveable on foot, and it could even be topic to speedy spoilage. Then again, a plump grouse constitutes a tasty meal and several other, if breasted out, will simply slot in a median pack.
How ‘bout the handgun? A .22 LR handgun may fill a pot with small recreation or upland birds, and, for that matter, many centerfire revolvers or pistols can do the trick – with the appropriate bullets. Nevertheless, it’s been my expertise (primarily based on years operating ranges) that almost all “shooters” lack the talents to reliably execute such photographs. Fact is, that degree of accuracy is tough to grasp. And every miss interprets to much less ammo, which gained’t be discovered on timber.
Firearm Realities
The excellent news: Loads of shooters are as much as the above duties, utilizing shoulder-fired weapons. Heck, many people have been perforating cans with .22 rifles since our pre-teen years. Go this route and the appropriate selection actually boils all the way down to one thing protecting extra doubtless eventualities – ideally, through a standard cartridge. Ideally, it’ll suffice for each small and medium-to-larger recreation species, in addition to protection.
As for a handgun, it may nonetheless fill a legit position. As famous above, if it gives sufficient energy and is carry-friendly, it may present a direct response to a menace, whereas additional serving as a backup firearm (as a result of $%^& occurs). And, once more, frequent calibers simplify logistics.
Can we make issues even less complicated? Maybe…
Single-Caliber Options
Let’s toss the .40 S&W into the way-back machine, dialed to 1874. Consequence? The ballistically equivalent .38 WCF, now higher often called the .38-40. The latter’s true caliber is a misnomer since each fireplace the identical .401/10mm-diameter bullets. Resulting from its compact dimensions and rimmed cartridge case, the .38-40 was an important match for revolvers and useful lever-action rifles.
Like its dad or mum .44-40 cartridge launched for Winchester’s “gun that gained the west” – the Mannequin 1873 – the necked-down .38-40 was well-timed for the western enlargement of America. A smaller 32-20 model quickly adopted, and all three have been shortly seized upon for twin use in single-action revolvers and lever weapons.
This enormously simplified logistics for these dwelling on the sting of civilization. And, because the bullets have been comprised of lead, any recovered from recreation may even be recast and reloaded with easy and simply packable hand instruments.
Though all three calibers endure, immediately’s extra in style equivalents are the .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum – together with the legendary .45 Colt of M-1873 Peacemaker fame. And, not like their barely bottle-necked ancestors, the instances are straight-walled designs.
Thus, due to their rims, a .357 or .44 Magnum chamber also can safely fireplace the shorter .38 Particular or .44 Particular cartridges that spawned them – via firearms able to feeding ‘em. That’s a non-issue for any revolver, together with single-shot rifles, and a few of immediately’s lever-actions. One other massive plus: In contrast to the .40 S&W and different present pistol masses, the above Magnums exit carbine barrels at a lot larger velocities.
This places them in a completely totally different league, efficiency clever. Use a tricky increasing bullet like the most recent copper monolithics and a few in any other case marginal recreation species might be taken – if crucial.
.357 Magnum Survival Gun Examination
If contemplating a dual-use caliber, the .357 Magnum has potential. The .44 Magnum (and .45 Colt) usually require larger-framed revolvers and, notably relating to the .44 Magnum, recoil is greater than most folk can successfully handle. Sure, S&W’s latest 5-shot Mannequin 696 is constructed on a mid-sized L-frame, but it surely’s fairly feisty with full-house masses.
Thus, bigger 6-shot N-frames have lengthy been the usual for S&W’s double-action .44 Magnum and .45 Colt revolvers. Hotter .44 Particular masses (if out there) can scale back recoil, and a few .45 Colt masses are manageable. Identical for milder variations of the much less frequent .41 Magnum, in case you can observe down ammo. Additionally, most are constructed on .44 Magnum frames.
Nevertheless, the true mid-sized Ok-frame is a superb host for a .357 Magnum – particularly one destined for a steadier weight-reduction plan of normal and/or hotter +P .38 Particular masses. The stainless 6-shot Mannequin 66 options adjustable sights, and the shootable 4-inch model weighs a bit greater than 36-ounces. That’s sufficient to absorb recoil with out changing into a burden in a correctly chosen holster.
.357 Load Choices
I’ve been capturing a prolonged record of .35-caliber cartridges for many years (to incorporate the .357 Most, .35 Remington, .358 Winchester, .350 Remington Magnum, and doubtless, some others). Most have since departed, however the .357 Magnum has at all times been a keeper. The explanation boils all the way down to its versatility.
In an average-sized 4” revolver, the .357 Magnum has the ability of immediately’s 10mm pistol masses. However not like the latter, it may additionally digest heat however extra tolerable .38 Particular Plus-Ps, in addition to standard-pressure .38 Particular masses in a variety of bullet designs and weights. Right here’s a short snapshot excerpted from my latest Prime 10 Most Helpful Cartridges put up:
“Go along with 130-grain .38 Spcl FMJs and also you’ll have a helpful observe and small recreation load. A easy change to an increasing 125-grain +P (additional strain) JHP will web a manageable defensive load. A leap to the .357 Magnum will present sufficient energy to take deer-sized recreation with cautious capturing out to no less than 50 yards – a fairly good poke for any handgun. However this distance will be doubled via a change to a .357 Magnum rifle.
In contrast to a 9mm, the .357 Magazine will get a significant velocity enhance when fired in a carbine-length barrel. An ordinary-weight 158-grain JHP that averages round 1250 fps from a 4-inch revolver could attain or exceed 1750 fps in a useful 18-inch carbine. Utilizing the most recent powerful increasing homogenous bullets, bigger critters might be honest recreation in a pinch.”
Extra About .357 Rifles
First, a warning for homeowners of rifles with tubular magazines: As a result of results of recoil, bullets with sharper ogives (pointier ideas) may detonate an adjoining primer. I fired the above mild-mannered .38 Particular 130-grain FMJs via a number of Marlins with no in poor health results, however perhaps I used to be simply fortunate.
The extra prudent possibility can be a flat level bullet, comparable to a standard lead semi-wadcutter. Little question, the above old-time masses featured flat-tipped bullets for this very cause.
Nevertheless, bullet noses are a non-issue in my current .357 magnum rifle just because it’s a break-barreled single-shot. However, like its lever-action .357s predecessors, the Rossi’s go-to load is “simply” a .38 +P; Remington’s 125-grain brass-jacketed hollow-point Golden Saber (#GS38SB), fed through easy 6-round velocity strips. GS served as our obligation load for years and at all times carried out properly throughout FBI ballistic testing protocols.
Going a step additional, I attempted the identical GS load on a deer with a 24” Marlin. Consequence: the bullet handed via the deer’s ribcage broadside from round 40 yards, leaving a traditional deer-load exit gap. The buck was a smallish crotch-horn whitetail that field-dressed 135-pounds (dwell weight perhaps, 160-ish). It ran round 50 yards and tipped over – the identical impact I observe with the .243 Winchester.
Remington’s rated GS muzzle velocity of 975 fps is near what we recorded from our 4-inch S&W M-65s, but it surely’s an entire totally different animal in a rifle. It clocks 1400 fps from the 21” barrel of my plain-Jane Rossi and reliably cuts sub two-inch 5-shot teams at 100 yards – a sensible distance for this mixture. All of this from a .38 Particular.
As famous above, when fired via a rifle, the .357 Magnum boosts efficiency to a completely new degree – a notch beneath the brand new .350 Legend, however not by an enormous quantity. For deer-sized recreation, .357 Magnums are a greater than .38 Particular +Ps (I usually reserve the latter for critters via massive varmints).
For essentially the most half, my primary Rossi sees obligation within the rack of an ATV, however it should simply disassemble to stow in small areas. Right now’s classier however nonetheless sensible different is Henry’s Single Shot. And, since a lever-gun is a pure for this caliber, Henry’s Massive Boy collection is value a glance. In contrast to some others (Winchester M-92 reproductions), the Henry’s will reliably feed .38 and .357 masses. Just like the Marlins, in addition they function solid-top receivers good for a low-powered scope or receiver sight.
Marlins have been a bit fussy with some .38 Particular masses. Manufacturing has additionally ceased; nevertheless, Ruger has resurrected the road. To date although, no new .357 Magnums. And alas, Ruger’s bolt-action .357 has been discontinued. Like my Rossi, used H&R single photographs are nonetheless in circulation and Traditions nonetheless catalogs a .357 Magnum.
Additionally, Rossi USA now lists an fascinating stainless Winchester M-92 .357 clone that circumvents top-ejecting optics points.
.357 Combo Takeaways
Concerning .357 handguns, I centered on S&W’s double-actions due to a prolonged relationship however, after all, there are many different good makes from Ruger, Colt, and many others. Single-action revolvers additionally see a lot use in wild locations, notably within the largest calibers. However a DA design will be reloaded an entire lot faster (as in quick with speed-loaders or moon clips), making them higher defensive decisions.
Additional benefits? Take into account these:
- Each techniques are self-contained, eliminating considerations about costly or misplaced magazines.
- No misplaced instances, both, not like ejected pistol brass that can disappear in brush or snow.
- In the meantime, these .38 or .357 instances will be reloaded, utilizing a small and easy Lee equipment.
- You may create (or purchase) subsonic masses that’ll quietly operate via suppressed lever-action or single-shot rifles.
- You may even make your personal lead bullets over a campfire, utilizing an affordable Lee bullet mildew (no lubrisizer required).
- Smaller-sized cartridges use much less powder and are simpler to pack or carry.
- With observe, side-gated lever-action rifles will be topped off earlier than operating them dry.
- .357 Magnum revolvers and rifles are authorized in every single place and may share the identical ammo.
- When fired via a rifle (or carbine) .38 Specials are pretty quiet – producing significantly much less noise than a 5.56.
- Though full-house .357 Magnums are noisier, they’re not overly concussive in carbines and recoil is pretty gentle.
- The above system can also be ambidextrous, a doable benefit for a number of customers.
Appears to me like this two-gun system can be a superb match for a distant cabin the place the most important possible four-legged menace can be a black bear. In a pinch I’d sort out a moose with the .357 rifle and a Barnes copper, or Buffalo Bore hard-cast bullet.
Sights will be adjusted for various masses by counting clicks off a baseline selection (marked with a Sharpie Pen), or for elevation corrections, utilizing a feeler gauge. Additionally, you’ll be able to convert some .357 revolvers to make use of moon-clips, which gained’t compromise their unique operate (did that to my M-66, gaining lightning quick reloads).
In closing, the identical general technique will work with a .44 Magnum/.44 Particular. Or, in case you already occur to have one available, different choices embody the .41 Magnum and .45 Colt.
