For a cartridge born in 1934, the .357 Magnum is still a great choice.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Here are five reasons the iconic cartridge is still a great all-around pick for shooters.
1. Power level can be perfectly picked for any task.
When loading up on ammunition, you can choose based on how much power you want. Light loads kick a lot less and are perfect for target shooting, vermin and small game. For bipedal threats, hot hollow-points will keep you safe. Load up hardcast solids when you could possibly encounter tougher predators, such as moderate-sized bears and mountain lions. If you’re in big-bear country, I’d recommend the larger .44 Magnum cartridge.
2. You can find ammo almost anywhere.
The .357 Magnum is a universal cartridge you can easily find at any ammunition retailer. Nowadays, it can be very difficult to find niche calibers out there, so having something as common as a .357 Magnum can be really nice.
3. You have the ability to shoot .38 Special cartridges.
Now this is a huge reason why the .357 Magnum is so popular. For cheaper target practice, the .38 Special cartridge does very well in a .357 Magnum revolver.
4. You can hand-load it with ease.
If you’re a hand-loader, the straight-walled cases of the .357 Magnum cartridge do a great job of extending case life. Also, with a wide variety of available projectiles, you can decide to load heavy or light.
5. It makes for a great rifle cartridge, too.
If you own a long gun in .357 Magnum, you’ll notice higher accuracy and higher velocities. A Henry Arms Rifle chambered in .357 Magnum will make short work of any whitetail from close to medium distances.
In bear country or for moose, I would certainly choose bigger than the .357 Magnum. That is where the “almost” comes into the do it all cartridge category.
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NEXT: BIG-GAME RIFLE REVIEW: HENRY ARMS SINGLE-SHOT .45-70 RIFLE