Hey all it's been awhile since I have been on here but health reasons have kept me from doing much of anything of late. When I was here last we were talking about me getting the SBH but due to medical issues things have changed a bit. Let me list a few things and see if you agree with my logic.

On the SBH.

1) The cheapest one I have found is $700.00 plus tax
2) I would have to buy new scope rings because the scope I am using is a 30mm tube and not a 1" tube.
3) The cost of .44 mag ammo is not cheap. (leading to less practice)
4) I don't have extra money for re-loading supplies and really do not have a place I can dedicate to re-loading.

On the GP100

1) I found one for $549.00 + tax (I can afford that).
2) Someone gave me a Weigand scope mount that fits the GP100. (love free stuff)
3) I have an Ultra Dot Match Dot on my Buckmark hunter that I can switch over to the GP100.
4) I can virtually buy 2 boxes of .357 mag ammo for the price of 1 box of .44 mag ammo.

This leads to twice as much practice with the .357 mag and we all know you have to practice, practice, practice, and when you think you have it practice some more. From doing research here and on other respectable sites I know the .357 mag will do the job with the correct loads/bullets as long as I do my part. So what do you think? Does this logic make sense or am I just bluffing myself? I respect any and all comments on this one folks. Thanks for your insight and knowledge.

Seems like you got a handle on it. IMHO

If you put your pluses and minuses on a balance beam scale,the scale tips on the GP100 side.Good luck with whatever choice you make.

Why do you have to buy a new one? There are lots of used guns on the market begging for a good home. I would also factor in versatility and flexibility to you list of pros and cons. You can load the .44 down to light levels, but you'll never be able to load the .357 up to .44 levels. You can just do a lot more with a .44 -- hey that rhymes.......

Thanks for the idea of a used gun but I just can't bring myself to buy a used gun. I guess its just an OCD that I have. If I could re-load I probably would go with the .44 but re-loading just isn't in my near future. I want to try to get a couple thousand rounds down range this year before our deer season starts.

The 357 will certainly get the job done, and can always be sold / traded when the time comes that you can step into reloading.

I'm the same way about buying used guns. Just can't do it, unless they are a project gun, or owned by someone I know.

Sounds an awful lot like one of my rigs. I say go fo it ;-)

I love used guns as most haven't been used really. If black bear is in your hunting future I would get the 44mag and pratice with 44special.Lots of as new SRH's out there at new GP prices.JMOFO

The old saying goes "whatever choice you make, you made the right choice" applies here. Both cartridges have their pluses and minuses. If you are only hunting deer, then the 357 is just fine. If you make a great shot, with a proper bullet, on a deer with that 357 tell me. I am going to tell you:

A) The deer is dead, if you can't find it you didn't look hard enough; or

B) Radioactive waste has allowed deer to breed with pigs and created an armor shielded, 500 lb Goliath of a deer...with lasers. I have an excuse to buy a 500 S&W now.

Your cheating yourself if you won't consider a used gun. But it's good for the gun companies. Every gun I own is a "project gun" the minute you change it from factory or try a different scope/sight. But if you like the GP than use it. Then comes action jobs, scopes, another gun (one scoped, one not, one red dot?). You'll buy more.

Why do you think you need a scope on the pistol? Seems that you have decided to get the 357 and want confirmation. I have both a 357's& 44's. If i had to own just one it would be a 357. And the GP is stout enough for anything that can be loaded in a 35.

I have mixed feelings about buying used guns. Sure, there are plenty of fine, affordable previously owned firearms on the market, but there are also guns like my old Mossberg 835, which has given me trouble at inopportune moments.

Back to the topic at hand, it's all about what you want. If you feel the GP100 and its ammuntion better fit your budget, then I think the choice is clear.

I reload so it a no brainer for me the 44 like Whit states can be loaded down to plinker. I use some 240 lead with some Trail Boss at 775 FPS its great but I could never load a 357 to a 44 max level. Buying used revolvers is not difficult if you know what to look for. Start with barrel cylinder gap, any home gun smithing, if double action check the timing and look at the crane to see it there is any gap ( slamming cylinder shut) What ever you do good luck.

If reloading is out of the picture, then the .357 will certainly be more economical to feed than a 44mag.

That being said, I would pick the .44 every day and twice on Sunday, over the .357. If I didn't already own a .357....or a couple....before I bought my first .44, I don't think I would feel the need to go back and buy one. The 44 is such a good all around cartridge. Loaded down, I can get .357 or lower recoil levels, loaded up, there isn't anything in North America that it will not put down.

About the new gun, used gun thing. I own probably 5x as many used guns as I do new ones. I can't say that I ever had a bad experience with a used gun. I tend to be very picky and just keep my eyes open for well maintained firearms when looking for a gun. I have also found that going to members of enthusiasts boards like the S&W board or RugerForum.com tends to lead to better transactions than places like Armslist. It is certainly your money and you are welcome to do as you please, but I feel that were I to do the same thing, I would pass over many very good guns over wear that could easily be incurred from the first trip to the range or a day in the woods.

Sorry for your bad luck in health dept. Hope that obamacare works for ya.
But, I have good news for you, Buds gun shop has SBH, .44 mag for $557 free shipping. Ordering is as easy as falling off a horse.
Get well soon.

G19,
The GP is a good gun and if it fits your budget then pick it up and don't look back. There is factory ammo manufactured (availability at any given time is another question) that will take care of any task you set out for within reason. My son and I have killed deer, I killed a large hog and he cleanly killed a cow elk with a hard cast bullet in the .357. Its a good place to start and it might be all you ever need.

Hope your health improves.

44 44 44
Not slamming the 357 ,but if you are hunting deer sized game and above... get the 44.
When it comes to handgun hunting, foot pounds of energy is what you are looking for. A 22LR will kill a deer if placed right,
But deer are tough animals and Ive seen them do remarkable things after getting hit.
just my .02
Hitting game with a handgun is a difficult at times. When you hit them you want as much punch as you can dish out.

I have a GP100 and a SBH. A buddy of mine has a SRH that I shoot sometimes. I shoot the GP better than either of the 44's. My school of thought is that bullet placement is more important than bullet size. My GP100 load for next season is going to be the Buffalo Bore 180 grain Hard Cast. I will admit though I have imposed a limit for my shots to 75 yards and under with iron sights. Let the 357 bring home the game. Best of luck!!

Thanks for all the input. I'm headed out this weekend in search of the GP 100. I mainly hunt river bottoms during gun season and I don't think i've ever reached out past 60 yds to harvest a deer. If I find a GP 100 this weekend and it follows me home i'll have to post a few pic's of it.

Man, I would heartily recommend getting over your "thing" against used guns. It ain't like buying a used car. Especially with the recent price increases, you're going to end up paying a lot more for the same gun and for no good reason.

I'm not mad or upset about anything that's been said, but I don't care what anyone thinks, I can't / won't get over my "thing" about used guns. I see them the same way as used cars. If it was abused, I don't want it. If the idiot ran super hot loads through it, how do I know it isn't weakened? That is a risk I'm not willing to take. Well, unless it is going to be used as a rebuild by a competent gunsmith that knows what to look for. I did it with a REALLY beat up SBH, and it came back in AWESOME shape. But no way in hell will I buy a gun from some Joe off the street and go shoot it without it being COMPLETELY checked by a gunsmith like Jack Huntington.

I'm glad some of you can do it, but I can't.

Regarding handloading and space... I use a Lee handheld press kit. No bench needed. I do my loading at the kitchen table. Ecomonical, makes excellent ammo, doesn't take up space.

That's how I started -- nothing wrong with that!

Your fears are unfounded. Buying a used gun is completely different from buying a used car, although there is a degree of skill and knowledge required for doing either successfully. You can't always look at a used car and tell what kind of life it led. You can inspect a used gun and know exactly what you're getting. If you know what to look for and how to shop, there's nothing at all scary about it.

I have to agree. I fear not used guns........

I fear prices of new guns!

No kiddin'!

As for handloading space, when I first started handloading, I utilized a corner of a closet and about two feet of wall. Just enough room for the press and a powder measure. Now I'm about to move from a 12' bench to a 4x8 or or 6x8 island with room for probably at least six presses plus, case trimmers and powder measures.

I think I'll try to find someone in my area who is knowledgeable about hand loading and get some ideas from them. It's just money is so tight right now. I'll have to take a hard look at the start up cost and if it's not to much maybe I could sell a gun or two to get started.

You can be rolling your own in no time for under $150 with Lee.

You can be rolling your own in no time for under $150 with Lee. [/quote]

I'll try looking that up and see what I can find.

On sale now at MidwayUSA

Lee Press Kit

Then pretty much just dies, powder, bullets, etc.

Thanks for the link.

I would also add that you don't have to have much space at all to handload, I just have a small walk in closet and built a bench myself that would fit yet not take up a ton of space, it works perfectly. Heck you could build a little sturdy bench and put it in a corner somewhere, it doesn't have to be huge at all and would give you a nice little weekend project.