Hey all I am new to the board, so hello.

Looking for some imput about a hunting handgug in 357 mag.

I've read and most say its the lightest caliber to use for hunting.

My main purpose for the handgun is light hunting chores to include, small game, deer and hogs. I also want to use the same pistol for lots of target shooting and bear(black)protection while fishing.
Also needs to fill the bill for some personal deffence if ever needed.

My thoughts have been with a ruger GP 100 4" barrel.

Not sure if I am on the right track or not? I dont need a scope and dont plan on shooting much past 50 yards.

Thanks for any advice
Big Spruce

Welcome to the sight, you will find everyone her very helpful and you will learn alot.

A longer sight radius would be my main concern. I would prefer a 6" barrel over a 4" for hunting purposes. Plus you will get just a little more speed out of your hotter loads. I'm a single action guy so of course I would want you to get a Blackhawk, but the Redhawk is a great gun as well. Both of these gun I feel make a better and stronger hunting handgun then the GP 100. You can put some pretty hot loads threw the RH and BH's for hunting. Of course this is my opinion.
Again welcome aboard Big Spruce!

the 357 is going to be marginal especially for bear protection. I would look at the 41 mag, 44 mag, or 45 colt, the 41 will still have fairly light recoil with much better terminal performance than the 357. If you really want to use a 357 I would use a good commercialy load like the 180gr partition golds or I'd handload the same bullet for hunting and a hardcast for back up.

Thanks guys, I have considered the 41 rem many times, seems to be a little hard to find ammo and guns. I may just be speaking out, but thats what I've found so far. Wouldnt mind a 44 or 45colt.

Due to my ingnorance of the subject of barrel lenght, for a pistol that will find it self shot at targets and in deffence more that actual hunting would a 6 inch barrel still be required?

Could I still manage to scratch down a deer with a 4 inch barrel and open sights and still get it done in the other departments?

As for actions I do like the Black Hawk but it is SA, would a DA be better for deffence sittuations against a bear?

Thanks and keep it coming I am listening!
Big Spruce

the 4" will work but the 6" will be better all around and your right the 41 ammo is a little harder to find and even 45colt ammo especially in hunting power loads can be hard to find. I would go with the 44 mag. If you work with your gun the single action is just as good as a backup gun as a DA, in fact I shoot nothing but sa anymore and prefer them for there reliability and simplicity.

Ditto

A person who is competent with a SA is by no means handicapped.

I'd have to agree that the .44 Mag would be better all-around for your purpose(s). I have a GP-100 with a 6" barrel and you would not be handicapped by 2" more barrel for carry but would benefit from the added velocity and sight radius. I also have a SA .41 and DA .480, the .44 is not one of my faves (too generic ;-) but if I could only have ONE it ewould be a 44.

With a 5-1/2" barrel.

i would go with the 44 in a black or red hawk 6in or better.
i have a 44 in 7.5 a 41 in 4.5 and it is wild to shoot with
hot loads. my 2cents
larry

And I again disagree with the DA vs SA If you are one of the few that can shoot everyday and thousands of rounds and have the talent to work a SA with one hand then you could be faster then a double action. But for every day joe it isn't going to happen. Again if you are fighting off a bear with one hand and drawing and shooting with the other hand, I will take a DA any day.
I do agree with the .44mag, you can shoot .44 spls. in it for plinking and self defense against bad guys and then shoot heavy .44mags for hunting. Great caliber plus you can find a box on almost any shelf in a sportings good store.

Hello Big Spruce and welcome to the site. My first recommendation would be to check your game laws. Some states don't allow 4" barrels for hunting certain species and/or game, as dumb as that law is... However, I agree with some others here and say that the .357 is a bit light for deer, hogs and certainly as a defensive round for bear. You would be much better off with a .44 Mag. and shoot light loads if you want to for practice. 50 yards would be a challenge with a 4" barrel but to go to 6" would be a little on the long side for a "perfect packin pistol", as brother John (Taffin) would say. The .41's are great but the ammo is usually considerably higher priced than .44 ammo. You might want to pick up a copy of Taffin's latest book, "Gun Digest Book of the .44" and read some of the info there as well. My vote would be for a single action .44 Mag. with a 4 3/4" barrel, probably a Ruger. Actually that would be either a 4 5/8 or a 5 1/2 in the Ruger. Brain farted there for a min...

I have a 4 5/8 SBH I will let go for $400.00 plus shipping it has wolf springs and a half moon ejector, If you want the Bowen rough country sight it is an extra $100 ( I know it is a lot but it is a nice sight) other wise you get the factory Ruger one. The gun is in very good condition. Just throwing this out there.

Wow! Thanks fellas, I really appreciate the advice and suggestions.

Ok on a serious note, I have several factors here in finding the right pistol for me and my needs. I am going to list them in an order of importance with the 1st being top priorty and so forth.

I am hoping this will help to explain me and my needs better.

Also I am very new to handguns. I have shot quite a few and have some idea of what I liked.

The List as follows:
1 - shooting
2 - self deffence (critters and people)
3 - needs to be affordable
4 - revolver (dont like autos)
5 - weight and carry ability
6 - light hunting duties in close cover deer and small hogs

This is how it pans out for me.
Love to hunt and would love to really get into handgun hunting, but I bird hunt, work dogs, rifle hunt, bow hunt, fish, and travel. I need a pistol that can go with me all the time as a back up or protection.

Its kind of a one gun for every thing, as thats all I'll be getting for a long time.

I think the argument for a 44special/44mag is very strong.

I do love the 41mag and it makes me feel warm all over, but do to a lack of avalible ammo its almost out of the race.

I loved shooting the 357mag and could hit much better with it than the 44's I've shot. With that said I can see the long term beneffits of the 44 vs. the 357.

I do however own a 35rem lever gun thats is in my opinion the end all - be all for me. Have yet to find a better carry rifle for deer and black bear.

It makes loading for another 35 cal much easier, as I can and do use 180gr XTP pistol bullets in it. Big reason why the 357mag looks much better than a 44 cal as I dont own another 44 cal anything.

Yes, barrel length is a major concern for me. This pistol will be on my side alot. It has to be comfortable.

Most importantly guys, I have to be realistic about this pistol and its uses. Thats why I was looking at the GP 100 in 357 mag.
The excellent suggestions of the 44 special/44mag has given me something to look at hard.

The Sa vs. da is good, but I cant practice every day and cant shoot thousands of rounds to be excellent with it. I think in a real life/death strugle a da you just dont have to think about the hamer and its thats simple to me.

Sorry this was so long winded, hope this helps folks see better into what I am trying to accomplish.

Thanks again for the great advice!
Big Spruce

As I said, I have the GP-100 but with a 6" barrel. It is easy handling and has a real decent trigger out of the box. A good dependable revolver at a decent price, but I would feel a bit undergunned facing a big blackie. For 50 yard deer and li'l piggies I am confident in a well placed shot. Going with a 4" should cost around 100 FPS loss in velocity, and equivalent energy but would still be effective within appropriate range. I loves my GP, but if only could have one gun it would be a bigger bore. With your requirements listed perhaps a 4" GP is your medicine, for now, get the forty-something later ;-)

If that had a Bisley grip frame I'd be real tempted ;-)

I see a few variables. Do you hand load, is my first question.
If not I would advise on the thoughts of the 44.
If you do handload, that opens it up a lot. The GP100 can be loaded a lot heavier than what most would belive for a DA gun. I have seen, used and shot a GP100 of a good friend of mine. Mind you it is not "stock" it has had a lot of work. I would not hesitate to use it to deer hunt. With the right loads and bullet, I would not be afraid of black bear or hogs.
The 4" barrel I would have to drop, just because the fact you want to hunt and use no scope or dot. I go the 6" for the little bit of extra umpf and the sight radius.
You stated you wanted to practice a lot with it. Glad to hear that. More folks should do this. You can use the 38's in it. I would want to use the full tilt loads at least every third or second practice session.
If you swap from 38's to 357's keep in mind to keep that cylinder clean. The 38's do and will build up. Shooting a few through it is no way to "clean" it either.
As I mentioned above my thoughts all boil down to roll your own loads. My buddy has shot thousands of his heavy loads through his GP100. Is it loose? NO. It shoots well enough I use it for outdorr bullseye with a dot. It runs my average around the mid 280's.
Just for somthing different last summer. I ran the GP, two handed DA only through all there courses. I still kept a 270+ average and broke a 290 with several X's. That was an exceptional day.
There are very few guns out there that I would trust to do what you ask, right out of the box. Just saying that so you can keep in mind what after market parts are available for what ever you choose.
Jeff

My vote is for a 41! IMO it is perfect for what you want. I hunt deer and pigs and the 41 has never let me down. I took mine to Iowa and put the smackdown on a couple of bruiser bucks. A 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk would fit the bill nicely. Its tough as nails, idiot proof, not too heavy to carry, and has more than ample power. If you prefer DA, S&W, Ruger, Taurus and Dan Wesson all had or have 41's in their lineup. Ammo availability isnt really a factor since you reload. Speer, Hornady, Sierra, Remington, and Cast Performance all offer 41 bullets. I've never had a problem finding 41 ammo. Every decent gun shop in my neck of the woods has a box or three. For target shooting Lazercast and PennCast both offer affordable cast bullets in bulk.

Yea the 41 rem would be the best choice.

I do plenty have plenty of time to find one though.

Thanks Guys looks like the one in the middle might be best after all!

Big Spruce

imho its pretty hard to beat a 45 colt in a ruger.red hawk if your into DA or a bisley for SA.a 270 gr swc packs plenty of punch in ruger only handloads for 2 legged or 4 legged vermin.
pete

Whoooeee that's purty!

Nice Ruger txpete,

Well fellas I hit a snag today when I found out that my minimum lenght barrel for hunting in my state is 7" ugh.......

They said its not really enforced. I am not one for breaking rules, so I guess I am stuck.

What now?

Big Spruce

sounds to me like it is two gun time one for hunting and
one to carry.
larry

Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in .44 mag. You can shoot .44 specials through it until you get used to it then start shooting the .44mags. .44 specials are like shooting a .38 special so there isn't much of a kick. The barrel is 7.5" long. You can mount a scope on it very easily they come with scope rings. I paid $557 plus the $10. for back ground check. You might be able to find it a little cheaper.

Well I post with better news this go around, with much research and some calls, I found out the woman I spoke to at the wildlife comission was only half correct on barrel length.

On state lands Pistols of .22cal for small game hunting must have a barrel lenght of 7" out of open deer season.

However, during open firearms season a hunting pistol of .24 cal or larger with a 5.5" min barrel is required. For hunting and carry during any open season.

Much better news, I am back on track now.

Big Spruce

Yea!!!!!!

still thinking about the 41 or 44? If you ever want to get creative there are alot of custom cartridges but you generally have to reload or pay a fortune for custom ammo. If that interest you check out Gary Reeder Cusom guns, his stuff is top notch.

I still think a .44mag with a 6" barrel then you can shoot .44spls. out of it too.