In article >,
"Doug Kanter" > wrote:

> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > Is the .357 Ruger Redhawk fun to practice with?
> > That goes without saying... I use more .38 ammo tho' as it's cheaper.
> > With that large of a revolver, there does not seem to be a significant
> > difference (at least to me) in the way the gun acts with either round.
>
> Over the past few years, I've read in numerous sources that .357 magnum is
> not all it's cracked up to be, in terms of a defense caliber. Every type of
> hollow point ammo requires the barrel to be a certain length in order to
> reach a velocity that'll make the bullet expand. It must expand to do
> maximum damage. For .357 magnum, the magic barrel length is around 6 inches,
> which is not something you're going to carry around easily. Same with .44
> magnum. There are documented incidents in which unexpanded rounds passed
> cleanly through bad guys, leaving them still able to do nasty things. The
> Chuck Taylor book I recommended delves into this subject nicely. You might
> be better off *always* using .38 specials in your Ruger.
>
>

Hm, thanks.

If I measured it from the correct point, the barrel is 6.5".

It's for home defense only. Way too large to be a carry weapon.
It's your basic cannon with a high "oh Sh**" factor for anyone that ends
up staring down the wrong end of it. ;-)

I keep it loaded with .357 hollowpoints... CCI at the moment, but I want
to invest in some Winchester rounds.

All in all tho', as much as I enjoy plinking (and hunting on occasion),
I really pray that I never, ever have to use a gun for self defense. I'm
reasonably sure I could if I had to, but that does not mean I WANT to.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson