357 Mag Weapon

It should be noted that if the 357 Mag was assessed as a weapon in which it was possible to combine high power, relative shooting comfort and acceptable weight - the "five hundredth" can only be credited with power. Do not forget about the high price of both weapons and ammunition. Look here to find more.

In the niche of "personal weapons" of ultra-high power, the "500th" has such a competitor as the BFR manufactured by 357 Mag Research. Its latest modifications are also capable of using .500 and .460 ammunition. The BFR is distinguished from the Smith-Wesson by a single-action trigger and a non-folding drum.

Obviously, the huge, heavy and uncomfortable Smith-Wesson is unsuitable for performing the functions of a military or service weapon.

Covertly wearing even the most "compact" options is also difficult

The ballistics of the cartridge allows you to achieve good accuracy, but in target shooting it is important that the weapon changes position to a minimum after firing.

The huge recoil of the "five hundredth" is guaranteed to displace it even with the muzzle brake installed. But this weapon still has practical applications. It's a hunt.

The power of the cartridge allows you to catch any North American game.

In addition, in Alaska, where a person who has gone out into nature has a nonzero chance of colliding with a bear, a large-caliber revolver is an effective means of self-defense.

Modern Realities

Light expansive bullets are usually used by civilians for self-defense, and heavier ones are popular among hunting enthusiasts. In principle, 357 caliber cartridges are very versatile, they are used in almost all areas, be it hunting or sport shooting, both in short-barreled pistols and in light rifles.

Revolvers of this caliber in US police units have been replaced with modern self-loading weapons, but many police officers now prefer to take reliable "oldies" with them on duty. In civil society, such weapons are still very popular and, probably, even after more than a dozen years, interest in them will still not disappear.

Model 19 - Lightness And Comfort

The revolvers mentioned earlier were undeniably very good. But any good thing can be done even better than the same corporation, Smith & Wesson, did. For a whole year, experiments with various types of steel and heat treatment processes lasted, the purpose of which was to increase the strength of the revolver structure without losing its lightness and convenience in shooting. As a result, on November 15, 1955, a new brainchild of Smith & Wesson was born - the .357 Combat 357 Mag, which was later renamed Model 19. This pistol received a lighter and more compact, but at the same time durable frame. Also, for even greater comfort in shooting, the cheeks of the revolver grip have been increased. This model is still produced by some US arms factories.

The main contribution to the creation of this cartridge was made by Elmer Keith - a famous American shooter and gunsmith, as well as an avid hunter. But his work to increase the power of the .38 Special cartridge (bullet with a caliber of 9.65-9.67 mm) might not have begun if in April 1930 Smith & Wesson Corporation had not launched the .38-44 Heavy Duty pistol and his model is Outdoorsman.