I tend to agree with the person in post #5. 357 magnum shooting 125-130 grain JHPs - Federal preferably. Sure you can get higher calber guns with larger loads but in a personal defense situation they are difficult to control for accurate shot placement. In the 357 avoid 158 and 180 grain loads for the same reason and be sure to stick with JHPs
I hunt hogs in south texas with a handgun. I love handguns period. I shot 7 hogs with a colt 45acp, none ran more that 30 yards, I was using 180grain jacket alumninum hollow points. Range 30-40 yards, Wichester calls these silver tip hollow points. But they are alumnium. I cant say enough..about the 45.
I shot a hog with my beretta 40, and it knocked the hog down, but I had to shoot is twice more to kill it.
I have hit numerous hogs with the 357 pistol, and they keep running, for long distances.. The caliber over penetrates,
The 45acp goes in...tranfers all energy, and does not exit.
If I am going hog hunting with a handgun. I am using a 45
Humans are much thinner and have less muscle mass, so These hunting result MAY not be worth a flip, for self defense purposes..
If Your a Local Cop a 9mm or .40 is the best choice.
Anyone who says a 9mm will not stop a bad guy is plum Loco or there shooting crap ammo or Hit the bad guy in the Foot., use 127gr Winchester Ranger +P+ its a 1350fps penetrating shredder, It used to be called Black Talon and all serious law enforcement Personnel use it.
If Your a Highway Patrol or Marshal I recommend the .357sig as You may need to shoot through a car door or glass and this round was designed to match the Feared .357 mag 125gr that Lawmen gave legendary status too.
The .45 is to much in the urban area or city and not enough in rural area as it has less penetration than a 9mm or a .40 and More recoil than either.
Even the Texas Rangers traded there .45’s for the awesome 357 sig.
Do Not Get a 357 mag Revolver unless You can hit a moving target with 1 round every time, or You’ll likely end up with a tag on Your Toe in a Gun Battle.
The 357 mag has to much recoil and even the massive trigger pull is a problem in a high stress situation.
In a Gun Fight with shots fired at You ,I bet no one in here could hit a basketball at 30 feet with a 357 mag revolver.
1. they would be in DA mode as not suspecting and that long hard trigger pull woo.
You may Get Some Clown saying he Could but a Monkey with a 9mm would have shot him 5 times before he got the damn trigger pulled on a 357 revolver.(its a good Coyote Gun Though)
And BTW it was John Browning who Developed the 1911 not Colt Arms (They Never invented Crap).