I'm wanting to buy a revolver, either a .357 magnum or .44 magnum. I don't really have much experience with either, other than shooting a chamber or two of each round using other people's guns in the past.

I ultimately want to use the revolver to shoot deer with. If I was to get the .44 mag, I'm pretty much sold on the Taurus .44 I think they run around $700-$800. If I was to get a .357, I would either go with a Taurus 66 (I think I could get one for $550-$600) or a Ruger GP100 ($900-$1,000). My budget would max out at $1,000 for the gun alone, and would probably eventually get a scope. Whatever chamber I get, I think I'm settled on a 6" barrel.

As far as pros and cons of each, what I can think of off the top of my head would be the following:

.44 mag pros
1. More power
2. More range

.44 cons
1. More recoil
2. More costly ammo
3. Heavier gun

.357 pros
1. Less recoil
2. Lighter gun
3. More affordable ammunition

.357 cons
1. Less range
2. Less power
3. Would require higher accuracy

I'd appreciate any insight people may have on these revolvers or any experience people have using a revolver for deer hunting. Thanks.

Buy it cash & carry, no papers.

I have a 66 I bought over 30 years ago and its been a good gun. I'd say its more up to what chambering you want more than quality difference of the two.

Not a lot of experience here, only ever had a .44 Ruger Black Hawk, but If I were looking for another with your budget, Taurus .44 would be my pick, but with the 8" barrel. I'd be more accurate with a longer barreled revolver.

357 will kill anything that walks in the US. You may need to step up to heavy cast for the big stuff so buy a large frame that can handle it. You would be looking a a large frame in 44 so its a moot point.

If you don't need the heavy loads a K frame is more concealable.

I have limited experience, however, in the past I've owned both a Ruger Blackhawk and a S&W model 29, both in 44 mag. I absolutely hated shooting the S&W, it was very painful. Whereas, the Ruger was very comfortable to shoot, it would sort of roll back in your hand, and the S&W would push straight back into the web between your thumb and index finger.
BTW, the Ruger was the most accurate handgun I've ever shot.

ive killed lots of deer with a ruger super blackhawk in .44 mag. 7 1/2" barrel .good for 100 yards.

Savell,
What the heck is a 44 long Colt? Lol


OP,
A good gun you might consider in .357 is a S&W Model 28. Basically a no frills model 27. It’s a strong revolver and heavy enough to help on recoil. They came in 4 and 6” and you could get whichever length well within your budget. I’ve got a couple of the 4” models.

I’ve got a Taurus Tracker in 44 mag. And I’ll just say I’m general compared to Smiths and Rugers the quality isn’t the same. Not saying Taurus is a bad or unreliable gun but hold one side by side to a comparable Smith, Ruger, or Colt…..and you can feel the difference.

you left out the Pro of 38spl from a 357 for when you just want to shoot and don't need magnums


44mag doesn't mean you don't have to make a well placed shot , heck you need to place a shot with a rifle well also.

the GP100 is a better gun than the Taurus

I have a super Blackhawk in 44 and my dad has the GP100 both good guns

The Rugers are worth more later and cost some more now also.

buy once in the caliber you like , cry once

Though I have other guns, I picked up a Taurus Tracker in .357 mag and it about all I will ever use anymore. I was really surprised at how well put together this one is and added benefit I have 7 shots.

It is more accurate than I am- I shot this coyote at 68 yards.

I second the GP 100.

^^^This.^^^ In .357.

Ammo shortages like we've been having, you can get .357 or .38 about anywhere.
Me personally, I wouldn't buy a .44 mag unless I lived in grizzly country.

Dang and he was armed too!

I googled 44 colt to jog my memory.

It was actually a 45 heel based bullet so the case would also be 45. Designed to fit a bored out 1860 army cylinder.

Fork over the $$ for one of the new overbuilt Coly Pythons in .357 mag, and call it a day life.

x2

Consider splitting the differance and go wih a .41 mag, best of both worlds!

If you’re looking for accuracy, the long colt isn’t a very good option unless you are shooting within three feet of the target. lol

I've killed several deer and hogs with my old Dam Wesson .44 mag, 10".

I would not consider a .357.

Buy whatever brand you want (I know personally that Ruger Blackhawk's and Redhawks are very accurate).

Consider that you may decide to change grips after purchase.

Stick with at least 240gr bullet size or larger. I've settled on the Hornady 300gr XTP. That load will blow through both deer and hogs.

I've killed a bunch of deer with handguns. Most have been with a 44 magnum, several with 41 magnums. I admit to never killing one with a 357 magnum. I have however taken a bunch with a 357 Maximum. Admittedly the Maximum in a revolver is somewhat of a rare bird, but they are out there, totally a reloading option. The 41's are available but ammo again can be an issue. It's pretty much a reloading option. My longest open sight kill was with a 4 inch S&W 57, 41 magnum. Doe was hauling butt. I hit her at 89 paces, she skidded 9 paces on her chin. And yes I hit her where I was aiming, one shot. My longest shot with a scoped gun was pushing a 100 yards +/-. That gun is a 7 1/2 inch Red Hawk with a red dot sight. At one time it wore a scope which I didn't like, too hard to shoot offhand as the scope amplifies the shakes. With the red dot you just don't see the shakes as much. They are there, you just don't see them. I much prefer hunting with open sights. The last few years the gun I have carried is chambered in 44 Special, a 5 1/2 inch Ruger Black Hawk with a Bisley grip frame. More than enough power, I have never gotten a slug back. I use heavy for caliber slugs that I cast myself using wheel weight lead. The Maximum gets a 180 grain slug, the 44 magnums 310 grain, and the 44 Special is 260 grain. I only have one Taurus, a 454 Raging Bull that I am still figuring out. Four of the five chambers will give me a very nice 4 shot group. The fifth puts its shot out an inch or two at 25 yards off bags. That chamber throat is larger than the other four. At present the cylinder is out to have all the throats made the same. I won't be buying another Taurus or a 454 for that matter. After I get it back and figured out, it's going down the road. Besides the chamber throat issue I can't keep the ejector rod to stay screwed down.

I have never had any issues at all with S&W or Ruger guns. The Smiths are superbly accurate. They just can't take a steady diet of heavy loads that the Rugers can. The Red Hawks in my estimation are indestructible when fed by any sane hand-loader. For velocities I get 1500 fps out of the Maximum with a 180 grain slug, 44 Magnum 1200 with the 310, and 1050 with a 260 out of the 44 Special. Can I get more out of them? Sure, but why? They group very very well and I never get any slugs back. So what's the point. I have a range finder, I know my trajectory and I shoot a lot.

As GreenCountyPete said "Buy once, Cry once".