.45?
.44?
or .357?

What do you think?
Function and aesthetics....

Brand preferences?

.44 Magnum. Need I say more? [:D]

Ian

Please do.

I only own .357 Mag revolvers. The only brand I have are only S&W and Colt. The S&W 66, and 686+ are real fine but I have to give my Colt Python to be the best of the bunch. The Python trigger action had to be the smoothest of all revolvers and not only that, it is a very accurate gun. Go to a nearby dealer, ask to see both guns and try out the trigger action. You will notice a big difference.

I've shot both, and what you say about the Python's trigger is dead on.

As a self admitted gun snob, I agree that the Python is THE revolver. I have one and I can't believe I ever fiddled around with anything else. The .357 mag is plenty versatile and powerful for all my needs. 44mag is overkill for me.I do also have a S&W 625 in .45acp that is damn fine.

Ruger Super Redhawk in 44mag, 45LC, or 480. Hell for strong,and I like the built in ring mounts.

The only thing that I don't like about the Colt Python is that it leave a scratch mark on the cylinder. Boy, that hurt the hell out of me to see that scratch mark on such a beautiful piece of art.

Large frame S&W 29 / 8" 44MAG / Blued

"MAKE MY DAY"

Very accurate revolver.
I like to shoot 180 grain reloads that I download to the lower end of the charts for a 44MAG.

Here is vote #2 for Smith's N frame 44's.

I'm a huge .357 nut. I also own a Ruger Blackhawk.

If you reload, definitley go Ruger or Dan Wesson.
While Pythons have unreal triggers and finish ( I used to have one), the handloads I run through my Ruger's would reduce any Python or S&W into steel dust. (I have proven this twice now with a blown Topstrap on a S&W and a bulged cyl. on a Colt Trooper using healthy loads)

With the Rugers or DW's, they eat them with impunity.

My vote goes for the Colt Anaconda, 6" .44 Remington Magnum. I had one and sent it to Robar and had them blacken the stainless finish. It was one of the scariest guns i had ever seen. I sold it to buy my Desert Eagle in .50 AE. I will buy another Anaconda though.

Tyler

Damn.  If you're going to go and abuse yourself, I say see some rewards for your effort.  .44 mag, accept no substitute.  Somewhere I've still got a few boxes of 240 grain Black Talons...I prefer S&W N-frames, but I wouldn't buy a new one on a bet. Next choice: Ruger, but he's a UN sellout, too.  Pick your politics and pick your revolver.  

Then again, there is the .454 Casull...[pistol]

How about the S&W 686

[(:|)]artbell[(:|)]

Oh it aint black but it's a sweat
gun.

How about that .454 Casull  ??!!??

Otherwise I'd get a S&W 629 Classic DX 5"

Yeah , seen a few of those 686 "plus" models around , 7rds  .357mag

I own a model 29, 6 inch and a Cobra 4 inch.
For defense I would prefer the .357 simply because it's smaller and lighter. The 125jhp .357 was the #1 "one shot stop" stopper, last time I looked.
I like my Colt, but a lot of people prefer the Ruger sp101. If I were comparing the two, chances are I'd like the Ruger more. Ten years ago, I had to have the Colt. I don't regret it for a second.

I'm assuming you don't want anything to do with S&W. They make fine wheelguns and I honestly like my 29 more than my brother's redhawk.
Of course I've had it since 84, so I won't apologize for owning it.
The 29 with Hogue grips feels natural and points well. I like it's DA pull better than the Redhawk. When I was reloading regularly, I found the S&W would not digest hot loads as well as my Brother's Ruger. That's not to say the Smith couldn't handle, even peak loads, it just wouldn't put them on target like the Ruger. You could feed that Ruger anything without a burp.
I found the best load for my Smith was a minimum throw of Winchester 296.
Don't misunderstand. That minimum load of 296 will belch fire and kick half again as hard as any factory ammo I used.

What .45 do you want to compare with the .357 and .44?

If you're asking about a .45 auto, it would be my choice for defense over the wheelguns.

Depends on what you want it for?  The .357 is a good defensive handgun, but short poop for hunting.  The 44 and 45 long colt would take anything your hunt in north america, except for grizzly bear.  the 454 casul is just a pain in the wrist, unless you load it down.  Get a 44, and load it down for playing around.  I was just out at a friends last week, we were shooting at a rock at about 500- 600 yards with his S&E mountain gun in 44 mag. opensights.  What a blast, pointing about halfway to the sky, and getting  fairly close. Of course if your going to carry, there are lots of 2" and 2&1/4 357's available.  Taurus 605 is a nice little gun, I have one with a 2.5 lb trigger ported from the factory. I rarely shoot 357's in it anyway and almost always shoot .38's. What ever you pick  good luck.  

Not.  How about .41 Remington Magnum?

I've had my S&W a long time (1985) so like
Crookshanks, I won't apologize for owning it
either.

It's a sweet shooter, again with a minimum load
(20.4 grains) of WW296 & a 210gr JHP.  Excellent
deer handgun, speaking from experience.  (Where
I hunt the deer get BIG.  A 220lb buck in these
parts will get you a "nice deer" comment, not
any bragging rights though!)

I lust after a '50's era S&W Model 25 in .45LC, blued, with a 5" barrel.  Anybody ever sees one of these rarities, please let me know.

I like the .45ACP version, but I really want the Long Colt.

I'd LOVE a Colt Royal Blue 4" Python, but just can't see the $$.  It is also my understanding that these revolvers (while very sweet to shoot) aren't as rugged as their competition.  

There's an article in August issue of Accurate Rifle regarding use of .44 Mag as a bear gun, with some takes on bullet selections, by the always entertaining Joe Rychetnik.  Check it out.