Originally Posted by
AndyLate
I personally like the 357 Magnum as a defensive lever gun cartridge over any others. The 357 really wakes up when fired from a 16 to 18 in carbine barrel, it is right on the heels of the 30-30 within a hundred yards or so and recoil is very light. Both my wife and a small statured female friend have no problem blasting 357 rounds out of my Rossi 92 that wears a steel buttplate and both ladies hesitate to shoot a 30-30 again.
The 357 is very easy to reload, the loaded ammunition is relatively lightweight, and it's pretty quiet.
My defensive rifle in an AR, but I wouldn't worry if I only had one of my 357 lever guns.
Andy