r/canadaguns • u/Striker-of-life • Jun 17 '26

Buy recommendations Leaver action 44 or 357?

So I'm shopping for a leaver action in looking at a Smith and Weston 1854. But while I lean towards 357. Fomo is making me ask should I consider 44 mag more? I'm just curious what are you thoughts? 44 or 357 for leaver?

Edit/Update:

I ended up going for the S&W 1854 Sheath hunter in 357 thanks every one

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23

u/Lumindan Jun 17 '26

For plinking? 357 means you can run 38 special. Much more cost effective.

4

u/EnvironmentalFox7532 Jun 17 '26

That’s my thinking too. But I’m still weighing getting the 44mag. Planning on starting to reload so if I do this winter I’ll probably go with the 44mag

6

u/Lumindan Jun 17 '26

Reloading won't really save you much money. Just getting your return back is gonna take you a hot minute. Most people don't factor in the cost of items (primers, the whole kit etc). Not to mention time, you gotta cost out what YOUR time is worth.

Get into it because you can custom craft what runs best for your rifle. Get into it because you can make bubba's pissing hot loads that you can trust (probably). Don't get into it thinking you'll save big.

44 is definitely more punch which is attractive for a lot of folks.

7

u/Q-Ball7 In the end, it's taxes all the way down Jun 17 '26

Reloading for these calibers specifically actually will save you a significant amount of money ($250/1000 reloaded vs. $750/1000 factory in .357’s case, cost difference is similar for .44), but it’s only worth it if you’re actually going to shoot the 3000-4000 rounds it takes to break even on the press and associated equipment (assuming you buy a good auto-indexing progressive press).

If you’re not burning through at least a thousand rounds a year, it’s not worth it.

2

u/EnvironmentalFox7532 Jun 17 '26

Getting into loading other calibers as well. Mainly to re use brass I have, save a few cents, and to be able to shoot when I can’t find ammo local by chance.

I know I can just order online, but that doesn’t help when it’s Friday night and a buddy calls to see if I want to head shooting on a Saturday. Basically same a fly tying to me, it’s just nice to roll your own rather than pay a premium for what you need. Totally get it probably won’t save much overall. But equipment to me is like any other tool, gun, fly rod, tying materials etc. it’s an investment hedging on an unknown future.

4

u/Sillyak Jun 17 '26

Not all lever guns run 38 special well. Lever guns more than any other action are very sensitive to COAL. Of course some designs handle it better than others. I love my 1892, but it is sensitive to bullet shape and COAL.

2

u/TM7075 Jun 17 '26

This is correct!

3

u/Ok_Rush_246 Jun 17 '26

Maybe if you’re getting factory ammo, otherwise it’s basically the same and 357 gives more “bang for the buck”

Out of a lever gun, 12 grains of powder in a 357 is pretty underwhelming

2

u/hawkbat05 Jun 17 '26

Check local prices to be sure. I went with 44 mag and it's really no cheaper to buy 44 special near me.