stoeger 9mm auto or taurus 357 magnum

[boomer92266]

a few months ago i posted on getting a new gun, i decided to wait to see if i could put a few more dollars back and look at other guns. well next week i'll get the gun and i have narrowed it down to two, its the stoeger couger 9mm or the taurus 65 in 357 magnum. i would like to know for my intended purpose which would be the overall better gun? i will open carry here in kentucky when i'm out walking where i live which is a rural area, and i'll be taking it in the woods hiking and camping. the biggest threat will be feral dogs or coyoties, with a possible black bear which is rare and a wild hog which is starting to be more numerous as several were killed last deer season, the two legged vermin are always a threat and hiking you don't know what you'll walk up on. there were couger tracks seen within 60 miles of me and a few people swore they seen the cat but the KDFW only confirmed tracks not the animal. as for coyoties and dogs, around here they are beginning to worry me. this past turkey season i had to kill two dogs that were a threat and a coyotie that came to my call dropped low and its hair stood up on its back and started snarling at me when i stood up to run it off so i wouldn't scare the turkeys. i had to kill it too, so which would be the best overall gun? i've handled both and they both fit my hand, thanks for any help.

[pmeisel]

I have always been a wheelgun guy. The Taurus 65 is very similar to my S+W model 19.

But, my son has a Cougar (his is Beretta, but the Stoeger is the same) in .40 S+W, and it's a fine gun. I would rather have the .40 than the 9mm for the kind of outdoorsin' you describe.

Either caliber is light for bear, but better than nothin'.

I don't think you can really go too far wrong here.

[FieroCDSP]

I have the Stoeger in 9mm. It's a fine shooting gun for being in the lower-mid price range. 357 will put a hurting on most critters, but if I'm resigned to a "less than bear" caliber, I'd personally take the higher capacity and faster reload of the auto. You have to factor in the higher probability of a miss with faster targets and six shots doesn't allow much breathing room.

[Old Grump]

If you can shoot it equally well then I would do the bigger is better route. Advantage is 38 spcl and 357 for target and serious work and if you can't hit your target in 6 shots a few more means you will just be missing faster. I'd prefer the gun where you only have to shoot them once.

[Koos Custodiet]

I've been carrying a Taurus 66 (3" stainless 357) daily for a decade now so maybe I'm not the best guy to ask :-) My carry load is the 125gr Hornady XTP at 1400 fps, and last week I put a (heart shot, would have bled out anyway) buck down in the field with a 190 grain cast bullet at 1025 fps.

Versatile gun, versatile caliber.

Edit: I'd go with a 4" for what you're wanting to do I think. Little bit of sight radius is good for accuracy. Longer than 4" is a pain to carry daily (we don't have open carry).

[boomer92266]

i will have a chance of seeing a bear or hog but the chances are remote. my biggest threat is a rabid coyote or pack of dogs and the 2 legged pot growing or meth labbing human. are the taurus revolvers that bad as most claim? a good 9 is better than a bad 357, and these two are i can afford if i want to be armed. thanks

[pmeisel]

Taurus revolvers are a mixed bag, many good ones but occasionally a "lemon". Read up on the TaurusArmed forum if you are interested.

However, I can unequivocally recommend the Cougar. Done lots of research and find no real negatives.

[FieroCDSP]

Unfortunately the Cougar is not 9mm+P rated. Probably from the rotating barrel and light spring combination. Would be nice.

[boomer92266]

well the shop called today and all guns came in, but he said there was a problem with the taurus 65. the barrel is not exactly inline, he said it wasn't bad but could be seen if eyed closely and he said he put snap caps in it and it felt like the cylinder was rubbing on the forcing cone. he said the bullet gap wasn't there he didn't have a gauge that would fit in it as it was too close. he did get the cougar in 9mm and 40 and said those were ready to go, but he was sending the taurus back. i really wanted the 357 but i guess i'll have to settle for an auto. thanks to everyone's help.

[FieroCDSP]

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Cougar. Sucks about the Taurus though. Then again, I bought a Smith 686 that I had to send back to the factory before I even got to shoot it because I found the chambers to be bored inconsistently, one of them dangerously so. When it came back, the barrel was over-tightened.
It call came out good though, as I had a gunsmith at the range do his magic and straighten it, as well as put a spring in that lightens the DA pull to beautifully light. I fall in love with it more every time out.

[pmeisel]

Well, if you can choose between the 9 and the 40, I'd take the 40.... it's not quite a 357 but its close...

Not that the 9 is bad, I would have one of those too if I could.

[FieroCDSP]

The 165gr 40's are pretty good for being right between the 124gr 9mm and the 180gr 40's. Nice velocity and a good punch on the receiving end. Less recoil as well.

[Picard]

Have you thought about the new 4" Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum?

Now that's a fine revolver and pretty easy to carry. It's a great gun, that is if you can find one.