Uberti Cattleman strength?

[Deadguy]

Does anyone know if the Uberti Cattleman series of revolvers in .357 mag can handle real .357 mag loads on a regular basis, or if it is best to stick to "cowboy loads"?

[Angel_Eyes]

I don't see why they shouldn't, surely there are proof marks that should give you some idea?

Anyway, why would you want to shoot something that will only make you go, "Ooooh!"

AE

[Shotgun Franklin]

Talking of carrying sized handguns, there are few guns that can take a steady diet of .357 mag ammo.  I used to carry a S&S M28 and shot way more .38's out of it than mags. The occassional box of mags should be fine but it kinda depends on just how much you're going to shoot.

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[Dirty Brass]

My guess would be moderate use of magnum loads would be fine. As with many other magnum caliber handguns, sustained (continuous - repetitive) use of full power magnum loads is not recommended, as far as I've read and been advised. Unless of course you have the larger framed modern magnum handguns (as is the M28-2), in which case the answer would be go for it  

[Deadguy]

Ok, so it wouldn't like a steady diet of magnum+ loads, unlike my Roogers..  

[Deadguy]

Speaking of which, what about the Ruger New Vaquero in .357?  Should that be able to handle magnum loads on a regular basis?

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Sheesh! The Colt SAA and it's replicas are large framed revolvers. Just for the fun of it, I just grabbed one of my S&W Model 28s and a Colt SAA. The cylinders are very similar in size. We tend to forget that just because they are not as big as the 'original model' Vaqueros, the SAA is still a big gun.

The Colt Single Action Army was first offered chambered for 357 Magnum way back in the 1930s when the cartridge was first introduced. This ain't nothing new. There is plenty of steel in the cylinder of a SAA or any clone of it to stand up to a steady diet of factory 357 Magnum loads. No, you do not have baby it with 'moderate loads', although you may not like the recoil and muzzle blast of a steady diet of 357 Magnum  loads.

Same with the Ruger New Vaquero chambered in 357 Mag. Although the chamber walls are relatively thin when chambered for 45 Colt, the much smaller holes of a 357 Mag leave plenty of steel in the cylinder. The New Vaquero is a stout gun and can take a steady diet of any SAAMI spec 357 Mag ammo you care to feed it.

[Shotgun Franklin]

The cylinder blowing out is seldom the problem. The frame on nearly any gun will strech with enough hot loads. You also have plenty of small pins and parts that get stressed with mag loads. You'll likely get tired before your gun does. My M28 is now 32 years old and as tight as it was brand new. I practice and plink with lighter loads and hunt with or carry the magnum loads. Kinda think of it this way, how long will your car last at 100 mph or at 65 mph? Most cars will easily go 100 but for how long if they're driven that fast daily?

[Dirty Brass]

DJ is probably correct in his evaluation. Most of my concern comes from hot loaded 45 Colt and 44 Magnum chamberings. The NMV frame is perceived by many to be too weak for the hotter 45 LC reloads many (at least I) have shot in my OMV's. The .357 is much milder in comparison.