The . 357 Magnum is as popular as ever with civilian shooters for self-defense, silhouette competition, and hunting. Here, in no particular order, are ten reasons it's still the best overall handgun round out there.
How effective is the .357 Magnum for self-defense?
The . 357 Magnum handguns are larger and heavier, they recoil more and they have less capacity. This makes them less comfortable to carry, harder to shoot, and less effective in an extended fight.
Is .357 the best ammo for self-defense?
357 Magnum 125 Grain JHP shoots a 125-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1,220 fps. It is an excellent self-defense round that is designed to work well in longer barrel guns for maximum velocity.
Is a 357 more powerful than a 9mm?
The 357 Magnum round loaded with a 125-grain projectile reaches almost 1,500 feet per second and strikes targets with 585 foot-pounds of energy. Needless to say, ballistically, it outperforms the 9mm. The 357 Magnum also has no problems reaching the FBI standards and even exceeding them.
How powerful is a 357 Magnum?
357 Magnum ammunition. Full power . 357 Magnum loads push a 125-grain bullet to 1,450 f.p.s. from a 4-inch barrel. This is the case with Remington, SIG Sauer, Speer and Winchester ammo.
28 related questions foundWill 357 stop a bear?
357 Magnum or other similar-caliber load, a well-placed shot with a good bullet will certainly kill a bear, but it's not recommended.
What is the most powerful handgun?
The Smith & Wesson Model 500 has held its rank as the world's most powerful handgun since it was first introduced in 2003.
Does a 357 have stopping power?
Their initial research, published in 1992 and entitled, Handgun Stopping Power: The Definitive Study, showed the . 357 Magnum had the best track record in actual shootings. It delivered one-shot stops at a rate well over 90%.
What's the difference between 357 Magnum and 38 Special?
Modern 357 Magnum ammo is designed to fire a 158-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1,235 FPS and a target thumping 535 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Compare that to the 38 Special, which fires the same bullet weight at 755 FPS and has a muzzle energy of 200 ft-lbs, which is less than a 45 ACP.
Is a 357 Magnum more powerful than a 38 Special?
Today, Winchester's 357 Magnum Silvertip round launches a 145-grain bullet at 1290 FPS with 536 ft. -lbs. of energy. That's more than double the muzzle energy of the 38 Special.
What is the highest grain for a .357 Magnum?
A full-size four-inch barrel . 357 Magnum is a formidable revolver with 125-grain loads. Another choice comes with heavier bullets in the 135 to 145-grain range.
Are Taurus 357 Magnum a good gun?
It remains an excellent firearm, and an excellent value in a . 357 magnum revolver. If you can't find this revolver locally, one of my most trusted sources, Brownell's, carries the Taurus 627 . 357 magnum in its updated models.
What bullets go in a 357 Magnum?
Primarily, shooters choose to practice with . 38 Special ammo in their . 357 Magnum revolvers because . 38s are lighter recoiling and less expensive.
Does 357 Magnum over penetrate?
Registered. Overpenetration isn't much of a concern in the . 357 as long as 125g hollow point ammo is used. The round usually travels about 12 -14 inches into the target and "explodes" creating a massive temp cavity which delivers around 98-99 % one shot stops!
How many rounds does a 357 revolver hold?
357 Magnum has a magazine capacity of nine rounds. It has also become popular as a "dual use" cartridge in short, light rifles like the American Old West lever-actions.
What does Magnum mean in guns?
A magnum cartridge is a firearm cartridge with a larger case size than, or derived from, a similar cartridge of the same projectile (bullet) caliber and case shoulder shape. The term derives from the .357 Magnum, the original cartridge with this designation.
Can you use 38 Special bullets in a 357 Magnum?
357 Magnum was specifically designed so it cannot be fired from handguns chambered in . 38 Special, but you can shoot . 38 Special in a gun chambered in . 357 Magnum.
Are 9mm and 357 the same?
357, . 380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.) The different names are for marketing reasons or because of where the cartridge was developed.
What handgun is used by Navy Seals?
Naval Special Warfare Command made the decision to add the Glock 19 to the available inventory of the SEAL Teams a little over a year ago. They will slowly begin to phase out the Sig Sauer P226 and replace those with the Glock 19 platform.
Which is more powerful a 44 Magnum or 357 Magnum?
As for bullet energy, the 357 comes out at 566 ft-lbs while the 44 creates 832 & 904 ft-lbs. This indicates what we already knew: The 44 magnum is much more powerful than the 357 magnum. When he changes things up to compare the most commonly-used bullet weight for each cartridge, you can really see the difference.
What caliber has the most stopping power?
40 round, which supposedly combines the best features of the . 45 ACP and the 9mm. However, others say that the lowly . 22 LR has the best stopping power, since it stays in the target's body and bounces around, shredding arteries and punching holes in internal organs.
What is the most powerful handgun in America?
With the entry of the . 500 S&W Magnum and the Model 500 revolver, Smith & Wesson recaptured the title of the most powerful handgun, and with it an increase in sales. The . 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum was designed from the outset to be the most powerful production handgun cartridge.
Are revolvers more powerful?
Revolvers are often shown to be more "powerful" than semiautomatic handguns, and this is true to some extent: revolvers can utilize much more powerful ammunition (see page pic) because they usually have a solid frame and therefore are physically stronger.
What is the most powerful handgun in the US?
- Magnum Research BFR, . 45/70 Government. ...
- Magnum Research Desert Eagle, 50 Action Express. ...
- Smith & Wesson Model 29, . ...
- Ruger Single Seven, . ...
- Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan, 480 Ruger. ...
- Smith & Wesson Model 3566, . ...
- Freedom Arms Model 83, 475 Linebaugh. ...
- Smith & Wesson Model S&W500, 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum.
What is the difference between a .357 Magnum and a .44 Magnum?
357 Mag is a much smaller diameter bullet than its . 44 Mag counterpart. While the case and overall length are similar, the . 44 Mag is much wider and voluminous cartridge that can hold more powder and withstand a higher amount of pressure when the powder is ignited.
