.357 Mag (.357 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges
Learn more about .357 Mag (.357 Smith and Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges
Looking to find out more about firearms before you apply for your SAPS firearm licence? Learn all there is to know about .357 Mag (.357 Smith and Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges right here.
Smith & Wesson introduced this cartridge for its heavy-frame revolver. Ammunition was developed by Winchester in cooperation with Smith & Wesson. Using a lengthened and strengthened version of the .38 Special case, the .357 Magnum was rapidly accepted by hunters and law enforcement. At the time of its introduction, it was claimed to easily pierce the body panels of automobiles and crack engine blocks. While it has less power than the .44 Magnum, it compares favourably to the 10mm Norma and .45 ACP, but with better armour penetration. Today factories offer over fifty different loadings in this caliber.
.357 Mag (.357 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges |
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| Cartridge Specifications | |||
| Case Type: | Rimmed, straight | ||
| Introduced: | 1934 | Made For: | Revolver |
| Cart Len: | 1.590-in | Case Len: | 1.290-in |
| Case Dia: | 0.379-in | Bul Dia: | 0.358-in |
| Ballistics measured with: |
| 4-inch revolver barrel |
| Cartridge Variants: | |||
| Weight | Velocity | Energy | |
| From: | 110 gr | 1295 ft/sec | 410 ft-lbs |
| To: | 180 gr | 1200 ft/sec | 675 ft-lbs |
| Cartridge Used in Database | ||
| Weight | Velocity | Energy |
| 158 gr | 1235 ft/sec | 535 ft-lbs |
| Rankings for Cartridge Used in Database | |||
| PF: | 195130 | TKO: | 9.980 |
**See below for further reference regarding the power rankings listed in the tables above:
MV-Muzzle Velocity
Muzzle velocity when fired from a typical handgun. Measured in feet-per-second.
ME-Muzzle Energy
Muzzle energy when fired from a typical handgun. Measured in foot-pounds.
PF-Power Factor
In shooting competition the Power Factor is used to determine the competitive division in which a particular handgun/cartridge can be used. A simple calculation of the bullet's mass times its muzzle velocity.
PF = bull. mass x muzzle vel.
TKO-Taylor Knock Out Formula
Developed by big-game hunter John Howard Taylor in the 1940's. Calculates the relative effectiveness of bullets for hunting game.
TKO = (bull. mass x muzzle vel. x bull. dia.)/7000
Link back to the main table listing of handgun and rifle cartridges HERE.
