S&W 640 Pro

From the data I’ve seen, the difference in velocity between a 38+P and 357, both in a 2 inch snub, is a around 225 fps.

Mr. Mosin said:

From my understanding, and what I've read (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) .357 Magnum, even from a 2" barrel; blows any .38 Spl, original loads or weak kneed modern stuff outta the water; even with the .38 coming from a 4" tube. It does the same to 9x19mm- absolutely blows it outta the water. Now; whether one considers 5 barely controllable rip-snorters worth the extra recoil and personal flash bang; that... is their prerogative.

Click to expand...

.38 Special +P is relatively close in short-barreled revolvers. Where the .357 starts to gain a significant amount in velocity is around 3" to 4" barrels, and by the time that you have a 6" barrel, it is significantly faster than the .38 Special.

2" barrel comparison

.357 Magnum

Cor-Bon 125-grain DPX

1024 fps

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/corbon2.html

.38 Special +P

Cor-Bon 125-grain JHP

897 fps

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/corbon1.html

Now, whether the extra recoil, noise, and flash is worth the extra 100 fps from a 2" barrel is dependent on the shooter. That's totally your decision, and I am not trying to start an argument.

For more useful reading, @Frank Ettin has some good posts on "stopping power" and handgun calibers.

JudgeHolden10 said:

.38 Special +P is relatively close in short-barreled revolvers. Where the .357 starts to gain a significant amount in velocity is around 3" to 4" barrels, and by the time that you have a 6" barrel, it is significantly faster than the .38 Special.

2" barrel comparison

.357 Magnum

Cor-Bon 125-grain DPX

1024 fps

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/corbon2.html

.38 Special +P

Cor-Bon 125-grain JHP

897 fps

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/corbon1.html

Click to expand...

The corbon 357 125 dpx load is a poor example. it is underpowered as it travels at only 1300 fps from a 4" barrel. Buffalo Bore pushes a 125 grain Barnes XPB at 1644 fps from a 4" barrel and 1425 from a 2" barrel. See the ballistics here at Lucky gunner: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/#357mag

Full power 357 Magnum 125 grain JHP bullets clock at 1450 fps from a 4" barrel. A full powered Remington 357 125 grain bullet runs 1250 fps from my 2" Colt barrel, 1450+ fps from my 4" S&Ws and 1700+ fps from my Ruger Blackhawk 6.5" barrel. Lucky Gunner shows speed at 1200+ fps from their 2" barrel. See the Remington 125 SJHP data here:
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/#357mag

For 125 grain bullets, a 357 mag round runs about 400 fps faster than a 38 Special from a 2" barrel. See Lucky Gunner's 38 special data here:
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/#38spl

Had a 640 Pro. I don't believe it has a PC tuned action. It is a Pro Series, not a Performance Center gun. Regardless, the J frame's trigger will always be heavy and it tends to have uneven weight throughout its length of the trigger travel. So even if it was slicked up by a good gunsmith, it's not going to be like a K, L, or N frame trigger, especially one that is similarly stoned and polished.

The 640 Pro does have slightly better sights than the gutter trough on most j frames (the 60 is the other exception). But the Novak style sights aren't very precise, aren't practically adjustable for elevation, and the sight radius is very short. It's also impractical to mount a reflex sight on a J frame, which is otherwise an excellent cure for short barrel, short sight radius problems.

Overall, the 640 Pro Series is one of the finest factory J frames, but in my opinion it leaves a lot to be desired as far as revolvers go. A 2.75" Model 66 is practically just as easy to carry and a far better revolver in every respect. Unless you're not going to do anything with it, a bigger revolver is best. K, L, N frame or GP100, 4", 5", 6". It's better to practice with. It's better to train with under instruction or in classes. It's better to mount optics. It's better to hunt with. It's better to fight with.


The reason they're better has little to do with ballistics. The longer barrels are certainly better with marginal cartridges like .38 Special, but as others have mentioned, .357, even from a snub nosed barrel is "good enough" and "more" doesn't necessarily accomplish anything unless we're talking about hunting bigger game or longer ranges or something. The reason the bigger guns are better is they have better triggers, are more stable prior to the shot, they have longer sight radius, they are a better platform to mount a reflex sight or optic, they have smoother, more linear triggers, less felt recoil (slower recoil velocity), they hold more cartridges (esp. useful in training where you need to keep up), and the grip geometry tends to be favorable for most shooters, giving a better reach on the trigger and more space for the support hand. They also have longer ejector rods that will push the spent shells farther out of the cylinder for more positive ejection. The j frame compromises all of these things that make a revolver so much better. It compromises on all of this, just to make it go better with a suit.

fxvr5 said:

The corbon 357 125 dpx load is a poor example. it is underpowered as it travels at only 1300 fps from a 4" barrel. Buffalo Bore pushes a 125 grain Barnes XPB at 1644 fps from a 4" barrel and 1425 from a 2" barrel. See the ballistics here at Lucky gunner: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/#357mag

Full power 357 Magnum 125 grain JHP bullets clock at 1450 fps from a 4" barrel. A full powered Remington 357 125 grain bullet runs 1250 fps from my 2" Colt barrel, 1450+ fps from my 4" S&Ws and 1700+ fps from my Ruger Blackhawk 6.5" barrel. Lucky Gunner shows speed at 1200+ fps from their 2" barrel. See the Remington 125 SJHP data here:
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/#357mag

For 125 grain bullets, a 357 mag round runs about 400 fps faster than a 38 Special from a 2" barrel. See Lucky Gunner's 38 special data here:
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/#38spl

Click to expand...

That's fair. Personally, I'm not a fan of the louder report, increased recoil, and big flash from the .357 in a snub-nosed revolver, but that is a personal preference, and, as you demonstrate, there are some loads that are significantly faster than the .38 Special.