.357 Velocity (S&B)

[Nightcrawler]

I've heard time and time again that .357 Magnum loads have been "reduced" over the years, probably in large part due to the large number of very light guns out there.

Today, 125 grains at 1450 feet per second is considered a "hotload". 158 grains at that velocity (granted out of a longer barrel) is the "original" .357 hotload. That's probably a bit recoil-intensive, though.

Still. Your typical 158 grain .357 load has seems to have a roughly 1200-1250 feet per second muzzle velocity.

I've heard that S&B .357 is loaded hotter than that. Anybody chronograph it out of a 4" barrel? It's listed on their site, I believe, but the velocities are for a 6" barrel.

I think a 158 grain jacketed soft point at 1300-1350 feet per second would be pretty handy.

 

[Gabe]

You should look at Buffalo Bore's heavy loads. 180 grains @ 1400 fps!

 

[Nightcrawler]

Oh, I wouldn't be interested so much in maxed out loads. Just a "general purpose" load with a little more oomph than the current crop of 158 grain fodder.

A 180 at 1200, which is in common production, sounds about right too.

In .45 Colt, the revolver round I have the most experience with, 200 grains at 1100 is one of my favorite loadings....

Edited to add: Stuffing those Buffalo Bore thermonuclear loads into your 16 ounce riboflavin airweight snubby is probably not a good idea.

 

[George S.]

According to the S&B website, their .357 158gr FMJ is shown at 1394 fps and 683 ft.-lbs.

For comparison, the Federal Hydra-Shok 130gr JHP is 1300 fps and 490 ft.lbs.

 

[surfinUSA]

Both of Fiocchi's 357s are hot with good enery figures

357E
357 Magnum
148 Jacketed Hollowpoint
1500 FPS
720 Ft/Lbs


357F
357 Magnum
142 FMJ Truncated Cone
1420 Fps
650 Ft/lbs

The 142 FMJ is also real accurate. I haven't tried the JHPs.

 

[Jim March]

My opinion: the Buffalo Bore thermonuclear loads are for L-Frames, GP100s, N-Frames, Blackhawks and similar. Or carbines of course (2,200fps anyone? ).

Run 'em in less, and...you're liable to hurt yourself, for one.

That said, if I had nothing else available, they'd work in an SP101, pref. with 3" barrel, as a "minimal 48-state woods gun". In an extreme pinch, maybe a steel-framed 357 model 60...and NOT with "boot grips" .

Titanium or Scandium, uh uh, ain't no way, mama didn't raise no moron here. I'd rather wrassle the Calif legislature on CCW for the next 10 years than shoot that combo!

 

[Sean Smith]

I assume we are talking about a .357 Magnum load for critters, right?

Remington has a hot 165gr Core-Lokt load for .357 Magnum @ 1,290 from a 4" barrel. It would probably match the hotter side of the ballistics you are looking for from a 6" barrel.

All the factory 158gr stuff I've seen tops out at about 1,250ish.

 

[Nightcrawler]

All the factory 158gr stuff I've seen tops out at about 1,250ish.

Yeah, but why? That's no where near "pushing the envelope" for .357; they could quite easily get another 100-150 feet per second without having overpressure.

 

[seeker_two]

Yeah, but why? That's no where near "pushing the envelope" for .357; they could quite easily get another 100-150 feet per second without having overpressure.

Older guns, stupid people, & suit-happy lawyers...:banghead:

Titanium or Scandium, uh uh, ain't no way, mama didn't raise no moron here. I'd rather wrassle the Calif legislature on CCW for the next 10 years than shoot that combo!

With all that you ALREADY do, I'd expect to see you shooting .44Mags in a scandium derringer...

I love the S&B stuff. I carried the FMJ's in bear country for the extra velocity & penetration. It might not have been enough to outright kill the bear, but it would hit hard enough to dissuade him from chewing on me...

 

[HSMITH]

357 magnum has been Sally-fied a little bit at a time for 30 years, with current factory loads pathetic. 44 magnum too, but that is another story.

If you want real true 357 performance you pay Garrett or Cor-Bon or Pro Load a small fortune for ammo, or you make your own.

Those Fiochhi loads are nice and closer than anything else to true magnums, but not "hot" as far as speed and energy go. There is some room left .

BTW, Jim is not kidding about shooting the boomers in the little guns. Even a 4" K-frame will graphically demonstrate where the sharp edges are, just look for the source of the bleeding LOL . Dremel off the lower edges of the cylinder release to a nice rounded smooth shape if you plan on shooting the boomers.

 

[WonderNine]

Here's some chrono results from last fall,

Gun used 6" Smith & Wesson Model 19:

S&B 158gr. JSP (older boxes)

1305
1316
1298
1301
1282
1296

Rem Core Lokt 165gr.

1188
1173
1246
1187
1205
1233

 

[cpileri]

truncated cones!

SurfinUSA! WHer'd you find the TC rounds. Been looking all over for those!
C-