.44 & .357 magnum cartridge....

Status
Not open for further replies.
I'd have to answer your question with a question: what would you want to use it for? I believe most commonly sold cartridges are designed for hunting or for self defense. If you just want to punch holes in paper, you really don't need the magnum loads anyway.
 
If you want to punch holes in paper, wadcutters would be in order.

Plian swaged lead bullets would be cheapest for plinking. Also easier on the barrel.

I really can't think of a good reason for FMJs in a 357 or 44. Maybe some sort of modified FMJ in the 357 where metal piercing or really deep penetration is required, something really pointy like the old fashioned metal piercing loads.
 
Although I'm not a hunter...I have always wondered this very question simply because I feel a .44 magnum with a FMJ would have incredible penetrative power. Certainly much more than any JSN or HP.

You guys are correct......no practicle use in a FMJ .44 magnum....but in the name of fun.....and is it not what the shooting sports is all about:).......would'nt it be great to have a cartridge to truley test the penetrive power of this round?


Russ
 
Unless I'm unaware....

Why are'nt these rounds available in FMJ?
Click to expand...


They are available, just not common. Most common FMJ ammo(30-06,.308, .223, .45ACP, 9mm) was/is originally used by various countries military, thanks to the Geneva convention. Thus surplus FMJs are readily available in those calibers and the infrastructure to produce this type of ammo cheaply is around. Many states prohibit the use of non-expanding(FMJ) bullets on game animals......thus you don't see it often in those calibers designed primarily for hunting and never commonly used by the military.
 
Same reason anything that is unavailable is unavailable... lack of consumer demand. If there were enough people asking for it, they would make it. Apparently not enough people are asking for it.
 
Are there really no "dumb questions"?

Does anyone make civilian brass-FMJ DU bullets in .45acp, 7.62x39, and .308x39? It's a "mount Everest" syndrome question. Don't ask or tell. Cute.
 
Must be a local thing. LGS here stocks .357 HP and FMJ, no lead bullets. Their .38 special is also FMJ, I don't even recall seeing HP loads in that caliber.
 
The advantages of handloading, you can load the bullet you wan't, sillouette shooters use fmj so they can push the hand gun velocity past the point where leading can occur even with gas checked cast lead.

I used to load a 160 gr FMJ round nose .357 Mag to shoot from a 7 1/2" Ruger
Blackhawk, just for kicks to see if could knock a hole in cast iron engine block (it will) also see if it would shoot through an automobile body side to side (not a problem), end to end ( without the engine) sure did.
 
Unless I'm unaware....

Why are'nt these rounds available in FMJ?
Click to expand...

Two good reasons I can think of.

One, they've never been a military cartridge. Not having any "rules" of war dictating their use, there is no need for an inferior bullet design just to satisfy some convention.

Two, revolvers don't have feeding problems since they don't have to feed or eject.

A hard cast, heavy Keith style SWC in .44 magnum has more'n enough penetration for just about anything that roams the western hemisphere. It may not be "the most powerful handgun ever made" anymore, but it can still "blow your head clean off." :D Well, maybe not, but you get the point. Short of picking berries on Kodiak Island, I don't see the need for more gun in a handgun. I see all the X frame mega-magnums as excess and that goes double where I'm at. We got nothin' down here that'll eat you and killing a hog don't take a .500 S&W. .44 is excellent for that. I don't own one. I have a .45 Colt. Just sayin'. :D
 
The advantages of handloading, you can load the bullet you wan't, sillouette shooters use fmj so they can push the hand gun velocity past the point where leading can occur even with gas checked cast lead.
Click to expand...

Hmm, that's odd. I routinely push a 165 cast SWC at 1900 fps in my 20" .357 carbine and it shoots as clean as any jacketed bullet. I've never seen any sort of leading with a gas checked bullet even at rifle velocities. The flat point SWC is far better as a hunting bullet, which is what I do with it.
 
I had a box of Fiocchi .357 FMJ. I forget what grain, they were goofy looking extra point things. They shot just fine, they were really cheap at the time which is the only reason I bought them.
 
S&B has a FMJ .357. Remington loaded .357 FMJ back in the 60s and 70s. IIRC they called it the 'Highway Patrolman' load. It was supposed to be an anti-vehicle load. When I tested it against their 125gr SJHP load, the SJHP was actually a better load. Of course that was before we learned about what the 125gr load was doing to our K-frame magnums.

I've never seen a 44Mag FMJ, but it looks like there are some out there.
 
Fiocchi makes a 142-gr. FMJ-TC (for truncated cone) in .357 Mag. But this is target/range ammo; I would not use it for self defense, unless I have multiple attackers and I can get them to stand one behind the other. :p
 
They are available. Have you looked?

Fiocchi, Speer,RWS, Magtech, Winchester, etc. all offer FMJ loads. Some also offer JFP loads.

One advantage to them is they do not lead. Some guns do shoot them better.

Poke around here...www.midwayusa.com

and here...www.cheaperthandirt.com

Hope this helps.

tipoc
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top