Tony_the_tiger
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2011
- Messages
- 905
I did a 5/5/5/5 drill (5 shots in 5 seconds from 5 yards within a circle that has a diameter of 5 inches) with a 2.25" SP101 .357 Magnum using Buffalo Bore's Barnes XPB 140 Grain .357 bullet and achieved a minimum of 1160 ft/s, a maximum of 1214 ft/s, and a standard deviation of 15.317. The round was controllable and penetrated four water jugs.
Comparably, Speer's 135 Grain .38 Special + P Gold Dot traveled approximately 890 ft/s out of the SP101 and penetrated two jugs.
Both are suitable for self defense against water jugs... the .357 could be expected to have better barrier penetration, violent expansion, and deeper penetration.
Additionally, all else being equal, a .357 snub will have stronger tolerances than a .38 special snub, and has the benefit of being able to handle multiple calibers depending on need and context.
The idea that .357 and .38 Special have comparable ballistic potential in a short barreled revolver does not hold up to the data. Whether that will make a difference in a self defense situation is beyond the scope of this post. I have fine examples in both calibers.
Comparably, Speer's 135 Grain .38 Special + P Gold Dot traveled approximately 890 ft/s out of the SP101 and penetrated two jugs.
Both are suitable for self defense against water jugs... the .357 could be expected to have better barrier penetration, violent expansion, and deeper penetration.
Additionally, all else being equal, a .357 snub will have stronger tolerances than a .38 special snub, and has the benefit of being able to handle multiple calibers depending on need and context.
The idea that .357 and .38 Special have comparable ballistic potential in a short barreled revolver does not hold up to the data. Whether that will make a difference in a self defense situation is beyond the scope of this post. I have fine examples in both calibers.
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