Minimum barrel for maximizing .357

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MAXIMIZE???? Well, if you want maximum, go with a 20" lever carbine or bolt gun. Longer the barrel, the more you'll get out of it. My Rossi carbine shoots a 165 grain SWC to nearly 1900 fps loaded over L'il Gun.

I find that a heavier than 125 grain bullet is necessary to get ANYthing out of a 2" barrel. I have .357s in 2", 3", and 4" I get about 1330 fps out of a hot 140 Speer JHP load in the 2", is usually my carry. I get a little more out of the 3", about 600 ft lbs vs 550 out of the 2". Now, with a 125 grainer, I can barely break 330 ft lbs with the 2" gun where a 4" pushes it to around 600 ft lbs. So, I stick to the heavier bullet for carry especially in the short gun.

I like the 3" gun and will likely start carrying it more when we get open carry in a bit over a month. It's just that the barrel sticks out a little longer and my T shirts sometimes expose part of that barrel. The 2" gun's barrel is totally enclosed by the leather of my JIT Belt Slide holster, so even if the shirt tail rises over the holster, you still can't see the gun. The 2" gun sure is nice on the belt, too, at 19 ounces unloaded. My medium frame 3" gun is about 34 ounces.

To me, there's more to consider than ballistics in what you're going to carry. Choose the right load, heavier bullet load, and the 2" gun will perform at least twice as good or a few ft lbs more than a +P .38 and still give you better concealment. Me, I have choices. :D
 
In the 3" I would avoid full power and load my own "short barrel" kind of rounds. The 686 would handle it pretty well, I think, but wild magnum ammo for home defense will raise some eyebrows. If you can't get that 3" gun out of your mind, then we know where this ends.
 
The 357 and 44 Magnums share very similar configurations, pressures, sectional densities with similar performing bullet weights. I reloaded and chrono'd a good bit in those two calibers for a good number of years using identical calibers. Velocities tended to be similar per bullet weight/sectional density. Here's what I can offer off the top of my head. Standard weight bullets: 357/158 gr JHP, 44/240 gr JHP, load range Magnum but not maximum heavy.

5.5 inch 44 Magnum Redhawk..........240 @ 1300 fps
7.5 inch 44 MagSuper Blackhawk .....240 @ 1440 fps

6.0 inch 357 Magnum Sec Six .........158 @ 1325 fps
4.0 inch 357 Magnum GP 100 .........158 @ 1154 fps

Differences in barrel lengths in both calibers were 2.0 inches
Both 5,5 in 44 Mag and 6" 357 Mag barrels produced very similar velocities.
In 44 Mag we are seeing about 70 fps per inch of barrel velocity change.
In 357 Mag we are seeing about 85 fps per inch of barrel change.
The 357 tube got shorter so subsequent rate of velocity change was higher.

Interpolating this, knock another 90 fps off the 1154 and you woukd have a 158 gr/1064 fps load. The 357 Magnum 125 grain commercial service loads are optimized for a 1400 fps velocity in a four inch barrel. Knock 90 fps off that and a three inch revolver would be 125 grain/1310 fps load. Of course different guns and barrels would differ.
 
4 inch minimum

I used to carry an agency issued .357 magnum with a 3 inch barrel. It was a great carry gun, but with the 125 grain jhp, the blast was strong.

I also carried my own 4 inch and the difference was considerable from my shooting viewpoint.
My own experience is that I would not carry a .357 magnum with less than a 4 inch barrel.

Jim
 
I own dozens of handguns in many calibers from many different gun companies and the 357 is and will always be one of my favorites. One just isn't enough, I have them with 2.25", 4.2", 6", and 8 3\8" barrels. It also makes for one heck of a carbine round with performance that exceeds just about every other pistol round until you get to the 44 magnum and up.
 
I find my 4" M66 chronos faster than my 6" 686+ and PC 627 V-Comp. I am assuming it is due to closer BC tolerance, but haven't checked. I've had 158 gr plated bullets up towards 1300 fps, but think that is an edgy load.

The 4" M66 is my everyday carry in a Nelson tuckable IWB in appendix position with an option of a DeSantis thumb break scabbard at 4 o'clock when I wear a coat or windbreaker.
 
It takes a 6" barrel in a 357 Magnum revolver in order for the bullet to show real hustle. Two or three inch models? Fuggitttaboutit! Pain to shoot, excessive muzzle flash, difficult to control.
 
It takes a 6" barrel in a 357 Magnum revolver in order for the bullet to show real hustle. Two or three inch models? Fuggitttaboutit! Pain to shoot, excessive muzzle flash, difficult to control.
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But limiting ones carry gun to 4" for high and tight, strong side carry means the gun can be readily drawn, given good forward cant to a holster. Once I get to 5-6" or more, I go to a cross draw and then only for open carry. That's how I see it. My range toys are mostly 6-7 inch barrels, although the only 357 I have longer than 5" is a "Sauer Western Six-Shooter" SA at 6". I have 3" barrels in 357, but those guns are so brutal with seriously magnum ammo that I make special loads for them. I would say then that full power ammo, for me, is going to require at least a 4" barrel. Longer is good...it depends.
 
I disagree. The SP101 is such a fantastic gun because the heavy loads are controllable. Out of the 3" barrel a 180 grain hardcast loads gets ~1300 FPS and the 158 grain gets ~1400. Yes, there is a blast and it has some recoil, but that is pretty serious power. An SP101 is about as small as I would go with those loads, and only with Hogue grips.
 
I don't understand how these ballistics are acquired. Are these chrono'd loads or interpolated data from the load manuals?
What does the barrel forcing cone look like?
 
I disagree. The SP101 is such a fantastic gun because the heavy loads are controllable. Out of the 3" barrel a 180 grain hardcast loads gets ~1300 FPS and the 158 grain gets ~1400. Yes, there is a blast and it has some recoil, but that is pretty serious power. An SP101 is about as small as I would go with those loads, and only with Hogue grips.
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I have read this as an exception attempting to belie the rule on many occasions. It seems pretty well established that the SP101 is very often limited to 38 Special, maybe +p, let alone full power 357 Magnum with heavy bullets. I reload 357 cases on the milder side and understand that many others do as well. The 357 was conceived as a big six shooter, so no surprise if many pass on shooting it, when the gun is scaled down significantly. It is a fact that the SP101 was introduced as a 38 Special.
 
These are Buffalo Bore loads, which I have fired many times from my SP101, and the forcing cone looks normal to me. I have never heard that an SP101 is limited to +P .38 Special. It is 27 ounces of steel, not 12 (the LCR weight) of alloy and polymer. It does kick, but I carry the SP101 with 180 grain hardcasts when backpacking in bear country and reckon it is the best compromise of power against weight.

Do I use it as a target pistol, putting 1000s of heavy and fast rounds through? No. But the SP101, as far as I know, is said to be a tank, and I have never heard anyone say you shouldn't fire .357 loads from Buffalo Bore/Doubletap/Underwood through them. Certainly Ruger and the ammo manufacturers state explicitly it is fine. It is, BTW, a heavy 5-shot revolver with an all-steel frame.
 
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These are Buffalo Bore loads, which I have fired many times from my SP101, and the forcing cone looks normal to me. I have never heard that an SP101 is limited to +P .38 Special. It is 27 ounces of steel, not 12 (the LCR weight). It does kick, but I carry the SP101 with 180 grain hardcasts when backpacking in bear country and reckon it is the best compromise of power against weight.

Do I use it as a target pistol, putting 1000s of heavy and fast rounds through? No. But the SP101, as far as I know, is said to be a tank, and I have never heard anyone say you shouldn't fire Buffalo Bore/Doubletap/underwood through them. Certainly Ruger and the ammo manufacturers state explicitly it is fine.
 
Okay, what do they chrono out of your gun? That is what I am curious about. Along with what the forcing cones look look after well over a thousand rounds, but you won't be there for awhile from the sounds of it.
 
These are Buffalo Bore loads, which I have fired many times from my SP101, and the forcing cone looks normal to me. I have never heard that an SP101 is limited to +P .38 Special. It is 27 ounces of steel, not 12 (the LCR weight). It does kick, but I carry the SP101 with 180 grain hardcasts when backpacking in bear country and reckon it is the best compromise of power against weight.
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It is not a matter of what an SP101 is capable of. It is a matter of who wants to shoot it.
 
Real men can shoot 12 ounces guns with 180 Buffalo Bore. :D

Recoil tolerance varies by individual. While the 12 ounce 340s are a might much for me, I know there are guys that shoot 'em in extended range sessions. I limit my 19 ounce Taurus 605 Poly to 140 grain loads making 1340 or so fps (yes, chronographed, not interpolated) for carry loads and I don't have a problem with 'em. Indoors, they might be a bit much, but if I were being shot at by jihadis with ARs, I'd not even notice.

Heavy bullets in short barrels suffer little. It's the crappy little 125 grain stuff that suffers, gets out of the barrel before it can catch the pressure peak in a 2" gun. I don't need no stinkin' "short barrel load" with my 140s, shoot 17 grains of 2400 behind them fire breathers!

Check out Buffalo Bore stats. They get almost exactly what I get out of various barrel lengths and they're factory loads.

I have a 3" medium frame gun, but I prefer to carry the 2" Poly. It's so easy to tote, I can wear it all day. Yet, it's there when I need it. It is quick out of the holster, accurate, and 552 ft lbs powerful.

BTW, I've duplicated my load performance in my old SP101, too. The SP101 is even easier to shoot. Hell, I even know GIRLS that shoot hot loads from SP101s! :D (my daughter) Of course, she's 6'1" and 140 lbs. But, hey, she's a girl. :D
 
I have read this as an exception attempting to belie the rule on many occasions. It seems pretty well established that the SP101 is very often limited to 38 Special, maybe +p, let alone full power 357 Magnum with heavy bullets
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Where did you hear this nonsense? You obviously have never owned or shot an SP101. I've shot 187 grain bullets over 1100 fps from my little 2.25" barreled SP and trust me when I say it does not hurt your hand or the gun whatsoever. Unless you have really feminine hands.
 
Where did you hear this nonsense? You obviously have never owned or shot an SP101. I've shot 187 grain bullets over 1100 fps from my little 2.25" barreled SP and trust me when I say it does not hurt your hand or the gun whatsoever. Unless you have really feminine hands.
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I have four (4) SP101s, one of which is 357 Magnum. I do indeed have small, tender hands, using a glove for 44 Magnum, but it's not like I made this up. I have read many comments about shooting only 38s in the SP101, let alone special loads for it in 357 cases. I shoot 357 cases in my SP101 in that cartridge, but I tailor the load to the gun and what I want to shoot. I am not averse to recoil at all, except I have drawn the line at 44 Magnum. I just don't like a gun to hurt me when it fires. Same problem with my two Smith 60s.
 
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Fair enough Rg, I don't shoot heavy loads in my SP101 very often either. I've been shooting plated DEWC's over a mild charge of HP-38 lately. The SP101 can handle 357 Magnum loads though if that's what you want to shoot.
 
.357's get their speed from burning all that powder inside a barrel. Take away the barrel, and there is no point- you're just producing flash. I wouldn't own a .357Mag with less than a 4" barrel.

Taking my analogy to the extreme, would you own a .30-06 with a 8" barrel?
 
People underestimate the 357's potential from a 2.25" - 3" barrel. My testing has convinced me that a 2.25" SP101 and 3.78" Glock 29 are so similar in performance with heavy bullets that there's no clear winner. It absolutely puts the 9mm to shame with the same length barrel.

Taking my analogy to the extreme, would you own a .30-06 with a 8" barrel?
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I own a .308 bolt action rifle with an 18" barrel and I'm not losing much velocity compared to a 22" barrel with the heavier bullets. What can I say I like short barrels.
 
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In a handgun, dunno, but Nat beat me to it on the 16-inch carbine barrel length.
You can gain 400-500 FPS in a 16 inch carbine barrel over a four-inch revolver. :)
Denis
 
To be sure, the SP101 kicks with the hot loads, but so does my Service Six and Blackhawk. The only pain came from the trigger guard banging my middle finger (also on the Blackhawk). Once I put on Hogues that filled that gap, it was fine (but very loud). I am going to go out on a limb and say that it is the near-perfect handgun - very versatile, plenty powerful, likely to outlast my grandchildren, and I can make it disappear inside the waistband in a pinch (I just have to wear a decent belt).
 
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