Lindcott Armory Revolver · SAAMI
.357 Magnum
Powerful revolver cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.357″ · 9.068 mm
- Introduced
- 1934
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .38 Special
- Primary use
- Self Defense, Hunting, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1934
- Type
- Revolver
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Elmer Keith / Smith & Wesson
- Manufacturer
- Smith & Wesson
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Abundant
- Case capacity
- 26.2 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:16 to 1:18.75
- Primer
- Small Pistol
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 35,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Recoil
- 12–20 ft·lb
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Federal HammerDown Bonded HP 170 gr, 1,550 fps, BC 0.185 G1 · 25 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 1549 | 906 | -0.9″ | — |
| 25 yd | 1495 | 844 | 0.0″ | 0.0 |
| 50 yd | 1441 | 784 | -0.1″ | -0.1 |
| 75 yd | 1387 | 726 | -1.2″ | -1.5 |
| 100 yd | 1332 | 670 | -3.4″ | -3.3 |
| 125 yd | 1278 | 617 | -6.9″ | -5.3 |
| 150 yd | 1225 | 566 | -11.7″ | -7.5 |
| 175 yd | 1173 | 520 | -18.0″ | -9.8 |
| 200 yd | 1125 | 478 | -25.8″ | -12.3 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open .357 Magnum ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Terminal ballistics
392 FBI-protocol gel tests on record (Plywood, Auto Glass, Bare Gelatin, Heavy Clothing, Denim, Wallboard) — 266 passed the 12–18″ penetration window.
- Median penetration
- 14.8″ (bare gel)
- Median expansion
- 0.610″
- Protocol pass rate
- 266/392
Published FBI-protocol results (bare gel + barriers), not Lindcott testing. Pass = 12–18″ penetration with reliable expansion.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 9.07 | 0.357 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 9.63 | 0.379 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 9.63 | 0.379 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 11.18 | 0.440 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.52 | 0.060 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 32.77 | 1.290 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 40.39 | 1.590 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .357 Magnum is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 499 active loads across 68 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 516 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magtech | SJHP | 125 | SJHP | 1,767 | 866 | 0.148 G1 |
| Federal | HammerDown Bonded HP | 170 | Bonded HP | 1,550 | 907 | 0.185 G1 |
| CBC | FMJ Combat | 158 | FMJ | 1,550 | 843 | 0.175 G1 |
| Hornady | Custom XTP | 125 | XTP JHP | 1,500 | 624 | 0.148 G1 |
| Black Hills | EXP JHP | 125 | EXP JHP | 1,500 | 624 | 0.148 G1 |
| Hornady | Critical Defense FTX | 125 | FTX | 1,500 | 624 | 0.148 G1 |
| Federal | Hydra-Shok Deep | 130 | JHP | 1,500 | 649 | 0.152 G1 |
| Fiocchi | Extrema XTP JHP | 125 | XTP JHP | 1,500 | 624 | 0.148 G1 |
| Hornady | American Gunner XTP HP | 125 | XTP HP | 1,500 | 624 | 0.148 G1 |
| Fiocchi | JHP | 125 | JHP | 1,500 | 624 | 0.148 G1 |
| Hornady | XTP | 125 | XTP | 1,500 | 624 | 0.148 G1 |
| Magtech | Magtech | 125 | JHP | 1,450 | 583 | 0.148 G1 |
| Black Hills | JHP | 125 | JHP | 1,450 | 583 | 0.148 G1 |
| Federal | American Eagle JSP | 125 | JSP | 1,450 | 583 | 0.148 G1 |
| Federal | Premium HST JHP | 130 | HST JHP | 1,450 | 607 | 0.152 G1 |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
48 reloading powders listed for .357 Magnum, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .357 Magnum
12 models in the database chamber .357 Magnum. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Developed in 1934 by Elmer Keith, Phil Sharpe, and S&W. Response to increasingly fast cars and body armor during Prohibition. Dirty Harry made .44 Mag famous, but .357 came first.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .357 Magnum use?
- .357 Magnum typically uses a 1:16 to 1:18.75 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .357 Magnum?
- .357 Magnum uses a 0.357″ (9.068 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .357 Magnum still in production?
- .357 Magnum is active; typical availability is abundant.
- What is .357 Magnum used for?
- .357 Magnum is primarily used for self defense, hunting, target.
- What is .357 Magnum based on?
- .357 Magnum is derived from the .38 Special case.
- What are the best powders for .357 Magnum?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .357 Magnum include Titegroup, N330, CSB3, Multi-Purpose Pistol, among 48 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
- StandardSAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .357 Magnumarchived
- StandardSAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawingsarchived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 499 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured; terminal-ballistics figures are published FBI-protocol results. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →