.357 Magnum
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| .357 Magnum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | .357 Magnum |
| Type | Revolver cartridge |
| Designer | Elmer Keith, Samuel Colt? |
| Designed | 1934 |
| Manufacturer | Smith & Wesson, Remington Arms Company, Winchester Repeating Arms Company |
| Parent | .38 Special |
| Case type | Rimmed, straight |
| Bullet diameter | 0.357 in (9.07 mm) |
| Primer | Small Pistol |
| Max pressure | SAAMI 45,000 psi |
'.357 Magnum
The .357 Magnum is a high-pressure centerfire revolver cartridge developed in the early 20th century for increased velocity and terminal performance. It is noted for bridging handgun power between older .38 Special service loads and later magnum cartridges used by hunters and law enforcement. The cartridge influenced ammunition development at firms such as Smith & Wesson, Remington Arms Company, and Winchester Repeating Arms Company and remains common in civilian, law enforcement, and sporting use.
History
The cartridge originated from development efforts led by handgun enthusiasts and manufacturers during the interwar period, with key contributors including Elmer Keith and personnel at Smith & Wesson and Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Pressure-testing and ballistic research at corporate facilities and independent gunsmiths produced a higher-pressure derivative of .38 Special to meet demands reported from Lawrence, Kansas shooting competitions and field trials used by hunters and police departments. Adoption widened through the 1930s and 1940s as municipal and state police agencies in cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles evaluated service calibers. The cartridge’s acceptance paralleled organizational changes at companies such as Remington Arms Company and regulatory interactions with standards bodies including SAAMI.
Design and specifications
The cartridge retains a rimmed, straight-walled case based on .38 Special geometry but lengthened to prevent chambering of higher-pressure rounds in older revolvers made by makers like Smith & Wesson and Colt's Manufacturing Company. SAAMI and other standards organizations define dimensions, chamber pressures, and testing protocols; manufacturers such as Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Remington Arms Company publish load data consistent with those standards. Typical cylinder and barrel materials from manufacturers like Smith & Wesson and Ruger meet metallurgical requirements derived from industrial suppliers and testing laboratories. The design allows use in both revolvers and some carbines produced by firms including Henry Repeating Arms and Marlin Firearms.
Ballistics and performance
Published ballistic tables from manufacturers and independent testers show wide performance variation depending on bullet weight, construction, and barrel length; common factory offerings range from roughly 1,200 to 1,450 foot‑pounds of energy in heavier loads and higher velocities for lighter projectiles from longer barrels. Terminal performance studies cited by ballistics laboratories compare bullet expansion and penetration of jacketed hollow points and lead semi-wadcutter designs; such studies often appear in journals and reports produced by institutions and trade publications associated with Smith & Wesson testing facilities and independent ballistics research groups. Comparative analyses frequently reference other calibers adopted by agencies such as Los Angeles Police Department or debated in professional forums tied to organizations like National Rifle Association.
Firearms chambered for .357 Magnum
A wide range of revolvers from manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Colt's Manufacturing Company, and Taurus International are chambered for the cartridge, spanning small-frame snub-nosed models to large-frame hunting designs. Several lever-action and carbines from makers such as Marlin Firearms, Henry Repeating Arms, and custom builders offer copies of classic rifles chambered for the round. Custom and boutique firms, as well as historic companies like Smith & Wesson and Remington Arms Company, have produced limited runs and specialty models for hunting, defensive, and competitive shooting markets.
Ammunition types and variants
Manufacturers including Winchester Repeating Arms Company, Remington Arms Company, Federal Premium Ammunition, and boutique producers offer jacketed hollow point, full metal jacket, lead round nose, wadcutter, and +P/+P+ loadings tailored to self-defense, range use, and hunting. Special purpose projectiles such as bonded cores and deep-penetrating designs are marketed for big‑game or law enforcement penetration requirements and are evaluated by testing bodies and forensic analysts associated with universities and corporate laboratories. Tracer and frangible variants exist in niche production runs by specialty firms approved by industry groups like SAAMI.
Legal and regulatory considerations
Regulation of ammunition sales, possession, and use intersects with state laws and municipal ordinances in jurisdictions including California, New York (state), Illinois, and Massachusetts where statutory frameworks and administrative agencies implement restrictions and licensing regimes. Internationally, import and export controls administered by agencies and treaties such as those involving Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives-style regulators affect trade among nations and firms. Product liability and safety standards involve manufacturers, trade associations, and standards organizations; legal cases in federal and state courts involving firearms and ammunition have shaped industry practices and corporate compliance procedures.
Cultural impact and use in law enforcement and sport
The cartridge has a prominent presence in popular media and law enforcement history, appearing in publications, films, and collections associated with agencies like New York City Police Department and Los Angeles Police Department as they transitioned through service-caliber evaluations. It remains popular in competitive disciplines overseen by organizations such as United States Practical Shooting Association and International Practical Shooting Confederation for revolver and classic handgun categories. Collectors and historians reference manufacturers like Smith & Wesson and events such as vintage firearms exhibitions at institutions and museums to trace its role in civilian defense, hunting, and sport shooting culture.
Category:Handgun cartridges