357 Magnum Pistols - It almost seems ridiculous to introduce a product that was at least 25 percent more expensive than other products the company was making in the depths of the Great Depression, but that's exactly what Smith & Wesson did when it introduced the .357 Magnum in 1935. Smith & Wesson historian, Roy Jinks, said Smith & Wesson's top brass felt that this new custom-made bullet was not in high demand, given the $60 price tag. They are wrong. As soon as it was introduced, demand exceeded the factory's ability to meet it. Almost 120 guns are shipped per month, and more are on order.
Like the biggest mold, the .357 Mag. Invented by enthusiasts outside the factory. In this case, it was the idea of Phil Sharpe, ballistics scientist, writer, and NRA technical staff from the 1930s to 1950s. He teamed up with General Douglas B. Wesson, grandson of founder Daniel Wesson. Elmer Keith designed the first bullets for the cartridge when he developed the 160- and 173-grain semi-wadcutter (SWC) bullets for the .38 Special in the early 1930s. The heavier loads that contained these bullets than the 13.5-grain Hercules 2400 proved to be very accurate in the Smith & Wesson .38/44 N-frame cartridges of the time.
357 Magnum Pistols
Smith & Wesson needed something to answer Colt's .38 Super, a cartridge designed for the M1911 that launched a 147-grain full metal jacket at 1,225 f.p.s. and 490 ft.-lbs. slap, enough to break the door of the getaway car at high speed. The .38 Special and 9mm Luger is simply not up to the task. Sharpe and Wesson brought the Winchester into the mix to develop the ideal cartridge. Winchester added 0.125" to the case length and increased the velocity of the 158-grain SWC to 1525 f.s. in the 8.5" barreled revolver. The load was very effective for hunting, and the Wesson traveled far and wide hunting everything from wild peas to walruses with the .357 Mag.
Magnum Dummy Gun
This load can be effective, but long-barreled bullets are quite uncomfortable for police officers on the street. Smith & Wesson lowered the barrel to .357 Mag. Dropped to only 3.5" for the police. 5" and 6" barrels were quite popular in .357 Mag. Well into the 1960's and even the early 70's. My 5" Model 27 - model number circa 1957 - was very good. Balance of weight, sight radius and speed. Although now semi-retired after about 40,000 rounds, it still makes 1,280 f.p.s. With a good 158 grain bullet, and I won the match in no time with it.
Review of the .357 Mag. They are quite consistent and positive throughout their 87-year life. Of course, experimenters have to play with bullet weights - everything from 90 to 200 grains and may be experimented with. 110-grain JHP jacketed hollowpoints achieve impressive velocities, such as nearly 1,500 f.p.s. in a 6-inch barrel, but is usually too weak to maintain structural integrity and penetration. The 180 and 190 caliber guns will go through almost anything but armor plate, but have a rainbow-like trajectory. So, like most things, a compromise was reached.
For field use I usually run a 158 grain SWC in front of a 14 grain Alliant 2400 for 1150 to 1300 f.p.s. In my 4" to 6" barreled .357s. This is a great load for small game and I threw even 80lb. A heavy boar many years ago. Today, when I hold a .357 Mag. It's usually a Model 342PD or 2.5" Model 66. I have to admit that bullet and powder technology has evolved since the Great Depression, and I now carry Speer 135-grain Gold Dot Hollow Points SB (for short barrels). This load has a good reputation as a fight stopper and even I have to admit it shoots as well or better than my own bullets.
The popularity of the .357 Mag. still as strong as ever. In the modern world of semi-automatic pistols with magazines that hold most of the cartridge cases, almost every revolver manufacturer - single or double action - makes a .357 Mag. Mostly because of the flexibility of both ink and spin. Most people know that you can easily shoot .38 Spl. in .357 Mag. chambered pistol and still get all the accuracy that appears in that particular piece. Wadcutters are as easy in the hand as rimfires - no small feat for those of us with arthritis in our hands. Also, a water cutter is cheaper than a large load that fills the house. But when more hits are needed, shooters can load up a few "T-Rex," as they're sometimes called, including heavy bullets, slow-burning powder and magnum barrels to tackle the big problem.
Colt Python 357 Magnum Revolver, 6\
Smith & Wesson is not the only manufacturer of the .357 Mag. Gun. Colt has just reintroduced their iconic Python in this size. Ruger has built some of the toughest .357 Mag. revolvers since 1950. My 1950's Flat Top is one of the most accurate .357's in my collection. Kimber has been making a very nice double action revolver chambered in .357 for many years. Nighthawk imports and customizes special Korth ammunition. The Taurus has a .357 Mag. For everyone's style. You don't have to limit yourself to revolvers, as Winchester, Henry and a host of European and South American replica manufacturers make lever rifles chambered in .357 Mag. Still. My Winchester Model 92 shoots very well, especially since I replaced the factory rear sight with a Skinner rear sight.
.357 mag. He fits in so well among the archers that he is an indispensable commoner? - Also .22 LR. Most women have at least one, even if their current preferences have moved to other rooms. It's just common - and deservedly so.
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