.357 Magnum

About this caliber

.357 Magnum is a powerful centerfire revolver cartridge known for versatility in self-defense and handgun hunting, with stout recoil and a sharp report.

Commonly used for

Self-defenseHome defenseHuntingRange / target

.357 Magnum is a high-pressure revolver cartridge delivering considerably more power than the .38 Special from which it was developed. It is used for self-defense, handgun hunting of medium game, and target shooting, and revolvers chambered for it can also fire milder .38 Special ammunition for lower-recoil practice. Recoil and muzzle blast are firm, particularly in lighter revolvers. Ammunition is widely available across many loads. It suits shooters who want a versatile, powerful revolver cartridge and can manage stronger recoil.

General information about this caliber — not a recommendation for this specific firearm.

Load	Type	Purpose	Grain	Velocity	Energy
Aguila Target & Range	SP	Defense	158 gr	1545 fps	838 ft·lb
Barnes Bullets TAC-XPD Defense	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1200 fps	400 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Buffalo-Barnes	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1225 fps	416 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Heavy	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1700 fps	802 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Tactical	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1225 fps	416 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Buffalo-Barnes	JHP	Defense	140 gr	1150 fps	411 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Tactical	JHP	Defense	140 gr	1150 fps	411 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Heavy	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1475 fps	763 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Tactical	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1100 fps	424 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Outdoorsman	LRN	Defense	180 gr	1400 fps	783 ft·lb
CCI Blazer	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1150 fps	464 ft·lb
CCI Blazer Brass	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1150 fps	464 ft·lb
Federal Train + Protect	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1440 fps	575 ft·lb
Federal Premium	JHP	Defense	154 gr	1340 fps	614 ft·lb
Federal Federal P357TA1 357Mag 157gr Terminal Ascent 20 Per Box/10 Case	—	Defense	157 gr	—	—
Federal American Eagle	SP	Defense	158 gr	1240 fps	539 ft·lb
Federal Premium	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1240 fps	539 ft·lb
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1450 fps	584 ft·lb
Fiocchi Range Dynamics	FMJ	Defense	142 gr	1420 fps	636 ft·lb
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics	JHP	Defense	148 gr	1310 fps	564 ft·lb
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1220 fps	522 ft·lb
FORT SCOTT MUNITIONS Tumble Upon Impact (TUI)	—	Defense	125 gr	1424 fps	562 ft·lb
Hornady American Gunner	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1500 fps	624 ft·lb
Hornady Critical Defense	SP	Defense	125 gr	1500 fps	624 ft·lb
Hornady LEVERevolution	SP	Defense	140 gr	1440 fps	644 ft·lb
Hornady Custom	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1250 fps	548 ft·lb
Liberty Ammunition Civil Defense	JHP	Defense	50 gr	2100 fps	490 ft·lb
Liberty Ammunition OverWatch	—	Defense	70 gr	1830 fps	520 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	FMJ	Defense	125 gr	1405 fps	693 ft·lb
Magtech Cowboy Action	LRN	Defense	158 gr	1085 fps	413 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	FMJ	Defense	158 gr	1235 fps	535 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1235 fps	535 ft·lb
PMC Bronze	SP	Defense	158 gr	1471 fps	759 ft·lb
PPU Defense	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1607 fps	906 ft·lb
PPU Handgun	—	Defense	158 gr	1607 fps	906 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition HTP	JHP	Defense	110 gr	1295 fps	410 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition Golden Saber	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1220 fps	413 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition HTP	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1450 fps	584 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition UMC	SP	Defense	125 gr	1450 fps	584 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition UMC	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1450 fps	584 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition HTP	SP	Defense	158 gr	1235 fps	535 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition HTP	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1235 fps	535 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	FMJ	Defense	158 gr	1263 fps	560 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	SP	Defense	158 gr	1263 fps	560 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1329 fps	619 ft·lb
Speer Ammo Gold Dot	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1450 fps	584 ft·lb
Speer Ammo Gold Dot	JHP	Defense	135 gr	990 fps	294 ft·lb
Speer Ammo Gold Dot	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1235 fps	535 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO XTP	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1700 fps	802 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO XTP	JHP	Defense	158 gr	1500 fps	790 ft·lb

Winchester Ammo USA	JHP	Defense	110 gr	1295 fps	410 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Defender	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1325 fps	487 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Super X	FMJ	Defense	125 gr	1370 fps	521 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Silvertip	JHP	Defense	145 gr	1290 fps	536 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Super X	SP	Defense	158 gr	1235 fps	535 ft·lb
Barnes Bullets VOR-TX	JHP	Hunting	140 gr	1265 fps	498 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Buffalo-Barnes	JHP	Hunting	125 gr	1650 fps	756 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Buffalo-Barnes	JHP	Hunting	140 gr	1550 fps	747 ft·lb
DoubleTap Ammunition Hunter	LRN	Hunting	180 gr	1300 fps	675 ft·lb
DoubleTap Ammunition Hunter	LRN	Hunting	200 gr	1200 fps	639 ft·lb
Federal Premium	JHP	Hunting	140 gr	1400 fps	609 ft·lb
Federal Fusion	SP	Hunting	158 gr	1240 fps	539 ft·lb
Federal Premium	JHP	Hunting	170 gr	1610 fps	978 ft·lb
Federal Power-Shok	JHP	Hunting	180 gr	1080 fps	466 ft·lb
Federal Premium	LRN	Hunting	180 gr	1400 fps	783 ft·lb
Federal Premium	SP	Hunting	180 gr	1130 fps	510 ft·lb
Hornady Handgun Hunter	—	Hunting	130 gr	1250 fps	451 ft·lb
Hornady Critical Duty	SP	Hunting	135 gr	1275 fps	487 ft·lb
Hornady Back Country	—	Hunting	165 gr	—	—
HSM Pro Pistol	—	Hunting	158 gr	—	—
HSM Pro Pistol	SP	Hunting	158 gr	—	—
HSM Bear Load	LRN	Hunting	180 gr	1200 fps	576 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	LRN	Hunting	158 gr	1125 fps	444 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO Xtreme Hunter	—	Hunting	120 gr	1700 fps	770 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO Xtreme Penetrator	—	Hunting	140 gr	1550 fps	747 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO Gas Check	LRN	Hunting	180 gr	1400 fps	784 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Big Bore	JHP	Hunting	158 gr	1460 fps	748 ft·lb
ARMSCOR USA	FMJ	Target	158 gr	1534 fps	1307 ft·lb
Fiocchi Range Dynamics	—	Target	158 gr	1220 fps	548 ft·lb
HSM Cowboy Action	WC	Target	158 gr	1175 fps	484 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	SP	Target	158 gr	1235 fps	535 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition Performance WheelGun	WC	Target	158 gr	1235 fps	535 ft·lb
Barnes Bullets Barnes Pioneer	JHP	—	140 gr	1695 fps	893 ft·lb
Barnes Bullets Barnes Pioneer	JHP	—	180 gr	1655 fps	1095 ft·lb
CCI Blazer	FMJ	—	158 gr	—	—
Fiocchi CovertX	JHP	—	125 gr	1425 fps	—
Fiocchi Hyperformance	JHP	—	140 gr	—	—
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC357M15 357Mag 148gr Full Metal Jacket Flat Point 20 Per Box/10 Case	FMJ	—	148 gr	—	—
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC357M9 357Mag 148gr Jacketed Hollow Point 20 Per Box/10 Case	JHP	—	148 gr	—	—
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC357M2 357Mag 158gr Semi Wad-Cutter 50 Per Box/10 Case	—	—	158 gr	1000 fps	351 ft·lb
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC357M8 357Mag 158gr Round Nose Flat Point 50 Per Box/10 Case	LRN	—	158 gr	1000 fps	351 ft·lb
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC357M12 357Mag 180gr Wide Flat Nose Gas Check 20 Per Box/10 Case	LRN	—	180 gr	1400 fps	783 ft·lb
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC357M14 357Mag 200gr Wide Long Nose Gas Check 20 Per Box/10 Case	—	—	200 gr	1300 fps	750 ft·lb
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC357M20 357Mag 210gr Full Metal Jacket Flat Point 20 Per Box/10 Case	FMJ	—	210 gr	—	—
HSM HSM 35724N 357Mag Subsonic 230gr Hard Cast Long Flat Nose 50 Per Box/10 Case	LRN	—	230 gr	1050 fps	563 ft·lb
NORMA AMMUNITION (RUAG) Norma Ammunition 611640020 357Mag 80gr NXD 20 Per Box/10 Case	—	—	80 gr	2068 fps	835 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition Core-Lokt	JHP	—	180 gr	—	—
Remington Ammunition Remington Ammunition R28900 357Mag 180gr Hard Cast 20 Per Box/10 Case	LRN	—	180 gr	—	—
Wilson Combat Wilson Combat LA357120XD 357Mag 120gr 20 Per Box/10 Case	—	—	120 gr	1400 fps	522 ft·lb
Wilson Combat Wilson Combat LA357125CF 357Mag 125gr 20 Per Box/10 Case	—	—	125 gr	1250 fps	434 ft·lb

.357 Magnum

Firearms chambered in .357 Magnum · 55

Ammunition in .357 Magnum · 100

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