Henry rifle chambered for 357 magnum. Encyclopedia of weapons
Performance characteristics of the 357 SIG
Caliber, mm - .357 SIG (9x22)
Chuck length, mm - 28.96
Sleeve length, mm - 21.97
Diameter of the leading part of the bullet, mm - 9.03
Case neck diameter, mm - 9.68
Diameter of the base of the sleeve, mm - 10.77
Sleeve flange diameter, mm - 10.77
Case rim diameter, mm - 10.77
Case rim thickness, mm - 1.40
Bullet weight, g - 3.9-9.5
Initial bullet speed, m/s - 374-780
Muzzle energy, J - 679-1049
Maximum pressure, MPa - 275.8 (40,000 psi)
The .357 SIG cartridge (9x22) was developed by the Swiss company Sigarms (trademarks SIG, SIG-Sauer) together with the American ammunition manufacturer Federal Cartridge Co in 1994 for use in semi-automatic pistols.
The .357 SIG cartridge was created in order to provide the stopping and penetrating effect of a pistol cartridge bullet with acceptable dimensions and recoil force, at the level of the famous .357 Magnum revolver.
The design of the cartridge itself is based on a cylindrical sleeve, which was re-compressed and given a bottle shape for a 9 mm caliber bullet. The sleeve itself was reinforced.
As a result, a new ammunition was created - .357 SIG, almost identical to the lesser-known 9x22 MJR (9x22 Major) cartridge, with high initial velocity and bullet energy, significantly superior in these parameters.
With this modification, the creators of the .357 SIG cartridge achieved the following results:
- - more reliable chambering of cartridges, since the diameter of the bullet turned out to be noticeably smaller than the diameter of the rear part of the chamber, which eliminated the possibility of the cartridge sticking when feeding;
- - an increase in the initial velocity of the bullet compared to both the original .40 S&W cartridge and the 9x19 Parabellum cartridge, which gave a flatter firing trajectory and greater penetrating power;
- - the possibility of using this cartridge in existing .40 S&W pistols after simply replacing the barrel, and possibly the recoil spring.
As a result, the .357 SIG cartridge, more than all other ammunition, turned out to be suitable for hitting a protected target located behind a door or, for example, in a car.
Unlike the cartridge, which was also intended to hit protected targets, but turned out to be too “hot” due to the excessive recoil force, which seriously hampered aimed shooting, the recoil of the new .357 SIG cartridge turned out to be quite moderate, while the increase in initial speed was very significant.
Thus, the .357 SIG cartridges, after changing the barrel, can be used in any pistols designed for the .40 S&W cartridge. However, it must be kept in mind that the .357 SIG cartridges develop a very high maximum barrel pressure, on average about 15% higher than the .40SW or 9x19 Parabellum cartridges.
For the .357 SIG cartridge with a bullet weighing 6.12 grams (like a 9x18 mm PM cartridge bullet), the initial speed, when fired from a weapon with a 100 mm barrel, can reach 460 m/s and even 520 m/s with a muzzle energy from 650 to 820 J, which is 2-3 times higher than that of the PM and close to the muzzle energy of the 357 Magnum cartridge. With a bullet weighing 7.82 grams, the initial speed of the bullet can reach 450-460 m/s, and with a bullet weighing 10 grams – 360 m/s.
Obviously, the first to release pistols chambered for this cartridge were its creators - the German-Swiss company SIG-Sauer. Pistols from this and other well-known companies, originally created for the .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge, and equipped with barrels chambered for the new cartridge (SIG-Sauer P226, P229, Glock 31, H&K USP), very quickly gained popularity in the American market.
Since the second half of the nineties, .357 SIG caliber weapons have been gaining increasing popularity among US law enforcement services, and at present it is already in fairly wide demand in the civilian weapons market. But the advantages of the .357 SIG make it invaluable in some situations.
For example, US police highway patrols prefer self-loading pistols chambered for this cartridge over revolvers using .357 Magnum due to the minimal difference in penetration, good ballistic properties, less recoil force and kick-up when firing, and of course the huge advantage in rate of fire and accuracy of high-speed shooting in front of revolvers. In stopping action, as well as in recoil, the .357SIG cartridges are superior to the 9x19 cartridges, and are very close to the .357 Magnum, which is considered the most effective revolver cartridges.
So the North Carolina State Highway Patrol gave up their Beretta pistols, which had served them well for over 20 years, and replaced them with Sig Sauers because they could get them in .357 SIG. Based on the experience of real-life use of weapons, this cartridge performed excellently when shooting through car windows and car bodies.
In reality, it does not demonstrate the high penetration ability that is dangerous to third parties, which has been identified in some tests on gelatin. Basically, the opened bullets are removed from the back of the struck criminal, or from his clothing, or they are found on the ground a meter or two behind the body.
Gold Dot bullets are the most widely used. They have proven effective in states from Texas to Virginia. The New Mexico State Police adopted the .357 SIG cartridge for service several years ago, and recently ordered new Smith & Wesson M&P (Smith & Wesson Military & Police) pistols in this caliber.
In addition to a significant number of police departments who have appreciated the possibility of combining the power of the .357 SIG cartridge with the reliability and large magazine capacity of modern self-loading pistols, this cartridge has also been adopted by the US Secret Service (in particular, 9x22 caliber weapons are used to protect the US President).
In a short time, the .357 SIG cartridge became so popular in the American ammunition market that such well-known manufacturers as Remington, Federal, UMC (Union Metallic Cartridge Company, a subsidiary of Remington), and Lawman began producing it. " and others.
The 8.1 g Winchester Ranger bullet performed well in real shootings. The Remington Bonded Golden Saber bullet of the same weight has excellent combat accuracy and at the same time performs excellently in the FBI gelatin tests.
In the vast majority of cases involving the use of .357 SIG cartridges by police officers, 8.1 g Speer Gold Dot bullets are involved. And they work so well that they should be considered, without question, the most life-tested loadout option for this cartridge.
Different manufacturers produce this cartridge in different loads, and depending on the type of pistol and barrel length, the .357 SIG accelerates an 8.1 g (125 grain) semi-jacketed bullet to a muzzle velocity of 400 - 425 m/s.
Modern bullets that work best in this caliber are capable of quickly opening when hitting a target, and, at the same time, retaining all their mass when moving along the wound channel.
The basic version of the 357SIG cartridge is a variant with a hollow-point bullet weighing 125 grains (8.1 grams).
In 1955 gun manufacturer Colt released probably the best representative of revolvers in caliber .357 Magnum, the model was named Python. The photo shows the perfect embodiment of a revolver Python The pistol is made of stainless steel, with its most beloved strong features.
Forty years ago, one pistol caliber dominated everywhere and no matter what purpose it was used for; for him it made no difference to serve for government purposes, self-defense, deer hunting or recreational shooting - the most popular pistol was the 357 Magnum caliber revolver.
Adoption of the 9mm Beretta by the US military in 1985, dramatically changed the situation regarding revolver shooters and followers of the beloved Colt 19 11 .45 caliber; in both directions of operation: both in law enforcement agencies and the civilian market, the primacy of the new cartridge was won, thanks to the appearance of many self-loading pistols in the 9x19mm caliber. These pistols held more rounds with detachable magazines than the six-shot .357 Magnum or 7+1 in 1911 .45; but for most of the 20th century, 357 Magnum still maintained market dominance. Many experts have expressed the view that if there had not been such a sharp transition in the arms world with the participation of the military towards self-loading in 1980, the .357 Magnum would have remained the most used caliber on the market.
Origins
The cartridge and the .357 Magnum caliber itself were introduced in 1935 by Smith & Wesson, but together with Winchester Ammunition, together they brought it to the market. Majors Douglas B. Wesson and Phil Sharp were responsible for the most recent improvements, although several historical records indicate that both masters consulted Elmer Keith due to his extensive experience in creating heavy bullets, loads that exceed standard power and velocity. 38-44 caliber.
The .38-44 itself was an attempt to develop a more powerful cartridge than the then standard police cartridge .38 Special. Smith & Wesson, prior to the introduction of the .357 Magnum, even released a frame-weighted revolver nominally in .38 Special caliber, but classified as .38-44.
At the time of its introduction, the .357 Magnum was in fact the most powerful production pistol cartridge. The standard charge measured by a chronograph had a speed of 460.2 m/s on a 10.23 bullet grams came out of a 22.2 cm trunk. This was not the first attempt to create a powerful pistol cartridge. There were many beginnings before the appearance of 357, the most notable of which was probably from the Englishman H.W. Gabbet-Fairfax developed in 1900, a self-loading pistol in 9 gauge mm Mars. Its stated muzzle velocity was 489.8 m/s with a bullet weight of 10.1 grams. But the British military rejected it at the testing stage; neither the cartridge nor the weapon achieved commercial success.
Smith & Wesson chambered the 357 in the heaviest revolver frame (at the time) known as the "N-frame". The revolver was available on special order, introduced at the height of the Great Depression. Each pistol was registered by production and came with a certificate confirming its registration. The Smith & Wesson "Registered Magnum" revolver and its cartridge soon became shrouded in mystique following famous legendary figures: lawman J. Edgar Hoover (received registration #1), military general George S. Patton (issue #506) and Hollywood actor Clark Gable ( was recently sold at auction in 2012 as the closing final lot).
Originally S&W cartridge was intended to be used with 22.2 cm barrels, but since all early "Registered" .357 Magnum revolvers were entirely custom, they had a wide variation in individual characteristics. These revolvers came in at least 23 barrel lengths, specialized sighting mechanisms, and grip combinations.
Advantages.357th
The name ".357" refers to the barrel diameter, which is also the barrel diameter for the less powerful and older .38 Special cartridge. The .38 Special was also introduced in 1902 by Smith & Wesson as the most powerful and efficient cartridge to replace the .38 S&W, .38 Short Colt, and .38 Long Colt. The latter did not last long in military service as a standard pistol cartridge, largely due to performance reproaches and a large number of failures in operations during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection.
The .38 Special cartridge was originally equipped with a lead bullet weighing 10.23 grams. with a round nose, its muzzle velocity was 260.6 m/s on a standard revolver and barrel. While the caliber was quite popular among American law enforcement, the .38 Special also faced a lot of criticism for its failures in defending against bad guys, especially during the very violent episodes that took place in the 1930s. It was this criticism that drove the idea of creating the .38-44 cartridges (.38 charges for use in the .44 revolver frame) which ultimately led to the .357 Magnum.
Still, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the 38 Special was the dominant working cartridge in American law enforcement organizations. Its popularity was due to its accuracy and relatively light recoil, and since the case had straight walls, it was easy to reload for recreational shooting.
On the left side is a hand loaded .357 Magnum cartridge with a Keith SWC 10.88 gr bullet. On the right side, according to dry numbers from reference books, its “twin”, factory-assembled .357 SIG cartridge with an 8.09 gr bullet.
If you look at them in fact, there is no need to explain the potential for a possible increase in power in the 357 M due to the volume of the sleeve, it is apparently larger.
When the developers created the .357 Magnum, they took the existing .38 Special case as a basis and simply lengthened it by 2.5 mm. mostly to prevent proper feeding and compromise chamber compatibility on the higher-power cartridge, requiring a stronger design than the .38. The bullet diameter itself is the same as on the .38 Special and .357 Magnum. For training and practical purposes, this meant that the .38 Special cartridge could be safely loaded and fired from any cylinder in the .357 Magnum revolver system; This was probably the strongest aspect for moving from 38 to 357.
In the 30s of the last century, the so-called prohibition law was still in effect in the United States, prohibiting the sale and production of alcohol. In this regard, the level of organized crime in the country has increased several times. After the First World War, the first body armor began to appear, which was actively used by members of bootlegging gangs. To successfully hit such targets, the main pistol ammunition used at that time, the .38 Special, was not powerful enough. It was replaced by the new, more powerful .357 S&W .357 Magnum.
Predecessor
At the time, the .38 Special was the only pistol cartridge in service with US police forces that was powerful enough to penetrate car doors and new body armor. According to tests, these body armor held back bullets from those ammunition whose initial speed was below 310 m/s. The bullet from the .38 Special exceeded this bar, unlike its other “brothers”.
The main contribution to the creation of this cartridge was made by Elmer Keith, a famous American shooter and gunsmith, as well as an avid hunter. But his work to increase the power of the filling of the .38 Special cartridge (a bullet with a caliber of 9.65-9.67 mm) might not have begun if in April 1930 the Smith & Wesson corporation had not launched production of the .38-44 Heavy Duty pistol and his model is Outdoorsman.
A lot of work was done on this .44 caliber weapon, as a result of which it became possible to use smaller caliber cartridges: .38 Special with a reinforced powder charge. Hence their designation: “.38-44”.
Development of the 357 caliber cartridge
Similar weapons with the .38-44 cartridge have gained great popularity among US police officers and hunters, and the already well-known Smith & Wesson company began developing an even more powerful cartridge based on the .38 Special. Also, the impetus for this was the appearance in criminal circles of newer and more protected body armor, which .38-44 could no longer cope with.
When developing a new cartridge, Smith & Wesson and Winchester were faced with the task of increasing its power, taking into account the safety issues that arise. The decision was made to simply lengthen the sleeve by 3.2 mm without changing the caliber.
In order not to confuse the new ammunition with the existing .38 Special, it was given a different name - .357 Magnum. There is a legend that the name for the new cartridge was suggested by Douglas Wesson himself, the head of the S&W company. Douglas was very fond of French champagne, especially in magnum bottles (1.5 liters). At one meeting, he suggested: “I like champagne in magnum bottles because they are bigger and better, so let’s call the cartridge .357 Magnum.”
The new cartridge gave a 10.7-gram bullet an initial speed of 375-385 m/s with an energy in the barrel of a revolver of 730 J. The same .38 Special bullet with the same weight accelerated to only 230 m/s. By reducing the bullet weight, the .357 Magnum can achieve even more impressive results.
Magnum revolver
In 1935, the same company introduced a new cartridge. This pistol was designed around an N size frame with a new cylinder and .38-44 barrel installed. It was given a similar name: .357 Magnum. The first such .357 Magnum revolver was issued to the director of the FBI on April 8, 1935.
Smith & Wesson produced about 6,600 copies of this weapon, after which, as a result of the outbreak of World War II and an increase in army orders, production was suspended in 1941 until 1948. In 1957, the revolver was given a new name: Model 27. And in 1954, a cheaper Model 28 Highway Patrolman model appeared on the market, which quickly gained popularity among traffic police officers and other units. This revolver was in production until 1986.
Model 19 - lightness and comfort
The revolvers that were described earlier were undoubtedly very good. But any good thing can be made even better, which is what the same corporation, Smith & Wesson, did. Experiments with various types of steel and heat treatment processes lasted for a whole year, the purpose of which was to increase the strength of the revolver’s structure without losing its lightness and ease of shooting. As a result, on November 15, 1955, a new brainchild of Smith & Wesson was born - the .357 Combat Magnum, which was later renamed Model 19. This pistol received a lighter and more compact, but at the same time durable frame. Also, for even greater shooting comfort, the cheeks of the revolver handle were enlarged. This model is still produced by some US weapons factories.
Modern realities
Nowadays, cartridges of this caliber are equipped with bullets weighing from 7.1 to 11.7 g. Light expansive bullets are usually used by civilians for self-defense, while heavier ones are popular among hunting enthusiasts. 357 caliber cartridges are, in principle, very versatile, they are used in almost all areas, be it hunting or sports shooting, both in short-barreled pistols and in light rifles.
Revolvers of this caliber in US police units have been replaced by modern self-loading weapons, but many police officers still prefer to take reliable “old men” with them on duty. In civil society, such weapons are still very popular and, probably, even after dozens of years, interest in them will still not disappear.
The best revolvers under .357 Magnum
The best 357 caliber revolvers chambered for the Magnum cartridge are generally recognized to be three examples of different “nationalities”: the French MR 73, the German Korth and the American Colt Python.
In the early 70s, French law enforcement agencies needed newer and more modern firearms, as a result of which the government announced a competition for the best revolver model that met all the required characteristics. The arms company Manurhin offered its 1973 model MR 73, which subsequently took a leading position. It was their pistol that experts recognized as the best among the competitors, thanks to its high quality and excellent combat characteristics.
The tactical and technical indicators of the revolver are presented in the table below.
The famous German gunsmith Willy Kort began creating the design of his own revolver back in 1950, when the production of short-barreled weapons was strictly prohibited. That is why Cort initially focused on developing noise and gas revolvers, which were distinguished by their excellent quality and original design. Only towards the end of the 1960s, when corresponding changes took place in the German weapons legislation, Willy Kort launched the production of full-fledged revolvers.
In the second half of the 70s, the modern design of pistols of this brand was formed. Now Korth produces three types of weapons, one of which is the combat “Korth Combat”, and the other two are intended for sports shooting and differ only in the type of handle. A distinctive feature of this revolver is its excellent shooting accuracy.
Pay attention to the tactical and technical indicators of the weapon reflected in the table.
Sales of the first Python series revolvers began in 1955 by Colt. The very first copies were produced with six-inch barrels, but later modifications from 2.5 to 8 inches appeared. Even now, Python brand pistols of those years are highly valued by weapon lovers for their reliability and excellent workmanship.
Currently, revolvers of this model are very difficult to obtain, since they are produced individually and only on individual orders by Colt Custom Shop craftsmen.
The table shows the tactical and technical indicators of the revolver.
There are many other excellent .357 pistols, but these three are considered the standards.
Improved.357 SIG
The development of the already famous 357-caliber Magnum was continued by the Swiss company SIG Sauer, and in 1994, together with the American company Federal Cartridge, it released a new cartridge, designated .357 SIG. The creators were required to combine all the best qualities of the 357 Magnum in their brainchild, including enormous power and high penetration, and at the same time make it more compact and with adequate recoil. And they succeeded.
The design was based on a .40 S&W cylindrical case, which was simply upgraded to fit the new nine-millimeter bullet. The sleeve itself was also strengthened. The result of this work was, firstly, an increased bullet speed upon departure compared to 40 S&W, and secondly, the ability to use these cartridges in pistols originally intended for forty-caliber. All that was required was to replace the barrel, and everything else could be left in place. Thanks to all these advantages, the .357 SIG appealed not only to many police officers, but also to the civilian population.
Below are the tactical and technical indicators of the 357 SIG.
In our country, the .357 Magnum cartridge was certified for production in November 2012 as ammunition for hunting and sporting weapons. It is produced at the Tula Cartridge Plant.
The photo on the right shows a nickel plated version of the Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum “Hand Ejector” Mod revolver. 27.
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum "Hand Ejector"
The world-famous arms manufacturer Smith & Wesson has always been famous for its revolvers. And revolvers were and now remain the company’s highest priority area of work.
The Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum “Hand Ejector” revolver model was developed in the USA by Smith & Wesson together with the Winchester company under the .357 Magnum cartridge. In this caliber, the 38 Special cartridge held one of the leading places for a long time, but with the advent of the .357 Magnum cartridge, the situation changed: most shooters prefer the .357 Magnum cartridge over all other options for nine-millimeter cartridges. The reason is simple - the 357 is a very powerful and long-range cartridge, created as if “on the brink”. This means that a weapon in caliber .357 Magnum has a strong recoil, but is quite controllable, and the destructive effect of the bullet of this cartridge and the accuracy of the battle are “top five”. The words “Hand Ejector” in the name of the revolver meant the manual extraction of spent cartridges or whole cartridges from the drum.
"Magnum" means a cartridge with an increased charge of gunpowder. At first, .357 Magnum cartridges, developed by Remington and Winchester, with the assistance of a specialist in reloading (loading cartridges for rifled weapons by hand), were produced exclusively by order, but the cartridge was immediately recognized by gunsmiths, and its serial production soon began production. Until the early 1950s, revolvers chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge remained a monopoly of Smith & Wesson. The bullet speed of this cartridge at the exit from a six-inch revolver barrel is 450-460 m/s with a bullet weight of 10.2 g. Then a lot of different variants of this ammunition appeared.
357 Magnum cartridges with different cartridges and different bullets.
The S&W .357 Magnum was made in 1935 based on the previous production model of the S&W .38-44 “Outdoorsman” revolver, but the Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum was made from stronger steel, which is not surprising given the pressure differences between the .357 Magnum cartridge and its predecessor. - .38 Special.
Revolver Smith & Wesson .38-44 “Outdoorsman”
The creation of a model chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge was preceded by less commercially successful modifications of the old revolver, adapted for the .38 caliber cartridge with an increased powder charge. However, despite the considerable age of the weapon, the success of this revolver deserves attention - for almost 80 years, modern police and citizens of different countries have been using various modifications of the Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver.
This revolver model has a self-cocking trigger, which allows firing both self-cocking and with pre-cocking for a shorter and easier movement of the trigger, which contributes to a more accurate shot compared to a self-cocking shot. The revolver is built on the basis of a solid N-size frame with an under-barrel case where the extractor rod is located; this case also helps stabilize recoil. A non-ventilated rib runs along the entire length of the barrel. The drum tilts to the left, giving the shooter access to all six chambers at once. The drum latch is located on the left side of the frame and is operated by the movement of the thumb without changing the position of the hand holding the handle.
The main advantage of the S&W .357 Magnum Hand Ejector revolver is the high stopping power of the cartridge used and good accuracy. The disadvantages include the rather sensitive recoil when fired from a revolver.
The revolver was and remains popular among the police of the United States and other Western countries, and is also widely used in civilian circles.
Known modifications of the Smith-Wesson.357 Magnum “Hand Ejector” are represented by the following models:
S&W .357 Magnum, Mod.27 - a more modern model with adjustable sights, available with a nickel plated or blued finish. The revolver handle had rhombic corrugation on the sides.
S&W .357 Magnum, Mod.28 “Highway Patrolman” - a convenient and practical version of the S&W 27. It features a 4- or 6-inch barrel, an adjustable rear sight and a front sight on a flat base, facilitating faster and smoother extraction of the weapon; the front sight does not cling to the elements of the holster or clothes.
S&W .357, Mod.19 “Combat Magnum” - modification with a medium K-frame. In this model, the under-barrel case is shortened and does not reach the muzzle. The Combat Magnum also has a thick handle. The sights are adjustable, the rear sight can be changed to several fixed positions, the shape of the front sight can be different, depending on the length of the revolver barrel.
S&W .357 Mod.66 “Combat Magnum” - differs from Mod.19 only in the material of manufacture, which is stainless steel.
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum “Hand Ejector” is a convenient and time-tested weapon for a confident hand, characterized by a high-energy cartridge and having only one drawback - relatively strong recoil, but quite normal for an experienced shooter.
The history of the .357 magnum began in 1935, at the height of the Great Depression. Of course, at that time not everyone could afford such a six-shooter. Six years later we entered the war and production of the excellent first model Smith & Wesson revolver in .357 magnum ceased. And even after the end of the war, it took some time before shooters saw the .357 magnum again, already in the fifties. Smith & Wesson resumed production of the first model and added a Highway Patrolman variant with simpler trim, and also launched a new Combat Magnum model. Great Western came on the scene with the Frontier single-action revolver in .357 magnum, and the relatively new gun company Sturm Ruger offered the .357 Blackhawk, a thoroughly modernized single-action model.
While this seems very reasonable now, at the time no company made a lever rifle in .357 magnum. Such a rifle could be obtained by converting the 92nd model Winchester in caliber .25-20 or .32-20. A certain Ward Kooser, a gunsmith from Arizona, was then running a very brisk business, remaking these models for the .357 Magnum. With the advent of the .44 magnum caliber, both hard drives and El Tigris, Spanish replicas of the hard drive, in caliber .44-40, began to be converted to it.
I really wanted to have a .357 magnum revolver and a lever-action rifle to go with it. However, I had to finish my education, look for a job and earn money. It wasn’t until ’57 that I acquired two revolvers in this caliber – a Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman and a Ruger Blackhawk. The lever rifle was still an elusive dream. As time went. Marriage. College. Children. There was no money even for a factory rifle, if one existed, not to mention a modification. When I was in college, Marlin saw fit to start making a lever rifle in revolver caliber, but the '63 model was in .44, not .357. The Marlin 336 that I purchased to supplement my revolvers after college still works great today. Finally, in 1969, Marlin complied with my wishes and released a simple and unpretentious 1894C in .357 magnum caliber - and to this day this model remains one of the most popular.
For me, the ten-shot 1894C in .357 magnum is the most grippy and most attractive rifle, even if you choose from all calibers and systems. This little marlin is capable of almost everything you could ask for in a rifle in general. Of course, this is not the best (or even recommended) weapon for hunting big game. However, I am confident that I could feed my family, and feed it well, if I had nothing but minnows and a .357 magnum marlin.
So-called assault rifles are very popular among those who believe they need them for self-defense. However, a small rifle in .357 caliber fits perfectly here, and at the same time it is easier to transport, it is much easier to shoot, it is less troublesome to load cartridges, and, most importantly, the ammunition for it weighs much less. Add to this the very mild recoil for such a muzzle energy and greater than required accuracy, and it becomes clear why I prefer this rifle to all others.
Other gun manufacturers followed Marlin's lead and began producing lever guns in .357 magnum. Browning for some time produced the Model B92, a ten-shot Winchester replica, in both 44 and 357 calibers. And although both versions have been out of production for a long time, experts are still persistently looking for them at arms fairs. Winchester released the Model 94 Trapper in .357 caliber, and Rossi did the same with the Puma, a replica of the 92 Winchester. Nowadays, lever-action rifles in .357 caliber are produced by Marlin and Winchester, you can also find imported replicas of the 92 Winchester, both in black metal, and in stainless steel. For my first Marlin 357, I bought another one, model 1894C, which I was lucky enough to find in a gun shop. On one of them I left the sight open, and on the other there is a four-power optic. In addition, I sometimes shoot a Browning B92, a Trapper Winchester, and a Model 92 Rossi. All these rifles will someday be passed down to my grandchildren.
Although it would seem that the caliber is the same, choosing a good cartridge option for a rifle is more difficult than for a revolver. It is not difficult to choose gunpowder; the gunpowder used is the same as in revolvers. These are 2400, N4227, AA No9 and W296 for cast lead bullets, you can also use VV N110. For shell bullets, Enforcer and Lil'gun will work. If you need to collect a large number of cartridges, it is convenient to use the RCBS Pro-2000 Progressive Reloader press with Redding 357 magnum caliber dies. I like the capsule strips of the Pro-2000 press better than capsule tubes, and besides, their use eliminates error more reliably. Redding dies are held to very tight tolerances, and therefore cartridges loaded with their help fit every revolver and rifle I tried them on. This was not always the case with other matrix manufacturers.
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Most .357 magnum revolvers shoot well with any cartridge as long as it fits in the cylinder. But this is not the case with rifles. For decades, the Elmer Keith-designed 358429 Lyman semi-target was one of my favorite .357 magnum homemade rounds, as was RCBS's snub-nose version, the 38-150KT. For my alloy, their weight is 173 and 155 grains (11.21 and 10.04 grams), respectively. However, both of these bullets have a flat base without a gas check, and so while they work well in a revolver, trying to get decent accuracy out of them in a lever-action rifle is simply a waste of time. Believe me, I've tried and gotten results ranging from "decent" three-inch groups at 50 yards to bullets that simply miss the mark at that range.
Another issue has to do with the overall length of the cartridge. Keith designed his bullet for enhanced loads in the .38 Special, before the advent of the .357 magnum. If you load this bullet into a .357 case and crimp it into a crimping channel, the length of the cartridge will exceed the size of the cylinder of a Smith-Wesson revolver in the .357 magnum of the first issues, and the nose of the bullet will stick out. However, all modern .357 magnum revolvers will accept the Keith bullet cartridge. This is not the case with lever-action rifles. This cartridge will fire well in a Winchester 94, so-so in a Marlin 1894C, and will not work at all in replicas of the 92 model. All cartridges with the RCBS 38-150KT bullet feed perfectly in all lever rifles in .357 magnum, however, unless the muzzle velocity is reduced to non-magnum levels, the accuracy of both bullets is terrible. You can shoot cast bullets from both Marlin and Browning rifles, however, for minimally acceptable results they must have gas checks.
One of the most popular .357 magnum bullets of all time is the 358156 Lyman gas-check bullet designed by Ray Thompson. 38-caliber Thompson bullet (for those readers who are not very hard on American calibers, we remind you that .38-caliber bullets have the same diameter as .357 magnum bullets, about 0.36 inches or 9.14 mm - approx. transl.) has two flutes. Skeeter Skelton (Charles Skelton, nicknamed Skeeter, a famous American gun journalist of the 60s-80s of the 20th century - approx. transl.) praised this bullet, especially in reinforced .38-caliber loads, when it is crimped into the lower flute. This gives approximately the same powder capacity as a .357 magnum when crimped into the top chamber.
It is not only an excellent bullet for revolvers, but also one of the best bullets for lever-action rifles. I prefer to use it with a .357 magnum case, creaming into the top channel. At 16 grains (1.04 g) of 2400 powder with a CCI 550 Magnum Pistol primer, this produces a muzzle velocity of 1900 feet per second (579 m/s) from an 18 and a half inch (470 mm) Marlin barrel. For comparison, let me remind you that initially the standard load in caliber .30-30 was considered in 1895 to be a cartridge with a 160-grain (10.37 g) bullet and a muzzle velocity of 1950 feet per second (594.4 m/s). The cartridge turns out to be very accurate. However, although this load appears in older reload manuals, when using the modern version of Alliant 2400 powder it may be too hot for revolvers. We can offer two slightly weaker loads that will give an excellent shot from a rifle, while remaining acceptable for revolvers. This is 14.5 grains (0.94 g) of H4227 powder, which will give a muzzle velocity of 1600 fps (488 m/s), and 14 grains (0.91 g) of AA9 powder, which will give a muzzle velocity of 1750 fps (533 m/s).
A commercial version of this bullet with gas check and single flute is produced by BRP under the name 155SWCGC. If you load this bullet with a standard 2400 15 grain (0.97 g) powder load, you will get a muzzle velocity of more than 1800 feet per second (549 m/s) and a group of three less than 2 inches (51 mm) at a distance of 50 yards (46 m). It is not easy to find a cartridge with a lead bullet better than this, suitable for both a revolver and a rifle, unless you are shooting some special bullets of your own design.
Like revolvers, lever rifles perform best with heavy bullets from 180 to 190 grains (11.66 - 12.31 g). There are two commercial bullets available in this category: BRP's 180-grain (11.66 g) SWCGC and Cast Performance Bullet's 187-grain (12.12 g) LBTGC. Both of these bullets are phenomenally accurate in my 1894C Marlin when loaded with 13 grains (0.84 g) of WW296 powder, resulting in a muzzle velocity of just under 1,500 fps (457 m/s). These are not the maximum loads, but they are my preferred loads because they also provide excellent accuracy and little recoil in my two Ruger 357 Flat-Top Blackhawk revolvers, one of which is the original version with a 4 and 5/8 inch (143 mm) barrel ), and the other is long-range, with a custom-made 10 and a half inches (267 mm) barrel. I'm a big believer in the "don't fix what ain't broke" theory, and this charge definitely doesn't need fixing.
Either of these bullets provides deep penetration and is therefore suitable for my purposes when hunting wild boar. It would also be suitable for a deer, but here I am more inclined to a half-shell, preferably with a hollow nose part. I believe Hodgdon's Lil'Gun powder produces outstanding quality cartridges in 357 magnum. Hornady's 158 grain (10.24 g) XTP bullet with eighteen grains (1.17 g) of this powder exits the barrel at 1825 feet per second (556 m/s) and produces a group of three under one inch (25 mm) at fifty yards (46 m). I often hunt in Texas, in places where you can shoot a whitetail deer, a collared peccary, or a wild turkey from the same stand on the same morning, and the load is accurate enough to hit the gobbler in the head without ruining the meat.
The 158-grain (10.24 g) Speer jacketed flat-nose (JFP) bullet with 15.5 grains (1.00 g) of 2400 powder, long considered the standard in the .357 magnum, is somewhat slower at about 1,750 fps (533 m/s), but just as accurate. Speer also has semi-jacketed lead core bullets in 160 and 146 grains (10.37 and 9.46 g). The first of these bullets, loaded with 18 grains (1.17 g) of Lil'Gun powder, produces a muzzle velocity of just under 1,900 fps (579 m/s) from the 18.5-inch marlin barrel and also groups three shots within an inch (25.4 mm). at a distance of 50 yards (46 m). It is an excellent choice for a wide variety of hunting applications on deer-sized game, with expansion equal to or better than hollow nose bullets.
.357 Magnum caliber revolvers have been produced for about 70 years. Almost all this time, the debate continues about whether they are suitable for deer hunting. But there is no arguing about lever-action rifles of the same caliber: they are certainly suitable.
Browning B21, 20 inch (508mm) barrel
Jacket bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | |
| Speer 140 JHP | 19.5 gr (1.26 g) WW296 | 1902 fps (580 m/s) | 1.38 inches (35.1 mm) = 2.64 arcmin |
| Hornady 140 JHP | 17.5 gr (1.13 g) 2400 | 2020 fps (616 m/s) | |
| Speer 158 JHP | 15.5 gr (1.00 g) 2400 | 1745 fps (532 m/s) | 1.75 inches (44.5 mm) = 3.07 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 JHP | 15.5 gr (1.00 g) 2400 | 1816 fps (554 m/s) | 1.88 inches (47.8 mm) = 3.59 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 JHP | 17.5 gr (1.13 g) WW296 | 1802 fps (549 m/s) |
Marlin 1984C, barrel 18.5 inches (470mm)
Cast lead bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | Accuracy of three at 50 yards (46 m) |
| Lyman 358156GC | 16.0 gr (1.04 g) 2400 | 1902 fps (580 m/s) | |
| Lyman 358156GC | 14.5 gr (0.94 g) H4227 | 1588 fps (484 m/s) | |
| Lyman 358156GC | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) AA9 | 1744 fps (532 m/s) | |
| BRP 155 SWCGC | 15.0gr (0.97 g) 2400 | 1834 fps (559 m/s) | 1.50 inches (38.1 mm) = 2.86 arcmin. |
| BRP 180 SWCGC | 13.0 gr (0.84 g) WW296 | 1469 fps (448 m/s) | 0.38 inches (9.5 mm) = 0.72 arcmin. |
| CPB 187 LBT | 13.0 gr (0.84 g) WW296 | 1490 fps (454 m/s) | 0.88 inches (22.2 mm) = 1.67 arcmin. |
Jacket bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | Accuracy of three at 50 yards (46 m) |
| Hornady 140 XPT | 15.0 gr (0.97 g) AA9 | 1882 fps (574 m/s) | 1.38 inches (35.1 mm) = 2.64 arcmin. |
| Hornady 140 XPT | 19.5 gr (1.26 g) WW296 | 1962 fps (598 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) 2400 | 1677 fps (511 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 18.0 gr (1.17 g) L"IL GUN | 1828 fps (557 m/s) | 0.75 inches (19.1 mm) = 1.43 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 17.5 gr (1.13 g) WW296 | 1858 fps (566 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Nosler 158 JHP | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) 2400 | 1760 fps (536 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 140 JHC | 15.0 gr (0.97 g) AA9 | 1842 fps (561 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 158 JHC | 13.0 gr (0.84 g) Enforcer | 1688 fps (515 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 170 JHC | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) 2400 | 1657 fps (505 m/s) | 2.00 inches (50.8 mm) = 3.82 arcmin. |
| Speer 140 JHP | 17.5 gr (1.13 g) 2400 | 1995 fps (608 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Speer 158 GD-HP | 18.0 gr (1.17 g) L"IL GUN | 1845 fps (562 m/s) | 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) = 2.39 arcmin. |
| Speer 158 JFP | 15.5 gr (1.00 g) 2400 | 1742 fps (531 m/s) | 0.75 inches (19.1 mm) = 1.42 arcmin. |
| Speer 160 JFP | 18.0 gr (1.17 g) L"il Gun | 1888 fps (575 m/s) | 0.88 inches (22.4 mm) = 1.68 arcmin. |
| Speer 170 GD-HP | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) 2400 | 1597 fps (487 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
John Taffin, SevAmerStrelok
Guns Magazine, December 2004
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