Practice & target
Full-metal-jacket, plated, lead, and wadcutter bullets describe different constructions. Grain weight is projectile mass; it does not state a powder charge or guarantee recoil.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · REVOLVER & LEVER-ACTION RIFLE
.357 Magnum
A rimmed magnum revolver cartridge also offered in lever-action and other carbines. Rifle and handgun data should be compared separately.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 1.405–1.590 in
35.687–40.386 mm - Case length · max
- 1.290 in
32.766 mm - Jacketed max
- 0.358 in
9.093 mm - Lead max
- 0.359 in
9.119 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.440 in
11.176 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Revolver & lever-action rifle
- Bullet specification
- 0.3580 in / 9.093 mmJacketed max
0.3590 in / 9.119 mmLead max - Factory examples
- 16 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 125–180 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.357 Magnum is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 357 Mag. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
.357 SIG is an unrelated bottleneck pistol cartridge. Any use of .38 Special in a .357 firearm must follow that firearm's manual.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is jacketed max; lead max, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The .357 Magnum was introduced in 1935 after work on more powerful .38-caliber revolver ammunition attracted the attention of Smith & Wesson. Sierra highlights gun writer Phil Sharpe’s experiments and demonstrations to company executive Douglas B. Wesson, with Winchester participating in ammunition development. A longer case distinguished the new cartridge from the .38 Special lineage on which the project had built.
Its early reputation centered on an unusually powerful commercial revolver, but its history did not remain confined to that role. Police service, target shooting, handgun hunting and later lever-action carbines all helped sustain the cartridge. The .44 Magnum eventually displaced it as the headline example of revolver power, while the .357 continued in a much broader range of firearms. Modern lever guns are an important part of that continuing story: describing it only as a revolver cartridge leaves out a substantial and familiar use.
Historical sources: Sierra: .357 Magnum cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Expanding factory bullets
JHP, XTP, FTX, HST, and similar product names refer to particular designs. Muzzle energy alone does not show expansion, penetration, or reliability in a particular firearm.
Specialty load families
Reduced-recoil, subsonic, monolithic, and heavier-bullet offerings are product-specific. A +P marking is a pressure category where standardized, not simply a heavier bullet. Follow the maker’s exact product and firearm guidance.
In the cited .357 Magnum examples, bullet weights are 125, 130, 135, 140, 154, 157, 158, 180 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
125 grains
1,440 fps
JHP
135 grains
1,275 fps
FlexLock®
154 grains
1,340 fps
HST
Compare all 16 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalTP357VHP1 | 125 gr 8.10 g | JHP | 1,440 fps 439 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
| Hornady90500 | 125 gr 8.10 g | FTX® | 1,500 fps 457 m/s | 8 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Hornady90504 | 125 gr 8.10 g | XTP® | 1,500 fps 457 m/s | 8 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Hornady9052 | 130 gr 8.42 g | MonoFlex® | 1,250 fps 381 m/s | 8 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Hornady90511 | 135 gr 8.75 g | FlexLock® | 1,275 fps 389 m/s | 8 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| FederalP357XB1 | 140 gr 9.07 g | BARNES EXPANDER | 1,400 fps 427 m/s | 6-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| Hornady92755 | 140 gr 9.07 g | FTX® | 1,440 fps 439 m/s | 8 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| FederalP357HST1S | 154 gr 9.98 g | HST | 1,340 fps 408 m/s | 4 in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalP357TA1 | 157 gr 10.17 g | TERMINAL ASCENT | 1,410 fps 430 m/s | 6 in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalAE357A | 158 gr 10.24 g | JSP | 1,240 fps 378 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
| FederalF357FS1 | 158 gr 10.24 g | FUSION SP | 1,240 fps 378 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
| FederalP357HS1 | 158 gr 10.24 g | HYDRA-SHOK | 1,240 fps 378 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| Hornady90562 | 158 gr 10.24 g | XTP® | 1,250 fps 381 m/s | 8 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| FederalC357G | 180 gr 11.66 g | JHP | 1,080 fps 329 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalP357SA | 180 gr 11.66 g | SWIFT A-FRAME | 1,130 fps 344 m/s | 6-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalP357SHC1 | 180 gr 11.66 g | SOLID CORE | 1,400 fps 427 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.357 Magnum: velocity by barrel length
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| Cor Bon 110 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 928; 3: 1,109; 4: 1,286; 5: 1,377; 6: 1,461; 7: 1,578; 8: 1,600; 9: 1,615; 10: 1,619; 11: 1,667; 12: 1,725; 13: 1,682; 14: 1,691; 15: 1,728; 16: 1,790; 17: 1,686; 18: 1,718 |
| Cor Bon 125 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 904; 3: 1,257; 4: 1,496; 5: 1,614; 6: 1,715; 7: 1,784; 8: 1,851; 9: 1,901; 10: 1,943; 11: 1,978; 12: 1,994; 13: 2,024; 14: 2,054; 15: 2,069; 16: 2,119; 17: 2,067; 18: 2,113 |
| Cor Bon 140 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 911; 3: 1,172; 4: 1,394; 5: 1,493; 6: 1,580; 7: 1,671; 8: 1,717; 9: 1,745; 10: 1,802; 11: 1,814; 12: 1,851; 13: 1,916; 14: 1,933; 15: 1,942; 16: 2,004; 17: 1,947; 18: 1,941 |
| Cor Bon 125 gr. DPX | BBTI | 2: 1,050; 3: 1,271; 4: 1,471; 5: 1,552; 6: 1,648; 7: 1,682; 8: 1,728; 9: 1,779; 10: 1,804; 11: 1,831; 12: 1,858; 13: 1,885; 14: 1,897; 15: 1,915; 16: 1,946; 17: 1,907; 18: 1,936 |
| Federal 125 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 949; 3: 1,255; 4: 1,511; 5: 1,571; 6: 1,702; 7: 1,784; 8: 1,817; 9: 1,881; 10: 1,943; 11: 1,973; 12: 1,945; 13: 1,979; 14: 2,017; 15: 2,032; 16: 2,051; 17: 2,026; 18: 2,072 |
| Federal 158 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 858; 3: 1,102; 4: 1,293; 5: 1,373; 6: 1,465; 7: 1,516; 8: 1,570; 9: 1,563; 10: 1,630; 11: 1,643; 12: 1,654; 13: 1,674; 14: 1,732; 15: 1,708; 16: 1,739; 17: 1,689; 18: 1,719 |
| Federal 130 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP low recoil | BBTI | 2: 919; 3: 1,194; 4: 1,453; 5: 1,586; 6: 1,662; 7: 1,765; 8: 1,810; 9: 1,812; 10: 1,922; 11: 1,922; 12: 1,934; 13: 1,984; 14: 1,993; 15: 2,012; 16: 2,044; 17: 2,009; 18: 2,017 |
| Federal 158 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP | BBTI | 2: 914; 3: 1,122; 4: 1,332; 5: 1,402; 6: 1,485; 7: 1,536; 8: 1,593; 9: 1,586; 10: 1,638; 11: 1,671; 12: 1,679; 13: 1,687; 14: 1,715; 15: 1,718; 16: 1,741; 17: 1,712; 18: 1,721 |
.357 Magnum: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 125 gr Federal JHP | Federal | 0: 1,440; 25: 1,335; 50: 1,240; 75: 1,161; 100: 1,096 |
| 130 gr Hornady MonoFlex® | Hornady | 0: 1,250; 50: 1,110; 100: 1,015 |
| 135 gr Hornady FlexLock® | Hornady | 0: 1,275; 50: 1,150; 100: 1,058 |
| 140 gr Federal BARNES EXPANDER | Federal | 0: 1,400; 25: 1,326; 50: 1,257; 75: 1,196; 100: 1,143 |
| 154 gr Federal HST | Federal | 0: 1,340; 25: 1,127; 50: 999; 75: 914; 100: 848 |
| 157 gr Federal TERMINAL ASCENT | Federal | 0: 1,410; 25: 1,330; 50: 1,256; 75: 1,191; 100: 1,135 |
| 158 gr Federal JSP | Federal | 0: 1,240; 25: 1,187; 50: 1,139; 75: 1,098; 100: 1,063 |
| 180 gr Federal JHP | Federal | 0: 1,080; 25: 1,050; 50: 1,020; 75: 1,000; 100: 970 |
| 125 gr Hornady FTX® | Hornady | 0: 1,500; 50: 1,312; 100: 1,163 |
| 125 gr Hornady XTP® | Hornady | 0: 1,500; 50: 1,313; 100: 1,165 |
| 140 gr Hornady FTX® | Hornady | 0: 1,440; 50: 1,281; 100: 1,154 |
| 158 gr Federal FUSION SP | Federal | 0: 1,240; 25: 1,187; 50: 1,139; 75: 1,098; 100: 1,063 |
| 158 gr Federal HYDRA-SHOK | Federal | 0: 1,240; 25: 1,187; 50: 1,139; 75: 1,098; 100: 1,063 |
| 158 gr Hornady XTP® | Hornady | 0: 1,250; 50: 1,149; 100: 1,072 |
| 180 gr Federal SWIFT A-FRAME | Federal | 0: 1,130; 25: 1,086; 50: 1,049; 75: 1,016; 100: 988 |
| 180 gr Federal SOLID CORE | Federal | 0: 1,400; 25: 1,333; 50: 1,270; 75: 1,214; 100: 1,163 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .357 Magnum?
A rimmed magnum revolver cartridge also offered in lever-action and other carbines. Rifle and handgun data should be compared separately.
What diameter does .357 Magnum use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.3580 inches (9.093 mm), jacketed max; 0.3590 inches (9.119 mm), lead max. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
.357 SIG is an unrelated bottleneck pistol cartridge. Any use of .38 Special in a .357 firearm must follow that firearm's manual.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
Factory datasets show manufacturer specifications and any published downrange projections. Chronograph and barrel-study datasets identify recorded measurements and the original test source. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values are labeled linear estimates; single source points are not extended into invented curves. Energy is calculated from bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Skives & petals: read the jacket construction →
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 45 ↗
- Sierra: .357 Magnum cartridge background ↗
- Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗
- Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗
- Ballistics by the Inch: archived measured barrel data (2020 archive) ↗
- BBTI: study index and source records ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.