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158 Grain .357 magnum
- Thread starter CZ_
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
Johnny,
The rounds were Winchester metal piercing rounds (or Western Super-X, whomever made it at that time).
I got them about 20 years ago from a friend's father, where he got them I don't know. The boxes were water damaged and in pretty bad shape, but the ammo wasn't corroded at all. Like an idiot, I didn't grab a couple of rounds for my collection. They're the only Winchester metal piercing rounds for .357 I've ever seen.
We used my friend's father's 28 and his chronograph.
To put it mildly, these rounds were vicious from the 28, and it still had the wood grips on it, which made it even worse. The muzzle flash was pretty impressive, too.
I don't remember what the primers looked like, but I do recall that extraction wasn't bad at all. A little hitchy, but not at all difficult.
All of the rounds chrono'ed right in the same ballpark, so I doubt that it was powder decay.
Velocities in those days were often underreported.
I just spent about 45 minutes going through some of my old reloading manuals.
Several show velocities in the 1500-1600 fps range with powders that are no longer available for 158-160 gr. jacketed AND cast lead bullets.
Starting in the late 1950s/early 1960s, though, velocities and maximum charge weights start to drop off quite a bit.
However, my Hornady 4th edition still shows several loads for 158-160 gr. jacketed bullets at 1,450 fps, but that's out of an 8 3/8" tube.
The rounds were Winchester metal piercing rounds (or Western Super-X, whomever made it at that time).
I got them about 20 years ago from a friend's father, where he got them I don't know. The boxes were water damaged and in pretty bad shape, but the ammo wasn't corroded at all. Like an idiot, I didn't grab a couple of rounds for my collection. They're the only Winchester metal piercing rounds for .357 I've ever seen.
We used my friend's father's 28 and his chronograph.
To put it mildly, these rounds were vicious from the 28, and it still had the wood grips on it, which made it even worse. The muzzle flash was pretty impressive, too.
I don't remember what the primers looked like, but I do recall that extraction wasn't bad at all. A little hitchy, but not at all difficult.
All of the rounds chrono'ed right in the same ballpark, so I doubt that it was powder decay.
Velocities in those days were often underreported.
I just spent about 45 minutes going through some of my old reloading manuals.
Several show velocities in the 1500-1600 fps range with powders that are no longer available for 158-160 gr. jacketed AND cast lead bullets.
Starting in the late 1950s/early 1960s, though, velocities and maximum charge weights start to drop off quite a bit.
However, my Hornady 4th edition still shows several loads for 158-160 gr. jacketed bullets at 1,450 fps, but that's out of an 8 3/8" tube.
4" to 83/8" difference.......
A LOT will depend on the individual guns being compared.
Difference might be 200 fps.....or could be less than 100.
That's why factory chrono data should be used for comparison between loads from that manufacturer. They would have been tested from the same rig.
Relativity my dear Watson, relativity.
I have found 100 fps difference between identical guns from the same order with same lot of ammo. Each gun is an individual.
Sam
A LOT will depend on the individual guns being compared.
Difference might be 200 fps.....or could be less than 100.
That's why factory chrono data should be used for comparison between loads from that manufacturer. They would have been tested from the same rig.
Relativity my dear Watson, relativity.
I have found 100 fps difference between identical guns from the same order with same lot of ammo. Each gun is an individual.
Sam
Mike Irwin
Staff
A lot of it will also depend on the powder being used.
A slow burning powder will see greater relative velocity boosts than a faster one.
A slow burning powder will see greater relative velocity boosts than a faster one.
Ever heard of the "Deer-stopper?"
Georgia Arms offers a 158 gr +P round that they call the "Deer-Stopper." It get about 1,450 FPS. This is one round that I would not look forward to shooting out of a 2" snubby! I don't think I'd want to be toting around a self-defense round called the "Deer-Stopper" either. www.georgia-arms.com
Georgia Arms offers a 158 gr +P round that they call the "Deer-Stopper." It get about 1,450 FPS. This is one round that I would not look forward to shooting out of a 2" snubby! I don't think I'd want to be toting around a self-defense round called the "Deer-Stopper" either. www.georgia-arms.com
UltimaThule
New member
I have some 158gr factory ammo from Norma that is rated to 1450fps. Don't know from what barrel length that is supposed to be and haven't chrono'd them myself.