357 mag out of 2.5" J frame

Full power 125's are the mutha of all 357Mags! The factory 110's are indeed loaded down, just look at the top velocities of a handloaded 110 in a Speer loading manual.:eek:
 
I don't remember exactly where I got those numbers as I just had them saved in a Microsoft word folder... They could be a little off, but then I looked up Ballistics By The Inch and found the 2 inch snub nose .357 numbers.

Here are the BBTI numbers in 357 mag, in a 2 inch barrel, in 8 different loadings. Not very impressive.

.357 MAG, FPS out of a 2 inch barrel:
#1 loading Cor Bon110 gr JHP: 928, FPS
#2 loading: Cor Bon125 gr. JHP: 904, FPS
#3 loading: Cor Bon140 gr. JHP: 911, FPS
#4 loading: Cor Bon 125 gr. DPX: 1050, FPS
#5 loading: Federal 125 gr, JHP: 949, FPS
#6 loading: Fed158 gr. JHP: 858, FPS
#7 loading: Fed 130 gr. Hydra-ShokJHP low recoil: 919, FPS
#8 loading: Fed 158 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP: 914, FPS

Those results in 8 different loads, 7 out of 8 where averaged only around 900 FPS range, while only one single load got over the 1,000 FPS mark and that was the Cor Bon 125 gr. DPX. Now though, when moving up to a 3 inch barrel the average FPS was around 1150 (roughly) it appears. So by going from a 2 inch barrel up to a 3 inch barrel, we gained a major increase in FPS.

.357 MAG ft-pounds of energy from a 2 inch barrel:

#1: Cor Bon, 110 gr. JHP: energy ft-pounds: 200 ft pounds energy (roughly)
#2: Cor Bon, 125 gr. JHP: energy ft-pounds: 210 ft pounds energy (roughly)
The rest you can view in the graph here:

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/megraphs/357mag.html

Also, for the above FPS numbers they are also from BBTI, here are the FPS that I listed above for the 357 magnum that shows 8 different loadings in barrels as large as 18 inches to barrels as small as 2 inches. Look at the very bottom, at the 2 inch barrel, and then you'll find where I got the 2 inch barrel FPS numbers at:

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html
 
Originally posted by Josh17
I don't remember exactly where I got those numbers as I just had them saved in a Microsoft word folder... They could be a little off, but then I looked up Ballistics By The Inch and found the 2 inch snub nose .357 numbers.

Here are the BBTI numbers in 357 mag, in a 2 inch barrel, in 8 different loadings. Not very impressive.
Click to expand...

BBTI's numbers can be a bit misleading for revolver cartridges because their test barrels are measured in the same manner as a semi-auto barrel. From BBTI's website:

Originally posted by BBTI
One note: in every case with the T/C Encore the length of the barrel was measured from the end of the barrel back to the breech face. This is how semi-auto pistols are measured, but revolvers are measured as the length of the barrel in front of the cylinder gap. Take this into consideration when comparing calibers using our numbers.
Click to expand...

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/calibers.html

This means that, due to the OAL of a .357 Magnum cartridge (1.590 max OAL) BBTI's 2" test barrel would be equivalent to a revolver with a barrel less than 1/2" long. This is why their 2" test barrel velocities are so far below what is typically chronographed from a 2" revolver barrel.

In comparing BBTI's test barrel results with what I've typically seen chrono'd from 2" .357 revolvers, their 3" test barrel seems to be the closest to a 2" revolver. While that still equates to only about a 1 1/2" barrel on a revolver, I think the lack of a barrel/cylinder gap in the test barrel probably makes up the difference.
 
I was getting 1250 fps from my 640 pro with 125 Winchester JHP's and 1305 with my 3" model 13.

I also got 1250 with 145 STHP from the Model 13. Too bad you can't find them these days.
 
I'm a manly kinda man and have shot heavy recoiling handguns for close to 50 years but I now have arthritic hands. About two years ago I picked up a Smith M&P 340, went to the range and stoked it with .357's. I don't remember the brand but it was 125 grain. I fired one shot! I described it as holding up my hand and letting someone whack it with a baseball bat. That was the only one I fired. I recently got my 640-1 back from my daughter in trade for a Model 60 no dash she wanted. I thought again about 357's. I figured this gun weighed about 23 ounces and should be good to go. I loaded it with Remington Golden Sabers 125 grain. Got myself a good grip and let her rip. The first round felt like it broke my thumb, peeled a chunk of skin off the inside of my thumb, and left the whole end of that digit numb. The recoil would probably not have been as bad if I had rubber grips on them that covered the backstrap but I hate the look and feel of those. I will concede that there are those who can do it but I am not one of them. The extra velocity and ft. lbs. of knockdown power are not worth it to me. I'll just be satisfied with Speer Gold Dot 135+p SB and smile. :)
 
I don't understand how everyone seems to think the 357 snubby is so terribly brutal. My wife carries a Taurus 650 and my 125gr handloads clock in at an ave 1320fps over my chrony. They get your attention, but it's not uncommon for her to go thru 50 everytime we go out.
 
My S&W 640 shoots the wimpy Winchester 110 grain white box at about 1100 FPS. That is what I carry for reduced recoil. The recoil from that round is pretty light.

BBTI is a great sight but the numbers do not work for a revolver. A 2 inch revolver will have higher numbers than BBTI I would also venture a guess that an 18 inch revolver (like one of those revolving carbines) would have lower numbers than whats listed because of the cylinder gap.

For short barrels Revolvers tend to pull off higher numbers. With barrels about 5-6+ inches a semiauto will pull off better numbers. As evidenced by my S&Ws vs my Coonans. While I don't have a Coonan with a 2.5 inch barrel I would guess that the revolver would out do it. But my 6 inch Coonan out does my 6 inch revolvers by a significant amount.
 
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