skizzums-- Checked out the ballistics by the inch website for the .357 mag and in 7 out of 8 examples the velocity increased from 17" to 18" barrels. Wish they carried it on out to 24" to see what happens. Not saying their results aren't generally correct, but the problem is that unless they are starting with a long barrel and chopping it after each series, then the results are going to be flawed. Each brand/design of barrel used introduces a new variable that isn't accounted for, and unless I'm missing something then that would seem to be a very important oversight.