what's the difference

D

Doc Holliday 1950

New member
There is so much to learn. What is the difference between a 158 grain 357 in magnum ammo & a subsonic 357 in magnum ammo. Doesn't matter what caliber, I'm just not sure of what it means in any caliber.
Also, under what conditions does one use sub sonic ammo?????
 
A round that fires a bullet under the speed of sound. Usually under 1000fps (speed of sound is around 1100fps) so that the "crack" of the sonic boom created by a supersonic projectile is not heard. Most useful in supressed firearms.
The subsonic 357 most likely refers to 357 Sig, not 357 Magnum. A suppressor would not reduce the sound of a revolver by much because of the cylinder gap.
22 rimfire subsonic is useful in a rifle because they are much quieter even without a suppressor for "tactical" removal of pests in a more populated area.
 
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Cheapshooter did a good job explaining it.

Here is another example.
9mm ammo usually runs a 115gn bullet at ~1200fps (supersonic). You can run a 147gn bullet at ~ 950fps (subsonic)

So by simply using different ammo you can drastically reduce the sound signature of a suppressed pistol.

How that relates to 357mag. I dont know
 
At sea level, the speed of sound is usually somewhere around 1060-70 fps. It varies with the density of the air.

Bullets moving slower than the speed of sound are subsonic.

Subsonic speed in some cases is the full speed of the round. Such as standard .45acp rounds, and regular .38 specials. Target loadings are usually lighter still, and well below the speed of sound.

A 148gr .38 wadcutter target load moving at say, 850fps or less, loaded in a .357 Magnum case would be subsonic .357 ammo.

A 147gr 9mm load is also subsonic, but it is meant as duty ammo.
 
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