ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

.357 Mag Results in fps

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.  And remember to also check
the list of ammunition tested as part of the Cylinder Gap tests.

barrel length Cor Bon
110 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
125 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
140 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
125 gr.
DPX
Federal
125 gr.
JHP
Federal
158 gr.
JHP
Federal
130 gr.
Hydra-Shok
JHP
low recoil
Federal
158 gr.
Hydra-Shok
JHP
18" 1718 2113 1941 1936 2072 1719 2017 1721
17" 1686 2067 1947 1907 2026 1689 2009 1712
16" 1790 2119 2004 1946 2051 1739 2044 1741
15" 1728 2069 1942 1915 2032 1708 2012 1718
14" 1691 2054 1933 1897 2017 1732 1993 1715
13" 1682 2024 1916 1885 1979 1674 1984 1687
12" 1725 1994 1851 1858 1945 1654 1934 1679
11" 1667 1978 1814 1831 1973 1643 1922 1671
10" 1619 1943 1802 1804 1943 1630 1922 1638
9" 1615 1901 1745 1779 1881 1563 1812 1586
8" 1600 1851 1717 1728 1817 1570 1810 1593
7" 1578 1784 1671 1682 1784 1516 1765 1536
6" 1461 1715 1580 1648 1702 1465 1662 1485
5" 1377 1614 1493 1552 1571 1373 1586 1402
4" 1286 1496 1394 1471 1511 1293 1453 1332
3" 1109 1257 1172 1271 1255 1102 1194 1122
2" 928 904 911 1050 949 858 919 914

 

real*
world
weapons
Cor Bon
110 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
125 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
140 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
125 gr.
DPX
Federal
125 gr.
JHP
Federal
158 gr.
JHP
Federal
130 gr.
Hydra-Shok
JHP
low recoil
Federal
158 gr.
Hydra-Shok
JHP
Stoeger
buntline
18" barrel
1562 1848 1599 1733 1738 1459 1774 1415
Winchester
94AE
16" barrel
1744 2105 1913 1935 2005 1717 2057 1735
Colt
Python
6" barrel
1278 1373 1186 1314 1376 1175 1387 1153
Korth
revolver
5.875" barrel
1417 1500 1306 1459 1446 1259 1483 1256
S & W
627-3
w/ brake
5.625" barrel
1340 1505 1285 1359 1428 1262 1464 1270
S & W
627-3
w/o brake
5" barrel
1312 1444 1334 1333 1375 1229 1421 1224
S & W
686
4" barrel
1351 1477 1284 1438 1436 1246 1452 1248
Bond
Texas
Defender
3" barrel
1191 n/a 1160 1313 1246 1122 1221 1154

*see also .38 special real world tests

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.