Greetings Customers,
My crew and I here at Crate Holdings Ammo will now be performing and analyzing velocity tests for a multitude of cartridges and barrel lengths. We started this saga with the .357 Magnum — my favorite round. I hope that this complimentary information serves you well.
Enjoy!
-Mike Corcoran, CEO
*.357 MAGNUM AMMO VELOCITY TESTING*
Analysis and opinions are following below the results.
GUNS USED FOR EXPERIMENT BY ASCENDING BARREL LENGTH:
Ruger sp101 2.25”
Smith & Wesson 686+ 6”
Citadel Levtac 16” Lever action
*All shots were approximately 6 feet away from the chronograph. All averages were calculated from three chronograph readings.*
Weather Conditions;
Temperature: 51 Degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: 78%
Condition: Partly Sunny
Elevation: +79 feet
Barometric Pressure: 101 KPa
Wind: 5 MPH
—————————————————————
First ammo contestant:
Armscor 158gr FMJ .357 Magnum
Ruger SP101 2.25”
Velocities (FPS): 958, 880, 888
Average: 909 fps
Energy: 290 ft-lbs
S&W 686+ 6”
Velocities (FPS): 1017, 1077, 1070
Average: 1055
Energy: 391 ft-lbs
16” Lever-action
Velocities (FPS): 1154, 1148, 1145
Average: 1149
Energy: 463 ft-lbs
Prvi Partizan 158gr FPJ
Ruger SP101 2.25”
Velocities: 1103, 1132, 1157
Average: 1131
Energy: 449
S&W 686+ 6”
Velocities: 1384, 1355, 1317
Average: 1352
Energy: 641
16” Lever-action
Velocities: 1737, 1730, 1715
Average: 1727
Energy: 1047
Federal American Eagle 158gr JSP
Ruger SP101 2.25”
989 1015 1003
Average: 1002
Energy: 352
S&W 686+ 6”
1233 1315 1291
Average: 1279
Energy: 574
16” Lever-action
1659 1653 1696
Average: 1669
Energy: 977
Precision One 158gr FMJ
Ruger SP101 2.25”
919 964 953
Average: 945
Energy: 313
S&W 686+ 6”
1049 1071 1024
Average: 1048
Energy: 385
16” Lever action
1209 1159 1194
Average: 1187
Energy: 494
Fiocchi 142gr FMJ-TC
Advertised MV: 1400fps
SP101 2.25”
1000 987 964
Average: 984fps
Energy: 305 ft-lbs
S&W 686+ 6”
1185 1145 1179
Average: 1170fps
Energy: 431 ft-lbs
16” Lever gun
1339 1366 1314
Average: 1330fps
Energy: 558 ft-lbs
Corbon 140gr JHP
Advertised MV: 1300fps
Ruger SP101 2.25”
1211 1158 1226
Average: 1198
Energy: 446 ft-lbs
S&W 686+ 6”
1258 1371 1330
Average: 1319
Energy: 541 ft-lbs
16” Lever action
1571 1579 1541
Average: 1564
Energy: 761 ft-lbs
Hornady Critical Duty 135gr Flexlock
Advertised MV: 1275 FPS
Ruger SP101 2.25”
1244 1203 1233
Average: 1227
Energy: 451 ft-lbs
S&W 686+ 6”
1395 1406 1416
Average: 1406
Energy: 593 ft-lbs
16” Lever action
1647 1595 1614
Average: 1619
Energy: 786 ft-lbs
Hornady Critical Defense 125gr FTX
Advertised MV: 1500 FPS
Ruger SP101 2.25”
1271 1247 1268
Average: 1262 FPS
Energy: 442 ft-lbs
S&W 686+ 6”
1438 1478 1482
Average: 1466 FPS
Energy: 597 ft-lbs
16” Lever action
1746 1736 1767
Average: 1750 FPS
Energy: 850 ft-lbs
Barnes TAC-XPD 125gr JHP
Advertised MV out of a 2” barrel: 1200 FPS
Ruger SP101 2.25”
1191 1170 1232
Average: 1198 fps
Energy: 398 ft-lbs
S&W 686+ 6”
1431 1485 1488
Average: 1468 fps
Energy: 598 ft-lbs
16” Citadel Lever action
1822 1817 1851
Average: 1830 fps
Energy: 930 ft-lbs
Swift A-FRAME Heavy Revolver 180gr JHP
Ruger SP101 2.25”
972 978 975
Average: 975 fps
Energy: 380 ft-lbs
S&W 686+
1096 1166 1185
Average: 1149 fps
Energy: 526 fps
16” Citadel Lever action
1274 1318 1281
Average: 1291 fps
Energy: 667 fps
DoubleTap 180gr Hardcast
Advertised MV out of 6” barrel: 1420 fps
Ruger SP101 2.25”
1201 1186 1206
Average: 1198 fps
Energy: 574 ft-lbs
S&W 686+ 6” Barrel
1342 1366 1359
Average: 1356
Energy: 735 ft-lbs
16” Citadel Lever action
1735 1731 1741
Average: 1736 fps
Energy: 1203 ft-lbs
DoubleTap 200gr Hardcast
Advertised MV out of 6” Barrel: 1315 fps
Ruger SP101 2.25”
1191 1153 1173
Average: 1172 fps
Energy: 610 ft-lbs
S&W 686+ 6”
1342 1347 1342
Average: 1344 fps
Energy: 802 ft-lbs
Citadel 16” Lever action
1583 1588 1591
Average: 1587 fps
Energy: 1119 ft-lbs
*Assume no accurate information in these results. Your results may vary. We (Crate Holdings Ammo) are not responsible for any false, positive, or neutral claims, for or against any of the ammunition or manufacturers listed. This was done purely for research and our own educational benefit of products we carry at Crate Holdings Ammo, for the owner and employees.
Your mileage may vary.
Crate Holdings Ammo currently sells, or has selled all of the products tested in this document. These products may or may not be available on our website at any given time.
The most powerful ammo by barrel length:
Ruger sp101 2.25”: DoubleTap 200gr Hardcast boasting an astronomical 610 foot pounds of energy at 1172 feet per second.
Smith and Wesson model 686+ 6”: DoubleTap 200gr Hardcast at 802 foot pounds of energy screaming at 1344 feet per second.
Citadel LevTac 16” Lever action: DoubleTap 180gr Hardcast punching 1203 foot pounds of energy and a 180 grain projectile moving at 1736 feet per second.
By these results, DoubleTap has the hottest .357 magnum that we tested.
Analysis:
In terms of affordability and power, the Prvi Partizan 158gr FPJ is the clear winner.
What stood out to me most was the capability of a snub nose .357 revolver — it made over 600 foot pounds of energy. That’s just insane!
This leads us to the long debated question, “Is 9mm Luger more powerful and effective than a snub nose .357?”
I believe that to be a matter of your own opinion, but I’ll give you mine.
We tested Hornady Critical Duty in a Sig Sauer P365 with a 3.1” barrel and a Ruger sp101 with a 2.25” barrel. This is the same line and brand of ammo with the same grain weight. The difference that we tested is the cartridge: 9mm vs .357 Magnum.
Results:
Gun #1: Sig Sauer P365 3.1”
Ammo: Hornady Critical Duty 9mm Luger +P 135gr FlexLock
Average 3 shot velocity: 1140 fps
Energy: 390 foot pounds
Gun #2: Ruger SP101 2.25”
Ammo: Hornady Critical Duty 135gr FlexLock
Average 3 shot velocity: 1277 fps
Energy: 451 foot pounds
Thoughts:
Hornady Critical Duty is a very well known and trusted line of ammo for civilians and law enforcement. We know it is consistent and performs well in any cartridge.
The +P 9mm Luger load did not match up to the .357 snub nose with a shorter barrel. The snub nose clearly has more knockdown power.
With that being said, the 9mm does have an advantage over the .357 Magnum — double the round capacity.
The advantages of the .357 are more power and reliability. Revolvers are not magazine fed; thus, stovepipe jams or failures to feed are never a worry when shooting one.
If failure to fire does occur in a revolver, simply pull the trigger again to rotate the next round. If failure to fire in a semi-auto, the jam must be cleared during what could be a stressful situation for the firearm holder.
What would you choose— 9mm or .357 snub nose? Personally, I’d choose the .357 snub nose. Let’s not forget, it did spit out over 600 foot pounds of madness.
Final Thoughts
The .357 is a tried and true cartridge developed in 1934. It has a very wide range of capabilities in both pistol and rifle platforms.
It has adequate knockdown power for a trusted carry gun, and makes a great hunting round in rifles, putting out over 1000 foot pounds of energy in multiple loads.
Special thanks to crew members Kevin Thomas and Tyler Corcoran for making this possible.