Jim Taylor
Shooting the .357's
Friday, May 10, 2019, 09:35

I am appreciating again this fine cartridge. It has been a long time since I really played with it in various guns and loadings. From 600 fps to over 2300 fps (in the rifle) it is just a really versatile cartridge.

In History:

In 1935 Major Douglas Wesson used the S&W .357 to take the following game:

Antelope - 200 yards (2 shots)

Elk - 130 yards (1 shot)

Moose - 100 yards (1 shot)

Grizzly Bear - 135 yards (1 shot)

The Antelope was hit the first time at 125 yards. It ran, stopped and was shot the second time at 200 yards. The second shot killed it.

The Bull Elk was killed with one shot through the lungs.

The Moose was shot in the chest near the base of the neck. It cut the 2nd rib, passed through both lungs, sheared the 8th rib on the off side and stopped just under the hide. No follow-up shot was required.

These animals were taken on a Fall hunt in Wyoming, near the West entrance of Yellowstone Park. The Grizzly was taken later in Canada.

The above game was taken using factory loads which were a 158 gr. bullet at 1515 fps from an 8 3/4" barreled S&W producing 812 ft. lbs of muzzle energy. (S&W later shortened the barrels to 8 3/8" as we have today) The early factory loads had a Large Pistol primer and were loaded to 40,000 CUP. That was later reduced to todays standard of 35,000 CUP.

In 1938 Walter Sykes used the S&W 357 to take a Wildebeest at 100 yards - complete penetration, knockdown on the first shot.

His Guide, John Hunter (of "HUNTER" and "AFRICA AS I HAVE FOUND IT") wrote that the .357 was "the one and only hand-arm for African hunting"...

During WW II General George Patton referred to his S&W .357 Magnum as his "killing machine"....

I am not saying it is "the best" or what everyone should use. When it first appeared on the market it was a wonderful thing. Today we have many cartridges that are "more" or "better" or whatever adjective we want to use to describe them. I am saying it really is a great cartridge, it will do the job (with the right bullet) if the shooter can do it, and it is a fun one.

There are quite a few cartridges in that category. This is one of them.