gun review new model colt python 3
3" Colt Python (image courtesy JWT for thetruthaboutguns.com)

The .357 Magnum has earned a legendary reputation in the world of firearms. It is revered for its raw power and proven performance in life-or-death situations. 

But is it the right choice for self-defense? Whether you’re a first-time gun owner weighing your options or a seasoned shooter looking to revisit the classics, this caliber demands closer inspection.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the pros and cons of using the .357 Magnum for personal protection. You’ll discover what makes it such a powerful option, the potential drawbacks you need to consider and how to choose the best .357 Magnum ammo for self-defense.

Understanding the .357 Magnum: History and Evolution

To fully appreciate the .357 Magnum’s strengths and weaknesses, it’s important to understand its origins and development. This iconic cartridge was born in the 1930s thanks to the pioneering work of firearm enthusiasts Elmer Keith and Phil Sharpe, who were experimenting with pushing the limits of the .38 Special. However, Phil Sharpe and Major Douglas B. Wesson of Smith & Wesson ultimately brought the .357 Magnum to market, releasing it in 1935. Elmer Keith, meanwhile, shifted his focus to what would later become the .44 Magnum.

.357 Magum revolver

The .357 Magnum is a .38 Special with an extra 1/8 inch of case length. While this might seem like a minor tweak, it had monumental results. The larger case capacity allowed for significantly higher velocities and energy on target. 

For instance, a .38 Special loaded with a 158-grain Hornady Custom bullet reaches around 1,200 fps from a standard service revolver. The same bullet in a .357 Magnum load soars at 1,250 fps, a 34% increase in velocity.

When Smith & Wesson launched the cartridge with their “Registered Magnums,” it immediately gained traction. Shooters bragged about its accuracy, particularly when fired from longer-barreled revolvers. Law enforcement officers welcomed its ability to penetrate barriers like car doors—a critical capability when confronting the era’s rumrunners and bank robbers.

While the .357 Magnum never fully displaced the .38 Special as the standard law enforcement caliber, it became a widely used and trusted option. Its popularity endured until the 1980s when the rise of semi-automatic pistols shifted the focus of the handgun market. Even so, the .357 Magnum’s legacy remains strong and continues to be a respected choice for self-defense and beyond.

Why the .357 Magnum Excels in Stopping Power

Regarding terminal performance, there’s no shortage of debate about which defensive pistol cartridge reigns supreme. Popular auto-pistol calibers like 9mm and .45 ACP have advantages. Still, time and data suggest there isn’t a significant difference between them in real-world defensive scenarios, especially with the design of modern ammunition. Modern materials and manufacturing processes have certainly closed the gap on performance between defensive rounds.

However, the .357 Magnum stands out as a notable exception. Studies consistently show that it is between 5% and 15% more effective at stopping threats than these common semi-automatic pistol calibers.

woman shooting a snub nose .357 Magnum

This performance edge is rooted in the .357 Magnum’s superior velocity and energy delivery. A bullet traveling faster and hitting harder creates more tissue damage, leading to quicker incapacitation. 

Tissue damage contributes to both pain and hemorrhaging, critical factors in stopping an attacker through either voluntary or involuntary collapse. Simply put, if you had to bet your life on a single shot, the .357 Magnum’s proven track record makes it a compelling choice.

Balancing Power and Practicality

Despite its impressive stopping power, the .357 Magnum does have limitations that may influence its suitability for everyday carry. 

One key downside is that revolvers chambered in .357 Magnum tend to be larger, heavier and lower in capacity than semi-automatic handguns. These factors can make them less comfortable to carry, more challenging to shoot accurately under stress and less effective in extended engagements.

carrying a 357 Magnum concealed
Will Dabbs MD

However, revolvers also come with significant advantages. Their simple, robust design makes them inherently more reliable, especially in high-stress scenarios. 

Revolvers won’t be pushed out of battery during contact shots—when the muzzle is pressed against a target—a critical consideration for close-quarters defense. Additionally, revolvers can handle a wide range of ammunition, from mild .38 Special loads to full-power .357 Magnum rounds, making them versatile for practice and carry.

Weight Considerations for Carry Comfort and Recoil

For concealed carry, comfort often dictates whether a firearm gets carried regularly or left at home. Revolvers chambered in .357 Magnum offer a broad spectrum of weights to suit individual preferences. Lightweight options like the 17-ounce Ruger LCR are easy to carry all day, while heavier models like the 40-ounce Smith & Wesson Model 686 can feel cumbersome, much like an ill-fitting pair of shoes.

Weight also plays a critical role in managing recoil. Lighter revolvers may be easy to carry, but full-power .357 Magnum loads can produce 75% more recoil energy than the hottest 9mm loads in comparable firearms. 

This can make ultra-lightweight revolvers difficult to control, particularly for follow-up shots. Many users opt to load lightweight revolvers with .38 Special or .38 Special +P rounds instead, but this reduces the cartridge’s performance to levels similar to—or even less effective than—9mm defensive loads.

For a balanced combination of carry comfort and shootability, a revolver weighing 25 and 30 ounces strikes the sweet spot. This weight is comparable to a fully loaded Glock 19 and offers manageable recoil while maintaining the full power of the .357 Magnum. 

Firearms like the Ruger SP101 or the Smith & Wesson Model 60 fit this category perfectly. For example, a 3-inch Ruger SP101 paired with a high-quality holster, such as the Galco Combat Master, can ride comfortably all day while providing excellent control with hot defensive loads.

Smith & Wesson Model 60 chambered in 357 Magnum
Smith & Wesson Model 60 chambered in 357 Magnum

The Right Ammunition for the Job

Selecting the proper ammunition is crucial to harnessing the .357 Magnum’s potential. Defensive loads featuring hollow-point bullets maximize energy transfer and expansion upon impact, reducing the risk of over-penetration. 

Bullet weights between 125 and 158 grains are common for self-defense, offering a good balance between recoil, velocit, and terminal performance.

Calibers Beginners .357 Magnum Handgun Revolver Lever Rifle

For lightweight revolvers, lighter-recoiling loads like .38 Special +P may be necessary for better control. 

However, for mid-weight revolvers like the SP101 or Model 60, full-power .357 Magnum loads are ideal for achieving optimal terminal ballistics without sacrificing shootability.

HOP Munitions 357 Magnum Ammo For Sale
158-grain Jacketed Hollow Point 357 Magnum

Finding the Ideal Carry Gun

When choosing a .357 Magnum for self-defense, the right firearm can make all the difference. 

Lightweight options are great for concealed carry but may require compromises in ammunition or increased practice to handle the recoil. Heavier revolvers, while offering better control, can be less practical for daily carry.

Models like the Ruger SP101 and the Smith & Wesson Model 60 strike an excellent balance. Their compact size, moderate weight and ability to handle full-power loads make them ideal for those who value stopping power without sacrificing carry comfort.

Ruger SP101 chambered in 357 Magnum
Ruger SP101 chambered in 357 Magnum

Is the .357 Magnum Right for You?

The .357 Magnum’s power, versatility and proven effectiveness make it a top contender for self-defense. Its ability to outperform popular auto-pistol cartridges like 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP is well-documented, particularly regarding stopping power. 

However, its suitability ultimately depends on your specific needs and circumstances.

If you value simplicity, reliability and uncompromising stopping power, the .357 Magnum is an excellent choice—especially in a well-balanced revolver like the Ruger SP101 or S&W Model 60. 

But if you’re sensitive to recoil, prioritize higher capacity or need an exceptionally lightweight firearm, other options like a compact 9mm semi-automatic may better suit your requirements.

Check out Ammo To Go, the ammunition retail sponsor of TTAG, for all of your ammunition needs.

120 COMMENTS

      • The author should have said that. Much of what he said is actually wrong.

        The extra case capacity from that 1/8″ didn’t make the difference between the .38sp and the .357mag. The .38sp case has enough capacity to be loaded up to basically .357mag levels.

        Also, the math is wrong. A 158 grain .38sp
        won’t go 1200fps. It will be more like 900fps.

          • I agree completely. If so-called gun writers can’t get things about guns right, it doesn’t surprise me that the anti-gun group doesn’t know that much about the guns that they are trying to ban.

        • The extra length is so that if you put it into a .38 revolver that isn’t rated for the pressure, you can’t close the cylinder.

          It was designed to be backwards-compatible, but also designed (to some degree) to make it obvious in the event someone screws up.

  1. “For instance, a .38 Special loaded with a 158-grain Hornady Custom bullet reaches around 1,200 fps from a standard service revolver. The same bullet in a .357 Magnum load soars at 1,250 fps, a 34% increase in velocity.”

    Math does not check out, 34% increase over 1200 would be 1608 fps

  2. “A bullet traveling faster and hitting harder creates more tissue damage, leading to quicker incapacitation. “

    But, I’ve been told all that matters in handgun calibers is expansion and penetration. Yet, Paul Harrel said he can tell the difference between 9mm and 38 Super when shooting deer. Guess which one did better? Knowing Paul, he was probably testing theories through hunting. He said he always had a backup rifle shooter when small caliber handgun hunting to take the deer ethically.

    Speaking of easy to carry revolvers, Ruger is coming out with a sub 14 oz. 6 shot 32 H&R Mag LCR.

    • It’s interesting how despite the widely held opinion that ‘more is better’, the .327 Fed Magnum could be fairly seen as a flop, while the 32 H&R Mag still has a following.

      • I have a .327 J frame x6, IMO the cartridge is a good fit in a J frame. The ammo shortage starting in ’08 has never really cost corrected, a .40 to .50 cent cartridge is hovering around $2. Can still use .32 H&R but is also $$$. That’s where hand loading comes into play. Side note; the .327 MAP is higher than .357 & .44 (45,000psi vs 35,000 & 36,000).

    • That may be the first time I ever saw anything interesting about a lcr. Will be curious of barrel length and what loadings end up working but that may be a better micro option than a lot of what I have been seeing.

      • Lipsey’s has a 3″ LCRx in .327 Fed. That would be my choice. The .32 H&R will be a regular LCR so under 2″, 1.875 or something. Just lighter than the .327 LCR is my guess.

    • Charter Arms has had revolvers in 32HR magnum for many years now. Even before Ruger came out with the 327 lcr.
      I have a 6 shot Charter Arms revolver hammerless. In 32HR magnum. It’s outstanding. Very controllable. Very pleasant to shoot.

      As far as the cost of ammo goes. Yes it’s expensive for 32HR magnum. Just like 357 magnum is expensive too. But 32 Smith and Wesson Long ammo is cheaper.

      The jell block penetration tests on YouTube, prove that 32 SW and 32HR magnum are both outstanding self defense rounds.

      btw
      All revolver center fire ammo is expensive. Compared to 9mm. Perhaps an 8 shot snubby revolver in 22lr might be a possible option. The “punch” rimfire
      ammunition is more reliable. Than normal rimfire ammo.

      • Strangely we don’t see a lot of charter arms up here that aren’t pink 38s. I know they have a whole range of options but never saw one beyond the previous example let alone got to shoot any.

    • “Speaking of easy to carry revolvers, Ruger is coming out with a sub 14 oz. 6 shot 32 H&R Mag LCR.”

      Dunno about .32, but Ruger has been selling the .327 SIX shot LCR for awhile now. One extra round than .357, and a bit more controllable…

    • Just get something like the Diamondback SDR or K6S, the cylinder is only .03 of an inch wider and it holds 6 rounds of 357 or 38 special if you’re elderly or a woman. The weight is 21oz which is still ultra lightweight for a belt carried gun and helps if you want to shoot actual potent defensive rounds.

  3. Shot placement is king in self defense situations. A .357 shot poorly and missing critical thoracic cavity or cranial areas is less effective than an any other caliber that has hit those same areas. Yes .357 is an effective self defense caliber, but only for those people who can use it accurately and repeatedly if a follow up shot is necessary. I’ve known new and even old shooters that thought bigger meant better only to discover they couldn’t handle bigger and wound up with a firearm they couldn’t use. That sat in a drawer or safe collecting dust.

  4. 50fps faster is a big deal in a pistol but short barrel rifles losing 100 is okay.
    Just in case anyone doesn’t know the 5.56 or .223’s claim to fame is its speed.
    There was an article years back, Guns and Ammo I believe.
    A man was attacked by a big brown bear, he had a .44 loaded with hot 240gr hollow points. He’d ran out of bullets and the bear was still on him, his wife killed it with her .357 using Keith style semi waddcutters.
    I’ve never felt out gunned with a .357 revolver however recent gang tactics have me carrying a semiautomatic, two as a matter of fact.

  5. “But is it the right choice for self-defense?”

    HELL NO. There are better choices. And before any panties get all twisted in a bunch, let me be the first to say that .357 magnum is a fantastic cartridge, and very effective. But it’s a lousy choice for a carry gun when considering the alternatives.

    The critical defining issue here is barrel length. The .357 in a six-inch barrel is a badass son of a bitch and an outstanding choice. The .357 in a 2-inch barrel is a paltry little bitch, no more powerful than 9mm+P from a Glock 19. And that’s the problem. People buy these tiny little snubbies, then load ’em with five .357s, and they think they’ve got something because “it’s a .357 magnum!” But all they get is brutal recoil, horrific noise, blinding flash, and it farts out a little bullet at 9mm velocities. And you only get five of them.

    Compare that to a Glock 19, where you get 15 bullets, all of them the same size as a .357, all of them the same weight as a .357, all of them the same speed as a .357 from a snubbie (when using +P 124’s, for example). So what’s the difference? Much less noise, MUCH less muzzle flash, MUCH MUCH less recoil, and 3x as much ammo. That Glock 19 is a superior choice in every possible way.

    But even then, it’s still a little 124-grain pill at 1200 fps. It’s not the best choice.

    Barrel length matters, and it’s crucial for .357. I wouldn’t consider a little .357 with less than a 3″ barrel, and the 4″ barrel is where it really starts to become the legend that we all know it as. And in a 6″ barrel it’s a monster, like my S&W 19. But not so easy to conceal.

    I definitely want the “legendary manstopping power” of a 4″ .357,but I still say it’s a poor choice to carry one, because there are much better options, and that’s where we get to 10mm.

    The 10mm is for all practical purposes the semi-auto version of the .357. Get a subcompact 10mm with a 4″ barrel and it’ll spew bigger bullets than .357, at the same velocity as a 4″ .357, with as much or more energy as the .357, and it’ll hold at least twice as many rounds, maybe more. But it’ll do it with less recoil because a reciprocating slide absorbs a lot of the recoil impulse as opposed to a revolver with transmits 100% of it to your hand. And it’ll reload another 11 rounds or so in a few seconds, vs. 5 rounds with the .357. And it’ll be overall easier to conceal.

    10mm is the modern .357 for people who want all the good that .357 can offer, but none of the bad. And that’s why choosing a .357, even a 4″ barrel, is a poor choice even though it’s an outstanding round and a good manstopper: it’s a poor choice because there’s so much better available, with no compromises.

    • Exactly!

      I will add that all that muzzle blast also affects the course of the bullet. The accuracy issues of a 357 snubbie are due to more than short sight radius.

      If snubbie you must, a better choice IMO is 44sp, with a soft lead flat nose bullet, AKA what the air marshals carry. Or at least they once did.

      Back to my nap.

    • I think your missing the close quarters aspect and “hideablity” of the snubby, with emphasis on hide-ability. Not being a cop, my concern is far less about some random bad guy I’m likely never going to see, but the cop and random person I print in front of and the drama that would ensue.

      also, the rats tend to come out at night and as I’ve heard well said, a .357 snubby is a high powered .38 with a “flash-bang” attached. The bad guy one the other end of that is going to think that he’s in bagdad when that goes off pointed in his direction.

      Sure, I could get some .22 pocket pistol, I have one, hell I’ve even got a P238. The j-frame hides better in every holster and every position. The .44 special is a great option, for the same reasons, but more difficult to track down, especially in the peoples republic of california.

    • This is a great post. Much better than the article. Seems the only reason to even read TTAG is the posts by real people. Not the bot that wrote the article. Seems we should hijack TTAG with better posts than what there bots write.

    • You are generally right. The G19 type firearm is normally preferable to a snubby in .357mag, but it still has a couple limitations. My snubby revolver fits in my pants pocket. My G19 doesn’t. I have IWB and OWB carry holsters for the G19, but still very rarely carry it. I frequently carry my S&W 642, LCP, and Ruger Max-9, because they each fit inside my pants pocket. My 4″ Security Six in .357 never gets carried, but I still love it. It’s the closest thing I have to a woods handgun. For bear defense, I’d prefer a higher capacity Glock in 10mm.

  6. “Simply put, if you had to bet your life on a single shot”

    Those who are playing self-defense are usually doing exactly that. This is especially true in those blue states wherein you basically have to wait until you have been shot once or twice to have a strong legal claim for justified lethal force.

  7. The use of the words “Stopping Power” in reference to a handgun…more than proves the writer is a clueless schmuck when it come to handguns and the relative ammo.

    • Jim stopping power is a generic term. Would it make you happy if we forbid it’s use and force everyone to say terminal ballistics? Even though terminal ballistics doesn’t cover the whole range of things involved when the human body catches a bullet.

    • Then in all your infinite wisdom tell us O Wise One what term would you use to describe the totality of the effects of a gsw?
      I know it’s a generic term and some people don’t like it but it fairly well covers the entire event. Did it have the power to stop the intended target? or not?

    • just call it ‘convincing capability’ or ‘terminal attitude adjustment power’ depending on of the threat is just stopped or stopped forever.

      😄

  8. Absolutely.

    The problem was never with effectiveness, it was controlling the handgun to place the shots.

    When autos took over for additional capacity, we saw the same thing.

    FBI wanted more power after the Miami shootout (although 9mm silver tip and 38+p 158 LSWCHP both meet the current FBI protocol) and went with 10mm.

    Problem was controlling the 10 – for both power and handgun size. So we got the 40. Both of which are loaded softer now than at their inception.

    Then some wanted the 357 mag power and flat shooting so they developed the 357 sig.

    Most agencies liked the 357 sig and it equals most 357 magnum 125 grain loads produced today. (Many 125 357 mag loads are loaded softer than they were in the 80s – although Remington 125s are still hot).

    Nowadays, 38 special and 357 mag are compared to autos firing two and three inch barrels.

    Since most auto rounds have more efficient case size, the 9mm look great against the 38 and closes the gap with some 357 mag loads. Stepping to a 4 inch revolver, the 38 begins to look pretty good and 357 walks away from 9mm.

    A 357 revolver with a 4 or 6 inch barrel is fierce. Power and blast.

    For most concealed carriers, the question is a 2 inch gun. I get 1100 fps with Golden Saber 125s in my LCR and can easily make rapid hits at 15 yards. Stepping to Remington 125 SJHP, I get a little over 1200 fps. Still a king hits but a little slower and tired when I’m done.

    Hits are better than misses, but if I can hit with a round I know gets to depth with the most violence and destruction – it deserves consideration.

    • Why do autos have more efficient case sizes? You look at a 9mm vs a 38 and it seems like a miracle, but I don’t know if that is just era of design or if an autoloader allows for a more compact design somehow

  9. My first center fire revolver was a model 19. I was 18. I’ve never been without a .357 magnum since. I own several now. My favorite defensive.357 is my model 65. Three inch HB round butt. I put a pair of Pachmayer Professionals on it and never looked back. In the woods I prefer my 6″ guns. Truthfully, in the woods I prefer my 44s.

    • Between hogs gators and various huge snakes can’t fault that at all. Up here unless you run afoul of black bear, moose, DEC relocated cougars or bigfoot 9mm will more than cover anything you are likely to run into for typical critters. South of Virginia has a vastly different set of typical critters to run into.

      • Safe, we have bear here also. Florida statues allows for shooting them in self defense. The biggest rattle snake I ever killed was 7′ 7″ long. I stabbed him in the head with a Gerber Skukom pocket knife. Carrying one now.

        • Did the large pythons competing for territory with gators ever get resolved or are those still growing to absurd sizes and numbers? Surprised at the bears but guess I shouldn’t be too surprised as there is a fair bit of non swamp wilderness throughout your state and Georgia has a fair number.

          • “Did the large pythons competing for territory with gators ever get resolved or are those still growing to absurd sizes and numbers?”

            The monster pythons are pretty much in the Everglades, near Miami, extreme south Florida.

            Gadsen is in northern-ish, I’m in central Flori-Duh… 😉

          • Our mail carrier, now retired, took his older son on a self-guided canoe camping trip to one of the swampy areas in south GA. They paddled along following signs and blazes, until they arrived at an elevated platform, where they were to set up camp for the first night. After dark, they could hear lotsa swamp & woods noises. Son was nervous, so dad shined his flashlight in a circle around. 360 degrees of white and yellow eyes. He quickly shut off the light, and they piled up in the center of that platform, for a sleepless night. He can laugh about it now.

  10. The part about 1200 vs 1250FPS is probably really weird. I wouldn’t count any “treasury load” type .38 Specials which are basically short case .357 magnums.

    In terms of barrel length, a 3″ .357 is still a pretty awesome gun. If I felt under armed with a 3″ model 66 I’d be feeling like I needed a long gun. We don’t always get choices in such matters though. There’s also the idea that there are probably some guns both in the .357 and 9mm +P or +P+ realm that should not be used with super high powered loads such as Buffalo Bore or Underwood.

    Something else not mentioned is whether or not you’re only defending yourself from 2 legged or 4 legged critters. If I’m in bear country a .357 is hands down the choice over a 9mm. No competition. I’d much rather be throwing 180s or even 200s out of a .357 at that point.

  11. If you can’t control the recoil, then it’s not a good self-defense handgun.

    Yes you might get the first guy. But once they see you dropped the gun then it’s over for you.

    Get a gun you can control and train with it.

  12. Gallup: Gun Ownership Higher Among Republican Women Than Democrat “Men”

    h ttps://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2024/11/24/gallup-gun-ownership-higher-among-republican-women-than-democrat-men/

    WHAT guy would honestly a pollster asking about guy ownership?

    • Democrat men are weak men. That is what their elected leadership wants to portray as their truth. Others can disagree.

      But democrat men to keep voting for gun control.

  13. If for some reason all modern reliable semi-auto 9mm pistols were banned, seized, or for some other unfathomable reason no longer an option for defensive carry, I’d fetch my 1980’s revolver arsenal (Python,13, 19, 586) from the gun safe along with all the speedloaders and holsters I’ve still got, ponder which one to choose to take the place of my irreplaceable P365 for every day everywhere defensive carry, then regress and adjust to twice the weight and half the rounds carried. I did it for 8 years back in the day, I could do it again if I had to. But unless that was the only option why would I want to? A 357 mag revolver with full load defensive ammo is a without question a devastating fire breathing defensive tool that might be appropriate for novice or beginners in limited scenarios, or perhaps a viable option in some restrictive/repressive jurisdictions, but other than that, not an efficient practical choice for defensive carry compared to modern 9’s loaded with quality defensive ammo like Federal HST or similar modern duty/carry ammo from Hornady, Speer, or Winchester.

  14. Been carrying my kimber k6s for a few years now. Weight is not a problem, handles quite nicely everything I feed it. Hides like nothing you can imagine. I’ve actually asked cops (friendly ones) if they can spot it, and they say “only after you told me!….dumbass”

    Yea, 6 shots and I’m in trouble, but I have made the choice that I’ll live (or die) with that choice. I typically carry a speedloader, and train with it, also use the “shoot 2, load 2” system and am comfortably fast with both.

    Is it “better” than my pistols? In my view its “better” just “different”

  15. Revolvers are more fun to play with then semi automatic pistols.
    I’ve spent countless hours just watching the cylinder spin, around and around and around.
    Give a quick flick of the wrist and slap that spinning cylinder into the frame, just like the guys on TV.
    Then you’ve also got the shear joy of cocking the hammer, click, cant do that with a Glock. Click, click, click, *BOOM* exciting Yes. Home repair is a hobby.
    It gets boring just racking slides but its always a pleasure playing with revolvers.
    And an added benefit of revolvers is when you do eventually get that lucky Shoot Shovel Shutup scenario you’ve not got a bunch of brass littering up the crime scene.
    When you mention Magnum the first thing that comes to POTG’s minds is a big bottle of champagne, pause not, its the .357 S&W mod29..

    • I’m gonna be That Guy. Please, please, don’t imitate what you see actors in prewar black-and-white gangster movies doing with the prop guns the studio paid for. Flipping the cylinder in and out like that and slamming it back and forth can bend the yoke, crane, or ejector rod, maybe even crack the frame. Semiauto pistols are more tolerant of abuse, though neglect tends to make them stop working until you clean and lube them properly. Revolvers tolerate years of neglect do but abuse will break them.

  16. I couldn’t read it. It’s like asking if a split window Corvette is a classic or McDonalds makes burgers. I had to quit reading after the first question : Is .357 a good for self-defense?
    Uh, no shit, Sherlock!

  17. How the Illegal Immigration Problem is About to Get a Lot More Dangerous.

    h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEq-YVLsoTg

  18. (Biden-Harris) FEMA FALLOUT: Jim Jordan Smells A Rat… FEMA’S Skipping Of Trump Supporters Shows A MAJOR PROBLEM..

    h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZqc4mdbLp8

    • Rep. Boebert Calls Out (Biden-Harris) FEMA Administrator With Exactly How Much Money FEMA Spends On Non-Citizens.

      h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc0f8ihoip4

    • “(Biden-Harris) FEMA FALLOUT: Jim Jordan Smells A Rat… FEMA’S Skipping Of Trump Supporters Shows A MAJOR PROBLEM..”

      Incoming US Attorney general Pam Bondi has indicated she will investigate FEMA, as she’s a longtime Florida resident herself…

  19. Broken: ‘The Resistance’ Is Mostly MIA for Trump 2.0.

    h ttps://redstate.com/bobhoge/2024/11/24/the-resistance-is-mostly-mia-for-trump-20-n2182442

    • People are just tired of them. What are they resisting? I want to go to Trump’s inauguration but cannot afford it. I want to see a inauguration crowd like his rallies but millions. Really show the democrats. Send those CNN guys into fits.

    • “Broken: ‘The Resistance’ Is Mostly MIA for Trump 2.0.”

      Don’t believe it, they will regroup…

      • Money needs to be right and they did take some huge unexpected losses lately beyond the presidential election. But yeah when the opportunity is right something will restart the funding.

  20. “Tens of thousands of violent Progressive Leftists are expected to burn down Washington on Inauguration Day.

    Organizers estimate 50,000 people will attend. The level of hate and violence should be record-breaking.”

    h ttps://x.com/CalNewsEditor/status/1854880290042528215

      • maybe, maybe not….but there are plans to do it and perform an actual insurrection & rebellion (under 18 U.S. Code § 2383 – Rebellion or insurrection) to affect the whole DC area. May or may not develop to that…but i”l bet at a minimum some of these mentally ill fools will try something. On Jan 6th 2021 it was just riot-activity result by a relatively small number (compared to all the people there that day) affecting one building, and to date not one from that has been charged by the Biden-Harris DOJ under 18 U.S. Code § 2383 – Rebellion or insurrection because it wasn’t.

        Anyway … in 2020 and up until the 2024 election historic ass-kicking of democrats and Kamala Harris and the left wing… the left wing and democrats and their groups like this and Miner49er are the same people who told the right wing and Trump supporters and republicans that election denial was wrong and immoral and somehow a violent crime.

        • DC burned after Trump’s first inauguration. You can still find aerial photos of it. It wasn’t widely reported because the press works for Democrats.

          • Oh yeah, the left wingers expressed their mental illness.

            This time though they are planning and conspiring and recruiting out in the open. The element needed to being charges under U.S. Code § 2383 – Rebellion or insurrection is planning and/or conspiring for insurrection.

            It was different for Jan 6th, as there was no planning and/or conspiring for insurrection although there was a little planning for certain crimes on the part of very small numbers, but overall 99.9% of it was ’emotional reactionary’ based.

            This is why Jan 6th was not an insurrection and no one has been charged by the Biden-Harris DOJ under U.S. Code § 2383 – Rebellion or insurrection … because the Biden-Harris DOJ FBI has not found any evidence of planning and/or conspiring for insurrection. Simply showing up and getting rowdy-riot or trespassing or some violence enactment or planning to do or doing certain things that are not legal does not an insurrection make. (note: there were 4 that pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy– conspiring to use force against the United States. But that’s not insurrection).

            As of Nov 6th, 2024 – here is what people were charged with from Jan 6th > https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/46-months-jan-6-attack-us-capitol

            • “It was different for Jan 6th, as there was no planning and/or conspiring for insurrection…”

              Once Trump’s people are back in possession, that may change, what with the trickle of info coming out about things decided by, and done by, democrat officials that day. It may not rise to the legal definition of insurrection, but something doesn’t smell right.

    • Meh, we shall see. I have my doubts that any significant number of violent Leftists will descend upon Washington D.C. and do anything substantial. If we go by the number of Hollywood and New York City entertainers who said that they would leave the country and did not do so (pretty much 100% as far as I can gather), maybe 50 violent Leftists will actually attend and attempt to damage the city. And even then those 50 “protesters” may actually be agent provocateurs from (or at the behest of) foreign countries.

      On the other hand, if we can count on anything, it is Leftists acting upon their wild emotions without restraint.

      The real advanced indicator will be whether or not the relevant federal office deploys protective measures, including sending out a large number of National Guard troops, before January 20th.

      • “If we go by the number of Hollywood and New York City entertainers who said that they would leave the country and did not do so (pretty much 100% as far as I can gather)”

        actually, about 60% of those are making actual preparations to do so. And I think the two latest in preparing to leave the country is Ellen DeGeneres who has purchased home-building-property in the U.K., and Sharon Stone who has purchased a home in Italy.

        • actually, about 60% of [Hollywood and New York City entertainers] are making actual preparations to do so.

          One can only hope!

          • At least a few celebrities are actually following through.

            Regarding the rioting, it’s difficult to predict. It’s a different world compared to 2017 and 2021. Everyone is sick and tired of the BS from the left. Furthermore, a not so insignificant amount of lefties have migrated over to the other side. I bet some that still can’t bring themselves to vote for R’s are secretly relieved that Trump won.

            • A survey commissioned by StorageUnits.com … found more than 50% of voters for Vice President Kamala Harris say they want to move to other countries.

              “Of those surveyed, 44% would like to move, but probably won’t, while 5% said they will definitely move and another 5% said they probably will.”

              h ttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/more-than-half-of-harris-voters-want-to-relocate-following-trump-win-survey/ar-AA1tMimd

          • When they go, I hope they take some illegal immigrants with them. I mean, it only makes sense for them to do so – they supported the Biden-Harris intentionally open and insecure border and, basically, said it was a wonderful thing for our country to be invaded and how much they loved the invading illegal immigrants while the American tax payer and tax payer money was (and is) held hostage to directly support the illegal immigrant invaders.

          • Hogwash. They’ll discover quickly that they CAN’T move to an English speaking country… they all enforce their immigration laws, unlike the US. Over 40? You’re not getting into Australia or New Zealand as an example.

            Unless they write a really big check… and the US is the world’s biggest “pay to play” scumbag in that business.

        • those are rookie numbers they need to pump those numbers up.

          seriously though I appreciate the follow through instead of talking a big game.

  21. EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Democratic Party’s Post-Election ‘Listening Sessions’ 🤣

    h ttps://freebeacon.com/author/stiles/democrats/exclusive-inside-the-democratic-partys-post-election-listening-sessions/

    “You’ll be delighted to known the Washington Free Beacon has exclusively and semi-legally obtained an audio recording of the Democratic Party’s first post-election “listening session.” The gathering took place on Monday, Nov. 11, in the Edward M. Kennedy Rumpus Room on Capitol Hill. Please enjoy the following partial transcript, which has been lightly edited for clarity and anonymized to protect the privacy of the participants.”

    “DEM #1: Good morning, individuals with or without a penis or uterus who can or can’t get pregnant, my name is Yolanda Glippman-Breadback. I am a non-BIPOC cisgendered heterosexual woman wearing white jeans and a navy blue blouse. My pronouns are she/they. I am a professionally certified emotional trauma consultant for the Soros-Gates-Jobs Initiative and a visiting professor of transphobia studies at the University of California, Riverside. I’m going to be leading today’s listening session at the invitation of your talented leader, Hakeem Jeffries.

    [Applause]

    Thank you. Now I would like to start by reminding everyone that the full session will take place at noon. In order to celebrate the spirit of inclusion and to ensure the physical safety and mental well-being of the people gathered here today, this particular session will be limited to vulnerable individuals of diverse backgrounds. So I’d like to kindly ask the non-diverse individuals of colonialist heritage to make their way to the exit and collect an empathy binder and privilege worksheet on the way out.

    DEM #2: Does gay count?

    DEM #1: Are you white?

    DEM #2: Yes, but I went to Harvard.

    DEM #1: Please leave. OK, the individual raises a legitimate point. Let’s have all the cisgendered heterosexual men exit the room as well.

    [Applause]

    OK, no one is getting up to leave. I wasn’t joking, folks. You in the front row, let’s go.

    DEM #3: I’m a non-conforming asexual.

    DEM #1: I see. How about this? Raise your hand if you know who won yesterday’s American football game between the …

    [Laughter]

    Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. What the hell? Really? The Chiefs?

    [Booing + hissing]

    DEM #2: Oh, I know. Taylor Swift’s boyfriend plays for them!

    DEM #1: OK, settle down. I suppose that’s our macabre segue to the land acknowledgment portion of the session. Let’s bow our heads. We the individuals gathered here today believe that truth and acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth. We stand on the ancestral lands of the Nacotchtank and the Piscataway Peoples. We pay respects to their elders past and present. We humble ourselves before the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today.

    [Applause]

    Thank you. Now, I know many of you were expecting a chant from an Indigenous shaman. Unfortunately, I was informed earlier today that Chief Hawk Strangler voted for Trump and will no longer be attending.

    DEM #4: Can we talk about why we lost?

    DEM #5: My constituents are worried about crime, unauthorized migration, and substance abuse disorder among the unhoused.

    DEM #6: Actually, crime is down.

    DEM #7: Yeah, look it up. Rachel Maddow analyzed the data on her show.

    DEM #1: Thank you. One at a time, please. We’re here to listen. Yes, the individual in the back. No, you in the pussy hat.

    DEM #8: How do we discuss, like, issues like immigration that are, like, inherently and structurally fascist paradigms in a way that centers aspirational justice in the context of, like, anti-racist resistance to a justice system dedicated to advancing, like, the cause of white supremacy without, like, sacrificing the moral imperative of decolonization?

    DEM #1: Great question.

    [Applause]

    DEM #9: What about transgender inclusion in sports? A lot of people are saying the trans ads killed us with uneducated voters, so we should stop talking about it.

    DEM #10: Transphobia.

    DEM #11: Transphobia.

    [Booing + hissing]

    DEM #9: What? No, shut up. I’m saying we should keep talking about it. We need to stop segregating sports by gender identity. It’s just as bad as segregating based on race.

    DEM #12: Yes, obviously, but how do we educate the people who refuse to be educated?

    DEM #13: Put them in camps?

    DEM #12: No, not camps per se. Just, like, mandatory seminars for individuals who didn’t go to college. Bring in all the top experts from academia and journalism to explain why Trump’s policies are going to literally kill them. Make them pass the course or else they can’t register to vote.

    [Applause]

    DEM #1: Insightful observation, but I think it’s time to move on. Who wants to talk about misogyny? “

  22. EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Democratic Party’s Post-Election ‘Listening Sessions’.

    h ttps://freebeacon.com/author/stiles/democrats/exclusive-inside-the-democratic-partys-post-election-listening-sessions/

    😂

  23. The primary (perhaps only) benefit of .357 Magnum compared to most other calibers is significantly increased muzzle velocity when you have a “long” barrel.

    (A six-inch barrel qualifies as a “long” barrel. A four-inch barrel is questionable whether it qualifies as a “long” barrel.)

    I will argue that .357 Magnum in a medium frame (and somewhat heavy) revolver with a 6-inch barrel is a dandy home-defense firearm, especially with the newer revolvers which have 7-round and even 8-round cylinders. Make sure that you have hearing protection, though, as the blast of those Magnum charges will cause hearing loss indoors.

    • Well not exactly true. Many 357 loads generate over 400ft lbs out of 2 inch snub barrel. A model 60 for example. The semi automatic that would carry comparatively would be a single stack, 9mm with a 3” barrel. You will struggle to find a 9mm that will clock 300ft lbs out of that length barrel, most are in the 250-280 range. And when talking single stacks, you’re looking at 7-8 rounds of 9mm vs 5-6 of 357 Magnum in the comparable revolver. Yes they’re louder, but most 9mm is supersonic anyway. Revolver’s are “experts guns” but if you can handle it you are objectively better armed.

  24. not bad for a fellow who went on line and put together a word salad disguised as a report and then botched the proof reading

    Would love to see a ‘write’ actually go in the field and use a Chronograph!
    I will keep hoping

  25. “The larger case capacity allowed for significantly higher velocities and energy on target. ”

    Wrong.

    I didn’t read further.

    • I noticed that as well.

      Elmer Keith started experimenting using more energetic propellant charges in existing .38 Special brass cases. I also think I remember that he had someone make an experimental revolver with a stronger cylinder, barrel, and frame although I could be wrong on this point.

      The only reason that industry specified a longer casing for .357 Magnum was to ensure that people could not load .357 Magnum cartridges into .38 Special revolvers, which could cause .38 Special revolvers to fail with parts flying away at dangerous velocities.

    • ““The larger case capacity allowed for significantly higher velocities and energy on target. ”

      Wrong.”

      A larger case volume holding more gunpowder doesn’t yield higher velocities?

      • Hypothetically, but there’s plenty of room in the .38 case to achieve those pressures and velocities (and beyond, blowing up the gun). The case was extended SO THAT YOU CAN’T FIT IT IN A .38 REVOLVER and blow it up. Everyone qualified to write about this subject knows that.

        It’s proof it was written by someone or something who knows little or nothing about the subject.

        • You can get magnum velocity out of 38 special cases – along with the pressure. This where a standard 38 special hand ejector – especially pre-war could have problems.

          You can get more velocity in the magnum case with the same pressure.

          Same is true of 44 magnum – more room for boom – you just need the strength to contain it.

          Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt revolvers are strong enough to support using more powder in a 45 colt case. Ross Seyfried loaded some pretty stout stuff and showed you didn’t necessarily have increase pressures to 454 Casull to do it.

          All service cartridges that started as black powder rounds (38 special, 44 special, 45 Colt) had more than enough room once smokeless powder became the norm. As mentioned by others, Keith and Sharp used that extra space and sometimes grenades some guns that did not have sufficient strength.

          I can load a 32 H&R magnum case and get pretty close to 327 federal velocities. I have no problem shooting them in my single six. That same load would probably wreck an H&R revolver in short order. 327 was designed to be what 32 H&R should have been. Federal throttled it back to keep from ruining the more frail H&R revolvers.

          More room = more powder = higher velocity. As long as the gun can contain it.

      • What Frank said. Most cases have room enough to blow the gun. It is a holdover from blackpowder days, when said cases were designed.

        Also true of shotgun hulls. Rather than retool for shorter cases, they just made the wads longer.

  26. do we really need articles like this? Also assuming this was written by Gen AI – can Gen AI do math? See below:

    “For instance, a .38 Special loaded with a 158-grain Hornady Custom bullet reaches around 1,200 fps from a standard service revolver. The same bullet in a .357 Magnum load soars at 1,250 fps, a 34% increase in velocity.” or maybe a 4% increase in velocity …

  27. “For instance, a .38 Special loaded with a 158-grain Hornady Custom bullet reaches around 1,200 fps from a standard service revolver. The same bullet in a .357 Magnum load soars at 1,250 fps, a 34% increase in velocity.”

    The math doesn’t make sense on this statement. How is 1,250 fps 34% more than 1,200?

  28. For years, the 357 – 125 gr HP load was considered the top handgun defensive round. As an “older shooter”, I support the use of a 3″ model 60, with a CT Laser grip. A bigger issue with using a 357. is being able to also have a “Non-Black Gun” carbine. Modern lever action 357 carbines offer a bigger ballistic (% velocity gain) advantage over the various 9mm carbines. In addition. using one of those “cowboy” carbines make it hard for someone to be presented to a Jury as a self-styled vigilante by a Lib DA. As a bonus, the 357 carbine works well as brush gun when hunting hoggs.

    • The 357 carbine is a truly wonderful item.

      It elevates the 357 to near 30-30 status (at a shorter range).

      I found my favorite load for accuracy and velocity to be around 140 grain hollow points.

      The Winchester Silvertip for factory and the Speer 140 grain Half Jacket (now discontinued) for reloads

      Flatter shooting than 158 grain loads. Sighted for 75 yards, I can hold dead on from 50 to about 110 yards with no more than 1 inch deviation. Excellent.

      And that same sighting shoots 125 grain 38+P point of aim at 25 yards – with around 1250 fps.

      Gives me most everything I want.

  29. Specialist
    Funny you mention that.
    I clocked PMC 158 grain JSP- not a high quality load but I use it for practice- from my Rossi 92 357 at 2155 fps. Thats hot! Funny= 1090 fps in a revolver! PMC must use slow burning powder. A WW 150 grain Power Point is 2170 fps in a 20 inch .30-30. Wow!
    Most 125 grain 357 Magnum loads get close to 2000 fps. The rub is they are very inaccurate at 100 yards or so. But with 158 to 180 grain loads the carbine sings! Fast burning powder in defense loads isnt that great. Very interesting. My results exactly.

  30. The .357 magnum is the perfect caliber for a sidearm.

    And the girl in the first photo is leaning back and apparently doesn’t know how to handle the handgun.

  31. .357s are the sh!t. But whatever you carry, you’re extremely unlikely to ever fire your gat in anger, so chill and carry what you like.

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