Well, I was in a hurry and I screwed this test up a bit. I forgot to bring my camera and my BB gun so I didn't produce a video or get a calibration figure immediately before testing. I did calibrate it at home a few days before the test but technically it's supposed to be done immediately before the test. I still thought it would be worth sharing the results. I'll repeat the JSP test and do it properly since I wanted to see the JSP from a carbine anyway.


125 gr GDHP over 14.0gr AA9 from carbine:

Impact velocity: 1,904 fps
Penetration: 10.7"
Retained weight: 50.8gr
Max expansion: 0.567"
Min expansion: 0.443"


158gr Speer JSP over 13.0 gr AA9 from revolver:

Impact velocity:1,108 fps
Penetration: 17.1"
Retained weight: 157.4 gr
Max expansion: 0.655"
Min expansion: 0.450"

17''......that thing is a BEAST!  In all of our searchings for the "best" rounds, there ain't much that hits like an old .357.  But we however go for 15 rounds instead, myself included.  I may have to go clean up the old 686....

I concur. I am rediscovering my love of the .357 mag. It is reasonably powerful for a handgun. It is incredibly versatile. .357 revolvers have been the only firearms with which I can consistently (4/6 or better) hit a torso sized target (empty refrigerant canister) at 100 yards offhand. A 4" .357 carries really well and it's hard to beat a factory Smith & Wesson trigger. Now my wife has a Rossi M92 and I'm even more impressed with the cartridge's ability from a rifle barrel.

One day I will find a lever gun at the right price and take it home. We have become so spoiled with newer cartridges we forget how good some of the old ones can be,

Thanks for the tests. 1900 fps gold dot could be a pretty awesome thing for just about any kind of problem I might have

This is where I bought my wife's.

At 1900 FPS and penetration at a hair over 10", it wouldnt be the best choice....

ETA- Well, maybe not a hair....

I am well aware of the FBI standard but do not necessarily hold it as a absolute necessity. My main uses would be on critters and it would be just fine for that.

Im certain you could make rabbits to acrobatics....

I'm sure it would annihilate them. Probably wreck coyotes and javelina too.

I use to have several S&W K & L frames in my collection.

But the one I like best was a 3inch GP100 Loaded with 38spl+P 158gr SWC HP carried AIWB

I`ve  been thinking of going back to the revolver as a primary. Still carry a M642 as a bug

To this day I still shoot more accurately using a revolver.

Been thinking of a another GP100 3inch or a 3inch 686.

But of coarse I will load it with 38spl+P !

Doing Bill Drills using a heavy 3inch 357magnum  and using 38spl+P  .Is like cheating.

You'rd over powering the 125 GD round. You've got under expansion and a pretty severe loss of mass. The 158gd round is performing up to spec as demonstrated by the data.

Have you shot any of these tests with Barnes bullets out of a rifle or carbine? I feel like they would probably do well.

LOL, yeah. I knew that the rifle would push that bullet far beyond its design limits but I still wanted to see it.

I have not yet, but based on my results with Buffalo Bore 140 gr XPB, I'd expect it to penetrate very deeply because it looks as though all the petals would shear off. That might not really be so bad. It ought to still create substantial tissue disruption in the first 10"-12" but also penetrate very deeply. I hope to have a chance to test it someday soon.