From that point, the .44 Mag has been a cornerstone in American handguns and even in American culture. We do want to note that these numbers can fluctuate depending on the barrel length of your handgun. If you want to spend less, then do load the ammo yourself. Best 9mm Ammo 2019 [Self-Defense & Target], 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Win – Cartridge Comparison, Best .40 S&W Ammo: Self Defense & Target Practice. of kinetic energy, while the 240 grain .44 Magnum bullet (the best of the combination rifle/pistol … We think that this will be great for shooters and hunters who are always looking for the best products to avoid misses. All of these qualities give you a great and reliable .357 Mag round for home defense. Not only this, but the energy that is transferred from a bullet to the target on impact also causes severe trauma to nerves, tissue, and organs. It was introduced by Elmer Keith, along with the Smith and Wesson Company, by developing the .44 special. De ontwikkeling van dit patroon is mede te danken aan een groepje fanatieke schutters, dat op zoek was naar het ideale patroon. If you want a faster velocity, you always have the option to choose smaller and lighter bullets. Because of this method, the comparisons should be valid, but as we mentioned earlier, the actual numbers could change depending on the firearm you are using. It has over 600ft.lb of force and a velocity over 1,000ft/sec at 50 yards. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. While both of these cartridges are known for their ability to stop intruders in their tracks or even to take down some larger game, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and in this case, it is recoil. This is just our preference, and you might find that you like something different for each category. Now, we have chosen several hard-hitting .44 rounds, and there are options out there where the recoil is not as severe as the rounds we have chosen, but the trend does make sense. So, now that we know a bit about both of them let us see the difference that they have in their performance. Not too shabby. You aren’t going to get magnum performance out of most .38 Special ammo. Generally, there is a debate between 357 Magnum vs. 44 Magnum about the best one standing. The recoil of .44 Mag is much more compared to that of .357 Mag because it can take heavier bullets and it also transfers into more energy and pressure. Generally the 9mm +p and the .38 +p and pretty much a wash. To save on time, you can buy factory loaded ones in which the .44 Mag will cost much more than the .357 Mag. Complete 44 magnum ammunition ballistics Chart. This round has one of the highest bullet energies of the .357 rounds but not much more recoil. When making a 10mm vs 357 ammo carrying option comparison, the 10×25mm would not work in a concealed carry as much as the 357 would. One of the most recognizable Magnum revolvers of all time, and the certified best way to take down walkers, the Colt Python deserves its reputation. Let’s zoom in on this range and see if we can tease apart any differences in bullet drop (inches) between these two heavy handgun cartridges. Toting that around in a .44 snubbie will let some Goblin or Wild Critter know you were thinking of them..357 magnum We also went pretty conservative with the powder charge since these are factory loads. While a lot depends on the bullet, the .44mag will give you more security as a trail gun than the .357. The larger diameter of the .44 Mag is often the reason behind its heavy recoil. Both cartridges show very minimal loss in trajectory out to the 50-yard mark which means you just need to aim and fire with little thought of shot adjustment. Even though the best performer on this test was a .357, I would not want to suggest that .357 Magnum generally has better hard barrier performance than .44 Magnum. We should note that the bullet design also affects penetration. Recoil with handguns, especially for those to be used for personal defense, is a very important concept to think about before choosing a handgun chambered for a specific cartridge. While the majority of shots are going to be taken at less than 75 yards with handgun rounds, we have mentioned that these are also two of the more popular hunting cartridges and you might find yourself taking a shot at 50+ yards. The kinetic energy that is carried by a bullet downrange is not the sole factor in stopping power, but it is important. You might be looking at 100 or 150 yards with a carbine, but that is the only scenario where we see this occurring. As long as you are using them safely and have confidence in their effectiveness, that’s all that matters, and we wouldn’t argue with you. This indicates what we already knew: The 44 magnum is much more powerful than the 357 magnum. The .44 mag with some heavy bullet loads is going to get excellent penetration on bear or other predators if you are out in the backwoods. The .357 Mag cartridges are nothing less; they also perform well. 357 Magnum vs. 44 Magnum: In-depth Comparison - Outdoor Hunt In the 357 Magnum vs. 44 Magnum, it has been seen that a .44 Mag transfer greater energy into the target than a .357 Mag even when it is fired from a distance of 100 yards. Below, we have listed these rounds. Regardless, all of the rounds have muzzle velocities well above 1,000fps and potential impact velocities 1,150 to 1,600fps at 50 yards. So, when you go camping or hunting, it is better to take .44 Mags with you rather than .357 Mags. Later, Remington, as well as Smith and Wesson, began to spread the cartridges commercially and they became a friend for the shooters and the hunters. Although a narrower bullet, the .357 Magnum delivered a very respectable 494 foot pounds of energy, while the .45 ACP delivered 365, the .45 Colt 444, and .44 … When we are talking about cartridges, we cannot skip talking about its ballistic performance as it is one of the key parts of developing a new cartridge. Here the heavier .44 Mag rounds show more drop overall than the .357 Mag rounds, though it is still only 2-3inches. The cartridges are also very similar when it comes to ballistic performances of them. While gel can give us a lot of information, we’re not sure how well they replicate an intruder with heavy denim or a big brown bear tumbling down the hillside at you. With a degree in Microbiology and several years of doctoral work manipulating bacterial genes, he attempts to merge the rational and unbiased thinking of scientific research with the passions of hunting and fishing. The .44 Mag can accept and propel much heavier grain bullets than the .357 Mag. So let’s take a look at the recoil energy that is generated from these cartridges. This gives you much better-stopping power, and the soft point bullet gives a lot of expansion and wound creation. The .357 Magnum is also used in carbines that are better served for hunting purposes. The reason we like this round for this category is the energy that it carries, which was the highest of the .357 Mag rounds, and the higher sectional density. This damage is very important when it comes to a person who is using the handgun for self-defense or hunting. Regarding ballistics and when used at normal handgun distances, there is not going to be much of a difference between cartridges. Both of these cartridges require larger weapons to better manage the heavy recoil and might be difficult to wear comfortably in day to day scenarios. We think it is a clearer picture as to how these two cartridges differ in their potential penetration. While there are .357mag rounds that can fill the same role, overall the .44mag might be the better option. Over penetration is often a fear in home settings where bullets might pass through the target and endanger others in the room or surrounding rooms. Hundreds of different firearms have been produced since the cartridge’s introduction to the shooting world that vary in length and weight. Because of that, we are going to look at the stopping power (ft.lb) of each of the eight rounds and see if we notice any trends between cartridges. Magnum vs 44. The .357 Mag has higher velocity compared to the .44 Mag at a distance of around 100 yards, but they do perform quite similar at the 50 yards mark. It’s pretty nasty recoil, but its stopping power and trajectory make it a fine hunting or game defense round. Bullet weights can range from anywhere from 180 to 300gr. The higher the sectional density, the more force is applied to a smaller area which gives you better penetration. Still, we thought of comparing the accuracy of 357 Magnum vs. 44 Magnum. Paired with certain bullet designs, this is more than enough velocity to cause proper terminal expansion of the bullets. It was also seen that when a heavier bullet is used with .357 Mag, it can transfer more power, which transforms into greater damage. If we look at round to round we see that no matter what you go through these rounds do not have very good BCs. This is more than enough for devastating terminal effects. Though it is important, putting numbers to accuracy for cartridge comparison is difficult to do. Even up to 50 yards, the bullet drop was minimal for both cartridge types. We have divided it into different points so that it is easier for you to understand. These results are worth noting, and we will come back to this and discuss in more detail in our application section of the article. When standard factory ammo is considered, the .41 delivers 25 percent more energy than the .357 Magnum with a wider, heavier bullet. This is great for self-defense when you have to shoot a bear or any other predators. By now, we have talked about the overall performance of the cartridges, both of which are quite popular among handgun users. If you want to go above 70 yards, the .357 Mag is much more accurate. 357. The bullets used in this simulation were the 265 grain FTX for the .44 Magnum with a ballistic coefficient of .225 and initial velocity of 1600 fps, the .350L with 165 grain FTX and an initial velocity of 2100 fps, the 30-30 with a 170 grain flat point and the .357 … Unrivalled velocity and terminal ballistic performances are a key part of .357 and it did make it popular to be used as a tool of shooting, hunting as well as for self-defense. A bullet needs to travel well and have good penetration to be effective. What stands out is the large increase in recoil energy for the .44 Mag over the .357. The later one has a more voluminous cartridge, which helps store more gun powder, and it is also able to take better pressure after ignition. The only drawback to the .44mag is the heavy recoil. .357 is weaker than .30 carbine out of a rifle..30 carbine is inferior to the AK47 7.62x39 caliber. I’ve personally read an article written by an exper… So, let us begin with it. Best Concealed Carry Insurance [Comparison Chart]. We will always advise you to take help from the internet to buy different kinds of ammunition. The bullets weight and diameter is the way to determine the sectional density. It has been seen that a .44 Mag works better with a trail gun. Scenario: Your are bowhunting in Montana. And though the numbers might differ when being fired from your handgun, the differences between each round from both cartridges should remain constant. 158 grains in the 357 conjured up an average velocity of 1363 fps and 651 foot-pounds of energy, while 240 grains in the 44 gave … This is obvious when looking at 400 inches of bullet drop at these ranges. Although fairly powerful, the recoil of a .357 Magnum is manageable for an experienced shooter due to the cartridge being lighter than a .44 Magnum. 357 magnum is a classic revolver round, while the other is a modern semiautomatic cartridge. The much heavier bullets for the .44mag give a lot more penetration than the lighter .357 bullets and the force carried by the bullets is much greater at further distances which also make it a better choice for hunting or protection from larger game. At 200 yards, for example, the 150 grain .30-30 bullet is still carrying 944 ft. lbs. There are better options for concealed weapons chambered for the .357 though they are often smaller with a shorter barrel which makes the recoil pretty vicious. When he changes things up to compare the most commonly-used bullet weight for each cartridge, you can really see the difference. The .357 is well suited for a defensive, as well as hunting firearm. What came from these modifications is the round that is still in use today, the .357 Mag. As we said, both the loads are quite popular among people who use their handgun for self-defense when accuracy is expected to be maximum. The sectional density is derived from the bullet’s weight and diameter. Overall, a higher ballistic coefficient usually coincides with a bullet that is easier to put on target down range. The reason is that so much depends on the firearm and more so on the person doing the shooting. The best method for quantifying penetration without the use of ballistic gel is to look at the sectional density of the bullets for each cartridge. Both of the cartridges offer great power when it comes to home defense. Everyday carry or EDC backpacks are essential for daily commuters and outdoor enthusiasts. What a lot of handgun owners want in a home defense weapon is maximum transfer of this energy which requires the right amount of velocity as well as expansion when it hits the target. The purpose was to give improved velocity over the .357 Magnum by using the larger .44 Magnum case necked down to hold a 0.357 diameter bullet.. We give the edge to the .357 for home defense, but the .44 mag is more than capable when in the right hands. Like we briefly mentioned earlier, velocity also plays a role how a bullet performs on impact. The .357 Mag is a much smaller diameter bullet than its .44 Mag counterpart. This is another factor involved in stopping factor, which makes a difference. For cartridges to be used in home defense, stopping power is without a doubt, the biggest factor a lot of potential buyers are going to be interested in. The choice of buying will rest on you and the firearm that you are currently using. Would you rather have a .357 6 shot revolver, or a 15 shot Glock 20 (10mm auto)? With that being said, The .357 Mag rounds are no slouches either. The .357Sig in 125 gr is supposed to match the ballistic characteristics of the .357 magnum in 125 gr.. We will take a look at the velocity, ballistic coefficients, and the trajectory of the 357 Mag versus the 44 Mag to better sort these two cartridges into specific shooting applications at the end of the article. Still, as a general pattern, .44 Mag rounds are going to carry more energy and in theory, cause a lot more damage to the target. The biggest reason is because of the low recoil which we think is important for a defense situation. That... Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. But plinking tin cans or punching paper, you probably won’t care. in favor of the true rifle cartridges. The 20+ Best Kayaks of 2020 – Reviewed & Compared in... Top 10+ Best Layout Blinds – Reviews And Buying Guide 2020. Knowing about the ballistic performance is especially required for the hunters who want to know about their probability of getting their target. The barrel length, grip style, gun weight, and of course the ammunition used all influence the amount of recoil. So, let’s take a look at our eight rounds and see how the sectional densities of the bullets match up. One of the common ways of calculating it is through a ballistics calculator in which the weight of the bullet, powder charge, the firearm weight, and the muzzle velocity are kept as factors. Choosing the right cartridge will often depend on the bullet that you want to use. It all has to do with the propellant. That, and some people on the Internet say that the .357 SIG, being it was made to duplicate the ballistics of the .357 Magnum, is as powerful, if not more. You may never expect it at a distance of 500 yards, but we believe that a distance of 50 to 100 yards is a good measure. This energy, once the bullet hits the target, is transferred over and caused massive damage to the surrounding tissue. The renowned ammo manufacturers do produce them and you will get them at all the shops. For this comparison, we used to designated barrel lengths that were designated by the manufacturer. The role that velocity has on bullet effectiveness, especially when it comes to home defense, is highly debated and the arguments can even turn a little nasty. to 88% (.30-30 vs. .357 Mag.) .44 special. They allow you to have all your clothing, toiletries,... A boning knife can help you cut through meat right down to the bone. The .357 Mag round is still slightly less than the .44 Mag round with the least amount of recoil. The 44 Mag’s case is nearly the same length as the 357 Mag’s, but its greater diameter gives it approximately 45 percent more capacity for propellant. These specifications gave gun owners the option for a hard-hitting and deep penetrating handgun cartridge, and that remains true to this day. Not all of the .44 Mag rounds are drastically different from the .357 Mag rounds. The velocity will also tell the probability of the penetration of the bullet after shooting. 357 Magnum vs. 357 SIG: These two calibers sound similar and while the performance can be about the same, they have very different uses. We have provided a graph to show the flatness of these trajectories over a range that encompassed 500 yards. As you can imagine, this is most likely going to result in pretty different ballistic and terminal performances between the two different cartridges which we will look at in detail shortly. This is valuable when using a handgun for defense or even hunting purposes. So, the cartridge was developed by Elmer Keith, Phil Sharpe, along with Smith and Wesson, by performing changes on the .38 that was used back then. Also, if you want a firearm that is concealed, then we will recommend you to get the .357 Mag as it can fit smaller bullets and you can use it in firearms that you can hide. Just like we have learned in physics, velocity is needed when it comes to the performance of a bullet. But he has yet to make up his mind on whether or not he should get one, because he’s already got a Glock 31. The first difference that we can see is in the makeup of the cartridges. Eventually, Smith & Wesson and Remington began commercially producing these custom rounds and producing firearms that were chambered for the cartridge. As the shots are close-ranged and the shooter can often be a novice, measuring efficiency can, at times, be challenging. Magnum? The ballistic coefficient is a number generated from several variables that deal with bullet dimensions. When tested at 50 yards, it resulted in being 500 ft. Lb. This means it hits a target harder, makes a wider wound cavity, and all things equal, will penetrate as deep, or deeper, than Keith’s first magnum. So, let us see how the two differ in terms of performance. Just from sectional density, we saw that the .44 Mag has the potential for a lot more penetration than the .357 Mag, though we have to step back and remember that the sectional density is only part of the equation for penetration. It also depends on the round. Stopping power can encompass several different factors. The variety of .357 Mag rounds allows the shooter to match his ammunition well with the task at hand. Their new Raging Hunterhas been steadily increasing in popularity and starting this month, they are producing the same line of revolvers but chambered in the more potent .… At about 100 yards, the drop rate of .44 Magnum does increase compared to .357 Magnums because of its capacity of taking heavy bullets, but the performance is quite similar as it is just 2-3 inches. While cap and ball revolvers are called ‘.44s,’ they are really .45s. The model of handgun that you are using will also be a factor when it comes to the recoil. The .44 is a bit powerful for self defense, but the 44 magnum can also shoot the .44 special, which will be plenty adequete for defense. It has been seen that the .357 Mag and the .44 Mag doesn’t have much difference when it comes to ballistic coefficients. If you do need something to give you more range, there are rounds designed for use with carbines that have much better ballistic coefficients. A lot is going to depend on the design of the bullet and handgun rounds, especially those designed for defense just don’t have the shape needed to resist outside forces on their trajectory at long range. The advantage runs from about 33% (.35 Rem. The origins of the .44 Mag come from the .44 Special that was tinkered with by Elmer Keith to provide more velocity and energy to the heavy bullets used. The .357 Mag is smaller compared to the .44 Mag. For our top hunting round, we like the Lead Flat Nose 305gr round from Buffalo Bore. As we mentioned before, and is important enough to mention again, there is more to a cartridge’s effectiveness than the amount of ft.lb force it carries when talking about its ability to stop a target.