These Are History’s 5 Best .357 Magnum Caliber Weapons

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By Kyle Mizokami,The National Interest

One of the most persistent handgun calibers of the past one hundred years, the .357 Magnum (9x33mmR) cartridge was for decades the most powerful commercially available round. Invented in 1934, the cartridge was developed by leading firearm authorities and quickly became the round of choice for revolver enthusiasts, law enforcement and military forces worldwide.

The .357 Magnum was originally developed from the .38 Special round and was the first “magnum” round ever invented. While the two rounds are dimensionally similar, there are clear differences between the two. The .357 Magnum round is longer than the .38 Special, preventing the more powerful round from being inserted into the cylinders of the less powerful revolvers. (On the other hand, .38 Special rounds can be loaded into .357 Magnum guns, providing a less powerful, lower recoil and less expensive shooting experience)

The .357 Magnum is considerably more powerful than its parent round the .38 Special. A .38 Special full metal jacket round will hit with the force of 189 pounds of pressure per square foot at a subsonic muzzle velocity of 810 feet per second. A similar .357 Magnum cartridge with hit with 575 pounds at 1,440 feet per second. More than doubling the force and increase of velocity—well above supersonic levels—with essentially the same cartridge was a considerable accomplishment. Here are five of the best .357 Magnum firearms in existence.

Smith & Wesson Model 27

Smith & Wesson was one of the first gun manufacturers sell firearms in .357 Magnum, having been on the original design team for the round. The Model 27 debuted in 1935 and despite being born in the midst of the Great Depression was an immediate hit, with the average wait time for customers to receive the revolver up to four years.