Reader question, asked April 2025
Short answer: From a 4-inch barrel, a full-power .357 carries roughly 50% to 80% more energy than a .38 +P with the same bullet weight. You pay for it in recoil, muzzle blast and flash.
The details
- Ballpark numbers with a 158-grain bullet from a 4″ barrel: .357 Magnum runs about 1,200 to 1,250 fps, around 500+ ft-lbs. A .38 Special +P runs about 900 to 1,000 fps, around 300 to 350 ft-lbs.
- In a 2″ snub-nose the gap shrinks, because the magnum loses more velocity. Recoil and blast get rough fast.
- “+P+” has no industry (SAAMI) pressure standard, so only shoot it in guns the maker says can handle it.
- A .357 revolver can shoot both, so you can practice with .38s and carry whichever load you shoot best.
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