Who Makes .357 Magnum Ammo?

Who Makes .357 Magnum Ammo?

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over who makes .357 Magnum ammo today. The .357 Magnum is a long-standing magnum pistol cartridge which has been in use for many decades. Since its introduction, the cartridge has been employed for many use cases by shooters of all types. Today we will delve into who makes .357 Magnum ammunition while delving into considerations like use cases and more. Without further ado, let’s talk about who makes .357 Magnum ammo.

What is .357 Magnum?

The .357 Magnum is the result of a collaboration between Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Douglas B. Wesson, and Smith & Wesson. Design for the cartridge began in 1934 with production starting one year later in 1935. The cartridge’s parent case is the .38 Special and was developed in response to the .38 Super cartridge introduced by Colt. The .357 Magnum was developed to provide improved terminal ballistics than the .38 Special with an emphasis on penetrating cover like as vests and steel car doors. When compared to the .38 Special, the .357 Magnum cartridge features higher velocities, increased pressures, and flatter trajectories. These traits allow for a greater accuracy potential and increase the effective range of the cartridge. Recoil-wise, the cartridge exhibits a sharp, stout recoil impulse which is a far cry from the impulse yielded by the .38 Special. While stout, the recoil impulse of the .357 Magnum is eclipsed by that of the .44 Magnum and larger magnum calibers. The .357 Magnum’s high velocity nature and increased powder charge make this cartridge an effective magnum handgun round. These traits aid the .357 Magnum in producing solid and effective hits on target and improve the cartridge’s overall terminal ballistics. The improved terminal ballistics of the cartridge make the .357 Magnum well-suited for defensive applications, duty, and hunting. The magnum nature of this cartridge makes it appropriate for many use cases, making it incredibly versatile.

What Firearms Use .357 Magnum?

Currently, the market has many firearm options chambered in .357 Magnum. Firearm offerings of this type are commonly available at most places where firearms are sold. Notably, firearms chambered in .357 Magnum are capable of accepting .38 Special ammo. Firearms of this type are most commonly found in the form of single action or double action revolvers. Revolvers are available in various sizes and form factors optimal for concealed carry, range use, or cowboy action shooting. While not as common, semi-automatic .357 Magnum firearms exist in the form of Desert Eagle pistols. Of course, lever action rifles are also readily available chambered in .357 Magnum. Henry, Ruger, Marlin, Colt, and Cimarron are among the producers of firearms chambered in .357 Magnum. Shooters today can browse a wide range of vintage and historic .357 Magnum chambered firearms. Some firearms in the caliber, such as Smith & Wesson and Colt revolvers, have become quite collectable over the years. Vintage offerings encompass old commercial offerings as well as old law enforcement and military service weapons. Of course, there are also a wide range of modern production .357 Magnum chambered firearms in various forms and styles. Put plainly, one can easily find and purchase a firearm capable of accommodating .357 Magnum ammo. Purchase .357 Magnum Ammo

What is .357 Magnum Used For?

Like nearly every caliber, .357 Magnum ammo can effectively be utilized for recreational shooting. This is to say that one can find great enjoyment in plinking and casually shooting a .357 Magnum chambered firearm. Of course, the wide range of general purpose .357 Magnum ammo offerings are optimal for this use case. While not as cheap as 9mm or .38 Special ammo, general purpose .357 Magnum ammunition is accessible and great for recreation. Shooters can effectively employ various forms of .357 Magnum for recreation and purpose driven training. Many shooters employ the cartridge for defensive purposes. The .357 Magnum has a long history of law enforcement use and has proven viable for duty use. The cartridge exceled in martial applications and was not found to be anemic or inadequate for stopping reasonable threats. Today, the cartridge is further optimized for duty and defense by modern defensive loadings. These loadings capitalize on the round’s high velocity and flat trajectory, making it even more potent. Additionally, shooters will encounter a wide range of .357 Magnum firearms optimized for defense or concealed carry. The .357 Magnum is suitable for hunting small and medium-sized game. Hunters have found that round excels at dispatching medium-sized game such as deer. The cartridge hits with authority and has modest recoil, providing hunters with a viable cartridge. Hunters commonly employ the round in both revolvers and rifles for various types of hunting. As with any hunting, one should ensure they employ appropriate ammo, firearms, equipment, and practices for the game they are pursuing. Doing so ensures both an optimal and ethical hunt. Simply put, the .357 Magnum is well-suited for hunting purposes.

Who Makes General Purpose .357 Magnum Ammo?

There are many companies who make general purpose .357 Magnum ammo. These loadings commonly feature full metal jacket (FMJ) or hollow point projectiles. Grain weights typically range from 130 to 158 grains. These projectiles are suitable for various uses such as plinking, training, and competitions. Loadings of this type are common and are generally the most affordable .357 Magnum ammunition offerings on the market. Additionally, these loadings tend to be the most common and accessible .357 Magnum offerings on the market. PMC, Magtech, Aguila, and Federal produce ammunition of this type.

Who Makes Defensive .357 Magnum Ammo?

Many companies currently produce defensive .357 Magnum ammo. These loadings generally feature hollow point projectiles or other specialty bullets optimized for defensive use. Loadings of this type are optimized to achieve adequate levels of penetration and expansion conducive to stopping a threat. Additionally, loadings of this type are designed with precision in mind and are often designed to not overpenetrate targets. Put plainly, these loadings achieve optimal penetration and expansion on target. Federal, Norma, Underwood, Black Hills, and Sierra produce .357 Magnum ammo of this type.

Who Makes Specialty .357 Magnum Ammo?

Specialty .357 Magnum ammo is produced by several companies for various purposes. Shooters primarily utilize specialty .357 Magnum ammunition for use cases such as hunting purposes. As a whole, these loadings are available in various grain weights and with purpose-built projectiles suitable for specialized tasks. Projectiles range from jacketed soft point (JSP), Hornady FTX, and Barnes XPB bullets to name a few. Remington, Federal, Barnes, Hornady, and Winchester are among the producers of specialty .357 Magnum ammo. Purchase .357 Magnum Ammo

Is .357 Magnum Ammo Expensive?

Like most calibers and ammo offerings, price depends upon the specifics of a given loading. Additionally, the cost of materials and labor come into play when it comes to ammunition pricing. This is why general-purpose loadings tend to be cheap and affordable while more specialized offerings tend to demand higher prices. For example, a 158 grain FMJ loading will be cheaper than a 180 grain Speer Gold Dot offering. Of course, one can save on ammo when purchasing bulk quantities as there is usually a price break at the case level. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that prices are often subject to change and fluctuation factors such as supply and demand come into play. All in all, some .357 Magnum ammo is going to be affordable and economically priced while others are more costly. This is especially true if they are specialty loadings.

Is .357 Magnum Ammo Easy to Find?

At this point in time, .357 Magnum ammo comes in many forms. The cartridge continues to be one of the most common magnum pistol cartridges found on the market. That being said, a majority of the .357 Magnum ammunition is of the general-purpose variety. Specialty loadings and alternative offerings can be found but are ultimately overshadowed by general purpose loadings. Additionally, one can purchase .357 Magnum ammo in various quantities. Quantities range from individual box offerings to bulk ammo offerings. Bulk .357 Magnum ammo offerings can be found in the form of case quantities and ammo cans. These bulk ammunition offerings allow users to quickly build up their stock of .357 Magnum ammo in various increments. Loadings for .357 Magnum are commonly found at most places where ammunition is sold. Additionally, if one elects to shop for .357 Magnum ammo online, their options become even broader. This can come in handy if one is looking for a specific loading for specialized use cases such as hunting or precision shooting. Simply put, one will have no issue finding .357 Magnum ammunition.

Conclusion

All in all, .357 Magnum ammo and firearms remain common on the American market. With loadings tailored for a wide range of use cases, shooters can find .357 Magnum ammunition optimal for their purposes. From hunting to self-defense and recreation, there are plenty of optimal loadings on the market. We here at True Shot Ammo carry .357 Magnum in addition to our range of ammo for sale. Our inventory of ammunition for sale covers popular calibers like 9mm, 5.56, 12 gauge, and .22 LR. Put plainly, we carry a wide range of pistol, rifle, rimfire, and shotgun ammunition optimal for shooters of all types. Whether you want to buy .357 Magnum ammo or purchase bulk ammo of a different type, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.