.357 Magnum
| .357 Magnum | ||||||||||||||||||||
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.357 Magnum ammunition | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Handgun, Carbine | |||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Elmer Keith Phillip B. Sharpe Douglas B. Wesson | |||||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1934 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Smith & Wesson Winchester | |||||||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1935–present | |||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | .38 Special | |||||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed, straight | |||||||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .357 in (9.1 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Land diameter | .346 in (8.8 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .379 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | .379 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .440 in (11.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .060 in (1.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Case length | 1.29 in (33 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 1.59 in (40 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Case capacity | 26.2 gr H2O (1.70 cm3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Small pistol magnum | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (CIP) | 44,000 psi (300 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (SAAMI) | 35,000 psi (240 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum CUP | 45,000 CUP | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Test barrel length: 4 in (102 mm) (vented) Source(s): Federal, | ||||||||||||||||||||
The .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum, .357 S&W Magnum, .357 Magnum, or 9×33mmR (as it is known in unofficial metric designation) is a smokeless powder cartridge with a 0.357 in (9.07 mm) bullet diameter. It was created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, and Douglas B. Wesson of firearm manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Winchester. The .357 Magnum cartridge is notable for its highly effective terminal ballistics.
The .357 Magnum cartridge is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. It was introduced in 1935, and its use has since become widespread.