Originally Posted by BB57

No offense, but let's quantify what you are saying here about "full magnum velocity".

Yes, you can launch a 125 gr bullet at "full .357 Magnum velocity" in a 2 1/2" or 3" revolver and get 1350 fps or so. With 8.5 to 9.0 grains of Unique you'll only get 1250-1300 fps. You'll lose a full 50 fps. OMG, clutch the pearls....

What you will also get is SIGNIFICANTLY more recoil:

Charge Weight: 21.0 gr Muzzle Velocity: 1350.0 ft/s
Firearm Weight: 2.2 lb Bullet Weight: 125.0 gr
Output Data
Recoil Velocity: 17.0 ft/s Recoil Energy: 10.1 ft•lbs
Recoil Impulse: 1.2 lb•s

Charge Weight: 9.0 gr Muzzle Velocity: 1300.0 ft/s
Firearm Weight: 2.2 lb Bullet Weight: 125.0 gr
Output Data
Recoil Velocity: 13.0 ft/s Recoil Energy: 5.9 ft•lbs
Recoil Impulse: 0.9 lb•s

If you are thinking it's caused by the 50 fps difference in velocity, think again:

Charge Weight: 9.0 gr Muzzle Velocity: 1350.0 ft/s
Firearm Weight: 2.2 lb Bullet Weight: 125.0 gr
Output Data
Recoil Velocity: 13.4 ft/s Recoil Energy: 6.3 ft•lbs
Recoil Impulse: 0.9 lb•s

That heavier charge of ball powder has over twice the mass of Unique and that mass exits the barrel at about 3 times the velocity of the bullet. That 21 gr powder charge driving a 125 gr bullet at 1350 fps generates 71% more recoil energy, 33% more recoil impulse and 31% more recoil velocity than 9 grains of Unique driving the same 125 gr bullet at 1300 fps.

There's no free lunch. That extra 50 fps of "full magnum performance" will cost you twice as much in powder expense, almost twice as much in forcing cone erosion, and a lot more in recoil.

The question then is whether that extra 50 fps does anything significant for you in terms of either external or terminal ballistics and with most bullets that just isn't the case in a 2 1/2" to even 4" barrel.

In a longer 5" or 6" barrel you'll start to see more velocity gain and an extra 100-150 fps might be worthwhile in some hunting situations.

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2400 is not a flake powder it's a flattened ball powder.