Does it make sense to shoot .357 from a 2.5" barrel.

My uneducated guess is that an awful lot of the powder will exit the barrel before it burns but give the shooter the full felt recoil

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Of all the reasons I own firearms, being conservative with gunpowder ain't one of them. My 2.5 inch 686+ is recoil comfortable for me up to 158gr .357, but generally stays loaded with 125gr HP .357.

A .357 Magnum will give you more velocity than a .38 Special even if it doesn't achieve the velocities you would get in a 4" or 6" barrel.

I shoot 145gr Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum round in a 2" J frame with no powder in the barrel.

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No powder in the barrel?

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I wasn't looking for it but I don't remember seeing any.

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I think he means no unburned powder residues in the barrel...

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Yes, that's exactly what I meant. Thank you BC38.

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A 357 Magnum still gives you several hundred feet per second more velocity than it's 38 special counterpart.

I have put LOTS of full power Magnum ammunition through my 357 revolvers over the decades. I even chronographed lots of it

Winchester 125 JHP Factory ammunition yields . . . .

1234 FPS in the 2 1/8" Model 640s (average of 3 different revolvers)
1242 FPS in the 2 1/2" Model 66 (Mag-Na-Ported)
1287 FPS in the 2 1/2" Model 66 (average of 2 different revolvers)
1322 FPS in the 3" Model 60 Small Hunter (Mag-Na-Ported)
1496 FPS in the 5" Model 627

All of my velocities are from averaging two 5 shot (or more) strings from each revolver. I allow the revolver to cool back down to the surrounding temperature between strings.

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I don't have a 2 1/2 inch barreled 357, but I do have a S&W Model 640-1, which has a 2 1/8 inch barrel. In my experience, full power 357 ammo will give more velocity than any 38 Special load, but also a lot more boom, a lot more flash, and more recoil. I used to say that if I ever had to shoot an attacker, if the bullet didn't put him down, the blast would and the flash might even set him on fire. LOL!


These days, my wrists and hands are aching more, so I've stepped down to the Speer 135 grain JHP 38 Special +P Short Barrel ammo. Far easier to control, little flash, less blast, and this is the round that earned an excellent reputation when it was the issue load for the NYPD.

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Even with slow powders in a 2" you get more velocity from the 357. Not as MUCH more as a 4", but more.

357 magnum out of a 2.5" barrel still beats 38 special and 38 special +P fired out of a 2.5" barrel ...What's a little flash and bang ... you can't conserve light or damage the enviroment with bang !

As Troy Landry would say ... CHOOT 'EM !
Gary

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My heavy load for a .38 Special is 158 gr. SWC, 12 grs. 2400 @ 1194 FPS, 6 in. barrel.
Regular load for a .357 M is 158 gr. SWC, 15 grs. 2400 @ 1246 FPS, 2 1/2 in. barrel.
More velocity from short barrel .357 than long barrel .38. The short barrel is easier to carry. Larry

Purchased my new 2.5" Model 19 in 1977. Carried it for plain clothes assignments and off-duty for about 15 years. Here are my observations about magnum ammunition in the short barrels:

1. Muzzle blast is very harsh, much more than any .38 Special +P load.
2. Recoil is extreme, follow-up shots are more difficult to execute.
3. Muzzle flash is extreme, especially in low light situations when it can be nearly blinding.
4. Factory .357 cartridges frequently stick in the chambers due to case expansion under pressure. The shortened ejector rod can make removal of the fired cases very difficult (I recall using a wooden dowel and mallet at times).

I chose to limit myself to .38 Special +P ammunition. I don't see how excessive blast, flash, recoil, and reloading difficulties make the relatively small increase in velocity & energy worth while for defensive uses.

Every one else may make their own choices.

I believe that LT. Col. Bill Jordan said that you should practice with 38 and carry 357. I would go a step further, occasionally practice with 357 as well.
You need to know what it is like to shoot 357 in what ever you carry.

I don't carry a 357 with a 2 5/8 barrel to put 38spl into it. I carry Corbon 125gr 357mag. Go big or go home. Ultimately you need to be able to shoot well with what you carry. I would never turn my nose up at a 38spl.

I agree with Lobo above. I sold my 2.5" 66-2 purchased NIB many years ago and found a NIB 3" 66-2 for the extra barrel length and the extended ejector rod for more positive ejection of .357 rds. Having said that, I load it with 135gr. short barrel .38's and do the same with my M&P 340 and my wifes Model 60-14 LS.

I bought a new snub nose Model 19 in the '70s. I have to agree with the above post. These are excellent guns for use with +P ammo. A very experienced and excellent shooter is the only one that would realize any benefit from using .357 Magnum ammo in such a revolver. For the rest of us, magnum ammo wouldn't be the best choice.

I carry the 135 grain Gold Dot Short Barrel 357 in my 2 1/2 inch Model 66-2. A little more recoil and flash than the 38 version but still manageable.

Hugh


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Bit of thread drift ahead:
I see a few mentions of .357 125 gr ammo.
Several years ago the general thought was 125 gr, and under, was causing flame cutting on the frame.
Has this been debunked?

This. You will have to change your name to, “the voice of reason”.
I have a 19-3 2 1/2” and unless it would be required for some reason I would stay away from magnum loads in it.
Not enjoyable at all. Matter of fact, I can’t remember the last time I shot full power loads in my model 66.

Not debunked at all and has proved to be correct for full power 357 Magnum loads. It's not an issue with the reduced power loads.

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ballistics by the inch is a nice site to see what different ammo does in different length barrels. not the VOG, but does let you get some kind of idea what you get from the different choices and help decide what could work for you.

Oh, range trip 2 days ago and the guy a few lanes form me had one of the RADAR velocity meters. He left before i could ask to try but Dang! looked pretty neat. No stupid sky screens or tripods to shoot out