I remember that episode of Dick Tracy.
IIRC (?) Dick Tracy's Police Department was the Chicago P.D. ?
When did .357 Magnum become “common”
- Thread starter bushmaster1313
- Start date
I remember that episode of Dick Tracy.
IIRC (?) Dick Tracy's Police Department was the Chicago P.D. ?
I don't remember the city ever being named, but the strip originated in the Chicago Tribune...Tracy was in the Major Crimes Unit...
My favorite character was always B.O. Plenty...
...Ben
Vera Alldid.
I once owned a Colt New Service - vintage 1939 - that was chambered in .357 magnum. I don't know if this was Colt's first introduction of the round in their revolvers or not.
Jerry
Jerry
John in AK
Member
.357 Magnum Popularity
Officially, Colt's first revolver designed for and chambered in .357 Magnum was exactly that: The '.357 Magnum,' introduced in the early 1950s (some say the first were made in 1951, but it may have been as late as 1953). It was basically a New Service with special heat treating and a VERY high level of fit and finish, Colt's competition to the S&W .357 Magnum and the forerunner of the Python. All had target sights, and high-polish blue, with sandblasted areas for contrast on the top of the barrel and frame.
As to a regular New Service in .357 from the Colt factory in 1939, that seems improbable, although one could have had the cylinder bored later for it; Colt had the theory that that unmentionable Springfield brand's wildcat cartridge was never going to become popular, and that most civilized revolver shooters would be just fine with .38 Special and .45 Colt.
Officially, Colt's first revolver designed for and chambered in .357 Magnum was exactly that: The '.357 Magnum,' introduced in the early 1950s (some say the first were made in 1951, but it may have been as late as 1953). It was basically a New Service with special heat treating and a VERY high level of fit and finish, Colt's competition to the S&W .357 Magnum and the forerunner of the Python. All had target sights, and high-polish blue, with sandblasted areas for contrast on the top of the barrel and frame.
As to a regular New Service in .357 from the Colt factory in 1939, that seems improbable, although one could have had the cylinder bored later for it; Colt had the theory that that unmentionable Springfield brand's wildcat cartridge was never going to become popular, and that most civilized revolver shooters would be just fine with .38 Special and .45 Colt.
Officially, Colt's first revolver designed for and chambered in .357 Magnum was exactly that: The '.357 Magnum,' introduced in the early 1950s (some say the first were made in 1951, but it may have been as late as 1953). .
As to a regular New Service in .357 from the Colt factory in 1939, that seems improbable, although one could have had the cylinder bored later for it; Colt had the theory that that unmentionable Springfield brand's wildcat cartridge was never going to become popular, and that most civilized revolver shooters would be just fine with .38 Special and .45 Colt.
I've still got my Dad's Colt New Service in .357 magnum he got in 1938/39... so they do exist. See post #27 above
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We really have Phil Sharpe to thank for the .357 and for magnum revolvers in general. Not to disparage Elmer Keith, but Keith was a larger than life figure. Shooter, hunter, traveller, storyteller, writer. A legend in his own time, and now.
Sharpe did some of that, to be sure, but he was more of a laboratory scientist. I've read his book. The things we take for granted, like loading data, chronos, pressure testing, efficient reloading equipment-- all that barely existed when Sharpe was working. He really is underrated.
Colt offered Shooting Masters in 357 magnum in 1936
John in AK
Member
You learn something every day. . .
I shouldn't be surprised, after finding out that Colt made some 525 SAAs in .357 prior to WWII. What IS surprising is that they waited nearly 15 years to bring out a designated .357 model, instead of only sporadically chambering a few for the cartridge.
I shouldn't be surprised, after finding out that Colt made some 525 SAAs in .357 prior to WWII. What IS surprising is that they waited nearly 15 years to bring out a designated .357 model, instead of only sporadically chambering a few for the cartridge.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I shot a diesel truck steel air tank in n the ground.
The 357 mag 158gr JHP dented it.
The 44 mag 240gr JHP put a deeper dent in it.
I got pizz grab the 30-06 and the bullet went through sideways like a missle shape.
Marlin advertised there 444 going through 3/8” boiler plate at 50’
The 357 mag 158gr JHP dented it.
The 44 mag 240gr JHP put a deeper dent in it.
I got pizz grab the 30-06 and the bullet went through sideways like a missle shape.
Marlin advertised there 444 going through 3/8” boiler plate at 50’
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