The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - .38-55 v .357 carbine balistics

**44 AMP** · September 5, 2013, 01:56 AM

Hot handloads will drive a 125gr @2200, a 158gr @1800, and a 180gr @1600fps from a Marlin .357 Carbine. Those are max limits, and may not be possible in all guns. Factory ammo runs about a couple hundred fps less.

The .38-55 data I could find shows one max load driving a 255gr @1800fps, One other max load doing 1500fps, and three max loads doing 1350ish, from a 26" barrel. And the factory duplication load was 1221fps.

Its not even apples and oranges, more like apples and pickles.

A trapper length .38-55 would probably give you all the power of .45 Colt from a 7.5" barrel. Maybe.

September 5, 2013, 01:56 AM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	Hot handloads will drive a 125gr @2200, a 158gr @1800, and a 180gr @1600fps from a Marlin .357 Carbine. Those are max limits, and may not be possible in all guns. Factory ammo runs about a couple hundred fps less. The .38-55 data I could find shows one max load driving a 255gr @1800fps, One other max load doing 1500fps, and three max loads doing 1350ish, from a 26" barrel. And the factory duplication load was 1221fps. Its not even apples and oranges, more like apples and pickles. A trapper length .38-55 would probably give you all the power of .45 Colt from a 7.5" barrel. Maybe. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.