What is the FPS on 357 2 5/8 inch barrel?

Tadpole Starr · August 8, 2007, 10:42 AM

Can anyone give a good educated guess as to what the FPS would be on a 25/8 inch barrel? The gun is a Ruger Security Six.

The reloading manual that I use is the Hornady 4th edition. It shows an 8 3/8 inch barrel for their test weapon. This was a bad choice, because it gives unrealistic speed values in my opinion.

I understand that the barrel length changes the velocity so much with each inch of shorter barrel.

The book shows 1350 with the 158 grain bullet, and 15.8 grains of H 110.

With this load, what should I expect, and is this enough to feel comfortable in black bear country?

joneb · August 8, 2007, 12:49 PM

I would guess you would lose 300 fps, this may be a better option; http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357 I would try they're 180gr (19A20)
I would try Blue Dot or AA#9 over H-110, with a 185gr LFP; http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm

Tadpole Starr · August 8, 2007, 06:00 PM

Thanks for the time spent. It looks like this will work. Maybe I should have kept the 41, mag., but it was so heavy and hard to carry.

Tad

TWB · August 9, 2007, 01:13 AM

Jibjab gives you very good advice for the short barrel .357 mag. His suggestions should get you about the maximum performance possible from your short barrel.

Black bear are not the most aggressive or tough bears, but I would be leery of such a short barrel producing enough juice for a potentially 300+Lb po'd bear. Your hope of deeper penetration from a heavier bullet gets offset at some point by loss of velocity, which is loss of energy, squared.

Just a thought, as I have no experience with shooting bears, though I spend from two weeks to three months per year in bear country. This is good news, though. They don't seem to go out of their way to attack humans. I take care not to antagonize or attract them. (I carry a longer bbl .357 mag or .41 mag.)

twb

MADISON · August 9, 2007, 08:46 AM

Take their published velocity for the 8 3/8 inch barrel and subtract 30 feet per second for each inch you don't have [180 fps?].

brianla · August 9, 2007, 05:20 PM

Madison: What's the source of that number? Is there a general formula somewhere that can be easily applied to a variety of calibers? Not looking to do rocket science, but "closetimates" can be very useful sometimes.

Thanks!
Brian

2ndtimer · August 9, 2007, 07:33 PM

You lose a LOT of velocity when you drop down to a 2½" barrel in a .357 Mag. As I recall, my 2 ½' SP-101 barely broke 1300 fps with the Federal factory 125 gr JHP load. I think you would be lucky to break 1000 fps with a 158 gr bullet. The .357 Mag. really needs at least 4 inches of barrel length to get decent muzzle velocity. Looking back on my old records, I got a measured 1327 fps from my 6" GP-100 when I loaded 16.5 gr of H-110 with a CCI-550 primer and a 158 gr Winchester JHP bullet.

Tadpole Starr · August 10, 2007, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the great info. I may trade up to a longer bbl.

Tad

August 8, 2007, 10:42 AM	#1
Tadpole Starr Member Join Date: February 28, 2007 Posts: 52	What is the FPS on 357 2 5/8 inch barrel? Can anyone give a good educated guess as to what the FPS would be on a 25/8 inch barrel? The gun is a Ruger Security Six. The reloading manual that I use is the Hornady 4th edition. It shows an 8 3/8 inch barrel for their test weapon. This was a bad choice, because it gives unrealistic speed values in my opinion. I understand that the barrel length changes the velocity so much with each inch of shorter barrel. The book shows 1350 with the 158 grain bullet, and 15.8 grains of H 110. With this load, what should I expect, and is this enough to feel comfortable in black bear country?

August 9, 2007, 08:46 AM	#5
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	FPS for 2 5/8 inch barrel Take their published velocity for the 8 3/8 inch barrel and subtract 30 feet per second for each inch you don't have [180 fps?].

August 10, 2007, 08:37 AM	#8
Tadpole Starr Member Join Date: February 28, 2007 Posts: 52	Maybe I should just carry a whistle, lol Thanks for the great info. I may trade up to a longer bbl. Tad

August 8, 2007, 12:49 PM	#2
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	I would guess you would lose 300 fps, this may be a better option; http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357 I would try they're 180gr (19A20) I would try Blue Dot or AA#9 over H-110, with a 185gr LFP; http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm

August 8, 2007, 06:00 PM	#3
Tadpole Starr Member Join Date: February 28, 2007 Posts: 52	Thanks, very impressive. Thanks for the time spent. It looks like this will work. Maybe I should have kept the 41, mag., but it was so heavy and hard to carry. Tad

August 9, 2007, 01:13 AM	#4
TWB Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2007 Posts: 145	Jibjab gives you very good advice for the short barrel .357 mag. His suggestions should get you about the maximum performance possible from your short barrel. Black bear are not the most aggressive or tough bears, but I would be leery of such a short barrel producing enough juice for a potentially 300+Lb po'd bear. Your hope of deeper penetration from a heavier bullet gets offset at some point by loss of velocity, which is loss of energy, squared. Just a thought, as I have no experience with shooting bears, though I spend from two weeks to three months per year in bear country. This is good news, though. They don't seem to go out of their way to attack humans. I take care not to antagonize or attract them. (I carry a longer bbl .357 mag or .41 mag.) twb

August 9, 2007, 05:20 PM	#6
brianla Junior Member Join Date: August 7, 2007 Posts: 3	Madison: What's the source of that number? Is there a general formula somewhere that can be easily applied to a variety of calibers? Not looking to do rocket science, but "closetimates" can be very useful sometimes. Thanks! Brian

August 9, 2007, 07:33 PM	#7
2ndtimer Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2004 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 299	You lose a LOT of velocity when you drop down to a 2½" barrel in a .357 Mag. As I recall, my 2 ½' SP-101 barely broke 1300 fps with the Federal factory 125 gr JHP load. I think you would be lucky to break 1000 fps with a 158 gr bullet. The .357 Mag. really needs at least 4 inches of barrel length to get decent muzzle velocity. Looking back on my old records, I got a measured 1327 fps from my 6" GP-100 when I loaded 16.5 gr of H-110 with a CCI-550 primer and a 158 gr Winchester JHP bullet.