I am ballistically challenged.....

[bigkahuna04]

I was talking with a friend about snub nose revolvers. Question came up that we don't quite know the answer...so I thought I would bring it up here because I know that there are many on this board that has a wealth of knowledge.

Out of a 2inch snub nose revolver....is there any significant differences in the ballistic energy from a .38spl, a .38 +P, or a .357, if the bullet weight is the same...say 158gr bullet.

My gut feeling is that the short barrel of a 2inch snubby will not allow the .38+P, and the .357 round to achieve a significant higher velocity when it comes out of the short barrel, than a .38spl.

I know that a .357 frame snubby will absorb recoil better than a frame that is specific to a .38...but let's take that off the table for this discussion. Mainly interested in the energy and effectiveness from the three different loadings coming out of a 2inch snubby.

thanks in advance....

[morrcarr67]

You are correct in your thinking.

The shorter the barrel the less the speed the bullet will have when it leaves the barrel.

This is true for all calibres.

[JeremyS]

Out of a 2inch snub nose revolver....is there any significant differences in the ballistic energy from a .38spl, a .38 +P, or a .357, if the bullet weight is the same...say 158gr bullet.

Yes. These calibers were made to be fired from handguns with relatively short barrels and, as such, have quick-burning powders. You're right in that the speed difference between these loadings will be smaller in a snub nose than with a long barrel where the powder actually burns completely or comes closer to it, but there's still going to be a meaningful difference and the more powerful loads are going to go faster.

This is from a 2.5" barrel revolver, but you can find lots of velocity tests online if you search:

Federal .38 Special 129-grain Hydrashok +P: 846 ft/sec
Remington .357 Magnum 125-grain SJHP (Full-house load): 1243 ft/sec

[JTROKS]

Some 158 grain 357 magnum loads can clock at 1000+ fps from a 2.5" barrel, whilst a 38 spl load won't even achieve 900 fps with a 6" barrel. The only problem with the magnum loads is the bright flash. Some ammo manufacturers claim they have achieved low flash ammo with short barrels, just don't know if the speed is still up there. I load my S&W 640 with 158 grain 38 spl +p loads, but I haven't chrono to prove if there are any gains at all. I may just do that one of these days.