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A 4-inch .357 Magnum was standard issue for some state Highway Patrol departments.The .357 Magnum was developed in 1935 as a direct answer to the Colt .38 caliber Super Automatic. In the early 1930s, criminal gangs became more sophisticated with high-powered weaponry. Law enforcement also found violent gangsters wore bullet-proof vests. The Colt .38 was the only handgun that could pierce the bullet-proof vest and automobiles used as cover. -
Elmer Keith created the .357 Magnum.The .357 was invented by Elmer Keith, an Idaho rancher, gun enthusiast and hunter, for Smith & Wesson. He was responsible for handloading exceptionally powerful cartridges for the .38 caliber Special revolver beyond its normal limits, making it a very effective weapon. It became a favorite of police. Keith applied the same technique to the slightly longer cartridge for the .357 Magnum. - Keith developed what became the "Keith-style" bullet. In addition to developing a longer cartridge for the Magnum, he made the bullet longer outside the casing, leaving more room inside the case for more powder. This created better piercing of objects, including muscle and bone.
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Elgin Gates developed the Super Magnum.The Model 19 .357 Magnum was developed in 1957 and produced through 1999. It is either nickel-plated or carbon steel. The handgrip is made of rubber or wood and is equipped with an adjustable site and serrated trigger. Barrel lengths measure in 2.5, 3, 4 or 6 inches. The rare 3-inch stainless steel Model 66 was produced from 1970 to 2005. -
The Super Mag was desinged to handle longer cartridges.The Super Magnum was developed in the 1970s by Elgin Gates, an avid big- and medium-game hunter. He created a new.357 Magnum cartridge that was about three-tenths of an inch longer at 1.610 inches than the standard .357 cartridge. The cartridge was lengthened to increase its capacity to hold powder, thus creating more pressure to provide more power. -
The 6-inch Colt Python, top, and the 4-inch version below.The .357 Remington Maximum is a rechambered Ruger Blackhawk and was produced in 1983 by the Remington Arms Company and Sturm, Ruger & Company. The Blackhawk was initially introduced in 1955. The gun was given a new chambering to accept the .357 Magnum cartridge, but was lengthened by 300ths of an inch. A similar .357 created in 1955 was the .357 Magnum Colt Python by Colt's Manufacturing Company, which gained widespread popularity after the "Dirty Harry" movie "Magnum Force" was released in 1971.
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The .SIG-Saur P229 chambered in a .357 Magnum.The .357 SIG was created in 1994 and remains in production today. It was jointly produced by the Swiss-based SIG-Saur and the U.S.-based Federal Cartridge companies. The .357 SIG semi-automatic is based on the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson, but redesigned to accept .357 Magnum cartridges and mimic the performance of the 4-inch .357 Magnum revolvers. It is now highly popular among law enforcement personnel. The SIG-Sauer P229 is the standard issue weapon for U.S. Secret Service personnel.
