What Is the Recoil of a 357 Magnum Pistol?
The “kick,” or recoil, of a .357 magnum revolver is the stuff of shooting legends. It is not uncommon to hear shooters speak of the formidable recoil that, some say, makes the magnum nearly uncontrollable. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the recoil of the .357 magnum is not nearly as bad as it is made out to be.
Other People Are Reading
-
What Causes Recoil?
-
Recoil is dictated by the first law of physics (for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction) applied to firearms. As the bullet and gases are expelled from the barrel, an equal amount of pressure is sent directly back to you.
Energy Recoil
-
Energy recoil is the recoil produced by the energy expelled by gases as the weapon is fired. The energy recoil produced by a 158-grain .357 magnum bullet is 8.7 foot pounds. Energy recoil is disbursed in the general opposite direction of the force that produces it.
-
Velocity Recoil
-
Velocity recoil is the measurable amount of force coming back at you in terms of velocity (in other words: how hard the gun kicks). The velocity recoil of a .357 magnum (158-grain bullet) is 14.3 foot pounds.
Perceived Recoil
-
Perceived recoil is subjective and impossible to measure. It is the recoil that you, as a shooter, perceive to be experiencing. There are many factors that can influence perceived recoil, such as the grip on the revolver and the weight and length of the barrel.
Comparisons
-
When compared to other handguns, the .357 magnum is revealed as a gun with a moderate kick. The .357 magnum has less recoil than the .40 S&W (commonly used by law enforcement), which has a velocity recoil of 21.3 foot pounds and nearly 2 pounds less recoil than a 9mm bullet.
Compensating
-
There are measures you can take to better manage the revolver's recoil. Equip your revolver with comfortable grips that fit your hand well; poor-fitting grips can slip in your hand against the force of the recoil. Have a secure hold of your revolver as you fire it; a weak one can cause you to lose your grip on, or even drop, the revolver.
-
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
