357 Mag through a steel plate

[kynardsj]

I mentioned this on someone elses post but wanted to put it here too. I needed to fine tune my three 357's yesterday with one of them being my 10 inch Contender. I also hung a 1/4 inch thick steel plate down at the hundred yard mark for a dinger for my wife to shoot. After fine tuning it on paper I had her shoot the plate so it would make noise and keep her interested. I could see the marks on the plate as she shot it several times and when we went cold on the range we checked it out. What I thought were splatters at 100 yards was daylight coming through. Those 158 gr JSP's were going through it like paper. These are 158 gr JSP Magtech bullets sitting over 16.4 grains of Lil Gun. After this I'm thinking penetration on a hog isn't going to be a problem if I do my part.

[Lone Star]

Years of shooting silhouette taught me that the main driver in penetrating steel plate is velocity, not bullet construction.  Mild steel is not that tough to get through with enough velocity.  And penetration through steel tells you very little about penetrating flesh.  My 10" .223 barrel will send a bullet through 1/4" of mild steel easy enough - but I woundn't bet on the bullet making it through a hog broadside....

At that velocity your JSPs may over-expand, limiting penetration in an animal.  In a revolver they should be okay, but in a 10" T/C they may be going too fast.  I don't know anything about 158-grain Magtech bullets though, so they may be fine.  Me, I'd use 180s.



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[kynardsj]

This particular Contender barrel really likes these bullets. I've got some 170 gr SWC's and some 187 gr FNGC's loaded up that my Blackhawk likes. The Contender didn't like the 170's at all but I did try one of the 187 FNGC's in it yesterday. It hit high and right of the 158 group and went thru the plate too. I've got some 160 gr SWC GC's loaded up that I'll try in it when the JSP's are gone..........or maybe before just because I like shooting and reloading. Thanks.