Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns How Far Can You Shoot a 357 Magnum REVOLVER?

My most accurate revolver is my 480, not my .357, and the 480 will put a cylinder full into 2" or better at 100 yds, scoped from a rest. I have no doubt a good .357 will be capable of the same, and hence stretching out to 400-500 yds holding a cylinder full on a 10-12" plate should be no problem. Offhand, and exceptional shot should have no problem at 200 yds.

As far as bullets staying stable at extended ranges, it depends on the bullet design. Years ago I sent some 460 gr wfn's in .475" to a buddy down south to test in his 480. Just as I'd found, it would group a cylinder full into 1" at 50 yds no problem when launched 1100 fps. But he tested them at extended ranges and found they started flying somewhere beyond 200 yds. The 400 gr lfn's would keep stable as far out as he was shooting, which I recall was around 400 yds.

If you really want to stretch out the .357 Magnum, you might try finding loads for the 200gr Hornady Spire Point. There are a few guys who run these bullets at our local silhouette matches out of the .357 Maximums, both Dan Wessons and Rugers. The GP100 has a long cylinder to begin with, (I believe it can fit the 360DW round), so deepening the chamber to accommodate the longer bullet while also utilizing a new barrel with a twist-rate appropriate to the longer bullet, might get you some interesting results at longer ranges.

Thanks!

I competed in handgun metallic silhouette for a few years.

I shot 357 mag and then immediately switched to 44 mag.
I had no problems hitting/downing rams with the 44 mag.
I hit them just as well with the 357 mag but knocking them down was iffy.

I found both with good loads capable of surprising accuracy at 100 or 200 meters.

About the time l quit metallic shooting l was usually good for 36/40.
The target l missed the most often was the #&*% turkey at 150 m.
My match handgun was a stainless Super Blackhawk Ruger sa 10" bbl open sites.

Should be getting my FR soon.
Franken-Ruger LR goal:
I know all of us can shoot 357 Mag a really long ways and hit our target every time IF our target is dirt-Ha!
My 357 Mag FR should be ready soon.
Never tried this before with a revolver, but this is what I am going to attempt.

With one cylinder full/6-shots, one-shot per target in 50 yard increments: 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 on 10" steel.
Some of it might be on 5" steel at the closer ranges. Want to be able to shoot the string relatively fast, but scope choices can make that either faster or slower.
A LER scope will be slower I think, while I will be able to adjust for distance faster with a riflescope.
Next, I want to put 6-shots downrange @ 500 yards with a group of 10" or under.
I want to try this with off the shelf Extremunition ammo. This is the ammo that Chris and I used at Bang's Paradise Valley Hunt Club back in September. Guessing a 180 grain XTP.
Then I want to try a 6-shot group with H110 and the 170 grain Sierra Tournament Master bullets.
Plan to video this and take some good pics.
Of course, there will be a need to chrono loads and then get a ballistic drop chart, and confirm drops.
100 yard zero.
Time frame will depend on work schedules and the weather forecast.
I may actually hunt with my FR before I do my distance goal.

Now, is there anything you would like for me to realistically try?
Any suggestions on how this should be set-up?
Not promising I am going to try it, but I will consider it.
Thanks!

Also plan to use the wireless Bullseye camera system .

I honestly don't know,come to think of it,if I've ever tried to shoot a handgun past 25-30 yards.I believe I'll give it a go some time when I have the room and distance to try.

xp

Getting a 10" group out at 500yds would be excellent shooting!

I always had my best groups with H-110.

Looking fwd to your results.

Best of luck with your project.

4 pounds of H110 was delivered yesterday and I took my Leupold/Burris Signature ZEE rings off of my 284 Winchester XP-100, so now just waiting on my FR which should be here late next week:happy dance:

Here it is with my 2-7 Burris LER, and factory grips.

Below, with Leupold LR 4.5-14x40mm with ART Reticle, 30mm Burris Signature Zee Rings, Holland level, and Hogue grips.

Cool! What twist is the barrel?

1-20 if I remember correctly.
Could possibly be a 1-18

Where'd you find anyone stocking H-110? I figured the powder shortage would be over by the time I needed to replenish, but apparently I was wrong

From a friend

That is an odd looking Ruger! Seems that if you wanted to go that way, a Contender would have been cheaper and easier. Of course, Contenders don't even come with one cylinder, let alone six.

To your question: it depends on the gun. I've done a 12" group with a GP100 6" and a box of ammo offhand at 100. And I've sniped milk jugs at 300 with a 6" Sauer single-action off my knee. Right now, with no warm-up, 100yds. After a couple cylinders to warm up, with good light, probably to 200, off my knees.

Except, factory contender 357 mag barrels are garbage!

Also, a good revolver will be every bit as accurate as a contender, and there is a level of satisfaction shooting small groups with a revolver you don't get with a single shot pistol.

Depends on if it is blued or stainless? I think I could see a stainless better in good daylight, so using my Model 70 .300 Win Mag off a rest, I should be able to shoot a "full sized" .357 revolver pretty far out there!

Yea, I could have fixed/edited that, but you guys are having too much fun with my bad grammar.