.357 Magnum Revolvers

Revolvers chambered in .357 magnum are incredibly versatile tools that are capable of serving in a variety of roles. In 1934, a dream team of engineers, gunsmiths, and shooters decided to stretch the .38 special into something more powerful and the .357 magnum was born.

Early Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolvers cost $60 in 1935, over $1,000 when adjusted for inflation. Even with a high price tag, Smith & Wesson could not keep up with demand for their new .357 magnum revolvers. The .357 magnum revolver evolved into one of the most popular rounds for law enforcement and self defense. This was due in part to its hard hitting power and the rise of vehicular crime. A .357 revolver could penetrate a car door and maintain sufficient velocity to stop a bandit.

As the round evolved, it became a popular handgun hunting round for game ranging from coyotes to deer. The .357 magnum revolvers offer a variety of sizes and action types. One can find both a snub-nose compact .357 revolver and a single-action long-barreled target .357 revolver sitting side by side in most gun shops. To this day, companies are still trying to replicate the power of a .357 magnum revolver in a variety of different platforms.

Quick Facts

• Herbert Hoover, the first director of the FBI, received the first Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolver
• Production of the Smith & Wesson .357 magnum stopped in 1941 to accommodate production for World War II
• Due to the .357's high price, Smith & Wesson believed the weapon would be a boutique target revolver