.357 Maximum Load Data

The .357 Maximum is a high-performance revolver cartridge that made its debut in the early 1980s, introduced by Remington Arms and Sturm, Ruger & Co. as a lengthened and more potent version of the venerable .357 Magnum. Sometimes referred to as the .357 Remington Maximum, this cartridge was developed with input from renowned silhouette shooter Elgin Gates and designed to meet the demands of handgun metallic silhouette shooters who wanted greater energy and flatter trajectories than the standard .357 Magnum. It initially gained popularity when Ruger chambered its popular Blackhawk revolver to accommodate this powerful round. Although Smith & Wesson and Dan Wesson also produced revolvers in this caliber, Ruger's offerings were the most notable. However, early issues of flame cutting at the top strap of revolvers due to intense gas erosion from lightweight bullets led many manufacturers to withdraw their models from production, which limited the widespread adoption of the .357 Maximum in the handgun world.

Despite its somewhat short-lived run in new production revolvers, the .357 Maximum found a unique niche in the shooting community. It was and remains favored by metallic silhouette shooters for its superior downrange performance and high energy retention, ideal for knocking over heavy steel targets at extended ranges. Beyond competition, the cartridge saw selective use in hunting, especially in single-shot pistols such as the Thompson/Center Contender and Encore, where barrel durability was less of a concern compared to revolvers. Hunters prized the .357 Maximum for its combination of flat trajectory and hard-hitting power, making it a logical step up from the .357 Magnum without jumping all the way to larger bore magnums. In addition, its case length and power made it a popular wildcatting base for creating specialty cartridges among serious reloaders.

The .357 Maximum is particularly effective for medium-sized game, such as deer and wild boar, especially when used with heavier, well-constructed bullets. It offers a noticeable margin of performance over the .357 Magnum, especially at distances beyond 100 yards, where its higher velocity and energy really shine. It can also be used for certain varmint applications when loaded with lighter bullets, although the .357 Maximum truly excels as a dual-purpose competition and hunting round. The longer case allows for higher powder capacity, resulting in greater velocities and energy levels that sit comfortably between the .357 Magnum and the larger .41 or .44 Magnum revolver cartridges.

Typically, bullet weights for the .357 Maximum range from 158 grains, commonly found in both factory and handloaded rounds, to heavier offerings in the 180–200 grain range. These heavier bullets are particularly well-suited for hunting applications and silhouette shooting, where deep penetration and energy transfer are critical. The cartridge can also be loaded with lighter bullets—those 110–158 grains—for reduced recoil target shooting, but excessive use of lightweight bullets can contribute to gas cutting in revolvers, the primary reason many reloaders favor heavier projectiles and often employ the .357 Maximum in single-shot platforms instead. Ballistically, the .357 Maximum produces muzzle velocities in the range of 1,800–2,000 fps with 158-180 grain bullets, offering flat trajectories and excellent energy delivery at extended revolver and pistol ranges. For dedicated reloaders, the .357 Remington Maximum presents an interesting and versatile challenge, offering a significant power upgrade over .357 Magnum with ample case capacity to experiment across a wide range of bullet weights and applications.