which caliber is more powerful the .357 or .45?

Question

which is better?

Answer 1

The .357Mag has more muzzle energy and a lower ballistic coeffecient, so it'd be good at longer ranges. The .45ACP is a pretty heavy, slower bullet, so it'd be good at causing maximum trauma and bleeding at shorter ranges. The .357Mag is typically chambered in revolvers, and most of these are also able to chamber .38SPC for easier and cheaper practice. The .45ACP is a popular round for high power pistols, and the chambering for the ever-popular 1911 pistol and it's variants.

Really, both are pretty powerful. For self defense they're very powerful cartridges, though for hunting I'd say go for the .357 magnum, as longer shots are going to be easier, and there revolvers made specificly for hunting.

Answer 2

It really depends on which .45 you are talking about.

If you mean the .45 ACP, the .357 Magnum has more energy, higher velocity, and is chambered in more compact handguns than most .45 ACP's.

If you are talking about the .45 Long Colt, that depends on whether you are talking about standard factory loads, Premium +P factory loads, Cowboy loads, or heavy hunting loads.

In standard velocity factory loads, the .45 LC takes second place to the .357 Mag in velocity and energy. With the Cowboy Loads for SASS competition, velocity and power are way behind the .357 Mag.

When we talk about modern Premium +P Factory loads, such as those produced by Buffalo Bore and CorBon which launch 300 grain projectiles at about the same velocity a .357 Mag throws a 125 gr. JHP, i.e. around 1300 pfs, the old .45 LC leaves the .357 Mag way back in the dust on energy. And if you handload and have a suitable revolver, you can get similar velocities with your handloads.

So, to answer your question, sometimes one, some times the other.

Doc

Answer 3

Generally speaking "Exoilfeildtrash" is right on the money. However, there are too many variables I could introduce into this equation to make any generality a solid rule.

Example: A 185 gr. Sierra Hollow Cavity in .45 cal. will stay in a human sized target at least 90% of the time. In the process it will deliver something like 300 lb/ft of energy into the target. In .357 cal. a Talon projectile will fragment and deliver 600 lb/ft or more energy into a target. These are both very specific rounds designed to stop a man.

Now when you buy ammo off the shelf and get 140 - 158 gr. slugs for the, .357 cal. you have ammo that will shoot through most men, especially at close range (3 - 10 yards). Delivering 500 lb/ft of energy into the wall behind your target is very inefficient. On the other hand even hardball (full metal jacket) ammo for the .45 cal. will still normally stop inside the human target at the above ranges.

So to your question: The .357 cal. has more velocity and energy than the .45 cal.. Conversely the .357 cal. has a lighter bullet and less frontal area.

Which is better? A reliable DA auto in 45 ACP is a hard combination to beat if you are forced to defend yourself, your family and or property against an intruder. But, a 75 yard shot at a deer or cougar would be far better served with a good 357 cal. revolver. That is assuming I couldn't have my .44 Magnum for some odd reason.

22 years military, trained gunsmith, avid shooter, reloader and hunter.

Answer 4

The 357 Magnum is much higher in velocity and impacts with almost twice the FPS. The 45 ACP is larger, heavier and much slower in velocity. The 357 magnum wins hands down to anyone knowledgeable about bullet velocities and capabilities.It's such a gap it is almost not fair to compare the two."Powerful" is a relative term. "Which is better" is based on the needs and applications they are to be used for, and personal preference.......

Answer 5

.357, much higher velocity.

KE= 1/2 m *v^2

Velocity is squared so increases in velocity increase Energy exponentially, where as mass increase is only linearly. Assuming you do mean .45 ACP or Auto and you have a total plastic collision meaning neither bullet exits the body when they hit. And by .357 you mean .357 magnum.

Answer 6

The .357 Magnum 125 grain semi-jacketed hollow point bullet fired out of a 4" barrel is the best manstopper yet. The velocity is something like 1,410 fps with 574 ft. lbs. vs. the .45 acp at: 850 to 1,060 fps; energy: 369 to 412 ft. lbs. In .45 acp this one is generally accepted as the 'ultimate' man-stopper due to dated, early 20th Century technology. To-wit: A short, fat, slow-moving bullet that puts daylight through its target due not to its ability to expand, but because it is wide to begin with. It is a good man stopper but poor against barriers such as car glass, doors, etc. and it is NOT adequate against 4-legged predators. It is NOT a better stopper than the .357 Magnum.

As you can see, the .357 Magnum is simply hotter.

Best.

H

Answer 7

The 357 magnum is more powerful, however the 45ACP is the gold standard for use against soft targets.

Answer 8

I believe they are both devastating & either one is a good choice, however I personally have carried both, but prefer the 357 Magnum.*

Answer 9

It depends upon how old the weapon is. A century ago there were .45 rifles which used a cartridge about three inches long. It was very much more powerful than the modern .45 pistol. They were frequently called buffalo guns or elephant guns.

The .357 can also be much more capable of penetrating a target than the .45 pistol. It has a cartridge about three inches long also.

It depends upon the size of the cartridge and the amount of powder the cartridge can contain. It also depends upon the kind of powder used.

Answer 10

the .357, bcuz of its light weight and extremely high velocity it dumps most if not all energy onto the target, and in the average adult male duz not penetrate more than 11 inches, while leving a lot of internal bleeding