NAME – 9x33mmR
NAME (COMMON) – .357 Magnum
TYPE – Rimmed centerfire
YEAR OF INTRODUCTION – 1935
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA
CASE TYPE – Rimmed straight
CARTRIDGE LENGTH – 38.6 mm (1.52 in)
CASING LENGTH – 32.8 mm (1.29 in)
CASE HEAD DIAMETER – 9.63 mm (0.379 in)
CASE RIM DIAMETER – 11.18 mm (0.440 in)
BULLET TYPE – Lead semiwadcutter
BULLET DIAMETER – 9.12 mm (0.359 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 10.24 g (158 grains)
POWDER WEIGHT – 1.10 g (17 grains)
CASING WEIGHT – 5.25 g (81 grains)
TOTAL ROUND WEIGHT – 16.59 g (256 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 460 m/s (1510 fps)
NOMINAL BARREL LENGTH – 22.2 cm (8.75 in)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 1,085 j (800 ft/lb)
The 9x33mmR (.357 Magnum) round was developed from the earlier 9x29mmR (.38 Special) round by Smith & Wesson. The new Mangum round was intended for S&Ws large framed handguns and had operating pressures that were excessive for pistols chambered for the earlier 9x29mmR (.38 Special round). To prevent the Magnum rounds from being chambered weapons intended for the 9x29mmR (.38 Special) round, Smith & Wesson lengthened the casing of the original round by 2.5 mm (1/10th of an inch). This length modifications allows the 9x29mmR (>38 Special) round to be used in a Magnum pistol, for practice and other shooting. But the longer Magnum round cannon be chambered in weapons designed for the 9x29mmR (.38 Special) round. This was the most powerful commercial handgun cartridge in the world until the mid-1950s.
