Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing: 357 Magnum

Products evaluated:

2" Barrel Revolver

  • • CCI Blazer Brass JHP 158gr (5207)
  • • Federal American Eagle JSP 158gr (AE357A)
  • • Federal Personal Defense semi-jacketed hollowpoint 125gr (C357B)
  • • Hornady Critical Defense FTX 125gr (90500)
  • • Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135gr (23917)

4" Barrel Revolver

  • • Hornady Critical Defense FTX 125gr (90500)

Suitability for Self-defense

Impact velocities used in this report were obtained from an Oehler System 85 using no velocity corrections. All ballistic gelatin blocks used in this evaluation were nominal 10% ballistic gelatin blocks calibrated in accordance with FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704 as follows (FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704, page 104, 2017):

"Prior to the utilization of any block of gelatin, validation of the block will be tested to assure consistency of the gelatin mixture. This test consists of firing a .177 caliber steel sphere (BB) into the gelatin block at 590 feet per second (fps) +/- 15 fps. This sphere must penetrate a minimum of 2.95 inches but no more than 3.74 inches ".

Selection criteria is based upon the point system for penetration in FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704. Scoring is based upon both bare gelatin and heavy clothing performance — color code reflects the lower-scoring performance of the two test events.