AmmoSight

.357 Magnum Trajectory Calculator

See how .357 Magnum stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every handgun caliber side by side.

The .357 Magnum is a versatile revolver cartridge used for self-defense, hunting, and target shooting. With a 158-grain bullet at 1,240 fps and a 25-yard zero, expect about 1.0 inch of drop at 50 yards, 3.8 inches at 75 yards, and 8.3 inches at 100 yards. Muzzle energy runs around 540 ft-lbs, retaining 395 ft-lbs at 100 yards. This makes the .357 Magnum effective for small game and deer at close range.

Use the calculator to match your specific load. Click "Modify Calculation" to enter your bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and ballistic coefficient. Loads range from 110-grain JHP for self-defense to 180-grain hard cast for hunting. You can also factor in wind and atmospheric conditions.

.357 Magnum Trajectory Chart

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.357 Magnum Ballistics Data

Range (yd) Elevation (in) Elevation (MOA) Elevation (MIL) Windage (in) Windage (MOA) Windage (MIL) Time (s) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lbs)
0 -0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1240.0 539.58
5 -0.28 5.09 1.482 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.013 1228.39 529.53
10 -0.12 1.1 0.319 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.025 1217.4 520.09
15 -0.02 0.11 0.031 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.038 1206.65 510.95
20 0.02 -0.11 -0.033 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.05 1196.16 502.1
25 0.0 -0.01 -0.004 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.063 1185.92 493.54
30 -0.08 0.25 0.072 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.075 1175.93 485.26
35 -0.22 0.61 0.176 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.088 1166.2 477.27
40 -0.43 1.03 0.299 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.101 1156.73 469.55
45 -0.71 1.49 0.434 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.114 1147.51 462.09
50 -1.05 1.99 0.579 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.127 1138.54 454.9
55 -1.45 2.51 0.731 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.14 1129.84 447.97
60 -1.93 3.06 0.889 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.154 1121.37 441.28
65 -2.47 3.62 1.053 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.167 1113.14 434.83
70 -3.08 4.2 1.221 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.181 1105.14 428.59
75 -3.77 4.79 1.393 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.194 1097.35 422.57
80 -4.53 5.39 1.568 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.208 1089.79 416.77
85 -5.36 6.01 1.747 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.222 1082.44 411.17
90 -6.26 6.63 1.929 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.236 1075.29 405.76
95 -7.24 7.27 2.113 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.25 1068.33 400.52
100 -8.3 7.91 2.301 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.264 1061.56 395.46

Take this table to the range

The .357 Magnum reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.

Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.

Customize this card

Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.

Available .357 Magnum Ammunition Ballistics

Product Velocity (fps) BC 25yd Drop 50yd Drop 75yd Drop 100yd Drop
Ammo Inc Signature .357 Magnum 158gr JHP Ammo Ballistics 1250 0.17 0.0" -1.1" -3.8" -8.4"
Armscor .357 Mag 158gr FMJ Ballistics 1545 0.17 0.0" -0.5" -2.2" -5.2"
Barnes VOR-TX .357 Mag 140gr XPB HP Ballistics 1265 0.151 0.0" -1.0" -3.8" -8.4"
Blazer Brass .357 Mag 158gr JHP Ballistics 1150 0.18 0.0" -1.3" -4.5" -9.8"
Federal American Eagle .357 Mag 158gr JSP Ammo Ballistics 1240 0.2 0.0" -1.0" -3.8" -8.3"
Federal Fusion .357 Mag 158gr Fusion SP Ballistics 1240 0.206 0.0" -1.0" -3.8" -8.3"
Fiocchi .357 Mag 142gr FMJ-TC Ballistics 1420 0.143 0.0" -0.7" -2.9" -6.7"
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics .357 Mag 158gr JHP Ammo Ballistics 1220 0.17 0.0" -1.1" -4.0" -8.8"
Hornady American Gunner .357 Mag 125gr XTP JHP Ballistics 1500 0.151 0.0" -0.6" -2.5" -5.8"
Hornady Critical Defense .357 Mag 125gr FTX Ballistics 1500 0.15 0.0" -0.6" -2.5" -5.8"
Hornady Critical Duty .357 Mag 135gr FlexLock JHP Ballistics 1275 0.17 0.0" -1.0" -3.6" -8.1"
Hornady Custom .357 Mag 158gr XTP JHP Ballistics 1250 0.206 0.0" -1.0" -3.7" -8.1"
Hornady LEVERevolution .357 Mag 140gr FTX Ballistics 1440 0.169 0.0" -0.7" -2.7" -6.2"
Magtech .357 Mag 158gr FMJ Flat Ballistics 1235 0.172 0.0" -1.1" -3.9" -8.6"
PMC Bronze .357 Mag 158gr JSP Ammo Ballistics 1471 0.165 0.0" -0.6" -2.6" -5.9"
Remington HTP .357 Mag 110gr SJHP Ballistics 1295 0.117 0.0" -1.0" -3.8" -8.5"
Remington HTP .357 Mag 125gr SJHP Ballistics 1450 0.141 0.0" -0.7" -2.8" -6.4"
Remington Performance WheelGun .357 Mag 158gr LSWC Ammo Ballistics 1235 0.145 0.0" -1.1" -4.0" -8.9"
Remington UMC .357 Mag 125gr JSP Ammo Ballistics 1450 0.125 0.0" -0.7" -2.9" -6.6"
Sellier & Bellot .357 Mag 158gr FMJ Handgun Ammo Ballistics 1263 0.184 0.0" -1.0" -3.7" -8.1"
Sellier & Bellot .357 Mag 158gr SJHP Ballistics 1329 0.184 0.0" -0.9" -3.3" -7.3"
Sellier & Bellot .357 Mag 158gr Soft Point Ammo Ballistics 1263 0.184 0.0" -1.0" -3.7" -8.1"
Winchester .357 Mag 110gr JHP Ballistics 1295 0.12 0.0" -1.0" -3.8" -8.4"
Winchester PDX1 Defender .357 Mag 125gr BJHP Ballistics 1325 0.141 0.0" -0.9" -3.5" -7.8"
Winchester Silvertip .357 Mag 145gr JHP Ballistics 1290 0.142 0.0" -1.0" -3.7" -8.2"

Zeroing the .357 Magnum

Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 158gr G1 .200 at 1,240 fps, with a 0.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). Handgun zeros are short because the sight sits close to the bore and the bullet arcs little inside 50 yards; the choice is really about where you want the crossover. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.

.357 Magnum zero comparison

.357 Magnum 158gr reference load zero comparison at 0.5" sight height over bore
10-yd zero 15-yd zero 25-yd zero
Near zero 10 yd 15 yd 17 yd
Far zero 41 yd 28 yd 25 yd
Max ordinate +0.3" +0.0" +0.0"
Max ordinate distance 25 yd 21 yd 21 yd
Hold-dead-on window (4" vital zone, ±2") 0–67 yd 0–61 yd 0–60 yd
Sight in at 25 yd +0.3" (+1.1 MOA) +0.0" (+0.1 MOA) 0.0" (+0.0 MOA)
Drop at 50 yd -0.5" -1.0" -1.1"
Drop at 100 yd -7.2" -8.2" -8.3"
Energy at 50 yd 455 ft-lb 455 ft-lb 455 ft-lb
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How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 4" vital zone, ±2" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 100 yards.

Key terms

Near zero
Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
Far zero
Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
Max ordinate
The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
Point blank range (MPBR)
The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.

.357 Magnum with a 10-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 10 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 158gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 10 yards, peaks +0.3" at 25 yards, crosses back down at 41 yards, and is -0.5" at 50 and -7.2" at 100 yards. It drops below the speed of sound at 58 yards.

Download CSV
.357 Magnum 158gr reference load, 10-yard zero, 0.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -0.5" 0.00 0.00 1,240 540 0.1
5 -0.2" -4.06 -1.18 1,228 530 0.1
10 0.0" -0.06 -0.02 1,217 520 0.1
15 +0.2" +0.93 +0.27 1,207 511 0.2
20 +0.2" +1.15 +0.33 1,196 502 0.2
25 +0.3" +1.05 +0.31 1,186 494 0.3
30 +0.3" +0.79 +0.23 1,176 485 0.4
35 +0.2" +0.43 +0.13 1,166 477 0.6
40 0.0" +0.01 0.00 1,157 470 0.7
45 -0.2" -0.45 -0.13 1,148 462 0.9
50 -0.5" -0.95 -0.28 1,139 455 1.0
55 -0.9" -1.48 -0.43 1,130 448 1.2
60 -1.3" -2.02 -0.59 1,121 * 441 1.5
65 -1.8" -2.58 -0.75 1,113 * 435 1.7
70 -2.3" -3.16 -0.92 1,105 * 429 1.9
75 -3.0" -3.75 -1.09 1,097 * 423 2.2
80 -3.7" -4.35 -1.27 1,090 * 417 2.5
85 -4.4" -4.97 -1.45 1,082 * 411 2.8
90 -5.3" -5.59 -1.63 1,075 * 406 3.1
95 -6.2" -6.23 -1.81 1,068 * 401 3.5
100 -7.2" -6.87 -2.00 1,062 * 395 3.8

158gr G1 .200 at 1,240 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. * Below the speed of sound (1125 fps) from 58 yards; expect groups to open up past the transition.

.357 Magnum with a 15-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 15 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 158gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 15 yards, peaks +0.0" at 21 yards, crosses back down at 28 yards, and is -1.0" at 50 and -8.2" at 100 yards. It drops below the speed of sound at 58 yards.

Download CSV
.357 Magnum 158gr reference load, 15-yard zero, 0.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -0.5" 0.00 0.00 1,240 540 0.1
5 -0.3" -5.00 -1.46 1,228 530 0.1
10 -0.1" -1.01 -0.29 1,217 520 0.1
15 0.0" -0.02 0.00 1,207 511 0.2
20 +0.0" +0.20 +0.06 1,196 502 0.2
25 +0.0" +0.10 +0.03 1,186 494 0.3
30 -0.1" -0.16 -0.05 1,176 485 0.4
35 -0.2" -0.52 -0.15 1,166 477 0.6
40 -0.4" -0.94 -0.27 1,157 470 0.7
45 -0.7" -1.40 -0.41 1,148 462 0.9
50 -1.0" -1.90 -0.55 1,139 455 1.0
55 -1.4" -2.42 -0.70 1,130 448 1.2
60 -1.9" -2.97 -0.86 1,121 * 441 1.5
65 -2.4" -3.53 -1.03 1,113 * 435 1.7
70 -3.0" -4.11 -1.19 1,105 * 429 1.9
75 -3.7" -4.70 -1.37 1,097 * 423 2.2
80 -4.5" -5.30 -1.54 1,090 * 417 2.5
85 -5.3" -5.92 -1.72 1,082 * 411 2.8
90 -6.2" -6.54 -1.90 1,075 * 406 3.1
95 -7.2" -7.18 -2.09 1,068 * 401 3.5
100 -8.2" -7.82 -2.27 1,062 * 395 3.8

158gr G1 .200 at 1,240 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. * Below the speed of sound (1125 fps) from 58 yards; expect groups to open up past the transition.

.357 Magnum with a 25-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 25 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 158gr load first crosses the line of sight at 17 yards, peaks +0.0" at 21 yards, returns to zero at 25, and is -1.0" at 50 and -8.3" at 100 yards. It drops below the speed of sound at 58 yards.

Download CSV
.357 Magnum 158gr reference load, 25-yard zero, 0.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -0.5" 0.00 0.00 1,240 540 0.1
5 -0.3" -5.09 -1.48 1,228 530 0.1
10 -0.1" -1.10 -0.32 1,217 520 0.1
15 0.0" -0.11 -0.03 1,207 511 0.2
20 +0.0" +0.11 +0.03 1,196 502 0.2
25 0.0" +0.01 0.00 1,186 494 0.3
30 -0.1" -0.25 -0.07 1,176 485 0.4
35 -0.2" -0.61 -0.18 1,166 477 0.6
40 -0.4" -1.03 -0.30 1,157 470 0.7
45 -0.7" -1.49 -0.43 1,148 462 0.9
50 -1.1" -1.99 -0.58 1,139 455 1.0
55 -1.5" -2.51 -0.73 1,130 448 1.2
60 -1.9" -3.06 -0.89 1,121 * 441 1.5
65 -2.5" -3.62 -1.05 1,113 * 435 1.7
70 -3.1" -4.20 -1.22 1,105 * 429 1.9
75 -3.8" -4.79 -1.39 1,097 * 423 2.2
80 -4.5" -5.39 -1.57 1,090 * 417 2.5
85 -5.4" -6.01 -1.75 1,082 * 411 2.8
90 -6.3" -6.63 -1.93 1,075 * 406 3.1
95 -7.2" -7.27 -2.11 1,068 * 401 3.5
100 -8.3" -7.91 -2.30 1,062 * 395 3.8

158gr G1 .200 at 1,240 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. * Below the speed of sound (1125 fps) from 58 yards; expect groups to open up past the transition.

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Stock Up On .357 Magnum Ammo for the Range

PRODUCT PRICE/RD
Ammo Inc Signature .357 Magnum 158gr JHP Ammo
$0.53
500 Rounds
PMC Bronze .357 Mag 158gr JSP Ammo
$0.53
500 Rounds
Sellier & Bellot .357 Mag 158gr Soft Point Ammo
Sold by: Sentry Ammo
$0.54
1000 Rounds
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics .357 Mag 158gr JHP Ammo
Sold by: Fast Ammo
$0.67
1000 Rounds
Federal American Eagle .357 Mag 158gr JSP Ammo
$0.70
1000 Rounds
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