The .357 Magnum is a high-powered revolver cartridge, and the .38 Special is a popular and effective handgun round. Both are still around today, but which one should you choose? Let’s take a look at the history of both cartridges to see how they got where they are today! We’ll also compare the two rounds so you can decide which is best for your needs.

357 Magnum

The 357 Magnum is a handgun cartridge that was designed in 1934 by Elmer Keith. It is a magnum cartridge and can be used in both revolvers and rifles. The 357 magnum was designed as an improvement over the .38 Special, which had been around since 1877.

The .38 Special has been the standard for law enforcement officers for decades because of its ability to stop threats without overpenetration or excessive recoil, but it doesn’t have quite enough power for some situations–like when you need to take down a bear at close range (or any kind of large animal). That’s where this round comes in handy!

You’ll notice that most manufacturers offer two types: one with lead bullets and one without them; these are called “soft point” vs “hard cast” respectively because they differ slightly in terms of shape/hardness – soft points tend to deform on impact which gives them better stopping power while hard casts tend not do so much deformation but instead retain their shape better so they’re easier on rifling inside barrels…it’s all pretty technical stuff but basically just know these things come in different shapes depending upon what type gun you want them loaded into – some guns work best with soft point rounds while others prefer hard cast depending upon calibers etc..

.38 Special

The .38 Special is a rimmed cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson in 1902. It was originally intended to be used in their new model revolvers, but it quickly became one of the most popular cartridges in the world. The .38 Special has been used for self-defense, hunting and target shooting since its inception.

History of the 357 magnum

The 357 Magnum was developed by Elmer Keith and Bill Ruger in the early 1950s. It was designed to be a more powerful version of the 38 Special, which had been around since 1871.

The 357 magnum uses a cartridge that is significantly larger than its predecessor, with a diameter of .357 inches (9mm) compared to .38 inches (.45). The bullet weight is also greater at 158 grains compared to 110 grains for standard loads. The result is a cartridge capable of producing much higher velocities when fired from long barrel handguns like revolvers or pistols with rifled barrels (which spin-stabilize bullets) as opposed to smoothbore firearms like shotguns that have no rifling at all!

History of the .38 special

The .38 Special was developed by Smith & Wesson, who were looking for a cartridge to be used in their new small frame, medium weight revolvers. The first use of the cartridge was in 1882, and it has been popular ever since. The .38 special is one of the most common handgun cartridges today due to its versatility and ease of use.

Cartridges in general

A cartridge is the main part of your gun that holds the bullet and propellant. The bullet is the projectile, which travels through space at high speeds when fired from a gun. It’s propelled towards its target by an explosive force produced by burning propellant inside it.

The cartridge is also called a round because it contains both ammunition (bullets) and explosives necessary to fire them out of their respective weapons systems in quick succession–making them ideal for close combat or self-defense situations where rapid fire may be necessary.

Cartridges come in several different sizes depending on what type of gun they’re designed for: pistol, rifle/carbine/long gun etc.. However there are some common features among all types: metal casing with primer; powder charge at bottom; primer goes into center hole when loaded into chamber after being pushed back by firing pin; bullet seated above powder charge with forward end protruding slightly beyond mouth so as not get stuck inside barrel during loading process

Magazines and clips/Speedloaders

Speedloaders are a type of device used to quickly load cartridges into the chambers of a revolver. A speedloader consists of a metal or plastic frame with spring-loaded holes that hold cartridges, which can then be inserted into the cylinder one at a time. Speedloaders are typically used when shooting competition events where quick reloading is necessary, such as Cowboy Action Shooting and IPSC shooting competitions.

Clips are another type of device used for loading ammunition into revolvers. They consist of two pieces: one side holds five rounds and has notches across its length; the other side is attached to your gun’s handle by screws or rivets (depending on whether you have an older model) so that it stays put during firing sequences–but also allows you easy access when it comes time to reload!

The 357 magnum is heavier, but what about recoil?

The 357 magnum is a heavier bullet, so it has more recoil than the .38 Special. This means that when you shoot this type of gun, you’ll feel a sharp jolt in your hand as the weapon recoils backwards towards your shoulder.

For people who are sensitive to recoil (or just want to reduce their chances of developing pain or injury), there are several ways to make shooting easier:

• Use a heavier gun and/or load – The weight of the firearm helps absorb some of that extra momentum from firing off rounds at high speeds, which makes them easier to handle when firing multiple shots in quick succession.
• Use an extended barrel – Longer barrels generally have less muzzle rise than shorter ones because they allow for greater forward movement before stopping due to friction against clothing or other objects on top of where we aim our sights; this allows us more time between each shot without losing accuracy!

Takeaway:

If you’re looking for a powerful round, the 357 Magnum is your best bet. It’s more powerful than the .38 Special and has more knock-down power than most handgun calibers. However, it does come with a tradeoff: it’s heavier than other rounds and therefore harder to carry around in large quantities.

The .38 special is an excellent choice if you want something lighter but still effective at stopping attackers in their tracks–and because there are so many different types of bullets available for this cartridge (ranging from milder loads to hotter ones), it can be used by almost anyone without worry about overdoing things!

In the end, both of these cartridges are great options for different purposes. The 357 Magnum has more power and can be used in rifles as well as handguns. It also has a longer history than the .38 Special which makes it a good choice if you want something traditional or nostalgic. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more modern then perhaps consider going with one of these newer calibers instead!