.38/.357: Lighter bullets are usually louder?

**Ron3** · 07-11-18, 15:09

From my observations this true, at least with ear pro.

In .357 mag, given the same length barrel and level of load, lighter bullets tend to be louder than heavy bullets.

125 gr = intensely loud
158 gr = pretty damn loud
180 gr = loud but down to common 9/40/45 levels

Do you agree?

**T2C** · 07-11-18, 15:35

I don't have acoustic level measuring equipment, so this is a seat of pants observation. I haven't noticed bullet weight being a factor. I noticed that higher velocities, higher charge weights and certain powders make the report louder.

**markm** · 07-11-18, 16:48

Lighter bullet yields less dwell/burn time. So it would make sense that more flash/report would noticed all else equal.

**thehammer69** · 07-11-18, 23:00

As Markm above mentioned, the lighter bullets spend less time in the barrel and thus tend to have more report and flash compared to heavier bullets.

**T2C** · 07-12-18, 20:23

I shot some .357 Magnum loads out of my lever action rifle today. Both 158g and 125g Hornady XTP bullets were loaded with HS-6 to 1350 fps measured on the chronograph. I did not notice a difference in muzzle report.

**thehammer69** · 07-12-18, 23:41

Originally Posted by T2C

I shot some .357 Magnum loads out of my lever action rifle today. Both 158g and 125g Hornady XTP bullets were loaded with HS-6 to 1350 fps measured on the chronograph. I did not notice a difference in muzzle report.

I wouldn't imagine you would out of a rifle being that 357 magnum powder is very fast burning and theoretically should be burned off before the bullet exited the rifle. In the case of a much shorter barreled pistol, you still have burn occurring at bullet exit...