Did the HST .357 Magnum ever come out?

[03RN]

I'm pretty impressed with the new hst. I might have to get some.

[Glock17JHP]

I like HST ammunition, but will reserve my opinion on this particular load until I see calibrated 10% gelatin testing by someone who isn't using terms like "energy dump".

[SwampDweller]

I like HST ammunition, but will reserve my opinion on this particular load until I see calibrated 10% gelatin testing by someone who isn't using terms like "energy dump".

Same, I'd be really interested in legitimate, proper testing done on this ammunition.

[jh9]

In stock

20 round box: https://www.sgammo.com/product/357-m...l-hst-ammo-p35

200 round case: https://www.sgammo.com/product/357-m...ral-hst-ammo-p

[revchuck38]

I like HST ammunition, but will reserve my opinion on this particular load until I see calibrated 10% gelatin testing by someone who isn't using terms like "energy dump".

Same, I'd be really interested in legitimate, proper testing done on this ammunition.

Ditto. I'd like to see the old-school .357 158s (R-P, Winchester) done this way as well. I'm not holding my breath, though, since there would be no ROI for those companies. I imagine that Speer has some testing somewhere for their 158-grain Gold Dot load; the Lucky Gunner test using it was extremely unimpressive - it just zipped through the clear gel blocks with no expansion.

I expect that the HST load would expand and penetrate within the FBI parameters, but at this point that's all that is, an expectation.

[jh9]

I imagine that Speer has some testing somewhere for their 158-grain Gold Dot load; the Lucky Gunner test using it was extremely unimpressive - it just zipped through the clear gel blocks with no expansion.

https://le.vistaoutdoor.com/ammuniti....aspx?id=53960

21.31" in bare gel, opens to .551"
21.65" in heavy clothing, opens to .453"

Seems like a case study on why clear gel sucks. I think the generality is it "understates" expansion and overstates penetration. For the 158gr Gold Dot load specifically it looks to have understated expansion by 100%.

.453" in heavy clothing isn't super impressive. 21" seems... excessive for defense in populated locations. The only published data I've seen for the 125gr Gold Dot was by ATK in their Kern County workshop back in 2007. The load gets .63-.66" expansion and 14.5" penetration through heavy clothing. 11" penetration and .76" expansion for bare gel. No velocity or barrel length reported, just "colt python". I assume 4". I don't know how much, if any, the bullet has changed since 2007. I would expect the results to still be similar-ish in 2024.

[Glock17JHP]

Ditto. I'd like to see the old-school .357 158s (R-P, Winchester) done this way as well. I'm not holding my breath, though, since there would be no ROI for those companies. I imagine that Speer has some testing somewhere for their 158-grain Gold Dot load; the Lucky Gunner test using it was extremely unimpressive - it just zipped through the clear gel blocks with no expansion.

I expect that the HST load would expand and penetrate within the FBI parameters, but at this point that's all that is, an expectation.

I tested the Speer 158 grain Gold Dot HP .357 Magnum load (load# 23960) in 2001 while in the IWBA (Wound Ballistics Review, Spring 2001, Volume 5, Issue 1). The testing was done using water. The firearm used was a S&W Model 686 revolver with a 4-inch barrel.

Expanded bullet diameters for 5 rounds were (in mm): 13.41, 14.22, 13.31, 13.07 and 12.48. Retained bullet weights were (in grains): 156.2, 156.4, 155.4, 157.3 and 151.2. Estimated gelatin penetration depths were (in inches): 17.8, 16.1, 17.9, 18.7 and 19.5.

A total of 11 .357 Magnum HP loads were tested. I hope this information is helpful.

-Ron.

[jh9]

I tested the Speer 158 grain Gold Dot HP .357 Magnum load (load# 23960) in 2001 while in the IWBA (Wound Ballistics Review, Spring 2001, Volume 5, Issue 1). The testing was done using water. The firearm used was a S&W Model 686 revolver with a 4-inch barrel.

Expanded bullet diameters for 5 rounds were (in mm): 13.41, 14.22, 13.31, 13.07 and 12.48. Retained bullet weights were (in grains): 156.2, 156.4, 155.4, 157.3 and 151.2. Estimated gelatin penetration depths were (in inches): 17.8, 16.1, 17.9, 18.7 and 19.5.

After converting to Freedom Units, it looks like your 158gr expansion numbers are really close and the estimated penetration was only off by 3" compared to what Speer is advertising in actual gel 23 years later. That's reassuring. If they've made tweaks to the bullet it doesn't seem to have impacted performance.

I have a reasonable quantity of the 125gr Gold Dots laid in for the 4"+ L/N frame guns. Will probably just keep on keepin on with that. Would love to see what this new HST round does in gel but it's academic to me.

[03RN]

I'm pretty impressed with the new hst. I might have to get some.

Guess I'll wait since I just got another 500 147gr HST pulls.

[Ghost Dog]

Here you go. Official. Organic.
You will have to decipher
.327 HST listed on top
.357 HST on bottom
Included some recent 9mm because figured this is all of interest to those on here.

HST Magnum Revolver

327 Federal

357 Magnum



Bullet

104gr HSP HP

154gr HST HP



Test Barrel Velocity

1525

1340

4" Barrel

Gun Avg Velocity

1450

1250

Bare Gel Penetration

11.7"

15.5"

Bare Gel Expansion

0.683"

.648"

Heavy Cloth Penetration

12.7"

16"

Heavy Cloth Expansion

0.609

0.587"

Snub nose

Gun Avg Velocity

1225

1080

Bare Gel Penetration

12.2"

14.8"

Bare Gel Expansion

0.681"

0.657"

Heavy Cloth Penetration

14.5"

16"

Heavy Cloth Expansion

0.546"

0.565"



124gr Punch 9mm (Shot from G43)

Heavy Clothing 13.4 pen, 0.614 exp

Bare Gel 13.1 pen, exp 0.634



Current 147gr HST 9mm (Shot from Glock 47)

Heavy Clothing 14.6 pen, 0.605 exp

Bare Gel 13.5 pen, 0.691 exp