A question regarding .357 & .38SP ammo

[theSaj]

Today I was at Gander Mountain to pick up some more ammo for my Ruger GP100.

I noticed something that kind of threw me off. Most all of the .357 ammo is like 150+ grain. Most all of the .38 SP+ ammo is 130 grain.

However, I did find a box of .38SP+ that was 150+ grain and a different brand of .357 ammo that was 180 grain.

So I'm kind of confused on what exactly this entailed. And what would be the difference between this higher grain .38SP at 158 & the common 158 grain .357 rounds?

What effect would the 180 grain .357 rounds have? would this be overly powerful?

[novice]

Found some cool online ballistics charts at Guns& Ammo.

The specs are all over the place for different variables like manufacturer, caliber, bullet type and weight, barrel length &c.

The generalizations I can draw are probably obvious: velocity and energy increase with more powerful loads. .38 special +P packs more of a wallop than .38 special standard loads, and standard .357s hit faster and harder than .38 specials (except the .357 cowboy loads are loaded to lower pressures.)

Comparing one .357 magnum brand (Federal) topped off with a 158 gr JHP to two types of the the same brand with 180 gr bullet, the heavier bullet is as fast and retains more velocity and energy downrange in one loading, but it's slower and less hard hitting in another.

I hope someone who knows more about this stuff will comment.

[LastManOut]

I may be misunderstanding the question, but the "grain" listed on the ammunition box is the weight of the bullet, not the grains of powder in the cartridge (which can vary depending on the type of powder used).
A heavier bullet would theoretically pack a bigger wallop when used with a powder that will pressure the tip at a higher velocity.
I better quit there I'm confusing myself.

[toadyoforangeville]

yes it is the bullet weight few things to consider handloading you learn alot a 38with a158 swc at about 830 fps is comfortable to most thus light bullet less kick but can also go faster or slower if all lead bullet is used it can go very slow about 650fps (did it go off ?) other hand a 357 mag with 180 full power there is no question you pulled the trigger flames and bibblical concussion like goin from 22lr to a 44mag if you have short barrle stick with the 38s