Will a .357 Magnum Penetrate Cinder Block?

Yes — defeats a 60 mm cinder block barrier
Penetration depth
68 mm (2.7″)
Impact velocity
395 m/s (1296 fps)
Muzzle energy
796 J (587 ft-lb)
Bullet behaviour
Expanded

Fired at the muzzle, a representative .357 Magnum load (10.2 g, SP, 395 m/s) reaches roughly 68 mm (2.7 inches) into cinder block. That is enough to defeat a typical barrier of this material — treat anything behind it as exposed.

About Cinder Block

A hollow concrete block presents ~50–60 mm of actual material across its face shells.

.357 Magnum against other materials

MaterialDepth (mm)Depth (in)
Red Brick99 mm3.9″
Concrete54 mm2.1″
Tempered Glass14 mm0.5″
Steel A362 mm0.1″
Steel AR5001 mm0.0″
Run your own numbers in the calculator →

Related