Will a .357 Magnum Penetrate Drywall (Gypsum)?

Yes — defeats a 13 mm drywall (gypsum) barrier
Penetration depth
340 mm (13.4″)
Impact velocity
395 m/s (1296 fps)
Muzzle energy
796 J (587 ft-lb)
Bullet behaviour
Intact

Fired at the muzzle, a representative .357 Magnum load (10.2 g, SP, 395 m/s) reaches roughly 340 mm (13.4 inches) into drywall (gypsum). That is enough to defeat a typical barrier of this material — treat anything behind it as exposed.

About Drywall (Gypsum)

One sheet of interior drywall is ~13 mm; a wall is two sheets and a gap.

.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″
See exactly what .357 Magnum does to Drywall (Gypsum) — open in the calculator →

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