357/44 BOBCAT

Research notes

This was a 44 Magnum case necked down to .357, and one of several different variations of the same idea. From various discussion forums, the Bobcat was developed sometime during the mid-80’s by gunsmith Bob Booth. One of the main problems with bottle-necked cartridges in a revolver cylinder was the recoil would back the case hard into the rear of the frame and then fire-forming the shoulder forward, locking up the cylinder and preventing it from rotating. Bob overcame the problem by manufacturing plastic/nylon sleeve to fit over the neck of the cartridge, bringing it up to .44 diameter. All that would stick out was the bullet. That meant a standard .44 cal cylinder with a .357 cal throat and barrel. Suffice to know that the idea did not last long.