.357 Magnum

Bearcat 74

Bearcat 74

New member
Just got a .357 and I am wanting to load for it. Lots of info out there that's for sure. I am wanting a deer/coyote/stump/groudhog/hog/whatever load. Some say 158gr, others 170gr, others 180gr jacketed, then there's 185gr cast, 200gr cast. Powders from H110, W296, Lil'Gun, AA9. For any one on here that has a .357 as a hunter/packer, what are you shooting?


Gun is a 6" 686 S&W


Thanks
 
158gr fp rem bulk or 158 hornady xtpfp over 18gr of Lil gun. 1925fps out of my marlin 94 and has laid lots of pork and deer on the ground out to 125yds. quiet and easy on the shoulder. sight in mags at 100yds and 38's should be real close at 50. I carry some 38 cast in my pocket to switch out and shoot cottontails with, you can eat up to the hole.
 
I dont reload for it yet but ive had the best results using a variety of 158gr JSP. I tried the 180gr and just didnt like them.

Dave
 
Hornady HP/XTP 158gr over 15gr of H110. Accurate pistol load that will stop just about any game you come across. If you want something with a little more stopping power, try the Barnes pistol bullets in 158gr.
 
I have a pound of H110 and will be working up a load for mine, except I'll be using the 125-135gr bullets. I would only use the 180gr on a deer and then I'd probably be carrying my .44 Mag.

Hodgdon indicates a max. load (H110) for the powder with a 180gr bullet and Winch. case as 13.5gr and it will produce 1396fps.
 
My favorite is a 125gr XTP over 13gr H110. Gun is a 4" Colt Trooper. I carry it on my hip when I'm brush-hogging for euthanizing those D$#@% field rats. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Lots of good loads for the 357. I like shooting cast bullets simply because their less expensive to shoot and seem to kill as well as any of the jacketed I've tried. I don't shoot a 357 any more, but put lots of rounds downrange with my little 38 special.

If your just plinking load down to 38 special velocities, it's more fun with less noise and less recoil to contend with. Bullets loaded in the 750 to 850 fps range are just a kick in the behind to shoot and very accurate to boot. You can always load it hot for hunting that's some of the allure of the 357 mag.
 
One reason I bought the gun was the .38 option, I figured the wife would like that. I was worried about cast in the thin rifled S&W, I may try a fast 158gr, the Speer 170 shows some impressive velocity, how is the Gold Dot as a hunting bullet?
 
I loaded up some 158gr Sierra JHP's and some H110. 16gr was very accurate at 25yds with CCI 550 Mag Primers. I went to 16.7grs, max from Hodgdon and they were so so. I called a friend and he said to put a small rifle primer in, so i did that. 16.7 and a CCI 400 small rifle primer was very accurate. 16grs chrono'd 1180fps, 16.7 went 1287fps with the Mag primers, I don't know with the small rifle primers as the chrono decided it didn't want to read anymore. I went up to 17grs with no pressure signs, easy ejection, no primer problems, but I am going to it on 16.7grs with the JHP right now. Next is to try a flat point.
 
If I were hunting with a 357 magnum, I'd use a 158 grain cast SWC because:

1. You can get significantly higher velocities with cast bullets than jacketed.

2. The SWC will penetrate deeply, hit hard, and create a good blood channel.

3. At pistol velocities, I'm not sure that an expanding hollow point is a good thing. I'm not sure I'd get enough penetration on deer-sized critters.

In the field, I carry 158gr. cast SWCs loaded with 2400 powder that give me chronographed 1300 ft/sec from a 4" barrel. I also carry a speed loader filled with factory 125 grain JHPs for other needs.
 
DaveD,

Use the 158gr SWC with a gas check for the "other needs". I am a retired LEO and did a lot of "research" over the years... That 158gr lead SWC w/gas check is "almost" as good as the .45ACP for "other needs"... (just work up a reasonably accurate load to "maximum" pressures in your pstol and then back down a bit). Been there, done that and have the hat, T-shirt and the whistle!
 
The JHP's Ioaded I just found in a box, so I figured I would try them. I would not deer hunt with hollow points, but varmints I sure would. I am going to get some soft points and some cast as well.


Thanks again
 
Old Turtle:

Hello Old Turtle! I always enjoy your posts on the board!

I wanted to relay a little bit of experience that I have had over the years with a 357 Mag.

I shot lots of jack rabbits, 8 coyotes, and a bunch of Javelina with a Ruger GP 100 in 6" with tuned trigger.

I shot two different loads, 18.5g of H110 (296) or 18.5g of IMR 4227 with a 125g Sierra hp, 125g Rem HP, or 125g HOrnady XTP...unreal accurate out of my pistol.

You will have to play with primers because they do make a whale of a difference in this load...and for the life of me I can't remember which one that I used.

Take care and keep the posts coming...makes my day!

By the way, your PM message box is full!

Ackleyman
 
I do not know if I can answer your question, while i have carried and used the 357 for many years I have always felt it was not enough to hunt with. I used my 357 as a self defense carry handgun. For many years as a police officer i was issued or mandated by department regs that it was my uniform carry pistol. In the DA revolver format. I found for what I needed it to do a hot 125 grn JHP was the best ammo Remington to be exact. I have been retired for several years but still have the small Ruger SP 101 I carried as a back up gun after the department allowed us to carry Glocks. My choice in semi Auto was is/was a G21 45ACP.
I have used that little 357 while fishing because I really hate snakes and i always seem to trip over a rattler when hunting cat fish at night. I hooked a moccasin once to, and the snake shot and three 125 grn JHP's worked real good then too. For coyotes or hog or deer I would suggest somthing with more penitration like a 158 or heavier JHP or JSP. I think a hard cast might work but I would prefer somthing that you know will expand slowly. Cast somtimes don't at all, and JHP's will to fast somtimes.
 
Blinddog, and others...

I was the Department "Armorer", Range Officer and "resident Mad Scientist"...

We did extensive testing of almost every conceivable factory handgun load in .38SPL, .357, 9mm and .45ACP (and a lot of others) that existed over a ten year period to be ready to advise deputies as to what loads to carry (and what loads we wanted them to carry).

One result was that we almost universally rejected any handgun "hollow point" because of the unreliability factor for "expansion". The lighter loads in JHP failed to expand many times. Especially in simulated "Fall/Winter" situations... a t-shirt, flnnel shirt/sweater, and insulated jacket placed over ballistic gelatin; produced unsatisfactory penetration and NO EXPANSION most of the time. The nose cavity of the bullet either filled with material like a paper punch or simply sheared off.. especially at any angle other than 90 degrees of impact. In the end, we found that in .38SPL, .38SPL +P (and +P+), and .357 and 9mm (a woefully inadequate defensive round in my opinion after all the testing because of low bullet weight), and .40 and .45... the best bullets were flat nosed and of those the SWC was the best. These relied on penetration for effectiveness and transfer of energy (and frankly doing the most trauma).

The "scholarly" and anecdotal information that I have gathered and digested seems to support this opinion.

Now, I don't want to start WWIII (or any kind of argument), but it became my opinion that in handguns there was 1) no substitute for caliber, and 2) neither the light, fast (100-135 gr) or real heavy slow (185-200gr) .38(or 9mm or .357) bullets excelled over the 140-160gr offerings. Same in the .45.. the 200-230gr seemed to be the most effective.

Our worst nightmare was lived out by a friend who placed six Winchester silver tips from a 9mm into a perp (traffic stop) only to have him still standing and effectively use his .38 snub nose to score three hits. (Stopped him with his .25 backup as he stood over him reloading..direct hit through the underside of the jaw...

I used a hardcast (wheelweight lead) 220gr SWC in my .45ACP (1911), twice. Both times were instantaneous "stops".
 
And once you talk about penetrating a windshield at a bad angle, it gets more complex. Thankfully very few of us will ever face human adversaries. Unless you live in a very bad place it is not something to worry about.

Jack
 
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