I'm gonna try my hand at loading some bullets for a 357 mag rifle. Might even try to kill and doe or a pig at some time. Whats a good bullet/powder choice for hunting? Usually in a pistol, I would just shoot factory stuff but a friend gave me a set of dies so I thought I might start loading for the rifle. Thanks!!
Good hunting bullet and powder combo for a 357 Mag
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cherokeetracker
New member
If you want to stay with Jacketed the Hornady XTP in 158 are good but for the rifle, a 180 XTP is good also, but I lean more towards using it in the 357 MAXIMUM. Swift and Nosler and Speer make good bullets also, for deer and Hogs. Going to a cast bullet, the Missouri Bullet company has the 357 PugNose that is supposed to be 180 gr. I say supposed,, because sometimes depending upon the alloy used a bullet might be lighter or heavier than the mold projects. Warning sometimes the cast bullets in the heavy for caliber choices do not want to cycle in a lever gun. To prevent any mishaps load a dummy round. You know no primer, no powder, and light crimp on bullet to see if it will feed.
If the 180 does not feed then I use a 173 grain bullet in a 38 sp case. Elmer Keith did this and it still has to be done in S&W model 27s. The cylinder is just too short for a 180 gr bullet in a 357 case. The 173 cast with 12.5grains of 2400 in a 38SP case is a really good load.
I know you mentioned Deer and Hogs but you are going to have a lot of fun with this. The 357 belongs in a rifle, especially a lever gun. Try some of the 125 and 140 grain cast stuff that is out there. These lighter bullets make Varmint shooting a lot of fun. Stay away from the 110 gr as it is too light for the velocities you will need and want. One bullet that is really good for Lever rifles and is accurate in Pistols as well,, It is the 160gr Round Flat .359 dia from Mattsbullets.com This is a cast bullet and You can ask Him to heat treat it for hunting.(not extra) You probably won't be able to find a cheaper price either. 13.00 per 100ct This will open up a whole new world for you. It is lots of fun.
FWIW FYI The Hi-Tek bullets will not lead your barrel and I have found powder coated bullets to be more accurate.
If the 180 does not feed then I use a 173 grain bullet in a 38 sp case. Elmer Keith did this and it still has to be done in S&W model 27s. The cylinder is just too short for a 180 gr bullet in a 357 case. The 173 cast with 12.5grains of 2400 in a 38SP case is a really good load.
I know you mentioned Deer and Hogs but you are going to have a lot of fun with this. The 357 belongs in a rifle, especially a lever gun. Try some of the 125 and 140 grain cast stuff that is out there. These lighter bullets make Varmint shooting a lot of fun. Stay away from the 110 gr as it is too light for the velocities you will need and want. One bullet that is really good for Lever rifles and is accurate in Pistols as well,, It is the 160gr Round Flat .359 dia from Mattsbullets.com This is a cast bullet and You can ask Him to heat treat it for hunting.(not extra) You probably won't be able to find a cheaper price either. 13.00 per 100ct This will open up a whole new world for you. It is lots of fun.
FWIW FYI The Hi-Tek bullets will not lead your barrel and I have found powder coated bullets to be more accurate.
masshunter
Active member
I would go with Tracker on the heavier bullet. The 158 pistol bullets open up pretty quick on coyotes.
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tomcat388th
New member
H110 has been my main powder for the 357. I set my smith up with 180 grain cast performance bullet last year did not get a chance at a deer with them but they shot and grouped fine. I also shoot xtp's
If the Nosler bullet is made out of the same alloy as their 41 and 44 its the only one I would stay away from for deer size critters, in my opinion it way to soft almost pure lead.
I shot a yearling fawn quartering toward me at 40 yard with the 44 red hawk 240 grain jhp pancaked on the shoulder blade nothing put piece of lead scattered through the meat.Luckily it ran toward me and gave me a broadside. I had gotten spoiled with my 41 and cast it usually came out the opposite hip on mature does
J
If the Nosler bullet is made out of the same alloy as their 41 and 44 its the only one I would stay away from for deer size critters, in my opinion it way to soft almost pure lead.
I shot a yearling fawn quartering toward me at 40 yard with the 44 red hawk 240 grain jhp pancaked on the shoulder blade nothing put piece of lead scattered through the meat.Luckily it ran toward me and gave me a broadside. I had gotten spoiled with my 41 and cast it usually came out the opposite hip on mature does
J
Varminterror
New member
For hunting, I only use full house loads, and for full house loads in magnum revolver cartridges, there are only 3 powders in my book: H110/W296, 2400, and 4227, out of which, I almost exclusively use H110/W296.
The Hornady XTP's are hard to beat for performance per price. They're dirt cheap, and do the job very well. There are 2 versions of the 158grn XTP - the Flat Point is rated for higher impact velocities than the standard, so I prefer to use it in rifles and my faster revolvers. I shoot a lot of the 180XTP in my 357/44 B&D mag as practice rounds, but Hornady advised against using it on game in higher velocity carbines and revolvers, since it's designed to open reliably at LOW velocities when pushed by the 357mag in a 6" revolver.
The Speer Deep Curl (formerly Gold Dot Bonded Hunting) is another great bullet for 357mag carbines, but I haven't done as well finding it as I have the XTP's. The Sierra A-Frame is a fantastic bullet, as is the Barnes XPB, but these cost way too much.
Plenty of Win 296 under 158 XTP-FP's is my go to combo for killing deer with a 357mag carbine.
The Hornady XTP's are hard to beat for performance per price. They're dirt cheap, and do the job very well. There are 2 versions of the 158grn XTP - the Flat Point is rated for higher impact velocities than the standard, so I prefer to use it in rifles and my faster revolvers. I shoot a lot of the 180XTP in my 357/44 B&D mag as practice rounds, but Hornady advised against using it on game in higher velocity carbines and revolvers, since it's designed to open reliably at LOW velocities when pushed by the 357mag in a 6" revolver.
The Speer Deep Curl (formerly Gold Dot Bonded Hunting) is another great bullet for 357mag carbines, but I haven't done as well finding it as I have the XTP's. The Sierra A-Frame is a fantastic bullet, as is the Barnes XPB, but these cost way too much.
Plenty of Win 296 under 158 XTP-FP's is my go to combo for killing deer with a 357mag carbine.