[horsemen61]

Hello all I'm looking to reload 357 for my lcr and I am going to be camping and hiking with it in bear country. I don't want to hear that I need a bigger gun. I am looking for the heaviest biggest most penetrating hand loads I can find. Anybody got a good one I could use without blowing up my lcr

[627PCFan]

You need a bigger gun :) J/K Try Buffalo Bore 180 grain cast leads. Beware-

In a LCR big OUCH. Youtube vdeos of your test fires will be greatly appreciated-:D

[Waywatcher]

1st reply nailed it.

I use that exact bullet (made by Rim Rock) over a more reasonable charge of 2400 powder. It seems to do best at 12.0 grains; great uniformity and barely subsonic velocity, about 1075 fps out of my SP101. (Extreme spreads are in the 'teens.)

Another good choice is a nice, wide meplat SWC cast bullet.

[CraigC]

You need a bigger gun.

An LCR is not a bear gun by any stretch of the imagination but if it's all you got 180gr hardcast LBT's would be the best tool for the job.

[MtnCreek]

I load .357 w/ H110 powder. For this pistol, I would probably use a more flexible powder.

What kind of bear country are you going to be in? Black bear only or black & brown bear?

[Certaindeaf]

Hello all I'm looking to reload 357 for my lcr and I am going to be camping and hiking with it in bear country. I don't want to hear that I need a bigger gun. I am looking for the heaviest biggest most penetrating hand loads I can find. Anybody got a good one I could use without blowing up my lcr
Most penetrating will generally be a heavy and fast FMJRN. Don't use those.
I'd use a hardcast Keith bullet.. there are many loading manuals and appropriate data using this bullet.

[Kingcreek]

I have used a 180gr jacketed flat point but it's been many years, might have been Speer or Sierra.

[gwalchmai]

An LCR for bear defense? Well, at least it has few sharp corners...

[joed]

My second choice would be a .357, 173 gr Keith style LSWC and a good charge of 2400.

First choice would be 250 gr .429 Keith style LSWC and a good charge of 2400.

I'd also want someone along that can not run as fast as me.

[beatledog7]

horsemen61:

Your LCR is not a bear gun unless you're going to get between-the-eyes head shots (and you're not).

I'm afraid I have to go with most responders, in spite of the your admonition:

Get a bigger gun.

[Waywatcher]

I think the people replying that the OP need a bigger gun are off-base. First of all, OP said it wasn't an option. Secondly, we don't know if it's even necessary--as in, he might be talking about black bears. .357 Magnum has been zapping bears since 1934.

Let's solve the problem with the choices available.

If black bear are the worst you might encounter, a great bullet option would be the 140 Barnes XPB. It is as long as a 180 traditional bullet, and penetrates with expansion. The gelatin tests I've seen with it indicate 30+ inches of penetration, and expansion in to .57 to .66 range. The 170 Keith SWC, if it fits in the cylinder, would be another good choice.

[Certaindeaf]

There was another thread exactly (kinda) like this a couple weeks ago. Probably went to eight(y?) pages. I think it was something about wondering about if a 9 would do and small (regional black) bears were in the mix. etc.

[CraigC]

I think the people replying that the OP need a bigger gun are off-base.
I disagree wholeheartedly. I cannot, in good conscience, suggest a bear load for a firearm that is not adequate for the task at hand, without also stating that it is not adequate for the task at hand.

[bangaway]

Penetration to vitals is the concern for bear protection. I use hard cast heavy bullets with wide metplates. However for a revolver lyman made a mould 35893. This is a 125 gr. sharp spitzer bullet with a gas check and goes through a 18 inch douglas fir tree. Enough penetration? You decide. Where to find the 35893 bulet. Western bullet Co, in Missoula , Mt makes them at $15/100. I do not know how to make a go to link so you must type a search. Lighter bullets do not recoil as much as heavy ones. I used 125 gr.jacketed data. WBC also makes a 205 gr. 44 mag. lyman 429303 bullet. Have fun and bangaway.

[gamestalker]

I wouldn't hesitate to consider any of my sturdy framed .357's for a full house load. If this were the circumstances I wouldn't think the firearm manufacturer would chamber it for .357 mag..

My choice, and what I personally load and carry for full house knock down power is a 140 gr. Barnes XPB charged with H110 or 296. If this is going to be for a primary defense carry purpose, load it through proper work up, but in smaller test numbers to reduce the degree of punishment to your wrist/hand. My opinion is to not go too heavy a bullet or you'll be losing much needed velocity for penetration. For this I would not exceed a 140 gr. bullet and a quality 125 gr. would be the lightest I would go. Stick to a non hollow point also, FP will get you more penetration in this respect.

[Kingcreek]

If you truly need to use it on a bear, a couple hundred foot pounds of energy probably won't make much difference.

[beatledog7]

A snubby might well handle the high pressure of a bear load, but can the shooter manage it? That's why I recommended a bigger gun.

[2zulu1]

The bullet you want is a 180gr WFNGC or 173gr Keith style bullet. If needed, you will be in a defensive situation; therefore, NO jacketed hollow points or fast/light bullets.

Out of a full size 357mag revolver the 180gr WFNGC will give you nearly four feet of soft tissue penetration. Out of an LCR I don't have a clue.

JHPs won't give you adequate penetration, plus an entrance wound only, will not bleed out enough should you need to track a wounded bruin.

Enjoy your load work ups. :)

[murf]

with a heavy load in a 13 oz. gun, you will have problems with bullets jumping the crimp. make sure you check it out before the hike. a bound up cylinder turns your gun into a paperweight.

the 180 grain bullets may not fit in your cylinder. the 158 grain hard cast swc going at least 900fps should do the trick. will be a "bear" to shoot!

murf

[GP100man]

Bears don`t attack for nuttin ,either momma`s protecting or if for Food they really have to work themselves up to the task !!

I`m talkin ADRENALIN RAGE to the max & the only way is to crash the computer ,but first ya gotta crack/penetrate 3/4-2" of skull (depending on bear age/size/type)

But if ya gonna use it ,I feel 160gr bullet is as heavy as ya can get any speed on out of a short tube , I`d go with the xpb as fast as I could safely push it !!

[jibjab]

I am looking for the heaviest biggest most penetrating hand loads I can find. Anybody got a good one I could use without blowing up my lcr
Sounds like you want to take a Knife to a gun fight :confused:

Ps,
I have never heard anyone complain that they did not have enough gun. but for those that did not I have not heard from them either.

[56hawk]

I use 17 grains of H110 behind a 158 grain LSWC. Does 930 fps out of my M&P360, which actually weighs quite a bit less than your LCR. Recoil is pretty sharp, but definitely controllable.

[Hondo 60]

I don't mean to be insulting, but an LCR brought to a bear fight? - ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Whether you wanna hear it or not, that's the wrong gun!

Buffalo Bore 180 gr is probably the best round, but my gosh, PLEASE don't think you're gonna win vs a bear.

[Certaindeaf]

^
Are bears magic?

Attitude/confidence are half of everything. With your fatalistic attitude nevermind

[56hawk]

^
Are bears magic?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c8rNSr57ItA/Ta7tuk3LnnI/AAAAAAAAAT4/i2E22Pz0B3U/s1600/carebears20star1.jpg

[ArchAngelCD]

Unfortunately the right load for bear is probably too heavy a load for use in a LCR. Accuracy will suffer and follow up shots will be difficult at best. Sorry I can't help.

[Bassleg]

I know this is not a bear load but, last week I shot fed. 140 gr H.P. out of a SP101 2 1/4" barrel @ 1271 FPS. & Winchester PDX 130+P @907 FPS just fyi.

My 2 cents is you need a bigger gun.

[Alaska444]

I shoot the Buffalo Bore 180 gr in my SP101 but it ain't fun. That is 25 oz vs a 17 oz gun. My SP101 is my EDC and I use it as a back up gun in the woods, but my Ruger Super Redhawk, .44 magnum is my woods bear gun with the Buffalo Bore +P+ 340 gr which is near .454 Casull power.

I wouldn't want to try the 180 gr in the LCR. Not my cup of tea but it would handle the pressures, not sure the shooter will as stated above. Not a bit fun to shoot in a heavier SP101.

[2zulu1]

Were you getting any crimp jumping?

[Mike 27]

Here is the question with a bear gun. Can you put your second and third round on target within 1-2 seconds with the small frame revolver using a full power round? My first "bear gun" was a Taurus 605 w/ 2" barrel. I found in the winter (-15F) with a full load .357 it felt like I broke my hand after the first round. The bears are already out this year and it is still that cold btw. The LCR is even lighter than the 605. I moved to a 7 1/2" 44 mag after answering the question. Great gun (LCR) for CC and smaller predators. Been in your shoes, sorry to be a nay sayer as well...

[Waywatcher]

I think that the relative improbability of actually encountering a bear, let alone one that couldn't be dealt with with a .357, sufficiently counters the perceived necessity of a larger gun.

[ChefJeff1]

180 grain bearthoth loaded with a bunch of H110. You won't like to shoot it very much.

[murf]

go to the buffalo bore website and read the byline for 38spl +p outdoorsman ammo. this should satisfy your needs.

murf