[priv8ter]

This year, since I'm playing 'guide' to my wife her first time out(and due to some budget concerns), I'm going to be carrying my 'guide' gun, a Marlin 1894C.

I don't reload, so I've been looking at different factory loads, and I have narrowed it down to these three:

Cor-Bon's 180gr Bonded-Core Soft Point

Buffalo Bore's 180gr LFN-GC(Which I think stands for Lead Flat Nose- Something Something

Buffalo Bore's 170gr JHC(Jacketed Hard Cast?)

These cartridges all cost about the same, with the Core-Bon actually being in-stock at my local Sportsmans Warehouse. The Buffalo Bore I would need to order.

I guess I am looking for input from anyone on the real-world terminal performance of any of these rounds, as well as any input on which might not feed in a lever-action. I have never tried wad-cutters in this gun, but I am happy with my accuracy. Cheapo 158gr loads give me three-inch groups at 75 yards, and I'm dang happy with that.

Thanks for any input.

greg

[treeprof]

I have not tried those specific loads, but the Federal 180 gr cast cycle fine in my 1894C. The Speer 170 gr SP I've shot do as well, tho some have been a bit "sticky". Accuracy-wise, the 180 gr Feds shoots just abt as well as 158 gr. Win SP and HP.

[45crittergitter]

LFNGC mean long flat nose gas check. It's an LBT (Lead Bullet Technologies) design.

Federal loads a 180 CastCore, Speer loads a 170 Gold Dot Soft Point, Remington loads a 165 Core-Lokt, and Winchester loads a 180 Partition Gold.

IMHO, I would use at least a 170 grain, with limited expansion qualities.

[DigMe]

I can tell you that Federal 180 gr castcores will cut through a feral hog like a warm knife through butter.

brad cook

[priv8ter]

Thanks for the info, but all the manufacturer(advertising) data I have seen on the these hard-cast designs, they talk about how they turn the .357 into a 'Bear' gun. For deer, shouldn't I maybe try to find something that expands just a bit, or should I just stick with the hard-casts and go for through and through penetration?

greg

[treeprof]

For deer, my choice would be a soft point. I like the Win 158 gr SP's, tho I've not tried them on deer. I'm sure the Cor-Bon is good.

[45crittergitter]

I once applied a coup de grace to the shoulder area of a good sized whitetail buck from about 3' away with a 6" .357 firing a 158 gr. JSP Smith & Wesson factory load. The bullet did not penetrate the near shoulder, did not enter the chest cavity, and did not expand.

[ChristopherG]

Here's the load I'd use in my 1894 for deer (if limited to factory ammo):

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/427047

I suspect their loading will pull nearly 1700 fps from your Marlin, based on Speer's supplementary reloading data found here:

http://www.speer-bullets.com/pdf/ReloadingSupplementalDATA/357mg170.pdf

Looks like THE deer bullet in 357 to me.

[priv8ter]

Wow, I kind of like the looks of the Speer Load...and, it's about 65% the price of the Core-Bon or Buffalo Bore loads...it might be worth getting some and seeing how it groups in my gun.

Thanks. I'll probably follow crittergetter's advice and stick with something 170gr or heavier.

greg

[ChristopherG]

You're welcome. I've had very good accuracy with my handloads using the 170 Speer in my Marlin, and the difference in point of impact between this bullet and the 158s I usually shoot (for smaller critters or just messin around) is very slight out to 100 yrds.