What is the most powerful load for the .357 Mag
- Thread starter Mr. T
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C-grunt
Member
The ones on this page probably. The lighter ones might put out more energy, but the heavy ones will shoot through a moose.
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=20
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=20
The Bushmaster
Member
Bullet placement and recovery for second shot.
The hottest loads for any weapon are accomplished with hand loads, but you DO have to be careful not to make'em TOO hot...You really don't make this decision. The handgun does.
The hottest loads for any weapon are accomplished with hand loads, but you DO have to be careful not to make'em TOO hot...You really don't make this decision. The handgun does.
Gordon
Member
The old Corbon 200 grain Hardcast gets my vote - hands down. I clocked it at 1280 FPS out of a 5" model 27 and almost as fast out of a 6" Security Six. That bullet didn't want to stop!
Wolfeye
Member
To me, "most powerful" and "most effective" would say different things. To my knowledge, the cartridge with the best one-shot stopping effectiveness is 125 gr SJHP, the one made by Federal I think.
For stopping something tougher than a human (cougar, black bear), I'd think a 180-200 gr hardcast made by Buffalo Bore, Cor-bon, or Double Tap would be most effective and perhaps the most powerful.
For stopping something tougher than a human (cougar, black bear), I'd think a 180-200 gr hardcast made by Buffalo Bore, Cor-bon, or Double Tap would be most effective and perhaps the most powerful.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Don't forget the .357 Magnum ammo made buy the Grizzly Cartridge Company using a Cast Performance hard cast bullet.
More info from the OP would be helpful. What is the intended use?
Buffalo Bore does seem to make some stout stuff. I was at Cabela's yesterday, and picked up a box of 180-grain Hardcast. Vacation starts in two weeks; time to try new stuff. I reckon it is time to prepare for bears invading Texas.
I have carried the hot 125-grain Federals on the street. Its real-world results are not all myth. I have seen it work.
Buffalo Bore does seem to make some stout stuff. I was at Cabela's yesterday, and picked up a box of 180-grain Hardcast. Vacation starts in two weeks; time to try new stuff. I reckon it is time to prepare for bears invading Texas.
I have carried the hot 125-grain Federals on the street. Its real-world results are not all myth. I have seen it work.
bflobill_69
Member.
LOL! I dont want to find out with any of my old S&W 357's...
dusty14u
Member
I load a 125 grain plated Flat Point with 9 grains of Unique and it is pushing the bullet at 1455FPS. I would like to load some Hornaday HP's to the same level. Has a pretty sharp pressure wave when you fire one.
NMGonzo
Member
ArchAngelCD
Member.
That 9.0gr charge under a 125gr bullet is nowhere near the Max charge currently posted on the Alliant Load Data Site. Their current Max listing is 9.6gr Unique under a 125gr Speer Gold Dot HP.
Marvin KNox
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- 244
I agree with most of the other guys concerning "most powerful" status. It's really not meaningful until you define the target.
I suppose it would be proper to say that the one that put out the most foot pounds of energy at any given distance from the barrel would be the most powerful.
The trick is in deciding what you want that energy to do.
Is it penetration for penetration's sake you are after as in shooting deep into the heart area of a cape buffalo?
Is it energy that is used for breaking the shoulder bone on an animal to stop it's charge?
Is it energy that has been put into expansion within a given depth of penetration (say, 12" or less) that you want as in self defense/carry ammo?
Depending on what you want to accomplish the greatest foot pounds of energy at the the barrel may not mean much to you.
You may, for instance, have the greatest foot pounds of energy with a very fast stepping hollow point and it may do no more that make a grizzly mad.
On the other hand you may have a great ammount of energy on paper and end up putting a very narrow 357 caliber hole in one side and out the other on a bad guy.
Both would be the wrong choice for "the most powerful" round regardless of the paper energy readings.
If it is self defense ammo we are talking about, the name of the game is achieving maximum expansion possible for the caliber by the use of a good hollow point that is consistent and holds together - while limiting the energy to a number that will not shoot through most bad guys but will penetrate adequately.
If absolute expansion is achieved, it is the rare case where over penetration is something that needs to be worried about - at least with 357 caliber bullet weights and handgun velocities. On the other hand it is often hard to make the heavy weight bullets expand in a human target at handgun velocities and over penetration can become a real problem.
Bottome line, to me, is that a fast stepping 125 gr. hollow point is the "most powerful" on humans and the fastest stepping heavy solid is the most powerful on big game.
My 2 cents worth!
I suppose it would be proper to say that the one that put out the most foot pounds of energy at any given distance from the barrel would be the most powerful.
The trick is in deciding what you want that energy to do.
Is it penetration for penetration's sake you are after as in shooting deep into the heart area of a cape buffalo?
Is it energy that is used for breaking the shoulder bone on an animal to stop it's charge?
Is it energy that has been put into expansion within a given depth of penetration (say, 12" or less) that you want as in self defense/carry ammo?
Depending on what you want to accomplish the greatest foot pounds of energy at the the barrel may not mean much to you.
You may, for instance, have the greatest foot pounds of energy with a very fast stepping hollow point and it may do no more that make a grizzly mad.
On the other hand you may have a great ammount of energy on paper and end up putting a very narrow 357 caliber hole in one side and out the other on a bad guy.
Both would be the wrong choice for "the most powerful" round regardless of the paper energy readings.
If it is self defense ammo we are talking about, the name of the game is achieving maximum expansion possible for the caliber by the use of a good hollow point that is consistent and holds together - while limiting the energy to a number that will not shoot through most bad guys but will penetrate adequately.
If absolute expansion is achieved, it is the rare case where over penetration is something that needs to be worried about - at least with 357 caliber bullet weights and handgun velocities. On the other hand it is often hard to make the heavy weight bullets expand in a human target at handgun velocities and over penetration can become a real problem.
Bottome line, to me, is that a fast stepping 125 gr. hollow point is the "most powerful" on humans and the fastest stepping heavy solid is the most powerful on big game.
My 2 cents worth!
DoubleTap.
Perhaps not MORE powerful than the Buffalo Bore stuff, but approx equal.
I love their 158gr load.
When I get a .357mag levergun for HD (going to happen within the next 2-3 weeks), I plan to load it with DT's 158gr load.
Perhaps not MORE powerful than the Buffalo Bore stuff, but approx equal.
I love their 158gr load.
When I get a .357mag levergun for HD (going to happen within the next 2-3 weeks), I plan to load it with DT's 158gr load.
jaybirdjtski
Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2009
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- 35
My Python peacefully sleeps behind my pillow loaded with 125 grn JHPs. I've killed deer using 170 grn Speer. I would use 180 (or+) grn hardcast with a wide, flat meplat for pigs or deer but not for self defense unless the possibility of encountering a BG with layers of heavy clothing is there. You might need more penetration than you would get with the 125 grn. I do have a 454 Casull at the ready with Hornady 240 XTP Mag bullets flying out the muzzle @ 2000 fps. That should take care of just about anything short of a large bear or Bigfoot. For that....360 grn hardcast WFNGCs.
Here is a link where you can quantify knockout power, stopping power, relative recoil, etc:
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/rescources/index.htm
Here is a link where you can quantify knockout power, stopping power, relative recoil, etc:
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/rescources/index.htm
heavyshooter
Member
You need to specify your target so we can answer the question better. But I'll give it a shot.
For the Colorado Rocky Mtns. where cougars, coyotes, and black bear are the only concerns, I would agree with Gordon and recommend Corbon 200 grain Hardcast. (If brown bear are a possibility, then get a bigger caliber).
If you are using it against the two legged urban predator I would recommend any quality 125 grain hollow point (Spear Gold Dot, Federal Hydroshock, etc).
Heavy
For the Colorado Rocky Mtns. where cougars, coyotes, and black bear are the only concerns, I would agree with Gordon and recommend Corbon 200 grain Hardcast. (If brown bear are a possibility, then get a bigger caliber).
If you are using it against the two legged urban predator I would recommend any quality 125 grain hollow point (Spear Gold Dot, Federal Hydroshock, etc).
Heavy
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