FA 353 hunting loads

Don't hunt, so can't help with your question. Would like to see a few pics of your 353. Don't see those too often.

Thanks,
Tuckerdog1

My concern would be if the bullet is capable of decent terminal performance on deer size game at those velocities. I'd assume the bullet is designed for rapid expansion(hence HP) at normal .357 velocities.

I used that load years ago ( maybe 8) in my 6" Colt Python Hunter which had a 2x Leupold factory mounted scope . It was great on deer and superb on hogs to 100 yards when hit in vitals. It went clear thru the local deer when hit on point od shoulder thru lungs and heart. with a big exit hole. In pig pigs of 200+ pounds or so it would do well also , not blowing up but rolling into a .60 " ball . They don't produce sharp petals but worked well and for the purpose about the ultimate .357 load. On the local Blacktail the Remington 158 grain worked aabout as well , but usually no exit and were OK for most hogs and much better on Coyotes

Gordon said:

I used that load years ago ( maybe 8) in my 6" Colt Python Hunter which had a 2x Leupold factory mounted scope . It was great on deer and superb on hogs to 100 yards when hit in vitals. It went clear thru the local deer when hit on point od shoulder thru lungs and heart. with a big exit hole.

Click to expand...

I thought original Python Hunters were factory with an 8" barrel. Did you have yours cut down or was it a later production custom shop? Again, @ standard .357 velocities I have no doubt the 180 gr HPs would do well on deer. My question would be with the extra 4-500 fps increase in velocity from a 353 Casull on a deer at 30 yards.

found this online: http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt353.htm

luck,

murf

Actually it was Factory Rem .357 loads and you are correct my Python did have an 8" Barrel.

I looked a. Bro ograph records and it produced 1380 fps at ten feet from my 8 " Python. From my 5" 27 it was 90 fps slower.

I think You over estimate what difference a couple hundred FPS makes in trajectory in handgun hunting ranges and bullet performance once you surpass 1300 fps and go toward 1700 fps. Not for that design bullet at least. In other words the 180 grain Remington factory bullet is great for that range of velocity for medium size game , at least. I know it performs well in factory .357 loads out of a 16" Marlin carbine at what velocities you or talking about or maybe a hundred FPS more it does not blow up or fragment . Barnes XPB work great at those ranges but top out at 140 grains.

Maybe these will put your mind at rest, you could probably launch them with hydrazine in the FA
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...357-diameter-180-grain-hollow-point-box-of-50

If you're looking for other 180's I load the XTP's for 357Max for my carbine. I haven't shot anything with them yet, but plenty of other people like them.

Ha , I forgot about my .357 Max ! been loading for them for 30 years !

You might consider A-Frames...I think they have 158 and 180 for the 357. Pretty sure they will hold up to anything the 353 can dish out (I have one).
I'd try a fast 158...am thinking it would work really well on deer, pig, or black bear. They are expensive.

Ime, XTPs are on the soft side, especially for FA velocities.

Im considering trying the A frames considering how fast I can potentially push them out of a 17" Encore 357Max. I'd love to hear some opinions on them/load data anyone has.

If the XTPs didn't work for me, the next thing I would try would be a 180gr Hard Cast wide flat nose with a gas check like these........https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...meter-180-grain-lead-wide-flat-nose-gas-check. Problem is, with any bullet that you cannot verify decent terminal performance on the game you are hunting with the platform you are using, you don't know till you try it. For the most part, most 200 gr bullets traveling @ 1600fps, hitting the boiler room of an average whitetail, is gonna kill it and kill it quickly. It's marginal hits and shoulder shots that bring in the question, it this really a proper bullet?

https://cuttingedgebullets.com/357-165gr-handgun-solid

I kinda like the idea of something like this. It'll perform the same at 25 feet as it would over 100 yards. I don't have to worry about pushing them too hard out of a Max carbine.

A-frames all the way.