357 Deer Loads

I carry the buffalo bore 180gr in mine. I can not speak from experience as i have yet to shoot an animal with one - but my research kept leading me there. They are at least worth looking at. I am actually looking forward to the replies to this thread so i can learn of some alternatives. I can say the recoil in my 6" Taurus model 66 is manageable. Don't get me wrong - you know you pulled the trigger but i don't find it offensive.

+1

That is the load my Dad uses in his. I would go with a 44 magnum if I was planning on hunting deer, but to each his own.

I did velocity tests with my Carbine using 125gr, 140gr, 150gr, 170gr and two 180gr bullets. My decision is either to use a light bullet of 140gr like you would in a 270 or go heavier but stop at 170gr instead of 180gr because of the big velocity drop between the two. I get more energy from the 170gr bullet than the 180gr bullet.

Bullet weights and velocity from an 18.5" barrel:
125gr 2239 fps (Hornady XTP)
140gr 1796 fps (Sierra SJHP)
150gr 1826 fps (Sierra SJHP)
170gr 1793 fps (Sierra SJHP)
180gr 1584 fps (Hornady XTP)
180gr 1657 fps (Cast Performance lead)

I love to hunt with a handgun and have SHOT a .357 a lot. My hunting has been with .44 mag and .45 Colt.

I have had heavy loaded 240 gr JHP in .44 mags go through deer and be caught in the offside hide because they expanded VERY WELL. (I prefer a complete pass-through just in case some tracking might be needed.)

I have had complete pass-throughs with .45 Colt hard cast SWC loaded to appx 1000 FPS.

Both the above calibers poke big ole holes WITHOUT EXPANSION but expansion may be a plus.

IF I were going to use my .357 for deer/hog hunting, here is my opinion. First, I commend you on your take on yardage and on accuracy. Close range and pinpoint accuracy is GOOD in this case.

Second, I would use HEAVY (as in 180-200 gr) slugs in your .357 AND I would use hard case SWC's in order to get as much penetration as possible. I believe you would be pleased with the result under these conditions.

Good luck and have a lot of fun!

I have successfully taken deer with 125 grainers.

Have shot two deer with the .357 Magnum. One load I can tell you NOT to use, is the Winchester 145gr Silvertip load; serious lack of penetration. Use at least a 158gr bullet. The 180gr bullets are fine, but POI will more than likely be higher than you can adjust your sights to. IMHO, the .357 Magnum is a marginal deer cartridge at best. I use a .45 Colt now, which brings deer down with authority.

Don

Buffalo Bore 180gr:

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100

I've shot two deer with the Buffalo Bore 180 gr round from a 6 in Ruger GP100. The first one was a mature doe slightly quartering away. The bullet entered the left side behind the shoulder, passed through, broke the right shoulder and exited. She ran about 30 yards, though the lungs and aorta were seriously damaged. The second was broadside and passed through behind both shoulders and she also ran about 30 to 40 yards.

I load the Missouri Bullet Co. "Stryker" 180 grn lead bullet over 11.4 grains of 2400. I've not chronographed them, but it is a fairly accurate round with very little leading. I shoot quite a few of these and will probably switch to them for hunting this year.

I use a 180grn XTP out of my 6.5in Blackhawk and my Marlin.

Loaded to just a smidge under 1400fps in the Blackhawk it expands and has penetrated very well ( thru and thru, both times under 50yrds).

I would't go under 158grns. I would recomend the XTP in both 180 and 158grn, tough bullet.

I did shoot a small doe with a 140grn Barnes XPB, full penetration, I stopped using them because they didn't shoot as well outa my Ruger as the XTP's do.

158 JSP or XTP-FP, not HPs...........or use hard cast. Within 40-50 yards a .357 is plenty as long as you do your part.

In all honesty, I would just buy a box of Buffalo Bore ammunition. If you really enjoy all of the field testing, which most of us do, then I would consider a very heavy, hard cast bullet that has the widest meplat, with a big load of win-296. If you want to get crafty, I would use a .358 rifle bullet and work the loads with a chrony.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/76...-358-diameter-200-grain-round-nose-box-of-100

buck460XVR said:

158 JSP or XTP-FP, not HPs...........or use hard cast. Within 40-50 yards a .357 is plenty as long as you do your part.

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It Sierra bullets I listed above are made for rifle use and say so right on the box. They are really called Hollow Cavity not HP and are made for controlled expansion. I would not use a JHP pistol bullet for hunting Deer. A flat point hard cast bullet is a much better choice than a JHP pistol bullet.

Those JHC bullets from Sierra are excellent. I have a few boxes left. Getting harder to find these days. I dunno why.

4895 said:

Those JHC bullets from Sierra are excellent. I have a few boxes left. Getting harder to find these days. I dunno why.

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I totally agree, they are excellent. I actually found a few boxes at a local gun show in 140gr, 150gr and 170gr. I bought all he had which was 2 boxes of each. They were new old stock and the next time I saw him he had some partial boxes which I also bought...

That are getting hard to find alright and that's a shame, they work well...
The reason they are hard to find is Sierra no longer has them in their catalog so I'm guessing they are no longer being made. Save what you have for hunting everyone!

I carry the 140 grain JHC in my 4" GP100 when hiking, scouting, and hunting. If the opportunity presents itself, I would love to take a javelina, bobcat, mule deer, black bear, etc. with my lil wheelgun. I shy away from the elk, talk about pokin the bear.

buck460XVR said:

158 JSP or XTP-FP, not HPs...........or use hard cast. Within 40-50 yards a .357 is plenty as long as you do your part.

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I thought I was the only one on the 158gr XTP-FP bandwagon...

I try and suggest to people not to use the factory loaded XTP-HP for hunting, but seldom do I think anyone listens...

I would go with a 44 magnum if I was planning on hunting deer, but to each his own.

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.357 will work on deer as long as the shots are mainly soft tissue at modest ranges..
bullet construction needs to be TOUGH. NO hollow points. Soft or flat points only. 158gr and above..

I haven't shot a deer yet with mine, but I've taken it in to the woods a few times with my 4" GP100.
I have loaded, before getting my chrono, 140 Barnes XPB and 158 XTP. The Barnes was a bit more accurate, but neither were worth writing home about--I was more accurate with factory 125 JHPs. I have loaded, after getting my chrono, 158 LSWC-WN hardcast, hardcast 180 LWFN (same exact bullet as Buffalo Bore's 180), 180 XTP, and probably some others.

158 LSWC-WN is my current favorite, as cast by Rim Rock, over 14.0 grains of 2400 powder. It gives about 1244fps, with an ES of a mere 38fps, and is accurate. Roughly 543 ft/lbs of energy.

180 WFN, also cast by Rim Rock and the same exact bullet as Buffalo Bore's 180, over 12.0 grains of 2400 gives about 1149 fps with an ES of 30fps, and is accurate, although it hits higher on the target than 158s (necessitating adjustment of sights) and roughly 528 ft/lbs of energy. The 180 XTP gave similar ballistics, although according to Hornady, it requires 1300+fps (IIRC) to expand, which makes it basically a poor performing, expensive, FMJ.

I've even tried Rim Rock's 158 soft cast LSWC-HP over the max load of Power Pistol in .38 +P, and it gives about 950fps (or about 317 ft/lbs)--which is no slouch.

I have shot several deer with the 180 gr Hornady. With a good load you can shoot through them at almost any angle. 357 is great for deer as long as you can place a well constucted bullet where it needs to go.

Havent shot a deer wtih a handgun yet, but have been shooting speer deep curl bullets through my muzzle loader wtih good success, have started to load them for my .44, if I were to use a 357 I would probably give those a shot.

I ran some 125 gr. XTP HP under a stout charge of H110 that my used to drop a mule deer with from his 4" Taurus 608. In one side and out the other, and that deer dropped in it's tracks! Oh, he took that shot at around 100 yds too!

I have taken several, usually a 158 xtp fp, or 158 hard cast over a maxish load of 2400. Usually a close shot from tree stand, 6 inch barrel, kills em as dead as most anything else.

No experience with the 357 and deer. Have dropped a couple with the ML and the Hornady 250 gr 0.451" will go through a deer at almost any angle. Longest was at about 180 yds. Id expect the 158 gr XTP would do all that needed coin' if applied in the proper location. One of the little used but rally, really good powders for the 357 is max loads of VV N110. Cleanest Ive seen, most accurate yet and ample velocity(FPof KE) for the PR of MD DNR. Tad more pricey, but how many are you going to shoot. I use it in the ML, the 357 and the 45C, and a pound will go about a year. I waste more $ in gasoline going back for the things Ive forgotten.