357 as a Hunting caliber: Strengths and Limits

[Huntolive]

Hello Gents,

I already have a 454/45 SRH and a 386XL Hunter 357, so I do not really want another caliber now (like a 44mag) so I am exploring a heavier 357 w/ 4-6" brl for open carry/trail gun/deer and hog hunting.

Got my sights on a 627 PC w/ 5"brl.

Would this be good? What would be better?

What are the true capabilities and limits of 357 mag?
(and feel free to dumb it down for me, as I am not a balistics techi reloader)

Would be reasonable to hunt deer/hogs w/ 627 or similar 357?

 

[buck460XVR]

I've shot several deer with my 6'' 686. All were within 30 yards, all dropped with 40 yards. I look at hunting with a .357 handgun as to hunting with a bow. Similar distances and similar shot positioning. Stick with JSPs, or cast bullets in the 158 to 180 range. Exception is the 158 gr XTP-FP.

 

[rule303]

I have shot a couple deer with a .357. It does the job, but not nearly as well as a .44mag/45 Colt/454. 158gr bullets at 1400fps+ don't always pass through on a large deer, and 180gr don't always expand, and don't do much tissue damage-much less than a broadhead from a bow. It will work within reasonable range with a good shot, but given the option I'll take something bigger every time.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Using a Properly loaded .357 mag it will blow bambi down! Remember back when they made real .357 huntingloads it was known to take down african size game.

 

[TimSr]

Your only limitation is the range. You have to get closer so you have to be a better hunter.

I'm partial to XTP bullets for hunting with 44 and 454, but until I actually shoot one with an XTP in 357 I'll defer to Buck's advice on bullets since he has. A good hunting bullet is important. Absoluetly stay away from semi-jacketed hollow points, and most personal defense loads.

 

[CraigC]

Its limitations reach well beyond just range. With the .357, load selection is far more critical than with the big bores. The big bores can get by with heavy cast bullets and moderate velocities. It needs to expand to be very effective and is heavily dependent on near textbook bullet performance. For that you need higher velocities. It will do an admirable job if shots are chosen and placed carefully, so as to avoid heavy bones. We can also get away with quartering shots with the big bores and get full penetration but the .357 with jacketed bullets should really be restricted to broadside shots.

Remember back when they made real .357 hunting loads it was known to take down african size game.

Don't fall for 80yr old marketing. The .357 was never better than it is today and it was never a good idea for anything larger than deer and eating-sized hogs. The fact that Doug Wesson did all manner of silly things with it and planned for even more does not make it a good idea.

 

[gamestalker]

Speaking of silly things, a few years back one of my Son's dropped a mule deer at a ridiculous range. It was very likely nothing more than dumb luck, but he shot it right between the eye's with one of my full house H110 125 gr. JHP loads. It did a back flip, legs kicked straight up in the air, DRT.

But that isn't a practical or realistic example of the .357 mag., it isn't a long range cartridge, nor was it ever intended to be. Though it was a pretty cool sight, one lucky shot isn't enough to qualify it as a LR BR cartridge.

GS

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have successfully taken deer with 125 gr JHP. I have never lost one... Yes, I know they say a heavier bullet is better.

 

[HankB]

I've found the .357 is adequate for deer . . . but it doesn't hit as hard as a .44 Mag.

 

[jmorris]

I've shot several deer with my 6'' 686. All were within 30 yards, all dropped with 40 yards. I look at hunting with a .357 handgun as to hunting with a bow.

That's not a bad way to look at it.

Out of a carbine it gains quite a bit and isn't that far off the 300 blk and everyone knows it will kill a hog or deer if you just show one to them.

 

[JSH1]

I've shot several deer with my 6'' 686. All were within 30 yards, all dropped with 40 yards. I look at hunting with a .357 handgun as to hunting with a bow. Similar distances and similar shot positioning. Stick with JSPs, or cast bullets in the 158 to 180 range. Exception is the 158 gr XTP-FP.

I look at handgun hunting as the equivalent to bow hunting as well. I haven't hunted for quite a while now but hunted deer with a bow and rifle in my teens. I found I have a strong preference for bow hunting over rifle hunting due to the increased challenge required.

Of course rifle hunting for me was:

• Sit in heated blind watching a game trail at a known distance
• Select which deer to shoot
• Open window
• place gun on rest
• Shoot deer

Great for putting meat in the freezer but lacking when it came to the challenge of the hunt.

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks

I really can use alot of that info.
I now have 2 357's I could hunt with:
the 386XL Hunter 6" brl lightweight
and my New-to me 627 PC 5" Pics to follow

will the xtra inch on the 386 make much difference in range/power of the 357?
What experience do you have w/ hunting/shooting the 2 guns above that would make you choose one over the other for Hunting?

 

[cowpoke]

If your like me i dont get the chance to kill alot of deer every season. So im not taking a chance on using a hangun in 357 mag . Hogs thats a different story.

 

[Huntolive]

Good load for hogs?

Ok, so for hogs in the south east (VA-Florida) is 357 enough? and what type of load? Similar to the deer loads above, or different?

I have had great luck w/ deer recently, many per season, so if I get at least 1 during archery and 1 during black powder (which I usually do) then I aim to try w/ the pistols for the next few hunt in start of gun season.

Sure, I might stick w/ the 454/45 most times, but i want to be ready w/ the 357 as well, and feel out what is realistic. I am not into wounding animals, and we eat what I kill.

 

[Ex]

Hunting with a 6" barrel and the 158 gn bullet is not a bad idea IMHO. 6" for the sight radius
and the heavier bullet for penetration/knockdown.

A full boat .357 handload is right there with 10mm. Lots of people hunt boars with 10mm!!!
Sure the 125 gn is faster, but faster isn't always the answer. In my 6" GP100 i shoot SJHP and they ALWAYS expand to 1.5-1.8 of original size. That's with heavy 296 loads. I wouldn't consider it with most factory ammo. Not that I hunt any more but simply put, I do understand ballistics/penetration/expansion.

.44 is better, but .357 is OK given the correct qualification.

 

[cowpoke]

I have killed many hogs ranging in weight from 75 lbs to 250 lbs with my 357 mag 6 in an 4 in barrel . All factory ammo , fed 158 gr sp , Horn 158 gr fjhp. A few were DRT but very close ,10 to 15 yards ,Never shot over about 30 yards but once around 45 yards did not find the hog till the next day .( Buzzards shoed me )

 

[Huntolive]

Here are some pics finally: first 2 are my new-to-me 627 S&W 8 shot 357 5" that I inquired about: made me do it but i am all
Then my SRH 454 casul w/ ultradot, and my 386 XL Hunter 7 shot scandium 357.

When I picked up the SRH again, it instantly became clear again why that was my first purchase for a hunting revolver; it's a beast and all i will ever really need, but the 627 PC 5" 8 shot is a VERY welcome addition I'm sure I will find many gratifying uses for it aside from hunting.

 

[TimSr]

Ok, so for hogs in the south east (VA-Florida) is 357 enough? and what type of load? Similar to the deer loads above, or different?

Yes, no real need to alter what works for one to hunt the other.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Ive hunted pronghorn with a smith 686 and more often than not youll find me wearing a model 28-2 highway patrolman when hunting hogs here in TX , the .357 will do just fine for these critters.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I have shot one deer with a 357 Magnum Python. It was not a far shot (like 20 ft) and it dropped like a bag of potatoes on the spot. 158 JHPs I believe but that was about 30 years ago now so it may have been a LSWC. To this day, I still am impressed at how much power the 357 magnum can have at close range with solid hot reloads.

 

[jmr40]

I've never understood why people think a 38, 9mm, or 45 ACP is adequate to stop a 250 lb adult male who is high on drugs and intent on killing you, but feel a 357 mag is borderline for a 150 lb whitetail.

All of the magnum revolver rounds really suffer from sub 6" barrels, but even from a 4" barrel with the right load I don't see why a 357 mag wouldn't work for 80% of big game hunting in NA out to 75-100 yards. The real limit is on the ability of the shooter to hit at longer ranges.

The bigger calibers are a good idea when you start hunting elk, moose or bear over 300lbs or so. But for deer and typical black bear, with the best loads I think 357 is more than adequate.

 

[CraigC]

I've never understood why people think a 38, 9mm, or 45 ACP is adequate to stop a 250 lb adult male who is high on drugs and intent on killing you, but feel a 357 mag is borderline for a 150 lb whitetail.

Because 250lb men don't run a mile with an exploded heart.

All of the magnum revolver rounds really suffer from sub 6" barrels, but even from a 4" barrel with the right load I don't see why a 357 mag wouldn't work for 80% of big game hunting in NA out to 75-100 yards. The real limit is on the ability of the shooter to hit at longer ranges.

The bigger calibers are a good idea when you start hunting elk, moose or bear over 300lbs or so. But for deer and typical black bear, with the best loads I think 357 is more than adequate.

The .357 works fine on deer sized game but for those who actually hunt with handguns, keeping shots to 50yds and under is preferable. I don't know of any dedicated handgun hunters that use the .357Mag. As I already said, the .357 needs expansion to be effective and that limits you to broadside shots. Whereas the big bores can be loaded with cast bullets at moderate velocities and get the job done more consistently, at any angle. I don't see any "suffering" going on with barrels under 6" but 4" is really a good minimum.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I already have a 454/45 SRH and a 386XL Hunter 357, so I do not really want another caliber now (like a 44mag) so I am exploring a heavier 357 w/ 4-6" brl for open carry/trail gun/deer and hog hunting.

Got my sights on a 627 PC w/ 5"brl.

Would this be good? What would be better?

I won't knock your choice, but I think, a .327 is underpowered for deer and hogs. A .357 or .44 Mag (or .45 Colt) would be my choice for that use. There are more gun models on the market for those calibers and you are more likely to find ammo at Wal Mart.

 

[buck460XVR]

I won't knock your choice, but I think, a .327 is underpowered for deer and hogs. A .357 or .44 Mag (or .45 Colt) would be my choice for that use. There are more gun models on the market for those calibers and you are more likely to find ammo at Wal Mart.

The 627 PC w/ 5"brl is a .357 Vern.

As for the need for expansion from a .357 hunting bullet, I prefer to have the bullet go as deeply as possible and hopefully come out the other side so there are two holes to bleed from. This is why I prefer Hard Cast or JSPs as opposed to JHPs. Most .357 JHPs are meant for shooting humans and limiting penetration.
JSPs will still expand and will still dump some energy, but will penetrate deeper, giving more margin for error, especially if one hits shoulder bones and will still leave a larger exit hole than entry hole.