357 mag carbine bullets for Deer

[R.W.Dale]

I recently purchased a dandy little Puma 92 stainless carbine in 357 mag that I intend to use on deer. I have a load worked up that shoots 180grn XTP's at a velocity of 1325 FPS that should be a dandy deer load except for one problem. This loading shoots 6" high at 50yds even with the sights bottomed out:'( Right now it's too close to deer season to get into ordering and swapping sights, and while I can put a little downward english on this load to hit deer where it hurts I think a faster load shooting a lighter bullet should bring the POI down enough for me.

What do ya'll consider some of the more deer compatible .357 diameter bullets in the 125 to 158grn range that deserve a shot?

 

[MCgunner]

I tossed the rear sight right off when I got my 92 Rossi and put an old peep I had off an old .22 single shot on it. I pulled the disk off that peep to make it a ghost ring. It has a thumb wheel adjustable elevation that is numbered and had detents and is very repeatable. I can instantly set it for light .38 to heavy .357.

I push a 180 through that gun at about 1600 fps. The only deer I've shot with it was at about 80 yards, a small doe, shot lung shot with a 158 grain GC SWC cast from a Lee mold moving something shy of 1900 fps. The doe was hit lungs only and went about 15 yards and collapsed, pretty decent performance.

The sight that came on the gun would NOT adjust low enough for any of my magnum loads. I'd suggest putting a receiver sight on it or something. Oh, I also took that stupid rattle off the left side, the saddle ring. It's a deer warning device. I don't hunt with the gun, just a range gun mostly, but for a time I fancied it as a quick handling brush gun. If I still hunted up in the piney woods, I might take it more. But, mostly now days, I'm a stand hunter in somewhat more open terrain, though very brushy. And, for challenge, I do a lot of handgun hunting now days.

My 158 grain load is 14.5 grains 2400, Lee cast gas check SWC. It still shot way high with the sight that came on the gun, though. Actually, my 180 grain load, 13.8 grains AA#9, 180 XTP, shoots a little lower.

 

[kmrcstintn]

Marlin 1894c w/ 18.5" barrel; Federal American Eagle 158 gr jsp...almost POA?POI; shoots to the right just a bit; tried Federal Castcore 180's (older loading that has more punch) and it shot high and further right;

if it's too close to season to switch sights and work up custom loads, just try a good factory 158 gr load (Independence ammo is jacketed all the way up to the flat tip which should create a good penetrator...I already had more than a few boxes of the Americn Eagle on handor I might try the Independence); you might want to load some Hornady 158 gr XTP flat tips (smaller and more shallow hollow cavity that the regular XTP bullets) or Speer 158 gr jsp's for next year if your gun likes the midweights the best

 

[R.W.Dale]

The problem with adding a receiver sight to my Rossi92 is it features that GOOFY lil safety atop the bolt.

After season is up I plan on replacing the crappy factory rear sight with a nice old school marbles semi buckhorn unit. Combine that with a green front firesight and I'll be set.

 

[kmrcstintn]

what I got for mine were the Willaims Firesights for Lever Actions (hi viz...orange up front and green in the rear); they dovetail into the front sight base and the spot on the barrel; someone sent me a Leupold Weaver style rail for the receiver; the Williams sights sit high enough to see through the channel in the base rail; I have it temporarily scoped with a Bushnell 3 - 9 x 40 Sportsman that my dad had around; the rings are Leupold Quick Release and allow the mounting & removal of the scope; this combo will be used by my dad this season for whitetail in the PA woods

 

[ARGarrison]

Hornady XTP light to heavy in the .357 magnum. I like the 180gr load my self, but that is out of a handgun. The only deer I took with said handgun wasn't with Hornady ammunition. It got late in the year and had no time to shoot the 180 grain bullets and make adjustments. Went with my carry load of 125grain Remington Golden Sabers. It opened like advertised and stopped just under the skin on the opposite side.