357 mag hunting load suggestion needed

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I want to deer hunt with my 686 SSR.

I hand load for 38/357, use SWC 158 from MO bullet company.
But my load is for target and plinking, not very powerful.

Questions:

1. Is this bullet optimal for hunting or I should get something else?
2. I only have N320 powder at the moment. Will it work or I should get something slower?
3. What bullet speed is safe for the gun and optimal for hunting?


Obviously I did read all about hunting with 357, etc. nevertheless I want to give it a try because this is all I have. All I want is to have best load possible
 
The 158 grain LSWC driven to max velocity is a time proven big game killer.
Deep, or through & through penetration results in sure death, eventually.

However, for whitetail deer?
I would recommend the 158 Hornady XTP jacketed bullet driven at max velocity with 2400 or H-110/ W-296 powder.

It also offers deep penetration, with good expansion.

That will result in fast blood lose, and a shorter blood trail.

I would also consider using the Speer 158 grain Gold Dot for the same results.

But which ever one you can find will serve equally well on average size deer.

rc
 
You seriously figure on getting 1800 fps out of that bullet in a 686?

I believe the listed maximum velocities Hornady gives are pertaining to the bullet (and it's design perimeters) , not the cartridge it is used in.

Sounds like you had best re-read the manuals you use for reloading, particularly the segments on working up loads for any particular firearm.

Study several manuals on .357 Magnum handgun data.
Like RC said, work up a load with either 2400 or 296/H110 for YOUR pistol.

JT
 
Hornady XTP 158gr and 296.

Been working on a load since springtime. Been target shooting a lot this year in anticipation of deer season. I'll let ya know here in the next month or so how it works. I've gotten pretty dang accurate out to 50yd using iron sights. I'll let ya know how it works out.
 
I use 158gr XTP with 14.7gr of 2400.

That's maximum load so approach it carefully as you would with H110.

I've been shooting it in a GP100 and it's not to much to handle.
The GP100 is a close match in frame size for a 586/686.

If the recoil is to much put a set of Pachmayr or Houge rubber grips on it if it doesn't already have them.

Either of these two powders with XTPS will get the job done. I won't hunt with 125gr XTPs, their to light in my opinion.
 
My preferred hunting bullet is a gas checked and powder coated 158gr LSWC. I load it with a healthy dose of Alliant's 300-mp powder for an average velocity of 1520fps out of a gp100. Deer flat die when smacked with that chunk of lead.
 
If you're a hunter I know you want a clean ethical kill so please practice A LOT before you take a 4" .357 Magnum with iron sights out to hunt deer. With such a nominal cartridge perfect shot placement is imperative. Since hunting season is so close and you didn't even work up a load yet I doubt you will have time to practice to become proficient at hunting distances. (but only you can know for sure)

I too would use a 158gr bullet from a 4" revolver only because proper velocity will be difficult to achieve from a 4" barrel. From a Carbine you can use almost any weight bullet you want. You will be lucky to generate 1200 fps with a 158gr bullet from a 4" barrel and that's not a lot of velocity or energy. If you can push a 140gr bullet to 1300 fps you will generate more energy than a 158gr bullet @1200 fps. A 140gr XTP/HP bullet might be a better choice. If you have access to a Chrono it would help a lot. I would also use W296/H110 or Power Pro 300-MP for the hunting load. The powder you have is way too fast to generate enough velocity to hunt with IMO. Even N350 is not as fast as W296, it's actually only as fast as AA#7. Maybe try N110 if you want to stick with VV powders.

Have fun, practice a lot, be safe and be ethical.
 
Max loads of 110/296/2400 or AA#9 is nothing to sneeze at even out of a 4inch barrel. XTPs continue to work and the MBC bullets work well too. Everyone has been ranting and raving about the new 300-MP but I havent had time to tinker with it. I recommend a red dot on the revolver. I could use open sights but it makes me much more confident for hunting.
 
I have had my reloads kill two large mule deer. One was a 125 gr. XTP pushed with a full charge of H110 from a Taurus 608. That mule deer took it to the head from about 150 yds., definitely a lucky shot. But none the less the deer flipped back on it's hind legs and rolled over dead. The projectile entered right between the eye's and exited out the back of the skull, leaving a pretty large exit wound.

The other, also a mule deer, was hit in the shoulder, slightly quartering toward us. In this case it was a 158 gr. Gold Dot, full tilt H110 load, but this time it was from one of my S&W 66's, snubby! It was close to a 100 yd. shot, the bullet entered about the center of the shoulder and exited out the opposit side rib cage. It left an exit wound about the size of a large lemon. That deer walked about 10 yds. and fell over dead.

So my advice is either a 140 gr. or 158 gr. JHP or JFP, with a worked up full tilt charge of H110/296.

GS
 
Most JHPs in .357 are meant for SD/HD and not the hunting of big game. Some exceptions being the 158 and 180 gr XTP-HPs and Speer's 158 Deep Curl HP. There are others I'm sure, but make sure if you are loading HPs they are up to the job. With .357 and deer, what you need is penetration and not the massive dumping of energy as a bullet over-expands. You should desire to have two holes from which blood to leak from, not just one. That's why I prefer JSPs in .357 for deer. In a carbine and long piped revolvers at max velocities the XTP-FPs are also a good alternative. Just as important as terminal performance of the bullet outta a .357 is the accuracy of both the bullet and the shooter. The .357 does not give one much margin for error when shooting deer. One needs to be proficient with the firearm and patient to wait for a good shot to present itself.
 
I've loaded 180 gr. XTP HPs over 13.3 gr of H4227 with Win. SPM primers. A nice-shooting round from my 4" GP100, and has the lucky characteristic of shooting to POA at 25 yards with my fixed sights. I haven't chronographed it, so I can only guess from the table in Lyman 49th that it is launching at around 1000 FPS.

I would feel pretty comfortable using that gun and round on a deer, but only out to about 30 yards due to limitations of the meat-ware. If you can consistently hit a grapefruit at longer range, have at 'em!

The 1800 fps figure for a 158 gr XTP mentioned by Hornady might be possible from a .357 Magnum rifle or a .357 Maximum revolver. You won't see anything like that from a Magnum revolver.
 
I just went through the same analysis for my Marlin 1894 CSS in 357 Magnum for this year's deer season and settled on the 158 gr Hornady XTP Bullet over 12.9 Grains of VV N110 Powder in Starline Cases with a Federal Small Magnum Pistol Match Primer. I'm cutting clover leafs with this load at 50 yards.

This load should work well in a handgun too, but you will need to work up to determine if your gun can handle it.

VitaVouri N110 is very clean burning and gives excellent performance out of my 357 Carbines 18.5 in barrel.

Have fun and stay safe.
 
As mentioned by ArchAngelCD your practice will be of the most importance. I don't know if your a championship bullseye shooter or a once a month plinker, but I can tell you that being able to shoot small groups from field positions and makeshift rest and even from shooting sticks or similar is nothing to be taken lightly.

I have been shooting less years than several who have posted here, but I can usually hold a 2" or less group at 25yds standing free hand with most of my handguns and with some a bit further. It hasn't come without sending a lot of bullets downrange and I still try to improve both myself and my loads as often as I can.

My suggestion would be to purchase a goodly quantity of the MO bullets you listed above, work up the best shooting combination of velocity and accuracy you can get using a bench rested shooting position. Once you ahve everything dialed in as good as you can get it, then start out shooting free hand at 15yds, then 20, then 25 and on out to 50 if you can. Once you are holding a group at 50 even if it is 6" or so keep practicing. Once your consistent with the cast bullets then you can spend the bucks on the jacketed of the same weight. Drop your load and work it back up as it will be different using the jacketed verses the cast. Once you have the accuracy back your good to move back to your practicing and checking groups at the same ranges.

Then when you are confident in your and your loads ability I would say your ready to hunt with your revolver, but limit the range to 25yds or less. You will need the energy and what ever velocity you can get from your shorter barrel to make a clean kill.

I have hunted with revolvers for the past 25yrs, take a few deer and a bunch of feral hogs. Most of my shots have been 20yds or less, but I have stretched things out on several hogs to around a hundred yards or so using my 41, 44, and 454. That said, those shots, like mentioned above, were after firing several hundreds of rounds downrange from each of them.

Not trying to take away from your endeavor, just passing along some of what it takes to make it all come together in a successful hunt.
 
In my experience the single most important factor (as others have said) is placement. Put a bullet where it belongs and the deer don't go very far. I have had 357s overpenetrate and leave a blood trail after a shot hit heart and lung...I have made the same shot without overpenetration smack a deer to the ground. Be less concerned about hitting warp 5 than you are about hitting critical mass with a well placed shot. The two designs I trust are a scored jacketed hollow point and a heavy, wide Keith design. Which one I would pick is dependant heavily on terrain, foliage, and range. For .357 I lean towards the hollow point for driving it a bit faster and farther through open ground. For 44 I lean the other way for heavy brush and closer shots. Either way you can't go wrong provided you can hit.
 
Thank you everybody for all the advice. I'm IDPA shooter, not fastest one but accuracy wise usually on top.

I load tons of 9mm hence I stocked with N320.

Red dot is not legal here. I know my limit with irons, pretty confident in my skill. 25-35 yards should be no problem at all. After some practice I was constantly hitting metal plate (5 gallons bucket size) out to 100 yards. This 686 SSR has very nice trigger.

I don't know if I will have chance to hunt, but it will be during "alternative methods" season. Won't make any stupid shots for sure.

Will check Cabelas tomorrow. Hopefully they have something from a powder choices you provided.
 
Geez... I thought it's over (shortage). Seems like 357 mag brass is not available anywhere. I have plenty of 38spl, but need at least SOME to develop load...

Don't think I will get any powder tomorrow :(
 
Ok, got me some H110 powder, 158gr Hornady XTP bullets, Winchester SP magnum primers.

Brass coming from MO bullet. I figured rather than shooting Magtech first ($30/50) I'd rather start fresh with Starline brass.

Will let you know what I get. I do have chrono. Lyman manual says 1310fps with 158 HP bullet and H110. I wonder what gun they used, but anyway.. Will see.

Couple more questions:
1. Is Starline brass for 357mag pretty much "forever brass"? I mean, I can collect it all, can reload 5-10 times?

2. Is there any other 158gr bullet that I can load same as Hornady but without paying $0.22 per bullet? For practice..
 
Look on the lower left of the first page of the .357 data. Going from memory, it says in the fine print that Lyman uses a 4" barrel and a "universal receiver" for the .357 Magnum data. Your revolver would lose a little due to the cylinder/barrel gap, but your results should be way closer to that data than to, say, the Hodgdon online data, which uses a 10" pressure barrel IIRC.
 
I think you're on the right track with the 158gr XTP's.
I have had some mediocre results with lead SWC's out of a .357 on deer. It seemed to me that they made a pretty tight wound channel.
 
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