.357 mag load (grain weight, type, range, etc.)

[kmrcstintn]

I will be acquiring a Ruger GP-100 with 6" barrel in early 2007; my traditional usage for such a weapon during PA whitetail hunting season is in a secondary role (rifle out of reach when whizzing or eating; putting down a wounded critter, etc);

I want to take advantage of the brute strength that the Ruger offers and I am seeking recommendations for commercially made hunting loads in the heavier category (my usual load is 158 grain softpoints by Magtech, Federal, or Remington that I use in a S&W model 19);

I rely on open sights and 'sight in' at 25 yards off hand & consider 35 yards to be a feasible maximum range based on my capabilites;

Thank you for your replies

 

[mustanger98]

I'll have to check the books, but right now, we're working with a 180gr Hornady HP-XTP over 2400. Thing is, this is hot load used in a Marlin levergun. In a handgun, you may want to tone the recoil down some from what this one's doing.

 

[Art Eatman]

Most of the guys who've posted about hunting with the .357 say they use heavy bullets around 180 grains...

Art

 

[Greybeard]

I sometimes carry 3" SP-101 as backup. With Federal 180 grain cast. "Hunting load" sold in boxes of 20 at our Sportsman's Warehouse.

 

[rnovi]

180 gr. wide nose flat point at around 1300-1400fps will get the job done.

Alternately some use 158gr bullets driven above 1400fps.

 

[mustanger98]

That 180gr Hornady HP-XTP I mentioned... it's loaded over 12grs of 2400 and that's in the Hornady 5th Edition manual. Like I said, it's loaded on the hot side and fired in a Marlin levergun. If you want to shoot a load like that in a revolver, you'll most likely want to tone it down some.

At 25-35yds, I don't doubt a 158gr HP-XTP at 1300fps will do the job on a deer.

 

[MCgunner]

I've killed deer to 50 yards with a 158 grain hard cast over 14.5 grains 2400. With my Rossi carbine, I took a doe at 80 yards same load. It's plenty enough for the whitetails around here. I load a VERY hot 180 grain Hornady XTP over 14.5 grains AA#9. This one I don't want to shoot in anything I own except for my Blackhawk in .357, has a 6.5" barrel. It's a much stronger gun than a GP100. The case extraction is a little sticky with this charge weight, so I'd advise dropping to about 13.8 grains for the GP100. But, out of the Blackhawk, this load clocks 1401 fps/785 ft lbs. The load is uber-accurate and flat shooting, much flatter than my 158 grain load.

 

[kmrcstintn]

forgot to mention...I DO NOT reload and do not have the desire to...need recommendations for factory loads...thanks

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

I'm using the Speer 170gr Gold Dot JSP. I don't have any expanded rounds of it, since it penetrates so well that I haven't been able to contain them. Recoil from my 4 inch GP-100 is healthy, but not near as bad as my 629.

 

[zinj]

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357

I don't know about the .357 Magnum, but Buffalo Bore has a reputation for hot-rodding calibers.

 

[asknight]

I've had pleasing results when using Remington's 165gr Golden Saber in my 6" 686, out to ~50 yards.