Best .357 Rounds for Deer?

[Steve in Utah]

What do you experts suggest are some of the better .357 hunting bullets for light skinned deer?

I don't reload anymore and feel that hard-cast projectiles are overkill; what about using heavy 180-gr. or greater HP's for shooting under 75 yards?

I'm considering Hornady XTP's or Winchester Nosler Gold - both in 180-gr.

-steve

P.S. I've heard of folks loving the Winchester Nosler Gold 180's for all around self defense too.

 

[critter]

I used the 180 gr XTP's out of a 4" Ruger GP 100 last fall on some hogs. Range was short, but the results were perfect and dramatic! You ARE on the right trail as far as that ammo if you are going to use the .357.

 

[DigMe]

I think you're right about the hard cast. Definitely don't recommend those for deer. XTP is a good choice. I'm thinking even 158 gr would be fine for deer but I always like to go with a 180gr for game.

brad cook

 

[Richochet]

Steve, I've taken 9 deer with .357 Mag...all with 170 gr cast bullet (SWC) Performance was perfect. Total penetration thru both sides of the chest cavity. Minimum meat distruction. Only 1 of these deer even took a step, and he didn't get 10 yards before piling up.

Frankly, I would be nervous about the hollow point bullets. The ones they build today can get a bit explosive. That's OK if it "explodes" in the right place. If not, you're looking for a wounded animal.

 

[twoblink]

WOW, I hadn't thought about that.. SWC for hunting? Excellent penetration, and almost zero expansion? Is that what you want?

 

[Byron Quick]

twoblink.

almost no expansion? Really depends on the hardness of the alloy used. And velocity. And so on and on

One thing I've found with all calibers and load/bullet variations is this: The single most important factor is bullet placement. If you hit vital organs with a bullet that does not expand, that's a dead animal. If you do not hit vital organs with an expanding bullet you are going to be looking for that animal and you probably won't find it for a few days.

I've had deer run farther after being hit with a .300 Win Mag Remington Corelokt than with a 10mm GoldDot. Shot in the same place (neck) and at the same distance. Go figure.

 

[Tinker]

You guys hunting with .357 revolvers or rifles that digest that caliber?

Just curious. I've found out that Marlin makes a lever gun in .357/.38spc. I've been thinking of getting one for a whitetail gun. Anybody had any experience with the .357 Marlin? Thanks.

 

[ChristopherG]

Tinker, search for discussions of 'marlin .357' and '1894 .357' and the like; lots of us have them and LOOOOVE them. I just got a Leupold scout scope with express sights mount and leupold quick release rings in the mail for mine today, which should suggest something about how much I love it; the scope rig cost me as much as the gun.

Totally adequate for whitetail within 125 yards, give 'r take.

Now, on topic: I don't like the amount of speed you have to give up for the heavier .357 bullets, particularly in a short barrel. I'd use a 158 XTP HP in a revolver (and a 158 XTP FP in the Marlin).

 

[DigMe]

I use a Ruger Blackhawk revolver.

I like the heavy stuff because I mostly hunt hog and that seems to work consistently on them. It's harder to find though. I've been thinking about picking up some of the 158gr Hornady XTP's that Christopher mentioned though after I run out of the current 180gr sjhp's that I've been using.

brad cook

 

[Tinker]

Christopher,

I've shot a 30/30 Marlin, but have never actually seen one in .357. Sounds like it would be a good little rifle.

I will look in the archives. Thanks.

 

[Swamprabbit]

I've killed deer with the 158g SWC cast bullets and they did fine. The SWC design cuts a clean round hole and has great penetration. My brother has used them on coyotes with good results as well.

 

[rugerman]

I've used cast, HP, and speer gold dot bulltets out of my marlin 1894 and all worked well but the golddots are a little more accurate so thats what I use now.