What is the best .357 round for White Tail?

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CommanderPoopyduX

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Gearing up for white tail gun season to start here in Southwest Missouri, and I am wanting to carry my .357 this year. Just in case I happen to get a shot with it, what is the best commercially loaded ammo to use for white tail? I was thinking hollow points at first, but then I rethought it, thinking a soft point might penetrate better. What do you guys think?
 
American Eagle 158 grain soft points are good, Federal 180 grain hardcast are good as well. You are in missiouri, is it legal to use there? Are you using a carbine or a handgun? What is the barrel length of the handgun? I do not know how big the deer get in your area, but if they are like the deer in Texas Hill Country (100lbs+ dressed is a big one) then it should work great, esp. from a carbine or a 6" barrel handgun.
 
I will be using my S&W 586 with a 6" barrel. Yes it is legal to use here, as their regulation for firearms is "centerfire pistol, revolver or rifle using expanding-type bullets". The white tail here do not get very big, probably around your size or smaller. I will actually be carrying my 30-06, but just in case I had a chance at one with my pistol I wanted to try it (I'm getting jealous of my dad bagging them with his .44 mag S&W while holding his rifle in his off hand).

I wonder if Bass Pro/any of my local stores carry Double Tap/Buffalo Bore. I know have seen the Fed and Amer Eagle around. So the consensus is save the HP for 2 legged targets and use SP for the deer?
 
I have taken several deer with 158 grainers. I think good shot placement is more critical than a particular type or brand of load. I have killed deer with Super X's, Federal Fusions and even cheapie Blazer Aluminums all in 158 gr. All were shot in the boiler room at close range. None went very far. Use what shoots best outta your gun and what you have the most confidence in.

Shootin $45 a box ammo won't help if you can't hit what you're aiming at.........but if it shoots well outta you gun, you feel confident with it, and you stay within the limits of you abilities as far as distance and accuracy.......then go for it.
 
Gearing up for white tail gun season to start here in Southwest Missouri, and I am wanting to carry my .357 this year. Just in case I happen to get a shot with it, what is the best commercially loaded ammo to use for white tail? I was thinking hollow points at first, but then I rethought it, thinking a soft point might penetrate better. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Hi there... I'm also getting ready for gun season in SW/SC Missouri. Can't wait! :) Ideally, I would go with a good, hot 180gr XTP/Controlled Expansion load for your .357. Doubletap has the hottest, most accurate and best priced load for you. If you want to stay with what's legal in MO, go with the 158gr Gold Dot loading at http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=49 which is the closest DT has to a controlled expansion for that caliber. . If you want to hunt with a hardcast loading, go with a 180-200gr Beartooth loading at http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=151 .

Good luck!
 
If you like Hornady handgun bullets, they make the XTP with a Flat Hollow point that doesn't have as deep of a hollow cavity, but still a small hole in the point.

I think it would be the best of both worlds. I will be loaded with those in 158 grainers in my S&W Model 66.
 
On Black Bear and hogs, I know that plain old factory 158gr HPs work just fine. It's the placement of the shot that counts the most.
 
I would offer that 158 gr JSP's will work much better than jhp's due to penetration.

I have killed or had my kids kill several hogs and deer in Missouri with a trapper length carbine in .357 using remington green and yellow box 158 JSP's. I have shot three hogs with a 4 5/8in blackhawk in 357 using the same.
 
Buffalo Bore is nice, so are the 180 grain corbons, but if you are shooting deer that are about 70lbs or so dressed out and inside 50 yards, you should be fine with any "standard" make. I prefer JSP's, but hollow points should work well too. The barrel length on your gun is 6" which is just right for the .357. If you had a 4" barrel, I would insist that Buffalo Bore be used, but with a 6" barrel, you should be fine using standard .357 ammo.

Despite what you might hear, a few years ago everyone thought that the .357 was a great deer round. Just because we have "bigger" doesn't mean that the .357 is all of a sudden ineffective.

Below are two loads from Winchester... They should work great provided you work inside 50 yards and (most importantly) place the shot correctly. I prefer neck shots myself. If you can put them in the 10 ring at 50 yards, you easily can accomplish a neck shot. They will drop like a stone.

Remember, a lot of deer have been taken over time with .44-40's, .36 cap and ball, .45 colts. The ballistics on these are a not as good as a .357 if you exclude the bullet diameter.

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/handgundetail.aspx?symbol=S357P&cart=MzU3IE1hZ251bQ==


http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/handgundetail.aspx?symbol=X3575P&cart=MzU3IE1hZ251bQ==
 
158gr Federal Fusion did the job nicely for me this weekend and I have 19 more for next year!
 
First of all, practice with your revolver so there won't be any regrets when you've got the perfect shot.

Second, if you were using a rifle I'd tell you to go as heavy as possible, 180 grainers, but out of your revolver the 158gr. bullets will do fine.
I'd go with the hollowpoint; the XTP, Gold Dot, Fusion, all great performing bullets. However, if you can find a 158 grain hard cast with more velocity than the hollowpoint offerings, then consider using those.

I am a big fan of Buffalo Bore ammo as well, and currently use their .45 LC loads intended for use only in rifles as well as their heavy .35 Remington. Never an accuracy problem with anything they produce, and you can buy 20 rounds of their pistol ammo at places like Cabelas, Sportsmans Warehouse, and similar stores if you have them in your area.

Good luck and keep us informed on how you do.
 
Practice...practice...then practice some more. The best rounds will be the ones that you and your .357 can shoot the best. Any 158gr JHP or JSP will do fine as long as you do your part.

I have seen deer shot with lead 158gr SWCHP out of a 10" bbl Contender that would not have been any deader had they been shot with a .500S&W.

M'bogo
 
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