Prefered bullet for 357 magnum hunting loads ?

[Default_Required]

Well lets hear it guys , What is your prefered bullet for hunting with your 357 mag rifle , I'll be getting one soon for some young girls to learn and hunt with ... Little stand off-ish of the cast bullets ... While I like them in big bore weapons , I'm thinking that a 180gr sp/hp might be the better choice for deer hunting.
 
 What are your thoughts and experiences guys?
 
   DR

[Ol BW]

I haven't connected yet with my .357 yet, but I use the 158gr. Hornady xtp-fp (flat point-it is supposed to open at higher velocities than the regular xtp)
 
Might want to check out this article, its some good reading with many sources to refer to. 
 
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/357_magnum_and_the_literature.htm

[Spanky]

I haven't connected yet with my .357 yet, but I use the 158gr. Hornady xtp-fp

 
I use the same bullet in my Maxi with outstanding accuracy.
IMO 180's are a little heavy for the case capacity of the Mag... if you ream it to Maxi the 180's come into play.
 
 
 
Spanky
 

[cwlongshot]

I haven't connected yet with my .357 yet, but I use the 158gr. Hornady xtp-fp

 
I use the same bullet in my Maxi with outstanding accuracy.
IMO 180's are a little heavy for the case capacity of the Mag... if you ream it to Maxi the 180's come into play.
 
 
 
Spanky

EXACTLY!!
 
 I am not a fan of a HP bullet in pistol caliber rifles for hunting big game. They somply open too fast and many times you do not get thru and thru penetration. In my mind thru and thru is a good thing as there is twice as many holes to "leak" from!     FORGET ABOUT energy transfer, thats a nice term for "stories" and such.
 
My number of choice for many years and a number of deer, is the exact Hornady 158 XTP FP bullet. But a second choice would be  about anyones <160 g Jacketed SP bullet. I agree with Spanky, the Magnum case simply dosen't have the horse power to move a heavier slug.
 
Good luck,
 CW

[petemi]

My shorty Handi likes the 158 gr. Hornady XTP HP in Magnum, but I don't hunt deer with it.  For deer, I use a 180 gr. JFP in Maximum.  Both shoot well in that rifle.  I agree, I wouldn't use a pistol caliber hollow point on deer.  I also would stick with a 158 gr. JFP bullet in the magnum if I used it for deer.

Pete

[Default_Required]

Yeah it would have to be a real tough HP for the speeds a 357 mag can push them at from a rifle..

[Gohon]

I took Jerry Lesters advice several years ago and tried the Remington 158 grain JSP.  I've stayed with it when using jacketed bullets and have taken several deer with excellent results.  I've tried the the Hornady  158 grain XTP flat point and they worked fine but it just seems the Remington JSP  performs better.

However, I really prefer casts in all my hunting so this year I'll be using casts bullets from the Ranch Dog TLC359-175-RF mold.  The accuracy I'm getting from this bullet in all my 357 magnums and the 357 maximum is simply phenomenal.  If you don't cast your own, Ranch Dog lists on his web site a couple places they can be purchased.

[Ol BW]

I think a little clarification is in order for those of you who may be reading that might not be familiar with the 158 XTP-FP.  It is actually a hollow point, but the tip is "flattened". 
 
http://www.hornady.com/store/38-Cal-.357-158-gr-FP-XTP/
 
There is also a 158gr XTP-HP
 
http://www.hornady.com/store/38-Cal-.357-158-gr-HP-XTP/

If you read the XTP velocity performance chart in the Hornady catalog, the FP opens at higher velocities.  The XTP-HP opens reliably between 700fps and 1400fps the XTP-FP opens between 1200fps to 1800fps.

You can download a catalog to see the chart I am talking about here:
 
http://www.hornady.com/free-catalog

[jackruff]

Jacketed soft points shoot well in my Marlin 1894C 357 magnum, but I can't comment on penetration or other performance on game. 

[carp]

We've had good luck using 180 grain Cor-Bon. It is a semi jacketed bullet.

[manatee1947]

+1 on the Hornady XTP 158 gr, I use 13.8 gr of 2400 and CCI 500 primers. Grandson took 2 does last year with it,

[cjrjck]

I like tough construction and big fat meplats on my bullets for pistol calibers especially when used in a rifle. The Speer 170 grain Gold Dot soft point offers both.