Author Topic: Heading out in the AM with my 357 Blackhawk! (Read 683 times)

Jerry Lester · « **on:** November 12, 2004, 12:20:39 PM »

I'll be trying something a little different this deer season. All the recent discussion about deer hunting with the 357 has given me an idea.

I've decided to try to get a deer with my 357 Blackhawk on video. My uncle has agreed to be my camera man. We'll be hunting from a portable ground blind. I'm not much on hunting from a fixed postition, but he can't stalk worth a hoot(he's too noisy/clumsy), so that's really our only option, if we hope to actually tape a hunt/shot. It'll probably turn out to be a dry run on deer simply because I'm wanting to tape it. You know how it goes! LOL!

We only have a regular video recorder, with a 16x zoom, but it makes pretty decent home videos, so it should do OK. If I can get a short clip of footage, I'll try to figure out a way to post it here for the rest of the 357 magnum crowd to see.

I'll be using my recently chopped stainless 357 Blackhawk. It's now 5.5" instead of 6.5". It looks better, feels better, has a better sight picture, and still shoots very good. Here's the load I'll be shooting in case you're curious...

Starline 357 brass
CCI 550 primers
13.5g of AA-9
158g Remington SPs

Velocity at the muzzle today was 1310 fps average for 10 shots(drizzling rain, and about 45 degrees). I sighted it in at 75 yards, which gives me a very flat tragectory out to about 90 yards, which is twice as far as I plan on shooting.

I've decided that since I have no "real" need for the meat this year, that I'll hunt the whole season with only my Blackhawk. I'll give the deer to a couple families that asked me to get them one.

Ya'll wish me luck on this adventure! LOL!

New Hampshire · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2004, 12:54:38 PM »

GOOD LUCK JERRY. Ya know, as youve said, all this talk lately got me thinking as well. I slipped the trusty 6" Stainless GP-100 out of the cabinet yesterday and started thinking a bit. Maybe in a few years when Ive had some serious practice, got a scope on it, and become comfortable I will try out for deer using it. I had already made plans to get it out shootn' coyotes. I guess they can now become warm up practice :grin: . I would be real interested in seeing your video, assuming it all works out for ya. But then again, Ive got faith in ya

.
Brian M.

bigjeepman · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2004, 02:07:10 PM »

I, too, wish you a great hunt Jerry. I have read many of your posts and responses to help others and have really enjoyed them. Being a .45 lc loyalist, I added the .357 mag to my collection of calibers to shoot and enjoy recently (mostly because of my brother insisting on it.) The .357 mag is a great caliber and fun to reload for.

Your load for your whitetail hunt sounds like a winning combination. I have heard some about Rem SP and I just might have to give them a try. I have shot 158 gr bullets exclusively and really like the way they feel and group. I have used swc and XTP's for my loads but have not used the .357 mag to hunt with yet.

Again, good luck to you. Let us know how it goes ...

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2004, 03:44:07 PM »

Goining out with my .357 max chambered NEF rifle, but my SS GP 100 will be there just in case I need a follow up shot. Break a leg.

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2004, 02:21:01 AM »

Jerry - that is pretty darned good of you to spend the season hunting for others who need the food, you should be real proud of yourself. I'm proud to have you as a memeber on this forum.

Good luck to you this season. I know what you mean about your Dad not able to move quietly through the brush - got a brother who is the same way (lol), except he is always yellin' for me to 'hold up, the batteries are low' (lol, again). None the less, I hope everything works for you.

Your 357 load should do fine, and I wish you luck. My buddy and I went to the range the other day to sight in a whole buncha stuff and two items on the list were our 357s. His is the 6" S&W Model 28, the Highway Patrolman. Mine is a factory rework of the same revolver but now with a 3.5" bbl and a nice S&W deep blue. Our loads were 200 gn swcs over 12.4 of WW296. Sighted an inch high at 25 yds and they are right in the black at 50. We're happy with that.

Hope you have a successful season. Mikey.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2004, 08:37:46 AM »

Well!!!

This morning was a bust(sorta anyway). We found out real quick that there are all kinds of unseen difficulties when trying to syncronize a shooter with a camera angle that actually gets a shot on tape.

We had a decent little buck(looked like maybe a small 6 point) within 30 yards of our blind, but at that point, everything kinda went south. In hindsight, I'm thinking if we'd have just been a little more patient, he might have given us the angle we needed to make it all come together. Instead though, we got moving around in the blind trying to get me on target, and him on the action, and spooked the deer.

Me, and my uncle both had a blast though! He got as tore up in the moment as I did, so he said he'd "roll camera" for me as much as he possibly could this season. He said he's wanting to get a revolver shot on tape now pretty bad his self. He had his 243 laying in his lap the whole time this morning, but he never stopped recording! LOL!

We're gonna keep at it, and I'll keep you posted.

Carwi · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2004, 05:30:46 AM »

That's great Jerry. Let us know when you get one on tape. I'd like to see that too! It is very difficult to get you and the deer both on tape at the moment but maybe it'll work out for you. I won't get to hunt that much this year due to me having to go back on the road again. :cry: I hope to at least get a couple of deer using my 1894C and Blackhawk though. I see you are standing by your tried and true load! I don't blame you. Stick to what works is what I say. At least I have my laptop on the road with me to keep up with the posts. Keep us informed on how it goes this season and don't forget to post pics!!