This is my second year hunting with strictly home-cast bullets. Last year I accounted for two deer, and several hogs, with both rifles and Contenders, using cast bullets.
This year I decided the .357 mag 10" Contender would be the one. After reading several pro & con threads on the .357Mag, I decided to see for myself. Admittedly, a sample of one doesn't tell all.
Load was the RCBS 158gr SWC GC, an immodest charge of H-110, CCI mag primer, for 1500+ fps.
I took the shot at about 115-125 yds, small buck, quartering away. At the shot, he did the "buck & kick" and trotted about 30 yds. He stood there for a couple of minutes-few seconds(seemed like a half-hour!), then lay down. He was DRT when I walked up.
The air-cooled WW bullet (163gr checked & lubed) entered behind the ribcage on the right side, and exited the center of the left shoulder. The liver was jellied, as were the bottom of the right lung, and the whole of the left lung. The left shoulder showed the bullet was still traveling point-on, without too much -maybe a little- deformation. I had some reservations about penetration with this bullet/load from the T/C and a 10" barrel, But no more! It effectively penetrated about 2-2 1/2 feet of deer. Even though this was at the outside limit of my personal range (MY ability, that is). It was just too good an opportunity to pass up: Calm, unalerted deer, open pasture, perfect quartering-away position.
Shot placement is still the prime factor, but this shows me that this load has enough penetration to suit me. No, I don't think the .357Mag is now the end-all, do-all cartridge. It is effective, but not spectacular. Sorta along the lines of the .257 Roberts, 7mm Mauser, etc. The only thing, I wish I could recover the bullet... What-the-heck, I like two holes!
