What bullet for .357?

[handirifle]

I usually carry a 357 on the hip when gun hunting around here, for 2 and 4 legged varmints.  What is a good 180gr bullet that might work on black bears?  Keep in mind this is meant for defense only, I wouldn't hunt black bears on purpose with a 357.  It's the heaviest revolver I have, so my choices are limited.

[Castaway]

Try in Veral Smith's forum below for his catalog and see what he has (http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,94657.0.html).  Also, you can't go wrong with a Keith Style bullet.  May have to drop down to 170 grains, but what you loose in mass is made up for in wound channel.

[spinafish]

I would go with Federal CastCore or one of the other hard cast 180 grainers if you don't reload..if you reload there are lots of good hard cast bullets out there or use a jacketed silhouette bullet like the Match tournament Master from Sierra.

[Ak.Hiker]

I have tested bullets for penetration in my 357 magnums for years. Now days you have some pretty good choices on the market. The 2 hottest deep penetrating loads I have tested are the Buffalo Bore 180 cast and the CorBon 200 grain cast. Both are very hot and will offer deep penetration. One notch down the ladder but still one heck of a good load is the Federal 180 Cast Core. I have not had a chance to try the Double Tap cast loads but I bet they will be top notch as well. If you want a jacketed bullet take a look at the Winchester 180 Nosler Partition Gold. 

[handirifle]

OK thanks will check out the leads.

Again thanks.

[Mikey]

handirifle:  why just 180 gn???  I prefer the 200 gn semi-wadcutter from either Mt. Baldy Cast Bullets or Colorado Cast Bullets.  All are true to weight, or pretty true, cast hard and sized properly (you can request the sizing if you wish) at .358 and shoot excellently in all the 357s I have tried them in.  That is the only slug I carry in either my 357s or my 38s.

The Ak.hiker provided some interesting news that cor-bon finally got its stuff together and is offering a 200 gn load but you can do exactly the same and ppossibly better with that 200 gn slug and 12.4 gns of WW296 (factory load).  Cor bon likes to boast thay they have 'specialty' powders developed for their hot loads but the truth is that their loads are not and have not been any better than what you can get from the loading manuals.

You just asked about bullets in your post, so if you reload then you are all set and can go with whatever bullet you like.  HTH.  Mikey.

[handirifle]

Mikey
Thanks
The local dealer also mentioned the 200gr bullets designed for calibers like the 35 Rem, any experiences there?  no reason to stop at 180 I suppose as this will be intended for close range shooting.

[scout34]

I just loaded up a bunch of 180s for my 686 and was disappointed (perhaps prematurely) when they clocked around 1010 instead of 1300.  For deer and hogs inside of 50 yds, will this load do the trick?  It's easy shooting and just plinking in the field it was pretty accurate.  It's 13.5 gr of H110 and no loading manual has a load higher than that so i don't want to increase it.  Before I switch powders etc, should I rethink and just go with it?

Update:  Looked at the ballistics for the Federal Castcore 180gr in .357 and it is clocked at 1060.  I tinkered with my loads, adding more crimp and they are averaging about 1040.  From what I've read about the castcores, this should be fine.

[Hooker]

I've had very good results with 180s backed with just shy of a max load of AA#9.
For both deer and hogs out to 75 yds my best load to date.

Pat

[jro45]

I use 158's in my 357 and can get them moving pretty fast.

[Mikey]

handirifle - I have used the 200 gn slugs for the 35 caliber rifles, some with gaschecks, and they are accurate in my 357s and 38s, but they are round nosed.  The 200 gn slugs I prefer are the semiwadcutters from either Mt. Baldy Bullets or Cast Performance. 

Close range shooting - naw!  Used to use them for metallic silhouette out to 200 yds.  Mikey.