357 magnum energy

[kynardsj]

I've studied several charts about bullet energy from the 357 magnum. I know each individual that shoots one has their favorite bullet weight that is sometimes dictated by the gun they're using. While I haven't shot 180's in my Contender or my Security Six they shoot the same with 125's or 158's. Where I'm going with this is that according to the energy charts the 158 grain 357 magnum has the most energy of all the weights listed. While deer aren't a problem within the range limitations of the mag I plan on hunting hogs with it this fall. I'm guessing a 158 is the optimum weight for this caliber. A hardcast bullet or jacketed softpoint should do the job on a hog if I put the shot in the right place.

[Savage]

Gotta love charts and statistics!  IMO, penetration is the key to bringing down a hog. Assuming the bullet is properly placed in the first place. My choice in .357 would be a SWC in the 180-200 grain weight range. No doubt the 158 gr will bring down a hog, most around here are killed with .22s. I just like the reliable penetration of the heavy bullet thru gristle and bone that you get with the heavier bullets.
Savage

[SHOOTALL]

try bullets for the 35 rem. rifle in your TC .

[Graybeard]

Energy smergy don't worry your head over it as it ain't what kills game. Proper placement of bullet and penetration do. If ya shooting people use the 125 JHP as it has proven as good or better man stopper than anything else. If you're hunting big game shoot heavier.

Jerry Lester our resident .357 mag hunting expert suggests using the Remington 158 SP on deer and hogs whether in rifle or handgun. He's killed a whole lotta game with the combination so I'll accept his advice. Me I kinda like heavier and cast if I were going after hogs but on deer I'd be happy with the 158 or a 180.

[Badnews Bob]

Out of my .357 rifles and pistols the 180gr LBT style hard cast out penitrates any other lighter bullet. They also shoot very well in all of my .357s including the max. The 158s, jacketed or HC shoot very well also and work great on deer ( 158 gr Rem bulk JSP is about my favorite Jacketed) But I want more bullet on hogs. The 160 will go thru more meat gristle and bone than the 158 just about every time.

BTW I never concern myself with energy numbers, They really don't tell the whole story.

[kynardsj]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the info.

[Hook686]

Actually, from the Buffalo Bore data the 158 grain bullet has the least energy, when compared to their 125 grain and 180 grain loads.


SKU: 19A/20    Heavy 357 Magnum Pistol and Handgun Ammo
Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo - 180 gr. L.F.N. -G.C. (1,400fps/M.E. 783 ft. lbs.) - 20 Round Box OUT OF STOCK
$27.94


Manufacturer: Buffalo Bore 
 
 
SKU: 19C/20    Heavy 357 Magnum Pistol and Handgun Ammo
Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo - 158 gr. J.H.C. (1,475fps/M.E. 763 ft. lbs.) - 20 Round Box
$27.94


Manufacturer: Buffalo Bore 
 
 
SKU: 19D/20    Heavy 357 Magnum Pistol and Handgun Ammo
Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo - 125 gr. J.H.C. (1,700fps/M.E. 802 ft. lbs.) - 20 Round Box
$27.94
 
In your scenario I'd most likely pick the Buffalo Bore 180 grain LFN-GC.

[Ak.Hiker]

Never hunted hogs but I do know that the 200 and 180 grain hard cast LBT bullets when loaded to 1200 or so will really penetrate. I think Jerry uses the 158 grain JSP with a healthy dose of Lil'Gun as his deer load. If you do settle on a 158 grain JSP the Speer Unicore is the toughest I have found on the market. The 180 grain Nosler Partition Gold is another tough bullet to look at. One nice thing about the Partition Gold unlike most other expanding bullets is the faster you run them the more they penetrate. 

[Hodr]

Hook686 is right.  Buffalo Bore 125 grain in a .357 winchester trapper has been lights out on my brother in laws place in Texas.  They are expensive though, worth the price paid but expensive.

blindhari

[Ak.Hiker]

Hook686 is right.  Buffalo Bore 125 grain in a .357 winchester trapper has been lights out on my brother in laws place in Texas.  They are expensive though, worth the price paid but expensive.

blindhari

They must be really zipping along out of the Winchester Trapper. Have you ever recovered one of the bullets?

[1sourdough]

 I once shot a deer with my 6" security-six. It was close range & I shot til I was out. I hit it 4 times of the 6. I was shooting Rem factory 158 grn SPs. The small 8 ptr went about 30 yrds & dropped dead. It all worked out but I was surprised at the lack of good penetration. If I was to do it over I would use a 180 grn hardcast. I bought some from beartooth bullets a while back for the 357 & 44. I carried some in the 44 on a rifle bear hunt but didn't use them on game.

[Axehandle]

You 357 deer and hog hunters need to look at the Freedom Arms version of the 357 in their 353....  JT published some loading data years ago that is still out there... 
180s at 1700 FPS....

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt353.htm

[drdougrx]

Interesting....I was just looking at a .357 wildcat by Gary Reeder that uses a necked down 41mag case. 

Makes me wonder if it's worth the expense?

[mcwoodduck]

There are also versions that use the 44 mag, 45 colt, 454 Casul, and I think 50 AE cases necked to 357.
But they would be best out of either a single shot handgun or carine like the T/C's or the Handi rifles.
But I think if you are going to go with one of the wildcats there is nothing that 357 Max or 35Rem won't do, other than get rid of some 41, 44, 45... Brass.  I always thought a 308X1.5 would be neat opened to 35 cal and then realized it was basicly 35 Rem.
the 50 and 44 versions could be used in an Auto like the Desert eagle if that is your goal.
I remember a 45Acp version to give almost what 357 mag did out of a 1911.  Kind of the pre 357 sig round.
Bottle neck rounds do not work so well out of a revolver.  Since this is a general Handgun question and not T/C specific Thought I would toss it in

[Hodr]

In answer to hiker, I am a little embarresed to admit that while I am a good cook and can take care of reducing a primal cut, my brother in law does not trust me with a knife.  In all honesty I have never skinned anything larger than a large fat pheasant.  I have always been happy with angus beef and poland pork on my plate.  With rather rare exceptions I don't  eat wild game.  I ground and seasoned some of the six hogs and made 25 pounds of sausage for each of us.  All the rest we put on ice and gave to a food pantry/kitchen where we were assurred it would be fully utilised.  I never saw the buffalo bore slugs from the three I got.

It's almost the time of year to go back to Texas as we are out of sausage.

blindhari

[Axehandle]

Gary Reeder's 356 GNR is an option... Lot cheaper than a FA too.   The 356 an be done on your 357 Blackhawk... Just a simple rechamber.   Last time I checked it was $50 for the rechamber and $90 for a set of dies..  He needs the entire gun to check headspace.  Seems like return shipping was another $45 bucks...   I had him do a 300 GNR last year on a 30 Carbine Blackhawk.. Turnaround was quick!

[drdougrx]

Thanks Axe....I'll check'm out.