357 ammo for deer hunting ??

[ferryboatcaptain]

I'm wanting to deer hunt with my 6' barreled .357  and don't really know what loads to use,   please tell me what works well for you guys.   
                       thanks                  FBC

[kynardsj]

If your gun shoots them well I would consider something in at least the 158 grain range. Some of mine like stuff up in the 187 grain range.

[buck460XVR]

I've shot several deer using my 6'' 686 with 158 gr jacketed, JSPs work better than JHPs.

[shot1]

Use at least a 158 gr bullet. I really like the 180 Hornady XTP but I am shooting it in a 10"  T/C Contender which gives much more velocity over a revolver. Keep you shots to the short side of 50 yards and take ONLY broad side to the heart lung vital zone close up to the front shoulder shots. Try to stay away from the shoulder bone. Most of the time the deer will run off a ways after taking the shot and with the lighter bullets you don't have a very good blood trail because they usually don't exit. This is the reason that I like heaver bullets so you get the best chance of an exit for more blood trail. The Hornady XTP or Speer Gold Dot bullets are about as good as it gets for jacketed bullets. A wide flat nose type SWC will work but you really don't have much diameter to cut much of a hole through the vitals. 44 and 45 cal work better with lead SWC bullets.

[sk330lc]

If using Factory loads Remington 158gr SP  or 180gr HP  work well..   Do a search for Posts By larrylester I think was his name . He's  the Man when it comes to the 357mag for hunting deer.  

[Ak.Hiker]

Jerrys 158 grain JSP load is a powerful one. I remember he was loading the Remington 158 grain JSP. You also may want to try the Speer 158 grain Unicore JSP. I have found that this is one tough bullet. He was loading a full charge of Lil'Gun.  

[Larry Gibson]

Question; how big are the deer where you hunt?

In some areas the deer are smaller and a 125 SP like the Hornady 125 XTPFP at 1500 - 1600 fps would be a better choice.  That is my choice for deer that are 100 lbs or so or less. If the deer are large then a 140 -158 SP is the choice at 1400+ fps.  I lik to also use a very soft cast bullet (1-16 tin/lead alloy) using a gas checked 358156 mould.  I push it to 1400 fps out of my 6" Ruger SS with excellent accuracy, expansion, pentration and terminal ballistic effect.

Larry Gibson

[SwampThing762]

I do not use a 357 myself, but I know some individuals that use a 357 for pigs.   They all use a 180 grain hardcast lead slug for Florida Hellrazors.   Perhaps it would be worth a try for you.

ST762

[Mikey]

IIRC, Jerry used a 6 or 6.5" Ruger and a Marlin 1984 with a 20" bbl.  He preferred the plain old Remington 158 gn JSP load for the revolver and the 125 gn load for the rifle.  If my memory serves me correctly.

[ferryboatcaptain]

hey guys . thanks for all the replys,  i live near branson, MO.  so the deer are not overly large in this part of the ozarks and I don't plan on trying shots longer than about 50 yards .  I am new to centerfire pistols , i have shot .22 pistols for years,    Sounds like heavier bullets are the way to go along with  shots on the short side                  any more tips would be great         FBC

[shot1]

Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice. Did I say PRACTICE?  

Practice shooting a spot about 1 to 2 inches large from different positions and ranges. When you get to deer hunting and you have that deer come within the range that you can put that bullet exactly where it needs to go then imagine that spot that you have been practice shooting is pasted at the very back edge of the deers front shoulder and then shoot the spot. Don't ever shoot at just a deer pick a spot on the deer and shoot it.

[buck460XVR]

hey guys . thanks for all the replys,  i live near branson, MO.

......by chance is the ferry you captain, the Peal's Ferry?

[Sverre A.]

I have good results with 158 XTP HP/1300 fps - on deers up to 120 lbs/70 yds. with a 686, 6".
Maybe at longer distance too - and maybe bigger deers - but I have not shot any deers beyond that distance.

 

[handi243]

i think shot1 said it best 180gr bullets stay away from the hollow points keep the shots close and practice. Has anyone heard from Jerry Lester??

[Lloyd Smale]

I dont hunt with the 357. I have better guns for that purpose but if i did id load it with a 160-180 grain hard cast wfn .

[buck460XVR]

......by chance is the ferry you captain, the Peal's Ferry?

.....by chance were you there on this day?

[Charlie-SA]

Anyone ever use the Hornady LEVERevolution 140 FlexTip with a .357 revolver for deer or hogs?

[ferryboatcaptain]

I've worked the ferry for 11 years but i've been called back to army active duty 3 tours  so it's really hard to say if i was there that day.
              FBC

[JKump]

I have had good luck with Federal Fusion .357 158 grain ammo.

[Land_Owner]

I'm wanting to deer hunt with my 6' barreled .357....

FBC - you don't NEED bullets when holding that 6-FOOT LONG chunk of steel!!!  Just reach out and clunk 'em!

[eclarsen]

Land Owner has an eye for detail...

I haven't put a bullet down the barrel of my Python when deer hunting in the IL woods, but I take it along just in case.  I have been advised that hollow points may not penetrate enough for a clean kill and that soft points are better in that regard.  Ditto on the 125gr vs. the 158 and up.  Hence, I save my 125 jhp's for punching holes in paper and carry only 158 swc or jsp's when waiting for that perfect opportunity.

With dim light in the early morning hours I've ditched my 2x scope for open sights.  I may try a holographic sight this year.  Will have to see how the illuminated sight works...will have to be better than the disappearing cross hairs of a scope at dawn and dusk.