You didn't say what your threshold was on ammo cost, but I'll share my $.02 anyway for your comparison.
I've had my 1894C for about three years. I've used quite a range of ammo, good and bad, until coming onto the following selections. I don't do any reloading myself so this is limited to commercially available factory loads. I've found the .38 are just a little less expensive so I stick with .357 for consistency and less cleaning trouble when I want to use .357 hunting loads for deer.
For practice and general property protection, varmint control, etc. I use Sellier & Bellot .357 158gr SJSP. These are flat lead nosed bullets with jacketing on the lower half of the slug. They are about the hottest load I have used without going to Buffalo Bore, etc. They're real hot for practice loads and they are legal and efficient for smaller game. I buy these from
www.natchezss.com in ten box lots. They usually run about $8.50 per 50 in that quantity. Yes it's a lot of money at one time, but it saves running to get more bullets once a month.
For hunting I use both Federal 180gr HC lead and Remington 180gr SJHP. These run about $18 a box of 50. They actually shoot the same POA as the lighter 158 S&B rounds I use for general use and practice. I actually don't have to adjust sights, figure windage, etc. between the three rounds.
The 158SJSP are great for racoons, possums, and coyotes on the property. I've used them to shoot a coon on a stump at about 75 yards. It drilled a hole straight through (didn't expand) and then buried itself in a 30" oak tree about 3" into the trunk. The shot went through so clean my wife commented at first she thought the racoon died of a heart attack. It took us about 10 minutes to find the entry and exit wounds. Then I spotted the hole in the tree. So much for those who suggest that a .357 rifle isn't enough for deer. That result was with my practice rounds. The 180gr bullets have no trouble knocking down a deer at 100 yards or less.
