Looking for .357 deerloads

[wade45]

       I am looking for deer loads for the .357 Mag. using Win.296 and hardcast lead swc bullets. I have been using 2400 but was given the 296 as a gift and was just curious if anyone had some ideas or pet loads to share. This year I'm planing to act as a "guide" for my wife who loves to hunt but hasn't gotten a deer yet and just want to keep my gear light and simple to help her. Any loads would be appreciated.

[Mikey]

wade - the only load I use is the 357 Mag is a 200 gn cast swc (available from Colorado Cast Bullets or Mt. Baldy Bullets) over 12.4 gns of WW296.  My loading data shows this produced 1335'/sec, in whatever test setup WW used to determine this, while generating 35K CUP.  For comparison, WW's 158 gn swc load showed 1560'/sec at 38K CUP.  Some of the WW loads for the 200 gn slug were as high as 42K CUP.  I have found this 200 gn swc to be pretty easy shooting, very accurate in my guns and a very hardhitting heavy slug for the 357.  It's a great field load.  HTH.  Mikey.

[safetysheriff]

while i agree with .41 mag's and over using hardcast.......i think the .357 mag' needs the expansion of the bullet's jacket for cutting/slicing the vitals to help with a quicker kill.   i'd recommend a jacketed flatpoint that will give you that cutting action with the penetration of a flatpoint.   i'd use a 158 gr' jfp out of the .357 mag' (such as Federal's American Eagle brand).   i've seen them used on deer at close range by a nuisance hunter.   they are effective within a range of maybe 75 yds' from a 6" revolver.   they are Very effective at bowhunting range!

if you go to www.findarticles.com and type in jd jones you'll see what he has to say about using jacketed bullets on deer as being the better way.    .....and he used to sell molds for cast bullets!

i'm sorry that doesn't answer your question.   but i hope you genuinely find it helpful.

take care,

ss' 

[S.S.]

I normally do not recommend loads grain wise,
Because what is accurate in my gun may not be accurate
in yours. But, I have been loading for the .357 for about 25 years
and the best powder I have found for it is H110
I too use hard cast 158 Gr. SWC's  in my handgun most of the time.
Get some H110 loading data and work you up a load for your particular gun.

[safetysheriff]

www.handloads.com/

[wade45]

        Thanks for the website Safetysheriff. It gave me the info that I was looking for and alot more. I'll post my results as soon as I can and let you know how this hunting season goes.

                                                                   Again Thanks,
                                                                           wade45   

                                                                                               



                                                                     

[M60ACE]

Wade,
 There are many approaches to your dilemma, as there are many combinations that MAY work out well.
Here are my recommendations, based on my experiences. I will adress bullet selection first.
If you choose a jacketed bullet, I would reccomend nothing less than a 180gr bullet. The reason for this is they have beter sectional density, thus better penatration. They also retain velocity better, compared to lighter bullets.
There are 2 good bullets available, 1. Hornady XTP 180gr. HP 2.(believe it or not) Remingtons 180gr SJHP. This bullet is available at http://www.midwayusa.com/  (I took a nice doe with this bullet, heart/lung--complete broadside pass through.
 A hardcast lead bullet with a wide flat nose in 165-200gr is hard to beat. They're good bone crushers, make a nice wound channel, and are deep penetraters. They are quite affordable and well made, available from Leadheads, https://www.proshootpro.com/ I purchased some of the gas checked 200gr bullets and they consistantly chronographed at 1215-1223, thats 8 ft SD. His bullets were never more than .05 of a grain difference in weight (dillon electronic scale).
 The muzzle energy is 661 ftlbs, with 435 ftlbs remaining at 125 yds. This load yeilds an impressive(for a .357)
542 ftlbs at 50yds with a Taylor KO index of 11.3 (NOTE: 50 yds. IS THE LONGEST SHOT I PERSONALLY WOULD ATTEMP WITH MY CAPABILITIES).
I will be testing A 165 Keith style hardcast lead bullet from LEADHEADS, https://www.proshootpro.com/ I will post results in about 2 weeks.

As far as powders, I cannot disagree with the other posts on powders. I can suggest one    that has outperformed the others IN MY FIREARM. I had ben hearing a lot about Vihtavouri powders in the past years, so I decided to try some N110. It is a very small grain extruded powder which gives excellent ignition in cold weather. Well, to my suprise it worked better than I had expected, and I have found none more consistant. I have also used thier rifle powder. This powder works so well for me that I will eventually be using this brand for all my reloading needs. It is more expensive than the others averageing 22.50 a pound, and it comes in 2 lb canisters so it will set you back about 45.00 for a canister??? .

 This is the best I can help you at this time, my shooting was done with a S & W 686, the barrel was 6.5 inches. Due to different tolerences in firearms , and different loading techniques, results do vary.

 The Best of Regards, Todd

[safetysheriff]

wade'

glad you like the site.    the use of the 180 gr' bullets espoused elsewhere in this post is in agreement with a lot of other things i have read; but i prefer to get the greater velocity possible out of a single-action Ruger BlackHawk loaded Very Heavily if going that route.   or maybe the use of a Marlin to launch that bullet.    out of any other handgun -- with a lighter cylinder in it -- i'd recommend the lighter/faster bullets as i said above.

i hope you both do well,

ss'