CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Good to hear your continued good results on deer w/your .357 mangnum handgun!! If you can remember, would you share some more information with us?!!
1) Can give more details on the bullet / load you used on this last deer??
2) Is this your standard load, or have you used other bullets?
3) Would you more information on the previous 10 deer taken w/your .357? (load, distance of shot, animal reaction, distance animal traveled,etc.)
Also good job on the "computer" scouting to find the funnel, and not giving up when you seeing so many other hunters trucks.
Actually, I've killed considerably more deer with a 357 magnum rifle than with this Blackhawk. I base my performance conclusions on the combination of the two(rifle/revolver) by the size of the deer, and shot impact angle combined with the velocities "vs" the ranges. Using these factors, I judge a given bullets performance on a compromise of expansion, and penetration. I really don't judge by how far a deer runs before falling because that can be very misleading.
I've used a wide array of bullet designs to kill deer with the 357 magnum from 125g up. The first one with this Blackhawk was a 158g XTP-HP at around 1400 fps. The range was around 25 yards or so. The bullet stopped against the off rib-cage after only penetrating the facing rib-cage, and tearing up the vitals. I killed a couple more with this combo before deciding that it just would not consistantly exit a deer no matter what the angle was. All dropped though within a short distance. I also killed a few with this combo at a muzzle velocity of around 1700 fps in the rifles. Internal damage to the vitals was devestating, but penetration was bad enough that I actually stopped this bullet in the facing shoulder of a deer at around 40 yards. The bullet never even made it to the rib-cage much less the vitals. It took a finishing head shot at about 90-100 yards once the deer stopped long enough, and ended my experimenting with the XTP-HP's for good.
I could probably sit here and type a very boring, extemely long post about lots of other bullets, and results, but I'd a whole lot rather just give you some solid, tried, and reliable suggestions...
First off, and I consider it to be the most important, stay away from HP's in the 357 magnum for deer. Yes, they'll work OK sometimes, and might even fool you into fully trusting them, but they "will" let you down eventually.
The 357 will consistantly kill deer with no expansion at all, but you may end up with a long tracking job. You really need at least some expansion to reliably put'em down within a reasonable distance. My goal is the deer on the ground within 50 yards or less.
158g XTP-FP's will give you excellent results at starting velocities of 1300-1500 fps at ranges up to 50+ yards. They'll work pretty good even up to around 1700 fps, but try not too hit too much solid bone, or take a shot less than 40 yards if you want an exit. I personally want an exit, so a lot more blood hits the ground in case I do have to track one.
I've pretty much settled on 158g Remington SP's at 1400 fps from my Blackhawk, and around 1800 from my rifle. I've killed deer up to 60+ yards with this combo in my Blackhawk, and up to 150-200 yards with it in my rifle. I absolutely do "not" recomend using this combo past 100 yards as it acts like a FMJ, and you'd better make an absolutely perfect shot. You'll still get an exit, but the tracking may stretch out to 100+ yards or more so use good sense, and don't push it unless you very confident in both your shooting skills, and tracking ability.
My current load I'm using in both the Blackhawk, and rifle is...
158g Remington SP's
CCI 550 primers
17.5g of Lil'Gun
Starline cases
I feel confident that this load should be safe in any Ruger, or Marlin rifle, but work up anyways just to be safe. I've actually went higher for around 2000 fps in the rifle, but there's no sense in pushing a short range gun to the max for such an insignificant return. For what it's worth though, I do believe, from testing this bullet in several mediums at those velocities at ranges as close as 5 yards that it'll hold up just fine on a deer even at an impact velocity of 2000 fps on a broadside shot. That's hardcast bullet performance from a jacketed SP, with the plus of expanding to wreak havoc on the vitals.
Lastly, After killing literally dozens of deer with the 357 magnum from a rifle, and these 11 with the revolver, I've come to the conclusion that it takes three factors to get the most from this caliber on deer. You need enough penetration to give consistant exits(even on shoulders). You also need at least some expansion to consistantly inflict a large enough wound channel. The third, and least important of the three is impact velocity. I firmly believe that hydrostatic shock plays at least some part in quick humane kills. A deer hit with a .357" bullet moving at less than 1000 fps definately takes longer to die than one hit at 1300+ regardless of the bullet design or construction.
Hope this helps?
