Need your favorite load for small game with 357 mag!!

[Doe]

Hey guys i just order 500rnds of 125gr round nose lead from meister and need a good load for squrrils/rabbits etc..etc.. I will be shooting it out of my 4" colt python. Thanks guys O-ya like to keep it under 1000 fps O.K I'm assumeing i will need a fast burning powder right? do to the light bullet correct? If so could you guys reconmend a clean powder!! 

[S.B.]

I don't know about a jacketed bullet but, 148 gr. lead wc ahead of 2.7 gr of Bullseye or 3.2 gr. of Win, 231 should do the trick? Jacketed bullets tend to leave the jacket, or part of it, in the barrel if driven too slow? So, be sure your using a lead bullet with these. I have an older Lyman load manual, that warns of this happening.

[DWPR6284]

Doe,

here is my favorite load for the 125 gr. lead round nose that I have used for rabbit and were fired out of a 6" Colt Python...

CASE: Starline Nickel Plated 38 Spl.

PRIMER: CCI-500

POWDER: Red Dot / 3.0gr.

BULLET: Meister 125 gr. Hard Cast Round Nose - Flat Point

VELOCITY: 800 fps.

ACCURACY: The above listed load will shoot consistant 1" groups at 25 yards with near "0" recoil and a very mild report....

DW

[Jerry Lester]

Personally, I've always used 125g jacketed SP's for my small game needs, but since I've recently started casting bullets, I'll be finding a suitable one for my plinking/small game loads.

I have been shooting a 95g SWC in my 32 magnum Single Six. I'm using Trail Boss with that load, and 2.4g fills the cases within about 1/10" of the bullet base, pushes that bullet at around 750 fps(muzzle), burns amazingly clean, and is super accurate with very small extreme spreads. When I get a mould for my Blackhawk, I'm planning on trying Trail Boss in it too. I've only heard very good things about this powder.

[Old Griz]

Gee, for small game (rabbits and squirrels, etc.) I've always used .38 Sp. Used to use them in my 6" Colt Grizzly, but now I have a 4" S&W M10 that out shoots it.

[timothy]

Anything is going to work well for small game, so the best is simply going to be the most accurate in your gun. Try a few different powders and charges and pick the best one. Good luck

[S.B.]

Anything is going to work well for small game, so the best is simply going to be the most accurate in your gun. Try a few different powders and charges and pick the best one. Good luck

I disagree with this trane of thought, too much power or velocity and you won't have anything to eat?

[Old Griz]

I think he means that you just need to experiment and find what is the most accurate load for your particular gun. They all shoot differently. I don't think he was talking about the most powerful load.

[OLDHandgunner]

The load I've used for years has always been 2.7 grs. Bullseye under a 148 gr. wadcutter in a 38 spl. case. I've used it for pistol matches, target shooting, plinking & hunting small game. It works in all my 38's & 357 guns. This load has low recoil, low noise & minimal meat damage. I use my own cast 148 WC & bulk pack 148 HBWC. This has been one of the most used target loads for many, many years by the worlds best target shooters. I'm sure you can find a load that works for you with the 125 RN with Bullseye or W231 powder.  My 6" Python loves this load.

[Del]

OLDhandgunner or others.............

when using the ol' bullseye target load of: 2.7 grn Bullseye & 148 grn WC, what velocity do you get??  Also what gun / barrel length used when chronographing?

This is just the load I was wanting to try for small game hunting, in a recently acquired Ruger Blackhawk w/ 4 5/8" brl.

Thanks for any information you are willing to share!
Del

[S.B.]

Every gun will shoot this load to a different velocity plus there are other extenuating circuimstances like humidity temp. elevasion, but, you can find out how fast in most manuals?

[corbanzo]

If you are planning on eating it, you might try and find what is your most accurate round and go for head shots.  My old man used to carry around a .303 for bear proteciton, and also hunt grouse with it, just nip off their heads.  Just gets a little expensive if the head is small and it takes you a few rounds....  but i guess with rabbits and foxes they'll run, not quite as dumb as spruce grouse.

[OLDHandgunner]

Del:
This loads with 2.7grs. Bullseye w/148wadcutters will be in the 700fsp-750fps range, depending on the bullets used & the gun. I've used them in my S&W 19 & Colt 357 both in 4", Old Ruger Blk Hawk 6 1/2", Colt Python 6", Colt Officers Model Match 6" & but my S&W K-38 in 6" loves this load most of all. This was also my load when I shot PPC matches with a Bill Davis Custom S&W Model 19 PPC gun. The 50yrd. groups with this gun would average 1-1/2". There are alot of newer powders that are very good also, but I've got so much Bulleye powder, I'll stick with this load for awhile. This load is alot of fun to shoot, but beyond the 30-40yrd range the bullet really drops fast.   Have fun & good shooting.

[jgalar]

Just go to the powder companys' websites and look at cowboy action loads..

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss.php

[EastKY_DO]

A nice accurate load that I like to use is a Hornady swaged 158 gr. SWC (the cheap bulk kind) and 3.5 grains of HP-38 in a .38 Special case.  It gives me about 650 fps from a 4 inch GP-100.  Mild report and virtually no recoil.

Good Shooting

[Dusty Miller]

Maybe somebody could tell me if the classification of "small game" includes stray dogs?

[S.B.]

Sure does! Hey Dusty, do you know why all coyote hunters wear a folding Buck knife? So they can cut the collars off of them.

[Badnews Bob]

2.5 to 3 grains of titegroup work very well and isn't as dirty as bullseye I use it for cowboy action but turns out it accurate as can be, bullseye work the same only reason I changed was titegroupe is cleaner.

[S.B.]

2.5 to 3 grains of titegroup work very well and isn't as dirty as bullseye I use it for cowboy action but turns out it accurate as can be, bullseye work the same only reason I changed was titegroupe is cleaner.

Thanks Bob, I'll keep that in mind.