Author Topic: what 357 mag factory load (Read 2118 times)

shooter · « **on:** September 17, 2005, 05:24:57 PM »

Folks,i just picked up a 357 mag ruger blackhawk(couldnt find a 41 mag).I have shot one deer before with a pistol but that was a Savage striker in 308 win.I've also hunted with 45 colt and 44mag but have no experience with the 357mag.Any suggestions on factory loadings to serve as a 40 yrd whitetail gun.Males ave 160 lbs,female 120 lbs.
Thanks,
Shooter

timothy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2005, 08:15:27 PM »

Corbon, federal,and buffbore make heavy hard casts if you want a shoulder shot. For a lung shot you could get by with a 158 jsp going as fast as possible.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2005, 04:17:27 AM »

Winchester make a Deer hunting load with 180gr semi jacketed round shot very well out of my GP 100 pretty stout load too. But for factory loads I think I'd use corebond or buffalo bullets 180 hard cast loads, Big hard cast flatnose bullets knock the stuffing right out of white tails.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2005, 04:31:15 AM »

Fed or Rem full power magnum 158gr JHPs.

Hooker · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2005, 06:34:19 AM »

I agree with Bob on this the Winchester 180 work very well.
Haven't tried the Corebonds or Buffalos but I'am sure they would be great.
I also have a GP 100 and it seems to like the 180s better than the 158s.
They carry well out to 125yrds and they have plenty of thump. I don't shoot a lot of factory stuff, my favorite load is 180 gr Hornady XTPs with 13.2 grs of #9. This load has dropped some big hogs. Haven't used it on deer yet, but I believe it will be up to the job. I'll find out in November hopefully. I beleive the Winchester Supreme 180s are pretty much the same as the discontinued Black Talons. I have a friend who used the Talons on deer in a Black Hawk they performed great.

Pat

shooter · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2005, 07:25:32 PM »

Thanks for the input fella's.For sighting it in i picked up a box of 50 magtech's 158 gr JHP traveling 1300 FPS cost me $13.I'll hunt with one of the loads you guys described.
Shooter

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2005, 10:17:38 PM »

You'll be hard pressed to beat plain old Remington 158g SP loads. I use the same bullet in all my deer loads(rifle & revolver), and that bullet kills deer as good or better than any other bullets I've tried(and there's been a bunch!).

I have no doubts that with a perfectly placed shot, my 357 Blackhawk would kill a deer nicely up to 100 yards, but I limit my shots to around 50 yards or less. I've killed 7 with mine, and it'll be in my hands this coming season to take a couple more(hopefully on video).

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2005, 06:13:11 AM »

Jerry is our resident expert on the use of .357 Mag for deer. Likely killed more with it than any two or three others on here with that round. I'd listen to him if that's what you want to use.

timothy · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2005, 02:59:39 AM »

Hey Jerry have you tried the 165gr Corlock at 1290? If so how does it stand up against the 158 jsp?

longwalker · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2005, 04:32:22 AM »

I have had good experience with Winchester super x 158 JHP ammunition. I put two deer in the freezer with two shots. I did recover the bullets. Both shots were heart lung shots. Upon impact the result was known, It knocked them both down.

Subsequent to these two deer I found a used SRH in 44 magnum and have used in instead of the 357. I likened hunting with the 357 to archery only not as quiet.

longwalker

ratgunner · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2005, 10:01:33 AM »

I too am wondering if anyone has used the 165 grn. Corelokts on game?As far as aiming for bones ...sure as long as its the off side shoulder.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2005, 03:58:18 PM »

Quote from: timothy

Hey Jerry have you tried the 165gr Corlock at 1290? If so how does it stand up against the 158 jsp?

No, I haven't tried them out. I'm so fond of the 158g Remington SP mainly because it gives about all the performance you can possibly squeeze out of the 357 magnum, when going against game in the 75-150 pound range. It balances expansion, and penetration amazingly well, giving full penetration on broadside shoulder shot deer, and mushrooms just enough to blow a very generous hole in the vitals to boot. It'll do this consistantly in a revolver out to 50+ yards, and in a rifle out to 100 yards.

I've killed deer with 158g XTP-HPs, 158g XTP-FPs, 140g XTP-HPs, 158g Rem. HPs, 140g Rem. HPs, 125g Rem. SPs, 180g Rem. HPs, 150g Nosler SPs, 158g Sierra JHC, 158g Sierra SP, 170g Sierra JHC, and a few cast bullet loads. I'm sure I left out a couple, but I meerly am trying to give you an idea of what I'm comparing the 158g Rem. SPs against. I've only killed 7 deer with my Blackhawk, but there have been many more that have hit the dirt due to my 1894C, as well as the 1894C I had before I bought this one. When I say I've thoroughly tested the 357 magnum round against deer, I mean I've "really" wrung it out. Most of the bullets I've tried have killed multiple deer for me, before I decided they didn't quite make the grade. For what it's worth though, not a single deer that was killed with any of those bullets got away that I can remember. Some took a while to track, or took a finishing shot, but most were pretty clean quick kills. I just know that it takes more than a single DRT kill to judge a given bullet by.

The 357 magnum, when used within its limits, from either a rifle or revolver is a perfectly suitable caliber for just about anything up to deer sized, but it does it's best work if you'll take the time to use the right bullet at the right velocity within the right range limits.

mg66 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2005, 03:15:24 AM »

I am using a hand load this year for my 357. This will be the first time I have hunted with handgun.

I have loaded Hornady 158 grain HP/XTP with 16 grains of Win296 and Win WSPM primers. Thats about 1250 fps. I guess the homework I did on this coincides with your expert opinion Jerry.

As Illinois changed hunting regs to allow a shotgun and a handgun to be taken at the same time I intend to use the 357 out to 35-40 yards and use my shotgun as a backup for longer shots.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2005, 08:12:49 PM »

Quote from: mg66

I am using a hand load this year for my 357. This will be the first time I have hunted with handgun.

I have loaded Hornady 158 grain HP/XTP with 16 grains of Win296 and Win WSPM primers. Thats about 1250 fps. I guess the homework I did on this coincides with your expert opinion Jerry.

As Illinois changed hunting regs to allow a shotgun and a handgun to be taken at the same time I intend to use the 357 out to 35-40 yards and use my shotgun as a backup for longer shots.

The 158g XTP-HPs are decent performers on deer out of a revolver. They will make a terrible mess of the vitals, and give very quick kills. My only problem with them is that rarely ever will they exit, even at revolver velocities. I'm not saying that a bullet not exiting will cost you a deer, but I prefer a good exit for blood trailing, just in case the shot is slightly off, and you end up having to track a deer for a ways.

In my opinion, you'd be better served by the 158g XTP-FPs. You can safely substitute the FP for the HP, and end up with basically the same load, accuracy, and velocity, but pick up about half again the penetration. The FPs won't give you quite as much damage to the vitals, but they'll knock a good hole through them, and still, in most cases exit, even if you hit a shoulder.

If you decide to stick with the XTP-HPs, try not to hit a shoulder on impact. They open up very fast, and sometimes that can cause a bad situation.

mg66 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 06, 2005, 12:49:09 AM »

Thanks Jerry. I will load a box and have still got plenty of time to test accuracy/zero before gun season.

Raging480 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2005, 02:58:31 AM »

I shot a deer with a Remington Corelokt once. I was up here in Upstate NY, and shot a spikehorn in the shoulder at about 60 yards as he stood still, broadside. The bullet smashed the shoulder, but failed to do much damage beyond that. We tracked him a few hundred yards as he was making good progress on 3 legs, and we finished him off with shotgun slugs.
I have since changed to loading 180 grain Cast Performance wfngc bullets, but have yet to take a deer with this load.

Van/TX · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2005, 04:46:25 AM »

I used the Federal 180 grain cast core last season with good success so I can recommend those. Going to experiment with Sellier & Bellot 158 grain JSP this year. Just got a box of 50 and can't believe how much cheaper they are than Feds. They advertise 1394 fps. Seems pretty hot. Hopefully will report back in November :wink: ......Van

Mongoose · « **Reply #17 on:** October 12, 2005, 01:25:56 AM »

I use the Winchester 357 Mag 180 Gr Partition Gold. I took a mid sized doe using this round (2003). It was a quartering shoot, the bullet entered on the right front chest, broke a rib, passed through the lungs and stopped in the left rear leg. It performed perfectly. The recovered bullet looked just like the expanded bullets in the Winchester catalog. Great bullet! :grin: :grin: :grin:

Left to right:
The bullet recovered from the doe that I took in 2003 @ 30 paces, using my S&W 686, w 8 3/8" barrel.172 grains 95.6%.

An unfired bullet.180 grains

One fired from the 35 Rem into wet phone books @ 25 yards.137 grains 76.1%.

Was fired from my S&W 686, w 8 3/8" barrel, into wet phone books @ 25 yards. 172 grains 95.6%.

tanoose · « **Reply #18 on:** October 15, 2005, 09:01:05 AM »

Both Grizzly and Buffalo bore use the 180 WFNGC from cast performance bullet company . Buffalo Bore at 1400fps and grizzly at 1350 I use the BB when i carry the 357 afield but both should be great on deer.

equinoxbuilders · « **Reply #19 on:** October 24, 2005, 12:48:47 PM »

Jerry,

how do you feel about using the 158 XTP-HP at 1700fps on a 130-140 lb 6 pointer? be in a tree stand, and using this bullet in a hornady sabot out of a .45 cal youth muzzleloader. shot no longer than 50 yrds tops, but more like 30-35yds. I was going to order a pack of Rem. 158 jsp and some blue MMP sabots, but I found a bunch of the hornady .38 158 XTP-HP with sabot in the blackpowder section of the local mom/pop hunt/fish store. I could also get some loose 158 XTP-FP to substitute for the HP. 70grains of 777 3Fg should put this bullet in the 1800 fps range, I'm hopin my 9 yo daughter can handle that. May have to settle for 50 grains instead, but it would still be pushing this bullet at over 1500 fps.

Oh ya.. I'm not overly concerned about a blood trail. tree stand is 350ft from my house, and I know these woods really well. Injured animals usually go for water. And most of the deer I put up here, go hide out in the small swamp upstream from my stand. I almost always put them up twice... :-D I've done this many times while scouting, or pushing for my cousin.

I hunt with a .54 cal round ball. big slow movin world of hurt. They never go anywhere but DOWN. This is the first year I get to try my TC Scout .54 Pistol. with reddot. impressive w/ 80gr 7773Fg to 50yrds. haven't tried further, don't want to.

And again Jerry, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

equinoxbuilders · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2005, 12:54:57 PM »

sorry to keep beating a dead horse.
after doing some more reading in these posts, it looks like the 158 HP/XTP will fail, especially at maximum velocities at close range...
I'm ordering some FP/XTP and some Rem. SP.. and if the Rems don't fit in the Hornady Sabots, I'll get some MMPs
I'm also ordering some 45 Dead Centers in .357 175 grain. to see how they shoot and look after hitting some 5gallon water jugs.

LeadPoison · « **Reply #21 on:** October 27, 2005, 05:42:04 PM »

Speer 170 grain Gold Dot flat points

JKump · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2005, 11:13:35 AM »

I hunt with a single shot rifle, however, I carry a 4" 357 mag with me in the woods. I have it loaded with PMC 158 gr JSP (jacketed soft point), this is the heaviest 357 round I could find in my shops (all carry 125 gr JHP). I do not reload. Will this round be okay for deer? It will be used for the shots that I can't get the rifle around on. The ranges will be under 35 yards.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2005, 12:53:12 PM »

Those PMC 158g SPs will likely be just fine.