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Planning to take a deer next season with a 357 and would like to hear some thoughts on which of these two bullets to use.

I've kilt a bunch of whitetails with a 240r XTP out of a 44mag and really like the performance I've seen with this Hornady bullet so I'm 99% locked into one or the other.


Thanks.


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I'm currently doing load work up with a 4 inch .357. Most of my accuracy loads with the 158 grain are chronographing between 1125 and 1225 fps. I wouldn't have believed that the bullets are only going this fast but the chronograph doesn't lie.

17 grains mp 300 158 xtp starline case with a cci primer. 1180 fps

14.1 2400 starline case cci primer 158 xtp 1205 fps...most accurate tested

14.7 h110 starline case cci primer 158 xtp 1125 fps

unless your talking about hunting with a rifle I'd just use the 158 grain.

To muddy the waters even further from a 4 inch barrel none of my accuracy loads went over 1300 fps. To be honest I think that most of the time a 140 grainer would be good enough for most deer. Seeing as your in the Midwest and have big deer I think that the 158s might be just the ticket though.

Last edited by 79inpa; 01/18/16.
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Should have mentioned this, but I do primarily hunt with a handgun here. The handgun in question is a 6" 586 S&W.

Thanks for the input 79er.


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Don't want to hijack this post but What velocity are you shooting your 44 w 240 gr ftp's at? I have been shooting a fiche load that delivers 1200 fps and I would have liked a little more speed to give me more expansion. Opened up some hollow points by making them deeper by 0.100" that could do it but it could also affect my grouping and accuracy but only shooting will tell.
weight reduced by only 9 grains.

On game I found the XTP at 1200 to be lacking in the expansion department.
The bullets laid everything down within 40 yards but i shot a yearling quartering to and it exited out his opposite ham. Figure if i had more expansion it would have stayed inside. And he should have dropped. 4 deer were shot from 28 to 111 yards. All of the trotted away a little distance.

First time hunting whitetail w the XTP. Have shot lots of Stag with the 44 at 1350 and i usually drops them inside of 100 yards.

Not complaining. just looking for a little more violent expansion and a little more hammer effect. Have a couple hundred rounds of this stuff so not going to change loads any time soon.

Curious to hear your feedback Muleshoe and anyone else willing to pitch in.
thanks and feel free to PM if this will take the post off topic. thanks
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My 8yo son has killed 3 whitetails in the past two years with a 357 Mag rifle using the 158gr XTP-HP. Shots were 30-60yds. One deer made it 30yds, the other two dropped at the shot. I've been very impressed with how effective it is for the pittance of recoil.

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I used to hunt whitetails quite a bit with a handgun in Texas and Nebraska. I tried both 158-grain and 180-grain bullets and much preferred the performance of the 180s. But that was 25-30 years ago and bullets in factory cartridges are much improved. I would recommend that you use whichever bullet is most accurate at the ranges you will be shooting deer.

FWIW, I have killed a few lions and administered a coup de gras to several mule deer using 125-grain CorBons in a 4" Model 66 Smith and Wesson--never had to shoot one twice.


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TOA,
My 240r XTP load was a case packed full of 296 that left at +/-1370fps. Now that was out of a 7.5" Redhawk. My last deer was shot with a 5" 629. I have not chronied this load out of this barrel, but the same boring devastation was the result. Nickel size in and Half dollar size out, and a dead on the feet whitetail. I have never recovered one of these bullets but would like to see one sometime.

Thanks for the chatter guys.


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I haven't used my 357 for hunting in a while, but always chose 158s. If I do decide to hunt with it again it will be with 125s as I've gotten very poor expansion from 158s. I killed several hogs years ago with 125s and they seemed to do better with the added velocity. It doesn't take much for penetration on whitetail.

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my hornady book only recommends the 140,158, and 180 grainers for hunting. I realize that this is due to some people shooting the same bullets in carbine length rifles. I've never gotten a deer with the .357 I'm just going by what I read. Personally I think that I'm going to try the 140 grainers for deer before I load anything else.

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i have killed a few
s&w model 19 357 6" barrel

Remington SJHP 180 grain max charge of blue dot


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Originally Posted by 79inpa
I think that I'm going to try the 140 grainers for deer before I load anything else.


Count me in as one who enjoys shooting the 140's out of the 357. I have a 5 inch GP100 that likes the Hornady 140 grain XTP pushed by RamShot True Blue.

I haven't had the chance to shoot a head of game with it so far, but I feel fairly confident with the load.



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If media is any indication.. I like to load the 180 XTP in my 357, when I need to rely on it...

the 158 is great, but the 180 is better...

I'm in the heavy and slower camp, vs the faster and lighter camp...on any bullets...

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Well I found a couple boxes of 140r XTP's I must have bought a while back for some reason, don't remember...

I think I will load up a few and see how they run.

Thanks fellas.


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Mule shoe- I used a 125 rem sjhp with a whole lot of 296 out of my 6" 586 for two mule deer bucks. with a 6" python long ago, I used a 150 sierra jhp and a whole lot of 630. all of them were small deer, less than 50 yards. one shot each.

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Hi all, new to forums. I recently bought a rossi 972 6" 357mag abd took it deer hunting in southern illinois. 2015's season i shot a nice sized buck at around 25yards using some cheap blazer brass jhp's. Lung shot, went through one rib and the cup completely fragmented vaporizing the lungs and the core went through the top of the shoulder. Deer died on spot but i doubt it would have penetrated the shoulder shot directly. If you can keep shots behind the shoulder the xtp should perform well in 158 grain bullets. The expansion velocity for the 158grain xtp-hp is stated between 800-1400fps. The 180grainer was designed mostly for rifles with an expansion velocity of 1200-1600 fps. Unless you keep your shots in 25 or less yards the 180 is essentialy hard ball. Revolver hunting is very challenging. Practice alot and be safe. Happy hunting.

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I would look to 140s in the ribs, for violent expansion and adequate penetration, or hard cast 158/160/180gr and break bones and penetrate. I generally deal with carbine 357 Maximum velocities, and have to be choosy as to bullet selection for performance windows. The slower velocity of the mag, especially in a pistol, makes getting both expansion AND penetration more challenging for picking bullets. JME

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I took a doe a few years back with a 4" Ruger GP100 and 140gr Xtp bullet. Shot was only 20 yards, but it was straight on frontal. Bullet entered to the left of the sternum, and penetrated to the off side ribcage and exited. about 14" of penetration. I would go with 140's or 158's. I think the 180's eat up to much case capacity. IMO


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IF you really want expansion, the Rem 180s will do that.

I have not shot anything but water filled milk jugs and phone books with it, but it performed like a Partition in both.


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