Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns .357, Nosler Partition, any good?

DaveR:

I think you are going about this a bit backwards IMO. For what it seems that you are going to spend on ammo to try out, you could, with careful shopping (.357 stuff used is everywhere since almost everyone has one) over time get into reloading (ebay, gun shows, ads in 24hr) (or, if you've really got more time than money you can buy a hand Lee Loader kit complete for less than $20 and a can of the right powder, primers, and bullets(depends on bullets, but say $17 for the powder, $15 for 1000 primers and 5 to 20 cents each for the bullets) and, assuming you have some brass(easy to buy, be given or picked up at many ranges) that is all you need for BASIC reloading) for just a bit more, which is fun and will allow you to taylor your loads to your conditions, practice one day, self defense the next, for much less money. You can assemble those Corbon type loads for about 1/4 of what they cost from the factory, and good hi quality cast loads will run you less than 15 cents each for components. As you can see, the bare minimum requirements for loading are very cheap, you don't even absolutely have to have a scale at first (although one is certainly a near necessity). Just a thought, it ain't rocket science to carefully and safely load your own and it is fun as well for most of us who do. Unless you are loading for competition and then the fun goes away rather rapidly as does loaded ammo. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

DaveR,

I was a bit suprised also, I didn't think it would penetrate well. The Partition puts the .357 in legitimate deer class round territory. As much as I love the .357, I prefer a larger bore when using cast bullets on medium game.

We have a long (Aug - Jan) deer season here, with a liberal bag limit (10 in most areas). Plenty of smaller "culls" to remove. I don't take raking or "hard" shoulder shots with the Partition (or any .357 class cartridge), but for my uses it performs well.

When you get to a point for a larger caliber, don't rule out the FA 97 in .45 Colt. A 300 grain at 1250 fps is no slouch. At 36 ounces (5.5") it's not too light, but you will know when you touch it off. They have a new .44 Spl version out, but I prefer the .45 bore diameter.

Regards,
JB

DaveR,

It always amazes me how people like to trash the .357. Granted, it's not a dinosaur slayer, but it's a lot more effective than people realize. The problem lies with todays wimp-loaded factory ammo. The Federal 180gr HC along with Corbons offerings are the best out there, but even these are only loaded in the mid to upper 30,000 psi range. Certainly a far cry from it's initial 45,000 psi loading.

Let me give a couple performance examples:

On a big 160 lbs doe, at 30 yds: a Remington 180 gr SJHP at 1250 fps struck the shoulder, breaking it, passed through breaking the offside shoulder and exited leaving a silver dollar sized exit. Took a couple jumps and dropped.

On a 140 lbs spike, at 45yds: frontal shot with same load, struck the left shoulder and exited after the last rib on the right and torn up everything in between. Fell on the spot.

On a 160 lbs buck, at 25 yds: the same Remington bullet at 1450 fps (Ruger Bisley) struck a little aft the shoulder but passed completely through shattering both legs. Second raking shot broke a rib going in and exited in the middle of the neck, putting it down for good.

From my limited experience I've never had a problem with the penetration of 180 gr .357 bullets, and these were very soft nosed expanding bullets. If I were to substitute hard cast bullets, I believe they wouldn't have any problem going lengthwise through deer-sized game.

As for black bears, I think the latest issue of Handloader magazine had a great article about handguns and bears and the author used a .357 with solid 180 gr bullets for some time before getting a .44 mag. Listening to most people would have you believe you were unarmed with a .357 against a bear. If pressed hard enough, I think these people would take a .357 (or even a .38 or maybe even a .22 RF mag) over a pointy stick. The fact is that the only sure way to stop a bear is with a good CNS hit. Will a .357 through the skull of a bear be as effective as a .44 in the same spot? Probably. The .357, loaded properly, doesn't give up much, if anything in penetration, and if you can shoot your .357, you're one step ahead of the guy with the .44 who can't produce the same level of accuracy.

Thought that the posts would be interesting.

If you are shooting an unaware black bear then the first shoot should be a controlled expansion round such as the winchester partion gold (not sure if these are available in 357)

If you are shooting a enraged/charging black bear then you need penetration. Use rounds with the heaviest hard cast bullets you can find. The Federal Premium Ammunition 357 Magnum 180 Grain CastCore rounds would be pretty good. Though you might find better bullets by searching through the specialty ammo companies.

Another solution is to use the rifle that you are using for the beasts you are calling. I think that even a .223 would have more effect on a bear than a 357 if you used the right bullets. These guys ( Safari Arms) sell .223, .22-250 and 220 swift ammo with X bullets.

You also could call with your big game rifle, any caliber that is capable of taking a black bear can take coyotes easily. Though it is likely there would not be much of the coyote left.

DaveR

Interesting discussion.

Inregards to the 44 mag/Bear coming into the cabin incident. That sounds like Larry Kelley of "Magnaport". If it is, Larry was using factory 240gr SP at the time of the incident and after the bear was killed and the effects of the bullet examined, they found that the 240gr soft points expanded to fast and didn't penetrate deep enough to immobilize/kill the bear quickly...He later went to a hardcast, heavier bullet. If I remember correctly.

Prospector

EVERY TUB HAS TO SIT ON ITS OWN BOTTOM.

Give that man a free box of ammo! Yes, it was Kelly. Either you've heard him tell it, or it has been since published in one of the gun mags.

Goes to show how important proper bullet selection is as well. The best round in the world won't perform up to it's ability without proper bullet construction for the job. Big animals require lots of penetration. A 44 caliber bullet expanded to twice it's size does little good if it's lodged in the near shoulder of an animal, or broken apart.

Give me a 357 with the proper rounds anyday over a 44 with the wrong ones.

I'll also take a 44 mag or 45 colt with proper rounds over a 454 with the wrong ones as well. It's not all just about caliber and muzzle energy.