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Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? #9422455 12/15/14
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 16,908 Time to be someplace else 2 284LUVR OP Campfire Ranger
OP 284LUVR Campfire Ranger 2 Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 16,908 Time to be someplace else	Guys for those of you that are using the 357 out in deer woods I'd appreciate hearing about your 357 magnum deer medicine.

GB1

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? 284LUVR #9422509 12/15/14
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,797 North Carolina dsink Campfire Regular
dsink Campfire Regular Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,797 North Carolina	My load does not use a cast bullet but I use a 158gr XTP and a grain under max of W 296. I always get good exit holes on broad side shots out to 50 yards.

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? dsink #9422708 12/15/14
Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 7,920 Rochester, N.H. USA R RJM Campfire Outfitter
RJM Campfire Outfitter R Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 7,920 Rochester, N.H. USA	Most any 160-180 Keith or LBT design with all the H110/296 or Lil'Gun the case will hold is as good as it gets with cast bullets. Unless a heavy bone is struck they will exit the off side. Last year one of the guys I hunt with took a nice doe with a 6.5" S&W 27-2 using the same load as dsink. The shot was at about 35 yards and punched right through the lungs with little apparent expansion....and out the other side. Deer ran toward his stand and as it passed a second round broke a front leg causing the deer to fall. As it was getting up the third round hit between the shoulder blades breaking the spine. Don't expect a drop in their tracks reaction with a .357 and plan on doing some tracking... Bob If you can not deal with reality, reality will deal with you....

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? RJM #9423113 12/15/14
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,206 CT B Bill_N Campfire Tracker
Bill_N Campfire Tracker B Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,206 CT	Federal used to have a cast 180gr 357 mag load. I think I have a box somewhere if interested. Affordable Sportfishing Charters and Cruises out of Noank CT - https://www.rowdygirlcharters.com/

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? RJM #9423824 12/15/14
Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 9,189 15 min from elk, MT H HuntnShoot Campfire Outfitter
HuntnShoot Campfire Outfitter H Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 9,189 15 min from elk, MT	Originally Posted by RJM Most any 160-180 Keith or LBT design with all the H110/296 or Lil'Gun the case will hold is as good as it gets with cast bullets. Unless a heavy bone is struck they will exit the off side. Last year one of the guys I hunt with took a nice doe with a 6.5" S&W 27-2 using the same load as dsink. The shot was at about 35 yards and punched right through the lungs with little apparent expansion....and out the other side. Deer ran toward his stand and as it passed a second round broke a front leg causing the deer to fall. As it was getting up the third round hit between the shoulder blades breaking the spine. Don't expect a drop in their tracks reaction with a .357 and plan on doing some tracking... Bob +1. I'd add 300MP to the powder list. Shoot for the shoulders. Striking bone is your best bet for easy recovery. I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.

IC B2

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? HuntnShoot #9425509 12/15/14
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,408 Nikiski, AK P PastorDan Campfire Regular
PastorDan Campfire Regular P Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,408 Nikiski, AK	DoubleTap makes a pretty hot 200 gr. WFNGC load in .357 and Buffalo Bore makes a nice 180 gr. WFNGC. Both shoot very well in my S&W 66 and 686. I think they would both be excellent.

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? PastorDan #9425658 12/16/14
Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 12 D dhom New Member
dhom New Member D Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 12	I normally use a 180 WFNGC with a max load of H110. I am shooting a 6" GP100 with a ULTRADOT Matchdot ll. Recently, I have talked to Missouri bullets and ordered there HI-Tek coated cast bullets. [180 WFNPB] They claim there is no smoke, fouling, and you can gain up to 200 fps over the standard lubed cast bullets. I did not try them yet because of weather and other obligations. If the claims are right I will be switching to them.

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? dhom #9430593 12/17/14
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,428 3 340mag Campfire Regular
340mag Campfire Regular 3 Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,428	http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/index.html this nei design works well in my brother in laws marlin 357 mag carbine,over 9.5 grains of blue dot I think you'll find as i have that a 4%-5% tin added to wheel weights makes a very noticeable difference in the appearance and the ability of the bullets to rivet yet remain relatively intact after expanding on impact.Ive used it and it kills hogs and deer with very low recoil or muzzle flash http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357%20Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun Last edited by 340mag; 12/17/14.

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? 340mag #9430944 12/17/14
Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia 458 Lott Campfire Ranger
458 Lott Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 21,317 Alaska / Saudi Arabia	Haven't had a chance to take deer with my 357 yet, but the two bullets I plan to try are a 170 gr hp cast from a mp 360640 mold, and a 200 gr WFN from a ballisticast. H-110 seems to give me the best accuracy, and I figure with the 357 I want all the speed I can get.

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? 458 Lott #9431557 12/17/14
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 435 western NY R rchery59 Campfire Member
rchery59 Campfire Member R Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 435 western NY	I use a 180 pug from mbc. It gets 14.8 gr of w296 behind it. It is the most accurate load I've loaded yet, with any bullet. Use at your own risk, not a published load.

IC B3

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? 284LUVR #9435602 12/19/14
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 33,660 Either Texas or Idaho E EdM Campfire 'Bwana
EdM Campfire 'Bwana E Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 33,660 Either Texas or Idaho	I don't hunt with a 357 but if I did it would likely be with one of these assuming the dia is right for the gun. http://www.westernbullet.com/ly3gr24.html Conduct is the best proof of character.

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? RJM #9447872 12/23/14
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 18,005 Gone To Texas D DocRocket Campfire Ranger
DocRocket Campfire Ranger D Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 18,005 Gone To Texas	Originally Posted by RJM Most any 160-180 Keith or LBT design with all the H110/296 or Lil'Gun the case will hold is as good as it gets with cast bullets. Unless a heavy bone is struck they will exit the off side. Last year one of the guys I hunt with took a nice doe with a 6.5" S&W 27-2 using the same load as dsink. The shot was at about 35 yards and punched right through the lungs with little apparent expansion....and out the other side. Deer ran toward his stand and as it passed a second round broke a front leg causing the deer to fall. As it was getting up the third round hit between the shoulder blades breaking the spine. Don't expect a drop in their tracks reaction with a .357 and plan on doing some tracking... Bob The bold print states the problem pretty clearly. The current mania for hard-cast flat meplat bullets running at high velocities is great for penetration, but penetration is rarely a problem when hunting small thin-skinned game such as deer. I use a 158 gr SJHP bullet for hunting with my 357 Mag revolvers, and I don't drive it particularly hard. The dead-soft lead core expands reliably and leaves a heckuvan exit wound, so deer drop quickly and reliably. I've taken quartering shots as well, with good effect. You could be equally well-served with a 158 gr SWC cast to a BHN of 11-14 or so, which will deform on impact and cause impressive damage to internal organs. Expanding bullet simply work way better on game than solids. Hard cast LBT-type bullets are effectively solids and have no real place in hunting small to medium non-dangerous game. "I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? DocRocket #9448312 12/23/14
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 30,879 USA J jwp475 Campfire 'Bwana
jwp475 Campfire 'Bwana J Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 30,879 USA	Originally Posted by DocRocket Originally Posted by RJM Most any 160-180 Keith or LBT design with all the H110/296 or Lil'Gun the case will hold is as good as it gets with cast bullets. Unless a heavy bone is struck they will exit the off side. Last year one of the guys I hunt with took a nice doe with a 6.5" S&W 27-2 using the same load as dsink. The shot was at about 35 yards and punched right through the lungs with little apparent expansion....and out the other side. Deer ran toward his stand and as it passed a second round broke a front leg causing the deer to fall. As it was getting up the third round hit between the shoulder blades breaking the spine. Don't expect a drop in their tracks reaction with a .357 and plan on doing some tracking... Bob The bold print states the problem pretty clearly. The current mania for hard-cast flat meplat bullets running at high velocities is great for penetration, but penetration is rarely a problem when hunting small thin-skinned game such as deer. I use a 158 gr SJHP bullet for hunting with my 357 Mag revolvers, and I don't drive it particularly hard. The dead-soft lead core expands reliably and leaves a heckuvan exit wound, so deer drop quickly and reliably. I've taken quartering shots as well, with good effect. You could be equally well-served with a 158 gr SWC cast to a BHN of 11-14 or so, which will deform on impact and cause impressive damage to internal organs. Expanding bullet simply work way better on game than solids. Hard cast LBT-type bullets are effectively solids and have no real place in hunting small to medium non-dangerous game. Doc, dsink's load is a JHP, not a hard cast. A true LBT WFN will leave wound channels in my expereince like an expanding bullet. Some of the LBT copies don't work as well in my experience. Originally Posted by dsink My load does not use a cast bullet but I use a 158gr XTP and a grain under max of W 296. I always get good exit holes on broad side shots out to 50 yards. I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first

Re: Cast Bullet 357 Magnum Deer Load ? jwp475 #9450804 12/24/14
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 18,005 Gone To Texas D DocRocket Campfire Ranger
DocRocket Campfire Ranger D Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 18,005 Gone To Texas	John, thanks for pointing out my misread. I've had good results with WFN bullets in 357 as long as they're cast fairly soft. I've also had good results with JHP bullets provided they aren't driven at velocities outside of their velocity envelope for expansion. I guess what I should've said was you need to match your bullet and velocity to the range and game you're expecting. "I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars

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