Originally Posted by Boogaloo
You are asking a lot of a 125gr 357 in a handgun at 75 yards...
A minimum 160gr -180gr JHP or WFN with or without a HP would improve the odds.


Originally Posted by Idaho1945
The high speed, light weight handgun bullet is a disaster most times. Placement & penetration are your friends when hunting!



Originally Posted by Boogaloo
My philosophy is to let the heavier bullet do the work, and it will, but as an example it can be safely done.


All very good points. I tested Buffalo Bore's 125gr JHC, 158gr JHC, and their 180gr LFN bullets before I started reloading. The 125s shot the best but I settled on the runner-up, the 180gr LFN, for it's ability to penetrate. Of the 5 deer I shot with that load only one dropped in it's tracks. The other 4 darted off with a serious inability to use all 4 legs and dropped in sight. There's no replacement for displacement!

Thanks, Dinny

ETA: I shot and killed a black bear last year with a 270gr LFP in my 357 Maximum. So yes, I like heavy bullets.


Last edited by Dinny; 05/20/20.
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