Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Heavy bullet for 357 Magnum?

I don't know of any 200gr factory load for .357, but if there isn't one, there ought to be. I haven't killed any large animal with the .357, and I can't attest to the performance of any expanding 180g load. But I can tell you that the hard cast 180gr from Buffalo Bore from a 4" Security Six clocks a little south of the advertised 1400fps, and is pretty unpleasant to shoot.

The shooter who can make fast and accurate follow up shots with that load in a 4" medium frame revolver has my deepest respect. In a large frame, it might be more practical, but I don't have one around here to try.

I got some 250 grain Hornady that I shoot in my Whelen ! 😇

I have been disappointed in the penetration of the heavier jacketed bullets out of a 357. My 2 cents says that a hard cast 158-160 gr SWC bullet, is far more reliable. This style of bullet used to often be referred to a "keith style" as old Elmer used to preach this as gospel. I agree.
Trialed some heavier cast bullets and had trouble with accuracy and was not happy with velocities. I have never used any of the fully jacketed (military style) bullets for hunting, but I do like some of the copper washed cast bullets.
My experience has been with whitetails, 1 bear, and several Florida hogs. A 4" S&W mod 19 is my weapon of choice for hogs. Most of this shooting is close to very close range.
In reality, a good 44 Special load will provide performance that is superior to a 357, in every way.

I still have a part box of 200 grain Alaska Backpacker .357 ammo left over from a trip up there several years ago. Good potent stuff. nearly 1000 fps from a 2 1/4" SP-101. I don't know if it's still being produced.

There are several makers producing full power 180 grain hardcast loads and that's what I'd equip her with, in your shoes.

I have a a Combat Magnum S&W, wouldn’t want to shoot that kinda ammo in my gun, hard on the gun and the shooter.

170 Gold Dots do very well in my FA 97. I did have to get a taller front sight. FA folks were very helpful, knew exactly the height I needed. It would work well with hard cast 170’s or 180’s. Those are about as heavy as I would want in a .357.

For heavier, I’d go with a .45. My line bored, three screw SBH .45 Colt loves Penn Bullets 270 Thunderhead. Google them. A real thumper, big meplat.

DF

BTW, I found that Buffalo Bore 180gr load to be very accurate.

I have some of the Buffalo Bore 180 gn "Outdoorsman" ammo that I shot out of a Taurus 605 (Steel J-frame clone). I need to chronograph it, but it's rowdy for sure.

I read that a bow guide and his daughter guide both pack J-frames in .357 mag for bear country. The reasoning is that to stop a bear, you need a CNS hit in a gun that you can control, and it can penetrate. Heavy, hard cast .357 traveling at 1200-1400 fps aught to do that.

I think that's the right idea.



One thing I'll give you a heads up on is that N-frame .357s like the 28, have a shorter chamber length and may not chamber the long nosed heavies. Those guns were developed before the heavy for caliber rounds were.

K & L frames, plus Ruger GP and SPs have a longer chamber.

I fired 5 of those from my 12oz S&W 360, I am "saving" the rest of them.

The problem with loading heavy bullets in your model 28 S&W is, most of them won't fit in the cylinder in a 357 magnum case. For many, many years I loaded the Keith 173 gr bullet in 38 special cases & 2400 powder in my model 28 for a quite powerful load. That's a load that she could handle, especially with a set of Pachmyr grips. She has to been able to hit what she's shooting at & I've killed deer with that load. If she has to use it on a bear it's going to be close.
Way too many people over gun themselves when picking a "bear" gun & load, you have to hit something to get it's attention. If you want some good Keith bullets PM me & I'll send you some. I'll also tell you a couple of other things you can do to help her shoot double action better.

Dick

Waiting for BFR and Dufous to show up to tell you guys how stupid you are for not recommending a .500 something or other handgun for the lady. Because .357's will bounce off the bear (she may get an eye poked out from a rebounding bear bounced off bullet) and she needs to start with a big bore blaster and work her way down from there for best shooting results.

Who was it that took a 357 (8 inch) to Alaska and harvested big game with it? What load did he use?

Without a lot of range time using those heavy .357 loads, she, or anyone else, is going to have difficulty getting off a second aimed shot. Not saying it can be done, but doing takes a lot of practice.

For sure.

Phil Shoemaker, while guiding a fishing party, reportedly killed a big bear with his 9mm. IIRC, he used heavy for caliber, hard cast bullets.

But, Phil is an experienced guide, knows where to hit a bear, is a cool operator under pressure and obviously knows how to shoot.

You just don't find that combo in many individuals.

For the average gringo armed with a pistol, I'd give the advantage to the bear. I think odds makers in Vagus would probably back that..

DF

Phil also had the advantage of firing broadside into the bear, at close range, while it was harassing somebody else. Just offering this for a little perspective.

The Buffalo Bore Heavy load is pretty sporty recoil-wise. If your friend doesn't like the thump of the 45 she isn't going to care for the BB 180 either.

On the rare occasion that I carry a 357 off pavement it's loaded with the 190 gr LBT style bullet from Hunter's Supply. I run them over 11 grains of 2400 and they average 1080 f/s from a 4" barrel. Recoil is manageable for follow-up shots and they do fit in the short cylinder of Smith 27 & 28's. I've never shot a critter with it, though I'm sure it'll do the deed on the black bears in these parts. The Buffalo Bore 9mm load mentioned earlier is a 147 at 1100, so it's in that same ballpark plus a bit.

I wasn't aware this thread was about ointment.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35_417&products_id=3087

this hard cast water dropped with GC at 1300 fps or better should work.

Why not just use the 38 Special Outdoors Man.