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

FYI, 300MP is the same powder as: H110, w296, and AA#11FS so any of those would work equally as well.

I like the 190 Hunter Supply in my 4" 686+ and I have a box of 200g Cast Performance WFNGC bullets that I haven't loaded yet. I have heard the 180 XTP is excellent as well but I have no first hand experience with it. For Bear Defense, I would go with a double action personally. I would feel ok with a 180-200g hard cast in the 686+ but would rather my 629 with a 320 WFNGC.

If she can shoot the 357 well, that is what she should carry IMO.

You asked about factory loads. If Buffalo Bore's 357 magnum heavy cast bullet load wont work in your cylinder due to length, then you could go down to .38 special Buffalo Bore load.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/8...hard-cast-lead-semi-wadcutter-box-of-20#

Its faster than the "FBI" load she is shooting, but more importantly, its a hard cast bullet for penetration. This load should fit in your Highway Patrolman.

Tell her nicely to MAN UP BUTTERCUP!!! My compactly built 5'2" Irish red head can put on a clinic shooting my 357's with my hottest 158 grain XTP loads. She's shot my 180 grain XTP loads, but says "They sting a little".

In all seriousness, your girl needs to shoot more. Stock up on 38's and let her blast away at "things" not paper. Things like tin cans, clay pigeons, golf balls, things that when you hit close to they move. Shooting paper is too "exact" and can ruin a good instinctive shooter like my m'issus is.

When she's comfortable with the 38's, amp it up a little at a time. Get her a glove. A pair of those mechanics gloves work and cut the fingers off at the second knuckle.

your post reminds me of my wife. When i first bought a super redhawk in 44mag, all i had was a box of factory 180's, she was the first one to shoot the revolver. Didn't bother her, which was not what i expected. Nobody had told her being a girl it would be uncomfortable to shoot.
she has always prefered heavier handguns, i think because it deadens the recoil.

'T m'issus is no Jesse Harrison, but I feel sorry for the bad'un that tests her mettle.

This

The buffalo bore 38sp +p outdoorsman loads push a hardcast 158gr Keith bullet at around 1200 fps. Should penetrate fine into a skull box and still be controllable.

Underwood also makes a 158 hard cast Keith load in 38 special, also at around 1200 fps. Buy both or either and go from there. Problem solved.