Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading 357 mag for deer 125 or 158 or even 170

I've been hunting with a 357 for about 10 years.. I've always shot 125gr ...had some fast kills and some I had to track..now I'm wondering if I might do better with the heavier bullets I do know if you get between the ribs the 125 it is bad out to 50 yards..but I have shot out to 75 or 80 and had to track them down

I've only taken one small doe with the 357 Mag and I used a 170 SWC for that. I've taken a half dozen or so with a 357 Max and a 180 gr Hornady XTP. If I were to hunt deer again with a 357 Mag I'd use the 180 XTP. I took a small spike buck with a 44 Mag with a 180 gr bullet and the bullet came apart, so I moved up to heavier bullets. The 44 180 gr has the same sectional density as the 125 gr 357.

Go to a 44 mag... 200 or 240 XTP
You tell us that you had to track them down. How many have you lost? Seem like if not yet, it is just a matter of time.

What bullet? You can push a 125 at better than 1800 and I cannot see stopping one in Bambi unless to try to go end to end or corner to corner if you use a Barnes XPB.

I gave up on the 357. The last deer I killed was hit absolutely perfectly with a 180 Nosler Partition with the maximum charge of H110. I tracked her for almost 200 yards and she was stone dead but that was it for me. My suggestion would be a heavy LBT WFN and aim intentionally for shoulder bones. The 41 and 44 are night and day different in performance on deer for me.

Friends of mine recommend the Veral Smith 187 gr WFN for deer. I have no experience with it myself. Be Well, Rustyzipper.

You are asking a lot of a 125gr 357 in a handgun at 75 yards...

Try a few impact/penetration tests yourself at the residual velocity at that range and see for yourself.

The results are under whelming.

A minimum 160gr -180gr JHP or WFN with or without a HP would improve the odds.

The Barnes mono will add another level of performance.

The high speed, light weight handgun bullet is a disaster most times. Once in a while you can get spectacular results but most times they will break your heart. What you are looking for in a handgun bullet for hunting is a nice hole, in the right place, with an exit. That makes it pretty simple. A 357 will work but you are walking a fine line so use good bullets, something at least 158 grs or heavier & keep your shots close. A better bet is go up to the 41 or 44 but you didn't ask that. Placement & penetration are your friends when hunting!

Dick

I have a 158 cast SWC bullet over H110 that does serious damage out of my Marlin 1894, but I'm not a big fan of 357 MAG. This was a project I did back during the Obama admin. My goal was to take all my 35-somethings and see if I could come up with a good cast bullet load. Yes, I proved I could, but. . .

This is not my favorite deer load. I'm much more of a 30-06 kind of guy.

https://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=214&category=5&secondary=10

This is the one I'd use with a 357.

I actually have some of those on order from MBC. Probably won't be shipped for 2 or 3 weeks still, according to info when I ordered them. I am planning on loading them for a .357 revolver with 4 inch barrel. What powder charge would you suggest? I have 2400, Unique, and Universal available. Thanks!

Never hurts to try what you have on hand and see what your gun likes? If you’re not completely satisfied with any of those powders, I’d definitely suggest trying H110. For hunting loads in every revolver I have personally owned, H110 has easily been the most consistently accurate. And it meters like a dream.

Henry,
I've only shot them with N110. 12 grains and 12.3. I shot two 5 shot groups at 25 yards. One put 4 in an inch with the fifth 1.5" above the group,and the other with 3 in 1" and 2 cutting the same hole 1.25" directly above those. I haven't shot much for years due to a divorce and all the fun that ushers in, so I was pleased with that. I believe that's also the first time I shot the Model 66 4" too. The next week I went back with a bag of 5 rounds at 12.6 grains of N110 and they did not shoot nearly as good. The 12 grains is still enough for me and believe it would be an effective hunting load with that 180 WFN.

I have an order in with Missouri for some coated 480's and Keith style coated 255 45's for about a month now. When those get here I'll put another in for more 45's in 325 grains, and some more 357 180's. And maybe a couple of the latter if they still shoot that well next time out.

I really like N110. I use it in my Savage ML and it's consistently accurate. It's a little more "civil" than H110 and very accurate. I've been using it for a 335 coated Missouri Bullet in my 5.5 SBK Bisley and Redhawk. It's MUCH more comfortable to shoot with the Redhawk. I'll be running the 255 Keith's in the SBH Bisley.

Dang, you cannot complain about that shooting! I may have to try a pound of N110. Thanks for the info.

If I remember right J.D.Jones years ago said the 357 Magnum was a 50 yard deer gun with the right bullets.

And Doc"the Hitman"Roberts who wrote for "The Sixgunner"Magazine which was dedicated to Handgun Hunting also recommended that the 357 magnum be kept to 50 yards for deer as well,he Killed Hundreds of deer a year(Mostly crop depredation Permits) with all kinds of handguns and cartridges.

I Have killed deer with Handguns .44 mag,Single shot 50 caliber muzzle loaders but not the 357 Magnum.

Based on what I have read and seen with friends use of the 357 Magnum on deer, I would use either a 158 Grain Hollow point or a 158 Grain Jacketed soft point or if using cast I would use the same grain bullets with an alloy of less than 12 brinell Hardness for some expansion ,Keep the ranges to 50 yards or less and broadside shoulder or lung shots.

Or get one of the Larger calibers like the 41 Mag using 210 grain Bullets or the 44 Mag using 240 grain bullets or the 45 Colt using 250 grain Bullets, And have better overall results on Deer.

No deer but if I was gunning for one with my FA .357, I'd be shooting a 170 Gold Dot or 180 XTP, both very accurate in this gun. Haven't tried hard cast. I had to get a taller front sight from FA, but they knew exactly the one I needed. Simple swap out with an Allen wrench.

People talk about how they like the 10 mm, (I have a Glock 40), but the .357 with heavy bullets has very similar performance, just not as many rounds. How many rounds you gonna get off at a deer, anyway...

DF

I think folks have a tendency to underestimate the performance of the 357 because they are influenced by the commercial loads that are available that don't utilize all the potential available from the round, because they have to be safe in small frame revolvers.

There is a big difference...when loaded to full pressure with the right bullet the 357 performs well beyond any factory loads.

From a rifle, or strong pistol the 357 is in a different category of performance.

A full power load behind a heavier bullet like a 180 Hornady HP or the Missouri Bullet referred to earlier is effective on medium game out to 150 yds from a rifle. Safe loads can be achieved that will rival some rifle rounds when fired from a rifle or from a strong pistol like a Freedom Arms or Blackhawk.

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.

OP, if you settle on the Missouri coated 180 brass "Pugnose", 12.0gr 2400 works very well. This out of my Ruger BH and Henry rifle. The Brinell hardness is 18, so they can take a moderetly warm load. Accurate to say the least.

My daughter killed five deer in five years with the Hornady 180 XTP and a healthy dose of Lil’Gun out of a Marlin 1894 carbine. Ranges were from 50 to 125 yards and all were DRT.
Out of 6” or longer revolver barrels we drop to the Hornady 158 XTP to get similar expansion as the heavier bullet out of the carbine. We also stay inside 75 yards but that is limited by our ability, not load power.
Cast bullets punch.35 caliber holes through deer and while they leave good blood trails, deer seem to run farther than with expanding jacketed bullets. Cast bullets seem to work better out of the .44s and .45s for us.

158g Semi wad cutter with gas check,

13-14g of 2400 with a mag primer, and 15g maybe the most accurate.

Shoot them though the shoulders with this bullet and load. The semi wad cutters do as much damage as xtp's, if not more.

I load the 158 xtp for an all around load for my 357 jframe 360 scadnium and my wifes 3" sp101 trail/hiking pistol. The only threats I feel undergunned with that load is grizzly bear.

The 158 xtp penetrates deep and expands some but doesn't over expand at the 1050-1200 fps mv we run them at.

I've got some 180 hard cast too that really move over lilgun but prefer the 158 xtp for all around.

Bb

Of course the guy named Keith recommend a semi wad cutter.

Bb

I’m late to the party but I would look at 158gr JHP’s such as the XTP or the tougher XTP-FP. I wouldn’t feel undergunned with a 158gr JSP or LSWC.

LOL, I have a 158gr Cast Performance bullet load at 1396 fps in my old pre-27 8-3/8ths 357 Mag, I'd gladly shoot a buck through the shoulders with it, betting he wouldn't catch it either.

Damn nice little pistola there DF.

Thanks, gunner.

With it now set up for heavies with the higher front sight, 170 Gold Dot, 180 XTP, or your fav heavy hard cast would make an impression, leave a serious dent in a critter...

As you well know, FA revolvers are bull stout, lock up like a bank vault and make lesser revolvers look like they shooting patterns instead of groups...

Well maybe not some of the line bored custom .45's I have...

DF

You bet DF, the finest factory production I've had my hands on for sure, while not a 357 Mag, I have a near mate to your little '97 in 44 Special, 5.5 inch round butt, I load it mild with the 255gr Keith bullet over 4227 for 1040 fps, a real sweetheart too, maybe some day we can revolver double team some LA. swamp porkers!

The 180 Hornady XTP's have worked well for me out of my S&W 4" M-28, but I keep the yardage close. Much better suited using a 41 mag or 44 mag and in those, I favor hard cast gas checked.

Now, that would be a hoot...

Wouldn't take long to make a real Cajun outta ya, feed you right....

I'm not a Cajun by birth, just by choice...

These guys cook and eat what they kill...

Once ya been a Cajun, even for a while, it's hard to go back...

DF

LOL, wont be hard to feed me anything, a hog aint much picky.

For deer with a 357 mag please look at the numbers for the Speer 140 gr jacketed bullet. I personally think the 110 and 125 gr is too light,and the 158 is just ok but a little heavy. The speed of the 140 is in the sweet spot.

You guys keep talking LA and I forget they are my neighbors to the south and a bit east. I was thinking CA I guess. When I read feral pigs I start out thinkin' feds. I have some bad reading comprehension, eh? Be Well, RZ.

I’m working up a load with lil gun and 180 XTP tomorrow.
I’ve got em loaded and ready to shoot

Didn’t somebody named Wesson kill elk, moose, grizzly and antelope with a 357? My favorite antelope sixgun is a model 27 with 8 3/8s barrel. Favorite bullet is a358156 hollow point. Exits after breaking bone so I’m happy.

Speaking of heavy .357/10mm bullets, I was reading about using pistol bullets in the .358 Winchester, which I'm in the process of putting together. A pre-64 shot out .243 Fwt, now in OR with JES, becoming a .358 Win.

Nathan Foster down in New Zealand does a lot of terminal performance testing on game with a number of loads. Good stuff. Google Ballisticstudies.com.

This is what he wrote on the 170 Gold Dot and 180 XTP at .358 Win speeds. Was sorta surprised that he liked the Gold Dot more than the XTP. I would have guessed the opposite.


For hunting very light bodied deer species, the .358 can be loaded with .357 Magnum bullets. Hornady’s 180 grain XTP bullet can be loaded to 2700fps; however, this bullet and the 158 grain XTP are better utilized as youth loads, down loaded to between 2200 and 2400fps, so as not to inhibit penetration.

The .357” Speer 158 grain Gold Dot hollow point and 170 grain Gold Dot flat point at .358 Winchester velocities are more reliable than the XTP on light game up to 60kg (132lb). The 170 grain Gold Dot used at close ranges performs well from muzzle velocities of 2400fps up to 2800fps.


Go figure...

DF

I really like my 357's. I prefer 44's (magnum or special) or 45 Colt for deer.

I would agree with that.

Now, .357 bullets at .358 Win speeds.....

That would be my ".357" choice for WT;s....

DF

That link is dead now.

Yep, they are bought out, but if you hurry you can still get the coated 158.

I did get some of the 158s. Been stocking up on their coated bullets for a while. I've got them in 4 or 5 different calibers now.

https://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=416&category=20&secondary=10

I have thought the same about 140gr. For some time , the accuracy was lackluster, & not as expected. In therory the 140 gr. should be the Holy Grail. ( Tried 3 different powders )

What is the recomended fuel for these near perfect projectiles ?