Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting cast bullet for deer 357 mag GP100 6" barrel

What cast bullet makes for a good dear load out of a Ruger GP100 357 mag revolver? (25 to 50 yard shots)

With whatever you suggest, also include a muzzle velocity range and BHN level you advise to use.

Thanks!

I haven’t killed a deer with a 357 cast bullet yet, but if I were to try to do so, my choice would either be the old 358156HP at about 10-12 BHN, and shoot for the lungs, or a 160 gr. LBT WFN at 16+ BHN and break shoulders. In either case I’d try for the max accurate load. I have killed deer with a 44 cal cast LBT WFN (260 gr. at 950) out of a 44 special. There isn’t an angle I can shoot a deer at that will stop that bullet.

Old70

That sounds like good advice to me. Just make sure the bullet fits your throats.

Thanks for the input!!

172 Keith SW cast out of plain wheel weights with a gas checks works very well out of a revolver at anything above 900 fps which gives you a lot of room to load as your pistol likes.
F01

I've found stunning accuracy with Lyman 358156 sized to .358 with a gas check applied loaded in both 38 spl and 357 mag. It's long been recommended for hotter 357 mag loads by Skeeter Skelton and others so I finally ordered up a mold to see if they were correct. Very glad I did. I wouldn't be without this mold

A standard weight or heavier cast HP at 10-12 BHN moving at 1200 FPS or so, placed the same way the archer places an arrow will put meat in your freezer.

Creeker, what mold is that in pic? Thanks.

looks like an NOE mould

Thanks good looking bullet.

My guess is that it is a Mihec mold.
Rick

Sorry this took so long, just received the notification. It is an NOE 360-158-WFN. The bullet pictured was fired in cup point form from a 357 Magnum at 1250 FPS.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/bullet-moulds/358/360-158-wfn-t4/360-160-wfn-2-cavity-pb/

Wonder about that bullet from a 357 Herrett? Should be no problem getting to 1250 FPS for a Herrett and good performance, and it doesn’t look like it takes a gas check, which is a plus in my book.

Only two so far. 357446, wheel weight metal. 13.5/2400 out of a 2 3/4" Security Sux at fifteen yards. Wasn't hunting, target iPod opportunity during late season/handgun in IL. (yes, my gun was 1 1/4" short. Other, 358156 gc again ww metal. 14.5 2400. 6 1/2" Blackhawk. As both were headshots and both were good shots, drt. Full penetration.
I'm using the 358156 in my Blackhawk, my Henry single and my converted Win 92. 14.5 2400.

I use the RCBS 162 gr SWC over a stout load of H-110/296 cast real hard. I size to the slugged groove diameter. I am not concerned with expansion on handgun bullets, I want real accuracy with a handgun. You need a bullet and a load that will hold 1" at 50, at least, off the bench. If the gun can not hold to the accuracy needed, get a different gun, that will do so.

That is a very under-rated bullet.

Can you seat a 358429 Keith swc in the case to the crimp groove and still stay in the length of the cyl? At 168grs it's a good one...mb

Depends on the gun .. not all .357 cylinders are the same length. I loaded up some dummies .. .38 case standard crimp, .357 case over the shoulder, and .357 case standard crimp. You're interested in the standard crimp .357. It would not work in a J frame .357 by a good margin. It didn't work in my 686+. I didn't fire any, but they would rotate in a pair of GP-100s but just barely: they seem dead flush and any amount of bullet pull at all from recoil would appear to tie up the gun. I don't know about others .. Blackhawk, S&W 27, Redhawk, and so on.

My two 357 handgun killed deer were shot with a Lyman 357446 wheel weight metal and 12 grains of old Hercules 2400. Target of opportunity at 25 yards. Between eye and ear. (illegal 2 3/4" barrel). Second was 358156 gas check, linotype, 14.5 Alliant 2400. 6 1/2 Blackhawk. Heart/lung. Fifty yard sprint. No bullet recovered, through shot, no evident expansion but looked like it went straight throug, clipping as rib.
Don't know velocities but the gas check load is what goes in my Ruger and Henry. single shot this season.

GP-yes, BlackHawk-yes, Redhawk-yes, 27/28-no.

The Smith 19-yes

Colt 357, Trooper, Python,King Cobra, etc.-no