Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting OK you .357 handgun deer hunters...which bullet?

I got my son a .357 maximum T/C Contender rifle (18" bbl) 1-14" twist and was wondering which handgun bullet you would use for it on deer.

My son is 8 yrs old and kinda recoil sensitive, I will be having him practice with .38 specials working up to the .357 Magnum and hopefully the .357 Maximum. (now myself I would probably use a 180 grain bullet probably a XTP) but for him being a bit recoil shy (hopefully with practice he will get over it.) I was thinking of sticking with a 158 grain bullet or something near that.

Anyway "IF" we dont quite make it to the .357 Maximum we could always fall back to a .357 Magnum and keep the distances a bit shorter, on that note I was wondering which bullet would you feel comfortable using if the "maybe" chance you had to fall back to the .357 Magnum?

I hope this question sounds clear?

I was thinking of either the Barnes 140 XPB or the 158 grain Remington JHP or the 158 grain XTP? any others I should consider?

This is whitetail deer in Indiana if it matters and depending how he shoots and which performance level he makes it to will determine distances.

I have not used a 357, but if I did it would be the 158 grain XTP. The Barnes or a good cast bullet might be even better.

When I hunted deer with a .357 Mag, I used 180 grain cast bullets or jacketed hollow points in a Colt Python with a 6" barrel with good results. However, there was a bite on the back end. In the years since, I have carried a 4" S&W Model 66 with 125-grain CorBons while guiding guest hunters. I have finished off mule deer, pronghorns and Coues whitetails with this combination. I have also taken five or six lions with the 125-CorBons (I would have to look at my hunting logs to be sure of the number).

If your shots will be within 50-75 yds, the 125 CorBon loads will kill just about anything if you hit it in the right place, with less recoil than the heavier projectiles. I don't hand load for pistols, so I can't recommend bullets and loads that you could brew up yourself, but if you skim through the offerings in Midway, Cabelas, etc., you could probably figure out how to create something similar to the CorBon loadings.

I don't have a bullet for you, but sure hope that little smilin' dude gets the biggest buck in the woods. I want to see his buck with him smilin' like heck.

Me too my friend, I will definitely have some pics and hopefully some video of a kill shot.

Speer Gold Dot in your choice of weight will get it done too.

Of the ones mentioned the Hornady XTP and the Speer have worked well for me on blacktail deer.
The Gold Dot seems to expand a little more for a slightly larger wound channel (sample of three - all within 75yds or so), but almost no difference between it and the XTP.
I'd just go with what your guns shoots best.
A good hard cast also works well if you shoot cast stuff.

Good Luck,
Ted

I shot a 200lbs doe with a subsonic 158gr XTP at 65 yards. The bullet went between the ribs hit the heart/lung then broke a rib on exit. The exit hole was a bit over 1/2". The deer was already running, it kept running for about 50 yards then collapsed.

I've since developed a load with the 180gr XTP since I still can load it to just under supersonic. I haven't tried them yet but have faith that they will work as well if not better than the 158s.

180 XTP.

Tom,

I've killed a pile of hogs and one 175lb buck with the 357. I primarily used 158JHPs in either Sierra or Win and liked Lil Gun for top MVs and accuracy.

I'm not a big fan of it on game any longer personally, always had very adequate penetration but very little internal damage and tiny exits. Many times there was very little if any blood and the game would run a ways. After I killed the buck and had a time finding him, I drew the line on using it further. The .429 pills just flat do a better job IME.

That said, for deer size game, any of the SPs or JHPs 158 and up should give you plenty of penetration. I never moved to 180s as I felt I didn't need more penetration. My biggest animal with the cart was a bruiser 350lb boar that dressed 285. That was a neck shot at a mere 30yds. It made it to the spine and did the job, but I had to give him another behind the ear to finish him.

Check out the chompers on the big boy:

Made for a nice skull mount.

Here's the buck:


158 Sierra JHP, 60yds, through both shoulders and heart, 1/2" exit at best and couldn't find a drop of blood. Luckily stumbled onto him in some dense brush.

Have a good one,

loder

Thanks guys for all the help.

I believe I am going to go with 158 grainers like I originally said.

Like I said hopefully he will be ok with the recoil of the Max and then I know I dont have anything to worry about as I personally have a considerable amount of experience with it.

I have used 158gr and 180 gr Buffalo Bore with success.

I've always shot the 158 XTP HP in my 357 pistol and the same in a Flatpoint config. in my Marlin rifle. No problems to date.

Joseph

My daughter started shooting a Marlin .357 when she was 7. No complaints about recoil at all. I started her with stout .38's and moved her up to 180 grain XTP's. Fabulous bullet. Here are the results of her pig hunting. Flinch
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread...e_1894_marlin_44magnum_rifle#Post5392579

Just finished loading 100 .38 special loads with 158 grain jhp's in front of some W-231

Might try to take the boy out tomorrow to see if he can shoot em up.

That will be a blast Tom. Let us know how it goes.

What ever you use good luck to you guys, he looks like a good little dude.

Speer Gold Dot 158 gr and Win 296

I'll have to look, I may try my .357 ruger out this winter on some does instead of using a rifle or bow.
What is the effective range of one of these loads out of a 6" barrel revolver? 50yds?

easily.

thx