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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 16,915
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 16,915 |
Guys for those of you that are using the 357 out in deer woods I'd appreciate hearing about your 357 magnum deer medicine.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,797
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,797 |
My load does not use a cast bullet but I use a 158gr XTP and a grain under max of W 296. I always get good exit holes on broad side shots out to 50 yards.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,920
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,920 |
Most any 160-180 Keith or LBT design with all the H110/296 or Lil'Gun the case will hold is as good as it gets with cast bullets. Unless a heavy bone is struck they will exit the off side.
Last year one of the guys I hunt with took a nice doe with a 6.5" S&W 27-2 using the same load as dsink. The shot was at about 35 yards and punched right through the lungs with little apparent expansion....and out the other side. Deer ran toward his stand and as it passed a second round broke a front leg causing the deer to fall. As it was getting up the third round hit between the shoulder blades breaking the spine.
Don't expect a drop in their tracks reaction with a .357 and plan on doing some tracking...
Bob
If you can not deal with reality, reality will deal with you....
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,206
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,206 |
Federal used to have a cast 180gr 357 mag load. I think I have a box somewhere if interested.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
Most any 160-180 Keith or LBT design with all the H110/296 or Lil'Gun the case will hold is as good as it gets with cast bullets. Unless a heavy bone is struck they will exit the off side.
Last year one of the guys I hunt with took a nice doe with a 6.5" S&W 27-2 using the same load as dsink. The shot was at about 35 yards and punched right through the lungs with little apparent expansion....and out the other side. Deer ran toward his stand and as it passed a second round broke a front leg causing the deer to fall. As it was getting up the third round hit between the shoulder blades breaking the spine.
Don't expect a drop in their tracks reaction with a .357 and plan on doing some tracking...
Bob +1. I'd add 300MP to the powder list. Shoot for the shoulders. Striking bone is your best bet for easy recovery.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,408
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,408 |
DoubleTap makes a pretty hot 200 gr. WFNGC load in .357 and Buffalo Bore makes a nice 180 gr. WFNGC. Both shoot very well in my S&W 66 and 686. I think they would both be excellent.
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12 |
I normally use a 180 WFNGC with a max load of H110. I am shooting a 6" GP100 with a ULTRADOT Matchdot ll. Recently, I have talked to Missouri bullets and ordered there HI-Tek coated cast bullets. [180 WFNPB] They claim there is no smoke, fouling, and you can gain up to 200 fps over the standard lubed cast bullets. I did not try them yet because of weather and other obligations. If the claims are right I will be switching to them.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
Haven't had a chance to take deer with my 357 yet, but the two bullets I plan to try are a 170 gr hp cast from a mp 360640 mold, and a 200 gr WFN from a ballisticast. H-110 seems to give me the best accuracy, and I figure with the 357 I want all the speed I can get.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 435
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 435 |
I use a 180 pug from mbc. It gets 14.8 gr of w296 behind it. It is the most accurate load I've loaded yet, with any bullet. Use at your own risk, not a published load.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,728 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,728 Likes: 2 |
I don't hunt with a 357 but if I did it would likely be with one of these assuming the dia is right for the gun. http://www.westernbullet.com/ly3gr24.html
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,005
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,005 |
Most any 160-180 Keith or LBT design with all the H110/296 or Lil'Gun the case will hold is as good as it gets with cast bullets. Unless a heavy bone is struck they will exit the off side.
Last year one of the guys I hunt with took a nice doe with a 6.5" S&W 27-2 using the same load as dsink. The shot was at about 35 yards and punched right through the lungs with little apparent expansion....and out the other side. Deer ran toward his stand and as it passed a second round broke a front leg causing the deer to fall. As it was getting up the third round hit between the shoulder blades breaking the spine.
Don't expect a drop in their tracks reaction with a .357 and plan on doing some tracking...
Bob The bold print states the problem pretty clearly. The current mania for hard-cast flat meplat bullets running at high velocities is great for penetration, but penetration is rarely a problem when hunting small thin-skinned game such as deer. I use a 158 gr SJHP bullet for hunting with my 357 Mag revolvers, and I don't drive it particularly hard. The dead-soft lead core expands reliably and leaves a heckuvan exit wound, so deer drop quickly and reliably. I've taken quartering shots as well, with good effect. You could be equally well-served with a 158 gr SWC cast to a BHN of 11-14 or so, which will deform on impact and cause impressive damage to internal organs. Expanding bullet simply work way better on game than solids. Hard cast LBT-type bullets are effectively solids and have no real place in hunting small to medium non-dangerous game.
"I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,939 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,939 Likes: 1 |
Most any 160-180 Keith or LBT design with all the H110/296 or Lil'Gun the case will hold is as good as it gets with cast bullets. Unless a heavy bone is struck they will exit the off side.
Last year one of the guys I hunt with took a nice doe with a 6.5" S&W 27-2 using the same load as dsink. The shot was at about 35 yards and punched right through the lungs with little apparent expansion....and out the other side. Deer ran toward his stand and as it passed a second round broke a front leg causing the deer to fall. As it was getting up the third round hit between the shoulder blades breaking the spine.
Don't expect a drop in their tracks reaction with a .357 and plan on doing some tracking...
Bob The bold print states the problem pretty clearly. The current mania for hard-cast flat meplat bullets running at high velocities is great for penetration, but penetration is rarely a problem when hunting small thin-skinned game such as deer. I use a 158 gr SJHP bullet for hunting with my 357 Mag revolvers, and I don't drive it particularly hard. The dead-soft lead core expands reliably and leaves a heckuvan exit wound, so deer drop quickly and reliably. I've taken quartering shots as well, with good effect. You could be equally well-served with a 158 gr SWC cast to a BHN of 11-14 or so, which will deform on impact and cause impressive damage to internal organs. Expanding bullet simply work way better on game than solids. Hard cast LBT-type bullets are effectively solids and have no real place in hunting small to medium non-dangerous game. Doc, dsink's load is a JHP, not a hard cast. A true LBT WFN will leave wound channels in my expereince like an expanding bullet. Some of the LBT copies don't work as well in my experience. My load does not use a cast bullet but I use a 158gr XTP and a grain under max of W 296. I always get good exit holes on broad side shots out to 50 yards.
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,005
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,005 |
John, thanks for pointing out my misread.
I've had good results with WFN bullets in 357 as long as they're cast fairly soft. I've also had good results with JHP bullets provided they aren't driven at velocities outside of their velocity envelope for expansion.
I guess what I should've said was you need to match your bullet and velocity to the range and game you're expecting.
"I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars
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