Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Factory .357 ammo for whitetailed deer

I have a 4 inch .357 ruger and I am going to be using for very close range hunting this season. I am comfident of my grouping under 30 yards that I will be able to make a clean kill. Which ammo will have the best expansion and penetration at this range? I am aware that placement is everything, so which bullet is best suited for me?

Factory load or reload? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

At this time, I don't know how to reload. (I am interested in it though). I am looking for some off the shelf ready to go stuff.

Here's some stuff that would work given good shot placement and reasonable yardage:

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=49

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=152

I like the Federal 180 grain cast sore. This is an Lbt style flat point with a good meplat and itshould work very well for you intended pupose................. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for your ideas. Would Corbon or DPX be a good choice or is it a bunch of advertising bs?

Two add a few to the list, Cor-Bon is good as are the Federal Hunting loads, Buffalo Bore is another. Any brand that is loaded with a premium cast lead of about 180g or in the case of the Federal Penetrator that uses a Barnes 140g XPB. Handgun bullets kill differently that rifle bullets. They are moving about half or less as fast as a rifle bullet. You want to try to punch through the deer to have a hole on both sides, more blood easy trail, also try to break down the front end if you can. Deer can't run with two busted front shoulders. At the 30 yard range you speak off the hard cast 180g lead will do all the you need done to deer.

Standard 158-gr jacketed soft point will shoot completely through any deer, and expand fast. I reloads, I shoot a Speer 140, my personal defense load.