Looking at getting a deer load ready for a 17" Henry Lever gun.
Anything better than 158 xtp?

Which is preferred, the FP or JHP?

I've got a boatload of 158 SWC from blue bullets I shoot out of my 686.

Would I risk losing a deer if I took a poke with one of those?

Shots will be out to 100.

Thanks.

Bermp

CA,

The FP's are made for carbines such as yours.

That's good news, brownells has them on sale.

Well crap.
All sold out now.
Snoozers are loosers.

180gr XTP, the extra velocity and slight flatter trajectory using the 158's is meaningless, you want penetration, max loads with H-110, WW-296 powder will get you there.

I've only killed deer with a158gr Hollow Point XTP's from a 16 1/2 lever action. Never further than 50 yards or so.

Thanks gunner.
As an added bonus to the 180s, brownells still has them

Welcome, grab 500 of em!

Using code "TAG" I bought 800 for $157.87 delivered
I've got 2 lbs of AA #9 left.
We'll see how that shoots and go from there.
Thanks all.

For what it's worth the 180 xtp is the most accurate bullet by a fair amount that I've tried in my 686 useing H110. Haven't used it on deer yet so can't comment on that!

Trystan

Good to know.
I like loads that work well out of all my guns.

How's the recoil?

The Hornady book specs a max charge of 13.1 H110.
That's got some oomph for a pistol.

Dang, hornady's got alliant 2400 doing 100fps faster than h110.
I've gotta get me some of that.

They show 1250 out of an 8" python with 12.6 grains of 2400.
That'll be skookum with another foot of barrel

AA#9 will work well for you.

(not sayin' you shouldn't get some 2400 you understand)

CA,

2400 is what I shoot in my revolvers. The 158gr XTP works, but in my experience the 158gr Nolser HP is more accurate.

NICE that AA#9 will get you there too.

Lil Gun will get you top speed with 158-180gr bullets in your carbine. With heavier weights 200+, 110/296 has worked better for me.

Hogdon has load data for 180 grain 357 with 15.0 grains of lil gun pushing 1422 fps, but that's out of a 10" barrel.
My buddy that shoots 350 legend (essentially a 357 max for AR15s) loves the stuff. Might have to try that too.
Thanks HuntNShoot.

That's with a 180gr Nosler Partition. The 180 XTP is shorter and far less "sticky" in the bore, and 16 grains of Lil Gun is still fairly mild with that bullet, in my experience. My preferred load is 16.5 gr Lil Gun with the 180 XTP.

That's a stout dose.
I'll start quite a bit lower and work up.

You killed many critters with that load?
How's it do on game?

Curious how people's hunting results compare to lighter faster rifle loads.

Thoughts?

The recoil isn't bad. I loaded 14 gr H110 which is over book max and the Chrono showed 1050 fps 6" barrel

It's not stout. I've gone up to over 17 gr of Lil Gun in the shorter cartridge OAL in the rifle (the 180 XTP has two crimp grooves). 16.5 is just a better all-around load for rifle and handgun.

Have only killed one deer with the 180 XTP out of the 20" rifle, about 80 yards nearly broadside. In the ribs and clipped the humerus of the off-side leg. Deer flopped forward and hit the dirt kicking. Was dead when I got to it. Tested on water jugs and 1/2" OSB: bullet went through 4 pieces of the ply spaced through 10 gallon-size water jugs. The bullet was in the 11th jug and perfectly mushroomed, weighing exactly 135 grains (75%). Have packed that combo for elk in the timber but the elk have not cooperated. One of these years. I'm sure it would hammer any deer walking, and wouldn't hesitate to use it on anything I'd hunt in the US, given a range limitation.

I'm hearing from more and more handloaders than load a good bit over published loads.

The place I deer hunt is a relatively small homestead between suburban developments, so ideally I don't want animals running too far before they bleed out.
Sounds like the 357 carbine will put them down as fast as anything (I know, shot placement yada yada yada).
Thanks for the info guys