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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.[Linked Image from hosting.photobucket.com]
Creeker, what mold is that in pic? Thanks.
looks like an NOE mould
Originally Posted by blammer
looks like an NOE mould

Thanks good looking bullet.
My guess is that it is a Mihec mold.
Rick
Originally Posted by roverboy
Creeker, what mold is that in pic? Thanks.

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.
Originally Posted by Rapier
I use the RCBS 162 gr SWC.

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
Originally Posted by Magnum_Bob
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.
Originally Posted by T_O_M
Originally Posted by Magnum_Bob
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.

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

The Smith 19-yes

Colt 357, Trooper, Python,King Cobra, etc.-no
170 Keith
Loading that bullet in a 38 Special case at the crimp groove can get you all the velocity you need to put one through a deer. F01
I've got a few 358429 HP "boolits". I've never tried hunting with them though. Maybe this Fall I'll remedy that.
No need for a gas check with the 357 but having said that, the old Ray Thompson #358156 is a very accurate bullet. The #358429 is also a very accurate bullet if your cylinder will hold it, as mentioned some cylinders won't in a magnum case but they will in a 38 special case. If you have a large frame gun & you work up to it, 13.5 grs of 2400 with the Keith bullet has taken many, many deer. But, don't use that load without first working up to it & remember Alliant 2400 is just a tick faster than the older Hercules 2400. The Miha 175 gr HP is an excellent bullet & it's a PB.
Also you don't need a really hard cast bullet, shoot them as soft as you can & still maintain accuracy, why would you do it any other way? Again, you want accuracy but you can get that with a bullet that is a bit on the softer side, even if you get a slight amount of leading, how many shots are you
going to fire on a hunt?
Dick
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