357 Grizz defense - 24hourcampfire

I know this has been talked about ad nauseam, but I’m headed into grizzly country with a decent tag for elk this fall. I don’t own a 44 magnum and wondering if there is a decent 357 ammo option. I am an eastern Hunter and last time I went into grizzly country I had a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 magnum but I have since traded that pistol.

Budget is limited as I have purchased a new rifle set up this year so trying to work with what I’ve already got.

If your cylinder is lonh enough I'd say 180-200 grain gas check hardcast loads from Buffalo Bore, Underwood or Alaska Backpacker if they're still available. Mackay Sagebrush here also loads this general type of ammo and may have something in 357.

Originally Posted by SargeMO

If your cylinder is lonh enough I'd say 180-200 grain gas check hardcast loads from Buffalo Bore, Underwood or Alaska Backpacker if they're still available. Mackay Sagebrush here also loads this general type of ammo and may have something in 357.

Thanks. I have an older model Colt King Cobra. Manufactured 1993 or 1994. Do you know how I find that cylinder info out?

Does anyone have this info?

Originally Posted by MosesTucker

Originally Posted by SargeMO

If your cylinder is lonh enough I'd say 180-200 grain gas check hardcast loads from Buffalo Bore, Underwood or Alaska Backpacker if they're still available. Mackay Sagebrush here also loads this general type of ammo and may have something in 357.

Thanks. I have an older model Colt King Cobra. Manufactured 1993 or 1994. Do you know how I find that cylinder info out?

Does anyone have this info?

Yes. Call Colt. They "can" be very helpful.

Buffalo Bore should fit any .357 magnum revolver cylinder (BB ammo is 1.560" OAL)

[Linked Image from photos.imageevent.com]

.

Those Buffalo Bore rounds fit in my Ruger SP101 with room to spare.

Buffalo bore it is. Thanks.

Midway has this ammo. Shipping a lot cheaper than direct from Buff Bore

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1000772483?pid=946487

An honest 180 gr. at 1400 fps from a .357 is smoking!

Originally Posted by MOGC

An honest 180 gr. at 1400 fps from a .357 is smoking!

Yes it is and it's listed at 1851 fps in a Marlin 1894

If the cylinder is just long enough to fit any kind of hot ammo I'd want to check for bullet creep. Maybe mark one round and then run a few cycles of ammunition around it.

Originally Posted by paul105

Midway has this ammo. Shipping a lot cheaper than direct from Buff Bore

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1000772483?pid=946487

Just ordered 2 boxes of this to try out. Thanks for the link.

My 158gr LSWC reloads that are crimped at the factory crimp groove fit in everything (including a J frame) except an original King Cobra. Short cylinder compared to S&W and Ruger. OAL on the load is 1.614” and they are a tad bit too long. If the stated BB OAL is correct, they should fit.

He’s not talking 158 gr anything.

The 180 gr WFNGC bullets from Cast Performance have a wide meplat and fit the cylinder of a Model 27 Smith (among the shortest .357 cylinders). I heavy crimp them in the factory groove, back them with 11.5 gr/2400. I’ve shot quite a lot of them, never had one slip. Never used them for larger game, carry occasionally in black bear country.

That said, I’d much prefer a double action revolver for a cartridge that begins with a “4” as grizzly protection.

Never said he was. He is concerned about about what OAL fits in an original King Cobra. Bullet weight has nothing to do with the maximum OAL a King Cobra can fit. My experience is 1.614” is too long for the Colt.

Originally Posted by MosesTucker

Originally Posted by SargeMO

If your cylinder is lonh enough I'd say 180-200 grain gas check hardcast loads from Buffalo Bore, Underwood or Alaska Backpacker if they're still available. Mackay Sagebrush here also loads this general type of ammo and may have something in 357.

Thanks. I have an older model Colt King Cobra. Manufactured 1993 or 1994. Do you know how I find that cylinder info out?

Does anyone have this info?

What barrel length? I got a 6 inch and used to have a 4inch.

Originally Posted by viking

Originally Posted by MosesTucker

Originally Posted by SargeMO

If your cylinder is lonh enough I'd say 180-200 grain gas check hardcast loads from Buffalo Bore, Underwood or Alaska Backpacker if they're still available. Mackay Sagebrush here also loads this general type of ammo and may have something in 357.

Thanks. I have an older model Colt King Cobra. Manufactured 1993 or 1994. Do you know how I find that cylinder info out?

Does anyone have this info?

What barrel length? I got a 6 inch and used to have a 4inch.

Mine is a 6”

Measure a loaded round, put it in the cylinder and measure how much "room" is left in the cylinder. Then compare that info/measurement to the published OACL of what you're getting. Quick and easy...

Some good info. These guys have been collecting data on documented bear defense cases involving firearms. This is the most recent update, there are other posts out there with more info.

https://www.ammoland.com/2022/04/up...rs-123-cases-98-effective/#axzz7YvQi0qYp

A quote from the article. This only derails the most recent cases they have documented.

Quote

Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2022/04/up...rs-123-cases-98-effective/#ixzz7YvRa9TTD
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Follow us: @Ammoland on Twitter | Ammoland on Facebook

Of these 20 cases, 15 involve a single, known, pistol caliber. Here are the current numbers of cases for those calibers:

9mm – seven documented cases, all successful
.38 Special – four documented cases, three successful, one failure
.357 magnum – nine documented cases, eight successful, one failure
.40 S&W – five documented cases, all successful
10mm – six documented cases, all successful
.44 magnum – 37 documented cases, all successful
.45 Long Colt – 2 cases, successful, this includes the .45 Colt/.410 revolver.
Caliber seems far less important than the willingness to use the firearm and kill the bear.

Also... Mackay-Sagebrush loads some great ammo. He offers a 170gr Keith style SWC WN hard cast in 357 Rem Mag. It measures 1.630" OACL. Fits in my M28 no problem, but is flush with the face of the cylinder.

I’m guessing 1.630 won’t work in an original King Cobra (not sure about the reintroduced version).

Anyone know how the Extreme penetrators compare?

I'll have to measure an Alaska Backpacker 200 grain load. They worked fine in a Ruger SP101 but they were too long for a Colt Lawman MKIII. I loved the Colt otherwise but that issue sent it down the road.

If my memory is correct this stuff clocked 1350 fps out of my 6" GP100, its good stuff.

https://www.grizzlycartridge.com/sh...handgun/revolver/357-magnum-200gr-wlngc/

Originally Posted by ronc

If my memory is correct this stuff clocked 1350 fps out of my 6" GP100, its good stuff.

https://www.grizzlycartridge.com/sh...handgun/revolver/357-magnum-200gr-wlngc/

Gonna pick some of this up too..

Make sure the gizzly 200gr OAL is compatible with your revolver - some of their stuff is pretty long.

You might also want to try Underwood (180s). Double tap is another source of 200gr 357s but currently out of stock.

Underwood

https://www.underwoodammo.com/357-magnum-180-grain-lead-flat-nose-gas-check.html

Paul

Originally Posted by paul105

Make sure the gizzly 200gr OAL is compatible with your revolver - some of their stuff is pretty long.

You might also want to try Underwood (180s). Double tap is another source of 200gr 357s but currently out of stock.

Underwood

https://www.underwoodammo.com/357-magnum-180-grain-lead-flat-nose-gas-check.html

Paul

Ok thanks, Paul. I will double check that and probably pick up some underwood. Seems the OAL on the Underwood stuff is a safer bet.

😂! A .357 is than nothing……but, not a lot better! 😉

You’ve been given some very good info on cartridges available. Properly placed, the .357 will work for you, but, that is with anything…..rifle or handgun!

Good Luck on your elk hunt, and may your .357 cartridges be wasted money! memtb

Originally Posted by MosesTucker

Originally Posted by ronc

If my memory is correct this stuff clocked 1350 fps out of my 6" GP100, its good stuff.

https://www.grizzlycartridge.com/sh...handgun/revolver/357-magnum-200gr-wlngc/

Gonna pick some of this up too..

Huh, 200 grain .357.

I may grab a couple boxes and try it myself.

Just for giggles though, to be fair, grizzly encounters are highly unlikely in Kansas.

Originally Posted by memtb

😂! A .357 is than nothing……but, not a lot better! 😉

You’ve been given some very good info on cartridges available. Properly placed, the .357 will work for you, but, that is with anything…..rifle or handgun!

Good Luck on your elk hunt, and may your .357 cartridges be wasted money! memtb

This is great!!! I appreciate the advice and also the well wishes! Will definitely keep my rifle handy and hope the revolver is a waste of weight and space.