.357 Deer loads

[Nevada Ed]

For those that hunt with a 357 mag..........just woundering which style of bullet you prefer if you use it to go deer hunting with.

I am running out of my old Speer 160gr SJSP lead FP bullets
loaded to 1230 fps but can get the 158 xtp up to 1270 fps if needed.

Finally tried the 158 Lswc with a maximum load and got it to come out of my 6" 686 at 1320 fps with 611 ft/lbs of energy. This is traveling 100 fps faster than the jacket HP and am woundering if it would be a better load for deer with the extra energy.
Has anyone used the lead bullet on deer instead of the Jhp,with good results? Shots will be under 100 yards.

 

[David LaPell]

I have not gotten a chance to use mine on deer, but I have been playing with some cast bullets, the #358156 hollowpoint 150 grain and the 170 grain Lyman #358429 SWC and lately I have been really looking into maybe using some 158 grain Speer Deep Curl (Gold Dot) HP's. I want to make sure that when I hit that deer it does the maximum amount of damage and drop it as quickly as I can.

 

[mkk41]

A friend who purchased my old Dan Wesson Pistol Pac has taken several PA whitetail using the 8in barrel , a Bushnell scope and Federal American Eagle 158gr JSP. The deer don't go very far when hit in the vitals.

 

[colt_saa]

I am fairly certain that the Remington 180SJHP is still available. I use it in the 357 Magnum lever gun and the 357 Maximum revolver.

There are lots of good hard cast projectiles in the 160-180 range.

One mold I have drops 160HPs or 180WFNs depending on my pin choices. The 4 bullet mold mold drops 2PB and 2GC. It is very versitile.

 

[Fishinfool]

Ed- I have taken a few whitetails with the 357 in a handgun. I prefer the larger bores, but the 357 will work. Personally, I would stick to a heavyweight - 158 grain or heavier - expanding bullet, and concentrate on broadside heart / lung shots. A hard cast swc / wfn bullet will penetrate deeper, and certainly kill a deer, but quicker kills have been my experience when using an expanding in this caliber. Bullet performance is more important then bullet energy. I like the XTP, the Barnes solid expanding, and bet the Deep Curl in the heaviest weight would work well.

Larry

 

[buck460XVR]

For jacketed bullets, I prefer a JSP over as JHP in the .357 for hunting deer. Speer makes a good 158 JSP along with their 158 Deer Curl which acts more like a JSP than a HP. Their 170 Deep Curl is a good bullet too. The 158g XTP-FPs shoot and load exactly the same as the XTP-HPs and are also excellent bullets. Another good choice is the Sierra 158gr "Sports Master" JSP.

 

[glider1]

Deer can be taken with a 357 but there are better choices. You need to be within about 50 yards or less and shot placement is critical. You don't want a wounded animal to get away and they certainly will.

 

[125JHP]

May also depend on what kind of deer. Eastern White tail are a lot bigger than the Coues Whit tail (80 Lb- think great dane) we have around here. I would bet the Mulie we have or Black tail, would be a bit tougher than the Eastern WT variety.

 

[alwslate]

I have taken several White tail deer with a 44 mag revolver and I have
wanted to try the 357 mag in my 8 3/8" md 27-2 but so far I haven't
been able to justify using it when the 44 is available. I have seen
velocities as high as 1500 fps with 158 gr cast SWCs in the 27 and
so I think it should work at the short distances that shots from tree
stands are usually made. I would be concerned that JHPs might not
give sufficient penetration.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

There are some good options available if you work within the limitations of the cartridge. The Hornady 158gr XTP is usually a good choice.

One load I particularly like is 12.0-12.1gr Blue Dot, WSPM, and a Rem 140JHP. It is still one of my all time favorite loads in 357 with 140 gr bullet and has shown itself to be one of the more accurate in any decent gun. It is also very fast and with that bullet will really let the air out within 50-75 yards.

BTW, that old Speer SJSP, and its companion the 146 SJHP, were pretty good bullets. I regret that I do not have many of them left.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a box or so of 170gr Sierra JHC bullets that are no longer in production that I like a lot. (I also have discontinued 140gr and 150gr Sierra JHC bullets) They are marked for rifle use on the front of the box.

I loaded up some of the the Sierra bullets and shot them through an 18.5" Carbine and here is the results.
140gr, H110, CCI-550 primer, AV 1976 fps
140gr, 2400, Win WSP primer, AV 1930 fps

150gr, H110, CCI-550 primer, AV 1826 fps
150gr, 2400, Win WSP primer, AV 1810 fps

170gr, H110, CCI-550 primer, AV 1699 fps
170gr, Lil'Gun, CCI-550 primer, AV 1793 fps

With a Hornady XTP/HP bullet in the same Carbine
125gr, H110, CCI-550 primer, AV 2239 fps
125gr, 2400, Win WSP primer, AV 2055 fps

180gr, W295, CCI-550 primer, AV 1495 fps
180gr, Lil'Gun, CCI-550 primer, AV 1584 fps

With a 180gr Cast Performance WFNGC bullet
180gr, Lil'Gun, CCI-550 primer, AV 1657 fps
180gr, W296, CCI-550 primer, AV 1547 fps

Even from a 6" barrel I think I would prefer the 170gr bullet best and if those were not available possibly the 180gr Hard Cast bullet from Cast Performance.
Those are the same bullets used by The Grizzly Cartridge Company. (sister companies)

 

[Larry from Bend]

I killed a nice Mule Deer with a 6" Model 19 during Oregon's first handgun legal season (maybe 1979). I chose a Federal 158 grain JSP. I shot the deer right behind the left shoulder -- it faltered and fell over dead. The JSP did not go thru and thru, but stopped under the off-side hide. It did expand -- but not a lot. I'd use one again.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Thanks for all the great info and data.

My first 357 deer came from a model 19-5 6 inch about thirty years ago but it was just a medium heavy frame.

Today I have a 6" M686 and "Feel the need for speed" and
want to go for a little more velosity in this heavy frame that
is a little closer to a N frame.

All with iron sights

Later.

 

[loc n load]

357 magnum for deer

Over the years I have harvested deer with the 357 magnum, the 41 mag, and the 44 mag, 44spl and the 45 LC with my handloads.
With the 357 mag I limit my shots to 50 yds and load a 158 gr. JHP over 15. gr.'s of 2400 in a six inch M-28. This combo has always produced one shot kills with shots in the heart/lung region. I have also taken deer with cast 160gr. SWC's over the same charge, but prefer the JHP's.
With the proper shot placement, proper bullet/load selection the 357 magnum is quite capable as a deer gun. In my area of the country we have big bodied corn/bean/clover fed deer.

 

[pistolairo]

Shot placement Shot placement Shot placement

I have seen guys with the 30 cal super magnums wound a deer and never find them.
I have seen guys with 243's take Elk.
You can kill a deer very easy with a 357 mag, 158 gr FMJ soft point,XTP,Gold Dot or what ever.
Get close enough, blow a hole through the lungs just like bow hunting. Wait a while and go pick him up.
I killed one fine buck with a pistol. Used a model 58, 41 mag. Aimed at his mid shoulder hit the top of the shoulder between the neck and shoulder. Went down hard & fast. That was less than 15 yards. Could have had the same results with a 357 mag.
Most of the deer I have killed here in Mich are no further away than 25 yards at the most.
I think I am going to try hunting deer with my 686,6". 158 grain hard cast lead or a XTP next year.

Best rule for pistol hunting I have learned, Aim at the shoulder hit them in the bottom of the neck.