anchors
US Veteran
When I hunt deer in the fall I carry a side arm,I curious as to the heaviest 357 load I could carry in my 640-1 357 that would be effective should I need it.
Heavy 357 load
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First place to look is your state hunting regs and see if they specify ammo/handguns legal for hunting. In my state (OK) that gun would not be legal to fire at deer, although it could be carried for personal protection while hunting.
Secondly, if it is legal under the hunting regs, I would use a good 158gr for penetration. Even with a long barrel, .357 is on the light side for deer hunting, although I do use it for our 100# does.
Secondly, if it is legal under the hunting regs, I would use a good 158gr for penetration. Even with a long barrel, .357 is on the light side for deer hunting, although I do use it for our 100# does.
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Didn't say you were going to use it as your main weapon. Said many states prohibit shooting at game with a handgun at all unless it is legal as the primary weapon. Check your game laws to see.
In OK and other states, using a small carry gun to finish off a downed deer is "hunting with an illegal gun" subject to fine and possible confiscation.
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flop-shank
US Veteran
Use what shoots to POA. I'll guess that 158 grs. is the way to go. The Buffalo Bore 150 gr. hardcast wadcutter in .38 spl. ought to work reasonably well too, since it is an ultra deep penetrator. I'm assuming that the bullet is for hunting not self defense. I would probably use 125 gr. .357 JHPs for the two leggers.
flop-shank
US Veteran
.357 158 gr. SWC is a great general purpose bullet that should work well enough for both.
Erich
Member
Hi Anchors,
I haven't chrono'd .357 from a 2" in some time. I like max loads of Blue Dot, 2400 and Lil' Gun behind (I use magnum primers except with the Blue Dot) Jessie's TVB 158-grainers in my 3" gun, but one that's a penetrative son of a gun from that barrel-length is his 180-grainers over a max load of Blue Dot and a standard primer.
Feel free to email if you want load data. If you're stuck with factory ammo, look at Buffalo Bore's offerings - they've got data up for performance from short barrels.
I haven't chrono'd .357 from a 2" in some time. I like max loads of Blue Dot, 2400 and Lil' Gun behind (I use magnum primers except with the Blue Dot) Jessie's TVB 158-grainers in my 3" gun, but one that's a penetrative son of a gun from that barrel-length is his 180-grainers over a max load of Blue Dot and a standard primer.
Feel free to email if you want load data. If you're stuck with factory ammo, look at Buffalo Bore's offerings - they've got data up for performance from short barrels.
I've loaded a lot of CastPerformance 180gr SWCGC bullets in 357 ahead of a close-to-maximum charge of W296/H110 and had good luck with it in a Marlin 1894 rifle, and several different S&W revolvers. I've not tried it in the 640......or the 340PD, ouch.....although have both and might have to see what it's like. I'd guess the load might shoot a little high, I've found that heavy bullets tend to shoot higher in fixed sight revolvers.
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
I recently worked up a load with WW296 and a Cast Performance 187gr. GC bullet that runs 1914 fps. from my Marlin carbine. I shot it in an old 2 3/4" Ruger Speed Six, but wouldn't want to touch one off in a J-frame. Might be fun to watch someone else do it, though...
revolvergeek
Member
I just recently chronographed some (sadly discontinued) Federal 140 jhps out of a 640-1 and got an average velocity of 1135fps. I suspect that their Vital Shok Ammunition P357XB1 with the 140 grain Barnes copper hollow point might give similar velocity but better weight retention and penetration.
flop-shank
US Veteran
A solid copper bullet will likely be longer, use more case capacity and leave less room for the powder. I'll SWAG that the velocity is less. Then again, I could be absolutely wrong.
FWIW, Corbon makes a 140 gr. .357 load utilizing the excellent old shool Sierra JHP.
158 gr JSP over 16.7 grs of H110 or 180 gr Nosler Partition or a JSP over 13.5 grs of the same.
Hodgdon lists a 125 gr. jacketed bullet with 22 grs of H110 and it barks but I'd go with the heavier bullets for deer.
Needs magnum primers.
Hodgdon lists a 125 gr. jacketed bullet with 22 grs of H110 and it barks but I'd go with the heavier bullets for deer.
Needs magnum primers.
Dragon88
Member
You can get in excess of 1600fps and 700 ft lbs of energy with the 125gr XTP and H110/W296. Pretty impressive stats for this caliber. As for accuracy, well, it's like a laser beam at 100 meters.
Keep in mind that this load makes the 357 sounds like a totally different caliber. It gives a loud BOOOM and bright muzzle flash so wear hearing protection.
Keep in mind that this load makes the 357 sounds like a totally different caliber. It gives a loud BOOOM and bright muzzle flash so wear hearing protection.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I wouldn't carry too heavy a bullet in that M640 because it's such a light gun. I would probably carry no heavier than a 158gr bullet but probably would carry a 145gr Winchester Silvertip in a M640. When I carry a .357 Magnum as a backup in the woods I carry a 4" M686 loaded with ammo loaded with a 180gr Hard Cast bullet.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I'm not sure what you mean by better but if you mean more controllable the answer is possibly. I would say both the 145gr Silvertips and 158gr Federals are about the same in felt recoil. The real question should be which shoot more accurately in your revolver. Since it's a backup I wouldn't worry too much about the recoil since you probably won't notice it if you need to use that revolver for protection. I like the Silvertips better because they are accurate in my M640.
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