HSM 357 mag bear loads

[Stevedog29-3]

I bought this ammo as a heavy hard cast round because I couldn't justify buying buffalo bore 20 round boxes for the same price. I bought 2 boxes to get a better deal. As I'm about to start reloading 357 I was really glad that they use Starline brass so the 35 bucks a box was even a better deal because I can't find brass anywhere and I have heard Starline is some of the best. So my question is ....What kind of experience have people had with this HSM ammo? I'm going to use it in a 627 Pro 4 inch or my 586-3 6inch....Would it be better if I just used it in my N frame? Or will it be safe to shoot in my older 586 because it doesn't have the warnings like Buffalo Bore. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experiences.
STEPHEN

 

[Nevada Ed]

A 357 Bear load.................?
I hope nothing bigger than a Black bear.

Good luck with that 4".

 

[Kaedan]

I shot a few rounds out of my 581 back in the day. If I recall it had a bit of a punch to it, but the L frame isn't going to have an issue with any 357 ammo.

 

[Fishinfool]

Either gun will handle any commercial ammo. Ammo like BB and HSM is within SAAMI pressure specs., just loaded closer to max then most factory stuff. Never tried the HSM stuff myself, but I have not heard anything bad about it.

Larry

 

[Biggfoot44]

To save my having to google it up , what are the bullet wt , type , and claimed velocity on that ?

 

[Stevedog29-3]

180 grain lbt fn gas check. Nothing on the box for velocity but some sites online claim 1400+fps with 880 ft/lbs which is why this seems really hot. And another one claim a more mild 1200 fps and I think 550 ft lbs....so this is why I'm skeptical. More than likely I'm going to try them out of my 627 first due to it being the N frame

 

[Stevedog29-3]

NEVADA ED I plan on shooting hogs with this not bear. I have a 12 gauge with Brenneke slugs for bear. I might even use it for the hogs depending on how this ammo goes. I have looked into Underwood Ammo and their loadings of hard casts and xtps if theses aren't what I'm looking for.

 

[scooter123]

You won't get 1400+ fps from a 357 Magnum at within the SAAMI specification pressure limit, for that kind of velocity you'll need at least a 12 inch barrel and more likely 16 inches. I would expect a velocity in the range of 1100-1200 fps from a 4 to 6 inch revolver with a bullet that heavy.

The problem is with a heavy bullet you need to use a "slow" powder such as H110 or 4227 to build velocity and that means you need a long barrel to get a full burn from the powder. In addition due to the length of the heavier bullet you start bumping into the case capacity volume limiting how much powder will fit.

As for use with this load for Bear Protection, it will do the job for an Easter Black Bear as long as you place your shots well. If your thinking about Grizzly, you'll need to know the anatomy of the skull and have the ability to place your shot on a quarter with 1500 lbs. of plain mean charging you at about 25-30 mph. IMO the only sure defense against a Grizzly is an RPG and those aren't legal for civilians to carry.

 

[Stevedog29-3]

I was thinking the 1400fps is in a rifle length barrel. 1200fps seems more realistic.

 

[Cal44]

Any 357 magnum load should be effective if you are attacked by a Koala bear.

 

[Kaedan]

I would think it would be fine on hogs out of either of the revolvers you mentioned. Touch a few rounds off and see what you think.

Around my neck of the woods bear aren't an issue, they are shy of humans for the most part. I've seen issues with cats though.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Many a pig has fallen to the 357 Magnum with a 158 gr or bigger bullet in my neighboring state of California.

They are getting smarter every day.......... getting close enough or an ambush point is the trick, on tuskers.

Good hunting.

 

[NCavi8tor]

I killed a 356lb black bear with a 65 lb compound bow and 385 grain arrow/broad head. He went 22 yards and expired. Not a real tough animal if hit in the right spot!

NC

 

[perfectcircle1]

I like to hunt tyrannosaurus rex using this load

 

[Harkrader]

As often as the topic of "bear loads" comes up and people groan about it, I like to keep up because I have backpacked the lower 48 since the '60s.

My first experience with "bear loads" was with hunters on horseback in Colorado. They used exclusively rifles to hunt them.

One of them was a hand-loader and his buddies said he wasn't happy unless his ammo would drill through the Front Range. I have no memory of what gun he used other than it was a S&W.

He, and the others, felt they were plenty for black bear. As someone else in this thread said, bullet placement was everything. They were men who did not get concerned about a bear in their deer or elk camp and usually just yelled, threw things, or fired a shot into the ground.

In 2007 or so, I was in the Central Colorado Rockies and encountered two retired rangers who were riding a four-wheeler to go fishing. As we talked they told about an aggressive black bear they had encountered recently. One of them had climbed a tree to escape it but, as most of you may know, black bears are accomplished tree climbers and went up after him, clawing and biting his leg.

The other ran to the four-wheeler to retrieve his former duty gun, a Ruger .40S&W auto. We talked about that and they said it was plenty for black bears. Kinda opened my eyes.

I also backpacked the Idaho Backcountry and there people were more insistent that a rifle was needed. Some did say a .44 Magnum with heavy, hard-cast bullets was adequate, but you had to place the shots well.

I did carry a variety of .44 Magnum revolvers with Buffalo Bore ammo, Garretts, and some of my handloads.

I never had any problem with bears but followed the advice of others and sent a Ruger Redhawk to Hamilton Bowen for conversion to .500 Linebaugh. Everyone agreed it was plenty for brown bears. The problem with it was/is that if it is not held correctly when fired it WILL damage you.

I'd probably still carry it if I ever get to go to Idaho again, but I've toned down my .44 loads for Colorado and like my 627 just fine. If I can't kill a black bear with eight rounds of hard-cast .357 Magnum, my karma has probably come round to making me bear food. Or, I could carry a grenade for backup.