.357 Magnum Hunting Load

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358156GC, cast of wheelweights over 13.5 grains to 14 of 2400 is just fine....if you are good, will pass up poor shots and can double lung it.
That said, I've only killed two with it but both went down within 50 yard yards.
 
Looks like it's a pretty overwhelming consensus that H110/W296 is the way to go.
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Well, I'll be the consensus killer. I refuse to use W296/H110 due primarily to it's inflexibility and magnum primer requirement. 2400 and 4227 will do everything that needs to be done, and being able to adjust your charge weights down is a big plus. I agree with the Hornady 158gr XTP bullet. My most accurate load was that bullet and 16gr of 4227.

Don
 
I think my local place has both 4227 and H110. May just have to grab a pound of each and try them both out. I like to do that anyway. That way I have several options.

I have a .308 load using same bullet 175gr SMK (3 different cases) using 3 different powders (2000-MR, IMR4895, IMR4064). I figure surely one powder will be available. Lol
 
I have loaded .357 with a 125 grain Speer flat point for 30 years and I can say it will kill a deer dead. I carried it guiding bear and cat hunters for a long time. Load it in front of 19 grains of H110 and go sight it in. Shoots flat and hits hard. I think it works as good as a 158 but shoots flatter.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Just a note, all those pointy bullets with plastic tips are actually HP bullets and they are extremely popular hunting bullets like the AccuBond, Ballistic tip, A-Max, V-Max, BlitzKing and a whole bunch more...
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yep , I think most of use knew that , but thanks , and those are all good in 41mag and 44mag, I use Nosler HP and Hornady XTP's in 44mag's , and they are good in rifles , the OP wants a good deer load for a S&W 357mag , and my first hand experience is that a XTP HP in my S&W 19-5 357mag with a 4" barrel just don't do as good of a job as I'd like to see ,
 
I used 231 under a 150 gr jhp to kill my first 3 wheel gun deer. I'm pretty sure they were Speer. I have changed to AA7 recently and I absolutely love it. More power and easier feeding. I think I'm stuck on AA7. I would share my load but it's too strong for most guns. Start working up low in the load range and build up to where you see pressure signs then back off a touch. Most 357s like stout loads so accuracy will not be an issue. I have now switched to cast 165gr Keith design. Less violent expansion but almost guaranteed a full pass through unless your going nose-to-tail.
 
Scored some W296 today as well as CCI SPM primers.

Do y'all think the 125gr Hornady xtp bullets would work for deer? Or should I try to find heavier 158gr?

I don't want to use lead. Just a personal preference, plus it's my dad revolver and he doesn't want lead used.
 
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Do NOT use a 125gr bullet on deer. The Hornady 158gr XTP bullet is about as good as it gets with a jacketed bullet for deer hunting in the .357 Magnum.

Don
 
I'd go for a 158gr and up hardcast, using 2400 or LilGun or H110/W296. With 2400 I was getting a bit over 1,500 fps from a 158gr harcast out of a 6" GP100.

For JHP, about the lightest I'd use is a 140gr XTP, then go up. The 158gr Gold Dot/Deep Curl is a good choice too. Same powders for those too.

I think the 140gr FTX would work too, I mean really even 125gr class bullets aren't going to bounce off a deer. Deer have fallen to quite a bit less powerful rounds than a .357 Mag 125gr (example 9mm), so with proper shot placement there's nothing to worry about.
 
I feel your pain..

:scrutiny:I could not find 158 XTP-HP on any of my internet vendors. I DID score 2/100ct. boxes @ the Indy 1500 gun show here last weekend. Paid a little more than I wanted to, but I got them.

I also got some Montana Gold HP in the same weight. This AM I loaded up some of the XTP's and the MG with the same (stout) load of 2400, with CCI-550 primers.

Going to try them out in the Ruger 77/357 that I bought late last year, along with my 6" 'N' frame Smiths just to see how they work out..Bill.
 
I might have to wait and see if any gun shows locally might get some 158's.

I mean, I don't plan on taking any long shots on a deer. Probably nothing over 50yds. I had just noticed that Hornady said it could be in both revolver and rifle. I figure with a full house magnum load using w296, it could provide good penetration and expansion for a good clean kill. At least cleaner than a 125gr which is all I can find right now
 
JMHO

,I have taken several whitetails with 180gr XTP's over a stiff load of AA#9 in my GP. H110 will crank them faster but the AA shoots so well in the Ruger that I will sacrifice 100 fps for the accuracy. For a Smith I would choose a good 158 gr and work up a load with H110, 2400, or AA#9. Haven't used Lilgun but have seen a few good reviews.
 
RC hit it right on the head ! and use the Hornady HTP 158 grain Hollow point ! At the range you are talking about they will penetrate plenty and do massive damage ! You will probably get a through and through on a broadside shot to the heart lung area ! For sights stick to a fixed power 2x Leupold or equivalent , a red dot type sight might be easier . I have a Millet on my SRH454 . It has seen more than 500 full house rounds over the last 6 years . Kevin
 
jwrowland77,

I have no experience with the 140gr Hornady FTX bullet, so I can't say. However, I will say that I shot 2 deer using another brand's 145gr bullet in .357 Magnum and quit using it due to lack of penetration on anything other than a thru-the-rib-cage shot.

Don
 
One of my Boy's shot a mule deer in the head from a bit over 100 yds. with a 125 gr. XTP-HP, full tilt charge of 296, from a 4" wheel gun. That deer flipped, or more accurately described, it rolled backwards, legs straight up in the air, bullet passed through and through, leaving a nice large exit hole. So as has been said, they are only deer and can be easily taken with any decent placed shot, using just about any half decent bullet.

GS
 
if you can put all your shots into a pie plate, you are good-to-go. that may be 25 yards off-hand, 50 yards kneeling, or 75 yards off your backpack.

i like the 180 grain xtp and blue dot (non-magnum primer).

good luck on your hunt.

murf
 
What about the 140gr Hornady FTX bullet out of a .357 mag revolver?
Click to expand...

If you use FTX bullets, make sure to trim down your Brass. Due to the length of the ogive, cases need to be trimmed to 1.240" in order to match the connelure for crimping and be within spec OAL.
Recited from "Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading 8th Edition."
 
JRWhit said:
If you use FTX bullets, make sure to trim down your Brass. Due to the length of the ogive, cases need to be trimmed to 1.240" in order to match the connelure for crimping and be within spec OAL.
Recited from "Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading 8th Edition."
Click to expand...


I was looking at that last night in my manual. It gave a shorter OAL than that the XTP.

I noticed something else to if I go this route. Haven't made up my mind. Either way, the FTX seems to put more bullet in the case than a XTP bullet of same weight. The Hodgdon site gave data for H110 but not W296 for the FTX. Now, from everything I've read and researched, H110 and W296 are pretty much the same powder and using it's data would be ok.

Am I off here? I'm used to rifle reloading and have never used W296. I did email Hornady last night as well.
 
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