AJC1
Member
So now that I've done the testing I have the data. So for deer and hog, would you choose a 180xtp at 1484fps or a 158 at 1750. It's a speed energy thing vs a sectional density thing and I asked before but had no hard data....
Hunting 357 mag
- Thread starter AJC1
- Start date
OP
OP
AJC1
Member
This is a close quarters thing, iron sights no optic. It may get a red dot but we're not talking outside 100.....
courtgreene
Member
A few years ago, a friend of mine wanted to try hunting. A friend of his found out I was taking him and loaned him a .357 rifle, which eventually he bought. He was shooting fmj and couldn’t find decent hunting ammo, nor would he know what to buy. To his credit though, he practiced. That was getting cost prohibitive so I loaned him some 125 gr practice ammo that I loaded with unique for cost reasons. They were just for practice. I also gave him some stout hunting rounds.
The season opened. We hit the woods. After about three hours I heard a pop, which sounded pretty anemic, and waited for the text. “I got one, I don’t know what to do now.” Something to that affect was his message, to which I replied, I’m coming.
I field dressed it and found a perfectly mushroomed 125gr Speer hollow point that I knew well from loading all that practice ammo (someone actually gave me those bullets, which is why I loaded them for him for free). He had grabbed the wrong box.
The bullet anchored the deer, probably because he hit it fairly high in the lungs, and it caused a lot of spinal damage, but it did also take out the lungs.
That long anecdotal story was to set up my reasoning for what I’m doing now that I’ve bought the rifle from him (that’s another story). Speed did the job in that case. Luck probably also played a role, but it led me to reconsider my former thought that when hunting with a pistol round you should go as heavy as possible and rely on a big exit. I’m using ftps this year in that gun, and sending them fast. They shoot really well even though you have to load them funny, but I’m going to try speed and disruption over weight this year.
Sorry for answering in story form. Happy hunting.
The season opened. We hit the woods. After about three hours I heard a pop, which sounded pretty anemic, and waited for the text. “I got one, I don’t know what to do now.” Something to that affect was his message, to which I replied, I’m coming.
I field dressed it and found a perfectly mushroomed 125gr Speer hollow point that I knew well from loading all that practice ammo (someone actually gave me those bullets, which is why I loaded them for him for free). He had grabbed the wrong box.
The bullet anchored the deer, probably because he hit it fairly high in the lungs, and it caused a lot of spinal damage, but it did also take out the lungs.
That long anecdotal story was to set up my reasoning for what I’m doing now that I’ve bought the rifle from him (that’s another story). Speed did the job in that case. Luck probably also played a role, but it led me to reconsider my former thought that when hunting with a pistol round you should go as heavy as possible and rely on a big exit. I’m using ftps this year in that gun, and sending them fast. They shoot really well even though you have to load them funny, but I’m going to try speed and disruption over weight this year.
Sorry for answering in story form. Happy hunting.
Steve in PA
Member
A lot of deer have fallen to 158gr bullets. This was the norm for .357 Magnum for a long, long time. Then came the 180gr stuff which many use now.
Me, I have stuck by a good 158gr bullet. Find out which one your handgun likes best.
Me, I have stuck by a good 158gr bullet. Find out which one your handgun likes best.
I assume with those velocity's you're shooting a rifle? A few years ago I would have said stay with either the 180 or the 158 XTP. After reading some of Elmer Keith's books I understand some of the testing he did in slaughter houses on large bulls and how hollow points wouldn't get near the penetration that the Keith bullets are famous for. I am definitely in the two holes are better than 1 camp. If you are so inclined try some old school Keith bullets. I am also curious what load you have cooked up for those velocities?
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,085
I take it you are specifically asking about XTPs. Personally, at those velocities, I would stick with the 158 gr XTP-FP and not the HP bullets, since it is actually designed for those velocities. Also, the 158s will give you better range and less rainbow than the 180s.
OP
OP
AJC1
Member
They are shot in a 16" carbine. The 158 with #9 and the 180 with lil-gun
OP
OP
AJC1
Member
So energy is more important than SD at low velosity???
It also appears that a zero other than the standard 100 might be very prudent to this settup.
Last edited:
practically speaking, whichever one you shoot better than generates better shots. at best it is kind of a wimpy 30-30 round in comparison so - knowing where to target for a hit and actually being able to hit matters more than the difference between two similar projectiles just of different weight. If there was an odd chance I might run into a bear I'd just go with the 180 as it helps cover another base, if you don't have something else with you for that possibility.
Only shot one deer, w 140gr Hornady Leverevolution.
Gun liked it (6" Python).
Where I shot the deer, anything would have worked.
Can't say much, haven't tried it again.
Maybe punch a doe this yr, see how it does.
Bullet was recovered on my one and only. Shot was facing away, through the neck and bullet stopped in its nose.
Bone broke away from cheek, but bullet stayed in and went up a little past.
Gun liked it (6" Python).
Where I shot the deer, anything would have worked.
Can't say much, haven't tried it again.
Maybe punch a doe this yr, see how it does.
Bullet was recovered on my one and only. Shot was facing away, through the neck and bullet stopped in its nose.
Bone broke away from cheek, but bullet stayed in and went up a little past.
Attachments
22250Rem
Member
One of my late buddies that I grew up with did all his handgun hunting with a 6" Python. I don't recall the details of his 357 Magnum hunting handload except that it used a Hornady 180 gr. XTP, which was his favorite deer hunting bullet. That gun and load had a 100% success rate on deer. Although they were all taken at 25 yards or less from his bow hunting spots and he was very picky about his shots. He generally only took broadside shots through the lungs as that's a good-sized target area and they don't go too far with both lungs punctured. After seeing what that load did to deer, I always thought that using that bullet in a 357 magnum rifle would be very interesting. If I had a 16" carbine in 357, that 180 gr. Hornady would be the first one I tried.
Big7
Member
With a .357 in a revolver length barrel, you won't be getting a hundred. You'd be lucky to get enough energy to ethically take deer size game at a hundred yards with a carbine length barrel.
My .357 deer set up is a 6 inch barrel and 158gr flat nose soft points. I'm not taking a shot with a .357 past 60 yards on a deer.
