I haven't tried it with heavier bullets, but with lighter bullets, then Blue Dot gives higher velocities and less recoil than 296. I'd be tempted to try it with some 180gn loads and compare to 296. I really like my 4" GP-100
Posts: 2924 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: 23 December 2002
The Tech I talked to at Hornady suggested the 140gr XTP over the 158gr XTP. I thought that a little odd, giving up bullet weight. What do you guys think?
Posts: 358 | Location: Stafford, Virginia | Registered: 14 August 2001
W-296 or H-110 under a 158 grain JSP or cast lead SWC or 180 grain JHP and a small pistol magnum primer should do just fine. Make sure you used a heavy crimp with such loads. Light weight bullets are designed for explosive expansion when they strike a thin skinned target. That's fine when homo sapiens are the target, but for deer you want deeper penetration, so a heavier bullet and slower expansion are the order of the day. Also, pick broad side shots, the 357 is the minimum for deer and a quartering shot may result in a wounded animal and a very long walk.
The 140's are a good weight a good chance for expansion yet heavy enough to get good penitrtion. The 158 tend not to expand at pistol vel. I shoot one 158's out on a 357 marlin cabine at 1850fps and out of a 357 max at 2150. They expand at those vel. The 140 hornaday xtps well make a fine deer bullet killing anything you hit properly.
Posts: 19853 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
I agree with Pdogshooter and the guy from Hornady that the 140 XTP would be a fine deer bullet, I've talked to one gunshop owner who uses 125 grainers, My wife and I shot mild loads of 140gr. Speer HP bullets into a dirt pile while target practicing with her 4" GP100, and I couldn't bellieve how far the bullets went in, no doubt you'd still want to stay away from a shoulder shot, but there's rifle slugs that don't want to pentrate that kinda bone, I'd go with about 16-17grs. H4227 with a 140gr. XTP or Speer HP, H4227 is a very clean burning powder, used 2400 in wifes GP100 and it's so sooty that it jams up in the cylinder/barrel gap area, albiet an accurate powder. Jay
Posts: 1745 | Location: WI. | Registered: 19 May 2003
I haven't tried the H-4227, but the IMR-4227 leaves a lot of unburned powder in the the barrel. It appears that the Hodgdon variety is better in this regard. The IMR stuff was so bad that it jammed up the gun after just a couple cylinders.
The .357 is not my caliber of choice for deer and the few I've taken with it have been targets of opportunity. I'd recommend staying with a cast bullet (158-180 grains) with good charge of 296 or 2400 behind it. My preferred load for the .357 is actually the old .38-44 load Elmer Keith used. The Lyman 358429 loaded in a .38 Special case ahead of 13.5 grains of 2400 (Hercules). This gives me 1373 fps out of my S&W Model 28 and penetrates for days.
Get in close and take only the good shots and you should do fine.
quote:Originally posted by MS Hitman: The .357 is not my caliber of choice for deer and the few I've taken with it have been targets of opportunity. I'd recommend staying with a cast bullet (158-180 grains) with good charge of 296 or 2400 behind it. My preferred load for the .357 is actually the old .38-44 load Elmer Keith used. The Lyman 358429 loaded in a .38 Special case ahead of 13.5 grains of 2400 (Hercules). This gives me 1373 fps out of my S&W Model 28 and penetrates for days.
Get in close and take only the good shots and you should do fine.
I've used the same 170 cast SWC using 2400 out of a 10" Contender to take a small doe with a lung shot at 40 yds. It worked just fine.
Posts: 1230 | Location: Saugerties, New York | Registered: 12 March 2002
quote:Originally posted by MS Hitman: The .357 is not my caliber of choice for deer and the few I've taken with it have been targets of opportunity. I'd recommend staying with a cast bullet (158-180 grains) with good charge of 296 or 2400 behind it. My preferred load for the .357 is actually the old .38-44 load Elmer Keith used. The Lyman 358429 loaded in a .38 Special case ahead of 13.5 grains of 2400 (Hercules). This gives me 1373 fps out of my S&W Model 28 and penetrates for days.
Get in close and take only the good shots and you should do fine.
Posts: 1404 | Location: munising MI USA | Registered: 29 March 2002
quote:Originally posted by MS Hitman: The .357 is not my caliber of choice for deer and the few I've taken with it have been targets of opportunity. I'd recommend staying with a cast bullet (158-180 grains) with good charge of 296 or 2400 behind it. My preferred load for the .357 is actually the old .38-44 load Elmer Keith used. The Lyman 358429 loaded in a .38 Special case ahead of 13.5 grains of 2400 (Hercules). This gives me 1373 fps out of my S&W Model 28 and penetrates for days.
Get in close and take only the good shots and you should do fine.
Posts: 1404 | Location: munising MI USA | Registered: 29 March 2002
I like the Keith load too. The 357 is a little short on bullet weight to have a big mushroom for peneratration. I also like the LBT style bullets. That meplat is a wide as some 44 SWC.
Hcliff
Posts: 305 | Location: Green Bay, WI | Registered: 09 September 2002
I've had a bad expierence with a bear once, my thought on the 357, don't use it to take animals, way too small. I will never make the same mistake twice. I was using 158 gr jsp hand loads. Farthest shot was 30 feet and one bullet penetrated into the lungs, the rest was just curled up under the skin. Not good and I will not recommend this cartridge. 41 or bigger, I use a 44 mag with excellent results. My brothers still use a 357 and just carry them around the house. When they go hunting they use my dads 44 mag.
The 357 is NOT for taking big or dangerous game. Bear and wild boar fall into the big or dangerous game categories. 357 is the minimum for deer and I feel that those shots need to be broad side at 50 yards or less.
I also have a GP100 SS 6" and got some 180 hard cast bullets (True Shot-Oregon Trail) and loaded 15 of each to first time test four powders. My GP100 is scoped and I set up a Pact 1 crono in front of the 50 yd. target. Used RP 5 1/2 primers.
Usually H110 is my favorite but LilGun was right on the bullseye. All did well and I need to raise the amount of powder to make some work better. I ment to load #2400 but ran out of time. BM
Posts: 128 | Location: Hensley, AR | Registered: 05 June 2003
15.7 grains of H110 over an LBT WFNGC with a .4 inch nose...don't use this load with a bullet that is seated very deeply into the case such as the RCBS Sillywet 180 grain bullet unless you work up to it. The LBT bullet puts most of its weight outside the case and gives much more space in the case than other bullets. You can use this load with the Lyman 358156 gas check bullet safely also. The Kieth bullet 358429 will also work in my gun, but you should work up to it in yours. I'm with many of the above though, even with this great load, the 357 mag is really a very short range piece for deer, I usually only use this load when stalking in thick brush or timber and the ranges are looking around 35 yards or less. I don't like using jacketed bullets in the mag, but if forced to do so would recommend the 180 semi jacketed hollowpoint from REmington or the 170 Sierra.
I strongly recommend against using any 357 mag from pig hunting...I've seen them absorb too many very big bullets up to 12 guage slugs and still have the time to cause you some pain. Never shot a bear, but gotta believe it's in at least the same class as a pig.
regards, Graycg
Posts: 692 | Location: Fairfax County Virginia | Registered: 07 February 2003
Now that I picked up my GP100 .357Mag. (stainless 6" barrel) How about some of you guys share your hunting (deer) loads & experiences
Let's see, 180/185 grain wfngc bullet with a .27" to .28" meplate @ 1350+ fps sounds good. Such factory rounds are available from Federal, Double Tap, Grizzly Ammo and Buffalo Bore.
If memory serves correct the meplate on the original .44 Keith bullet was .28". While that .43" bullet runs to 250 grains, the only question that remains is: How much penetration do you need on deer?
To put it in perspective, a 180 grain .38-40 black powder round out of a rifle runs about 1300 fps with a slightly smaller meplate. Methinks such a round would be quite suitable for woodland deer hunting!
Posts: 106 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 10 May 2010
RMc -- it doesn't matter if you resurrect an old thread -- it was just an observation! There are some good threads (and some really ugly ones!) on this site.
Anyhow, welcome to the forum!
"Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP
If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming.
Semper Fidelis
"Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time"
Posts: 13440 | Location: Virginia | Registered: 10 July 2003
Have used the .357 for about 45 years now. My current favorite load is a 180 gr. LBT GC LFN hard cast ahead of 15.5 gr. 'Lil gun powder. It will keep all shots in a 24" circle at 325 yards with my 6" GP-100. Not that I would shoot anything except rocks at that range, but long range hitting ability tells you a bunch about a bullet and loads ability. Shooting at close range tells you nothing. I limit my hunting range to about 100 yards with that load. At that range it is a tack driver. Few bullets will maintain stability out yonder like a well balanced heavy for caliber bullet.
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