best .357 mag load for the back country

F

flintlock.50

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I'll be in an area of the western back country where I've been told it's a good idea to pack a sidearm… just in case. The most powerful handgun I have is a S&W model 19 (4 inch barrel). So what load would you recommend?

No doubt some will want to recommend a larger caliber. I already know there are better calibers. But all I have is my .357 and it's stuck with a 4 inch barrel. So if I take anything at all, it will be the .357. HOWEVER, I'm receptive if someone wants to convince me that the .357 TOTALLY inadequate and best left at home. Otherwise, I really want to hear about suggested loads, either store bought'n or hand loads.
 
While the heavy Buffalo Bore stuff will certainly work, I've never found a real need for anything more than the regular 158gr "standard" ammo.

Your model 19 is a fine gun, and will handle any of the regular factory stuff just fine. The hot 125gr loads have given trouble in S&W 19s, when used a lot, but there are no reports of any problems with the 158s.
 
The Buffalo Bore 180 grain Hard Cast round are very good. I have also found on the Hollow Point side that Winchest 180 grain Partition Gold to be very good.

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Suggest:

A loadout of basic 158 grain SWC's, with a handful of snake-shot cartridges in a pouch along with a larger handful of flush loaded full wadcutters in .38, and you'll be able to deal with both man and beast encounters of just about every description.

Keep the 158's loaded up for self defense and "whatever" and download to the snakeshot or wadcutters for foraging and fun.

A .357 is about the perfect balance for almost every field need.


Willie

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What others have said--158s are fine (as is your 19-4"), with a few snakeshot (CCI shotshell) chambered in the first few for desert or other lower latitude/altitude tromping. Only if you're in bear country of the brown variety would you really be undergunned (3-4" .44 Mag Smith 629/Mountain Gun or Ruger Alaska recommended in that case). You're not hunting, presumably, so barrel length should be kept to a relative minimum...lightweight handiness trumps recoil/muzzle flip control--within reason, you want to be able to get that second shot off--for backcountry tromping. Your 4" 19 is perfect for most of the West. Leave the mostly anti-personnel 125 grain jhp urban stuff at home. 158s of the hardcast/rnfp/swc variety will do fine for 2 legged varmints, penetrate well on pesky four-leggeds, and the aforementioned 180 BB fare is nice if you are in black bear country of known/frequent sightings.
 
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Your 357 is a good choice it is handy enough to carry all the time and with 158 or 180 hard cast or soft point is OK for black bear. Over the years I have encountered a number of black bears and they all were in a hurry to go the other way. Only had to shoot one that though our band of sheep was an easy dinner. :D
 
I'd say a good hardcast semiwadcutter. I've fired them into a chunk of hardwood firewood and it stays intact. Buffalo Bore's 180 grain is what I would use if really concerned.
 
I've done a lot of chronographing in 357 with 2,3 and 4 inch barrels and would highly recommend buffalo bore hard cast 180 gr.

As far as speed goes they out do anything else on the market.
 
If it is bears you are worried about, I would go with the BB 180 hardcast or similar handload and bear spray. Otherwise, a good 158 jsp or HP is pretty versatile.
 
I use Federal 158gr SJSP for my Ruger Blackhawk .357mag. Very good velocity and the bullet will mushroom. Also Federal Fusion .357mag very good.
og
 
Thanks! This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. A few comments:

My other firearm will be a .50 caliber flintlock. I'll be hunting elk, but locals have told me it's not uncommon to attract a bear once the elk is on the ground and field dressed. Hence my desire for a sidearm.

I do have some hand loaded shot shells in .38 spl. Great for snakes!

I also have plenty of hand loaded 148 grain wadcutters. They are very accurate, but have a significantly different point of impact than my .357 loads. The .357 loads always hit high and to the left. It makes sense because of the heavier recoil, but if anyone has a solution to this phenomenon I'd love to hear it.

Yes, black bears are the primary concern. Just as someone noted above, the black bears I've seen in the backcountry headed for the next county as soon as they detected my presence. However a fellow hunter told me he had one almost stick his nose in the blind last year. And he had a mountain lion pass within about 10 feet of his blind.
 
Most critters run fast, way faster than people, and when you pull out your gun and yell at them to stop, they never do.

Considering this, I would recommend a less than full power 158grn LSWC. Something you can control well and follow up fast.

If you're the one hunting then yeah, load it hot because you can take your time, but if a couger is 1 second away from latching onto your crotch I'm going for speed.
 
My .357 revolvers prefer 158 grainers for accuracy. When I think of personal protection, I too prefer accuracy. I also prefer a good, accurate, quick follow up shot. High velocity, heavy for caliber loads don't always do it for me. If it were bear I was concerned about, I'd stick with Hardcast, JSPs or Hornady's XTP-FP(flat point) as opposed to JHPs or XTP-HPs.
 
If I want 2 legged protection, the 125B Federal Classic is prime. In a 4" Smith, recoil and report are stout; however, a 98% one shot stopper. If I want four legged protection, especially those that could eat me, leave the 35 and bring a shotgun. My own trail piece is a 44Spl Ruger Bisley, shooting 240 RemSP@1200, or 240gr hard cast @ 1100.
 
Reload the smoke pole just for grins

That might be the best part of your arsenal, if you get an animal down and then some old bear decides you should give him the carcass. Keep it close by. ;)

The Federal 180 gr. hardcast is a good choice IMO.
 
The .357 is more than adequate for back woods carry in the lower 48. Which load? Kinda depends on where your at and what you think you're gonna run into. But I'm not a fan of hard cast so I'd pick what ever 158gr HP load you gun likes and not give it a second thought.
 
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