Hottest .357 load for Ruger Blackhawk

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Fivesense

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I know there are other archived threads here related to this subject but I'm curious specifically about the Ruger Blackhawk (SA .357).

I keep going back and forth between a Ruger Blackhawk and a Ruger Super Blackhawk (.357 vs. 44 Mag, 4 5/8-5.50 inch barrels) as a lower 48 woods protection-only (bear, cougar) gun. I know I can't go wrong with a .44 Mag as I won't be underpowered regardless of the beast encountered. But I also want to enjoy shooting one of these beauties on a regular basis, out to 25-50 yards. SA appeals to me greatly. I will carry my EDC as well (on of my Glocks) for 2-leggeds.

Tossing aside the .44 Mag option, as well as the carbine/rifle:

What is the hottest .357 load I could use in the Ruger Blackhawk for woods protection, that would adequately handle lower 48 charging bear? If applicable, is the same load possible in the Redhawk?

Thanks for indulging me- I know the BH/RH/SA/DA is oft discussed, but I'm really most interested in opinions on the hottest .357 in the robust SA Blackhawk. If there is a thread somewhere that answers my questions, thank you in advance for the link.
 
Are you reloading or looking for factory ammo?
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Excellent question- sorry for not clarifying.

I'd shoot factory .38 for the range, and primarily reloads for woods protection carry.

That said, I'd shoot the occasional heavy factory .357 for the range too.
 
For factory take a look at buffalo bore or Underwood. They both publish ballistic data on their websites. I have more experience with buffalo bore and can attest it is very hot.
 
when I was working up my deer loads I found that 13.5 grains of 2400 behind a 180 grain hard cast was it, not for me but for case extraction they would need a little force to be pushed out of the cylinder. I shot this load over my chrono and with a 7.5 inch barrel I was getting high 1290 to low 1300 fps.
 
From a purely practical standpoint, ballistics technical data aside, what .357 load would you feel comfortable carrying in your Blackhawk if you encountered an angry big black bear while hiking in the woods? Reload and factory...
 
As an addendum to this question, how much gap would be bridged (between .357 and 44 Mag) by picking up a Blackhawk (.357) with a 6.5 inch barrel?
 
Neither cougar or black bear need an extraordinary round to kill them.
Whatever load you are accurate with will do fine.
 
As long as we are talking a black bear and not grizzly I think any flat nosed 158 gain or better will do. I may take heat for saying that because there are some who think that any round smaller than a 44 mag is too small for any four legged or two legged beast. That's a matter of opinion, but I tend to disagree.
With bear, expansion is generally not reasonable to expect in handgun caliber because hollow points get plugged by their very thick skin and fur. The criteria should be that it can punch through their fur and skin and penetrate to a sufficient depth. A good 158 gn or 180 gn lead flat nose 357 will be sufficient. Shot placement is more important once you have an adequate round.
 
I may take heat for saying that because there are some who think that any round smaller than a 44 mag is too small for any four legged or two legged beast. That's a matter of opinion, but I tend to disagree.
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This is the dilemma, right or wrong. All opinions are steeped in experience, real or perceived.

Either way, I'll have 17 additional rounds of 135 gr. 9mm+P. Will any of it matter beyond a first shot blast of .357 or 44 Mag? Who knows. But I like to think I'm prepared!
 
I don't think I would try to turn a .357 mag into a .44 mag by juicing it up at the reloading bench.

I'm no expert on the different variations of Ruger Blackhawks in .357 and I'm not sure how they would rank versus a Redhawk or GP100 in strength. I don't think I'd feel under gunned with any of those Ruger options in the lower 48 in .357 with factory loads. If you want a revolver dedicated to hunting, I'd get a .44 mag. If you want something strictly for defense that you will carry everyday in the lower 48, your EDC will be fine.
 
Have you considered a Glock (since you already carry that make) 10mm with a properly constructed heavy bullet? At least the action type is one to which you are accustomed and well-practised.

Lost Sheep
 
Either way, I'll have 17 additional rounds of 135 gr. 9mm+P.
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Not the way I see it. You'll have one, maybe two rounds in your Blackhawk (.357 or .44) :eek:

Remember, you said "charging bear". This is something that is moving at speed, at you, and is not an easy target.

Don't be fooled by tv and movie bears, and the "mock attacks" used in films.

If you see ACTUAL bear attack film, they don't waste time. They are FAST, so time is the one thing you are NOT going to have if a bear charges.

Next is the bear itself. The vitals are NOT quite where you think they are, MR Bear is smaller than he seems, inside the shaggy bear suit. Study the bear, and you will see that a shot that would be a good one for a deer, or a person may not be as good for a bear. It may seem like a small matter, but the vitals of a charging bear are a small target, and moving fast.

A head shot may seem in order, and when things go well, will do well, BUT when the entrails are not favorable, and the stars are not lined up, a head shot may not penetrate, but glance off the skull (either round). Nothing to do with the raw power of the round, but dependent on angles and curvature of the skull.

Elmer Keith often wrote that "if you kept your nerve" you could stop any bear with any medium handgun (or larger). Every bear known opens its mouth during the attack. Shoot through the mouth, break the neck, end attack.
(this is where the "keeping your nerve part comes in....;))

Elmer never claimed you wouldn't get clawed, or "chawed", only that if you kept your nerve, you would win, and the bear would lose.

.357 Mag, 158gr or heavier, SP (NOT JHP) or solid (hard cast) bullet. DO NOT pick the factory 125gr JHP for bear. That load is for humans, and will not perform quite the same way on a bear, unless you can guarantee a good shot.

When the bear charges, that's not something you can guarantee.

Hunting bear, and STOPPING bear are quite different things. Charging strait at you, your target is about the width of a car tire tread (give or take) and likely moving in 3 dimensions rapidly. .357 has the power, but you have to have the precision. The .44s power STILL needs the SAME precision.

Good Luck!
 
Have you considered a Glock (since you already carry that make) 10mm with a properly constructed heavy bullet? At least the action type is one to which you are accustomed and well-practised.
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The G20 is still on the table, but I don't think it replaces the capability of the .44 Mag. I think it's the great compromise and it (10mm) is very likely the round that would suit me fine for what I'm likely to encounter. However, I'm still wavering between a hot .357 and the potent .44 Mag- I don't want to wonder, so to speak...

I'm accustomed to both revolver and semi auto action- but in comparable round/caliber I believe the revolver to be more powerful, and more accurate.
 
If you want a revolver dedicated to hunting, I'd get a .44 mag. If you want something strictly for defense that you will carry everyday in the lower 48, your EDC will be fine.
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As in my OP, I only want this gun for protection, rather than hunting. That said, I imagine a powerful and humane hunting round would still be good for defensive purposes (4-legged). I'm not concerned about the 2-legged threat, although I think a 4-6 inch revolver would still be best for a 2-legged threat beyond 25 yards. Inside that I'm confident in my Glock 9mm.
 
Since you're also carrying your Glock and don't mind carrying around two guns, I'd say step up to .44 mag. That said, I have a GP100 and I'm pretty sure it'll handle nearly as stout as anything the Blackhawk could handle. I've shot 180 Grizzly cartridge HC out of it and 200 grain CorBon HC and you can tell it's a heavy load, but not unpleasant at all out of my 6". I found heavy loaded 10mm much more unpleasant out of a Glock 20. I also shoot an "Old" Vaquero in .45 colt with some heavy loads and I prefer its recoil characteristics over the Glock as well. I do understand the practical nature of the higher capacity, powerful auto loader though.
I have always eyed the stainless Ruger SBH .44 Mag with the unfluted cylinder as a particularly nice looking gun too.
 
I have always eyed the stainless Ruger SBH .44 Mag with the unfluted cylinder as a particularly nice looking gun too.
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No doubt the aesthetic is a consideration. I love the look and mechanics of the SBH. It's something special.
 
Buffalo Bore Heavy Outdoorsman 180g at 1400fps comes to mind.
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This is the direction I'm leaning as far as the heavy .357 is concerned. The question is how much this would bridge the gap between a 4.62 inch barrel or a 6.5 inch barrel in .357 vs. a 5.5 inch barrel in .44 Mag. Close? Not close? Negligible?
 
What is the hottest .357 load I could use in the Ruger Blackhawk for woods protection, that would adequately handle lower 48 charging bear? If applicable, is the same load possible in the Redhawk?
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From everything I know about the Blackhawks (and Redhawks), they will handle any load, of any caliber, within the SAAMI specs with aplomb.

As for how hot this is, I've read several posts by hand loaders that state they have difficulty matching the Buffalo Bore / Underwood performance with their hand loads while staying within the maximum recommended loading recipes for the various powders.

So I expect you could take the Buffalo Bore published ballistics (180gr hardcast at 1400fps - https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=396) as being about the practical upper limit of safe performance out of a .357 Mag.
 
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