TC Contender in .357 with 180 gr .358

S

Sea Buck

New member
At the range recently I was told about using a 180 gr .358 Sierra slug in a .357TC Contender for a deer hunting round. I'm somewhat skeptical. Sounds like a knuckle buster to me. Something about putting a .358 slug down a .357 bore turns me off. I used to shoot IHMSA with a 170 gr .357 but never had the thrill of trying a .358 bullet. Any comments about this would be helpful.
 
Sierra makes a 180gr. FPJ handgun bullet (.357) but the only .358 rifle bullets listed on their site is 200 and 225 gr.

Jim
 
357-358, What ever it takes!
Sorry, couldn't help myself.
We're talking Contender handgun right? You mean 357 Remington Magnum, or 357 Harrett?
With so many good deer rifle, and wildcat chamberings for Contender pistols I can't see a reason to use a revolver cartridge for deer.
 
State laws requiring straight wall cartridges.
There are some people loading mag to max levels by seating the bullet out at max lengths in contenders. This gives a pretty stout round out of a carbine. I'm not recommending claiming it is safe or anything else. Just stating some are doing it.
 
IMNSHO, .357 Magnum out of a Contender pistol can not be considered a knuckle buster no matter what the load...

My first barrel was a 10 inch "Hunter Package" .45-70...Even with factory 300gr loads, that gets your attention...Loaded up, it was painful...

My 12" custom shop .357 Herrett barrel loaded hot was a pussycat comparatively...

Even with jacketed bullets, .001" over groove diameter is nothing...Cast lead should be a minimum of .001" over groove, and many people go two, three, even four thousandths over groove diameter...
 
I've shot quite a few deer with the 357mag (over fifty), mostly in revolvers but some with a TC Contender. I can assure you that the 180g bullet is not a knuckle buster. Not even close. The biggest whitetail I ever killed I killed with a TC Contender using a 180g Hornady XTP HP on top of a full charge of WW296. I'd suggest you try the Hornady .357 180g pn 35771 before going to the .358 bullet. You'll get good results with WW296, H110, or 2400 powder. This bullet works better in the TC than it does in a revolver due to the added barrel length. However, inside of 75 yards with a revolver it offers acceptable expansion. I've shot completely through deer with it at 180 yards shooting it out of my Browning Low Wall in .357max. It's a great bullet.
 
Thanks for the response. I think it was a Speer load instead of Sierra. Whatever! Still .358. I looked up in an old Speer book at a friends and found Contender Loads with 180 gr, .358 dia., at 1400-1500 fps which seems respectable out of a 10 inch barrel. Maybe I'll work up a load and try it if I get an extra Doe permit this year. The performance should be interesting. Haven't fired the old TC for many a moon, looks like a good excuse!
 
I used to shoot IHMSA with a 170 gr .357 but never had the thrill of trying a .358 bullet. Any comments about this would be helpful.
Click to expand...
.358" diameter bullets are extremely common.
Mostly they are lead, with a gas check base...

This sounds more like a .358" diameter rifle bullet though.

Even so, the extra .001" shouldn't be a problem.

Just back down the initial starting point and check for pressure signs.
 
357/8

Are you shooting a 357 Remington Maximum?

If so, you will be getting an excellent straight wall cartridge that is great for deer and/or hog hu ting.
 
I will be shooting a TC Contender in .357 Magnum with 10" barrel. I like the Speer .358 180 gr bullet. I also will consider a gas checked hard cast 180 gr in .358. My old .357 contender was an accurate, versatile shooter that I could use for plinking with .38 spl's or load it up for rams. I look forward to taking it out of the gun safe for some fun and maybe a hunt. My old eyes have a problem with the sights so a scope will be a necessity.
 
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