What .357 ammo for whitetails?

B

BfloBill

New member
If you hunt whitetails with a .357, what ammo do you use?
It would have to be factory ammo since I don't load my own.
 
I use 158 Grain Jacketed soft points in my puma M92 and GP100. I've taken mulies at 250+ yards. I can shoot out to 600 thats the farthest I've shot during competitions. Not saying you should shoot a deer that far, if you dont know exactly where your gun shoots Id keep it under 100 yards.
 
as a general rule i'd go with towards the higher end of bullet weight, and a soft point round, not a hollow point... beyond that others will chime in.
 
158gr or 180's (harder to find) would be my choice off the cuff.

The 180's I think are aimed more at hunters and are better designed for that use.

Would also look at companies that have loaded them for hunting and say so rather than defense (cor-bon, buffalo bore, double tap, etc).
 
handgun or rifle????

You don't mention whether you will loading the ammo in a carbine or handgun/revolver. Either way, ..............

Avoid the SD loads of 110, 125, 140, etc and stick to heavy bullets 158 and up. From a carbine, the 180's look interesting on paper, but I have never shot them.

A .357 w/ correct heavy bullet is a 100 yd deer ctg. Period. Half the distance is better. Not ideal, but the .357, esp from a carbine, will suffice if loaded and applied properly within its range. Which is short. And it may not be a legal big game ctg in some states.

Regards 250 yd and 600 yd shots w/ a .357, I cannot find a specific 158 gr table, but if zeroed "on" at 100, a .357/180 will be approaching 3 feet LOW at 250 yds, and over 6 feet LOW at 300. At 500 yds, it will be near 25- 30 FEET low, traveling less than 700 fps. My source only goes to 500, but at 600 yds, one could figure about 600 or less fps and a near 35- 40 FOOT drop, with only 150 or so ft lbs of energy. Fun on paper or steel, but not a deer hunting ctg for those distances.

I have shot a number of road crippled deer w/ .357 revolver and carbine, but with the "wrong" bullet, a 125 JHP at point blank to long rock throwing distance. It worked, but a .22 would have as well, which is what I now keep on hand for such tasks.

Typically, I will carry a .357 Marlin a time or two during our long deer season. It is absolutely the lightest, most portable carbine I own. When I do, its loaded w/ 158 JHP, and used in thick, rough, steep cover from elevated stands where shots are bow range short.
 
Regards 250 yd and 600 yd shots w/ a .357, I cannot find a specific 158 gr table, but if zeroed "on" at 100, a .357/180 will be approaching 3 feet LOW at 250 yds, and over 6 feet LOW at 300. At 500 yds, it will be near 25- 30 FEET low, traveling less than 700 fps. My source only goes to 500, but at 600 yds, one could figure about 600 or less fps and a near 35- 40 FOOT drop, with only 150 or so ft lbs of energy. Fun on paper or steel, but not a deer hunting ctg for those distances
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thats why I said this:
Not saying you should shoot a deer that far, if you dont know exactly where your gun shoots Id keep it under 100 yards.
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The gun is a S&W with a 6" barrel and the shot will be under 100 yds. I knew not to use lighter SD ammo as it would expand too fast and not give the penetration needed for hunting. Just wanted to narrow my choices to what other people found to work to save some $$ and time finding the right load. I'll be using 158 gr. minimum (like the ideas of 180gr.) just have to get out and try a few to see what shoots best out of this particular gun.
Thanks again.
 
Check out Buffalo Bore ammo. Go with heavier cast bullet, their velocities are about the highest available. Cast bullet will mushroom, but will handle bone better.
 
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