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Author Topic: 12 inch 357 for deer?  (Read 1462 times)

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Offline gs50401

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12 inch 357 for deer?
« on: July 15, 2010, 05:46:33 PM »
Good enough?  I Would like to keep the range at 50 yards or under but they might get longer this fall.

I have never handgunned a deer before.
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Offline David D.

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2010, 03:37:48 AM »
50, 70 yards yes! 100yards with well a placed shot. Myself if over 70 yds I would want a little more, say the 357Max. The recoil will not be a lot more than the mag.
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Dave D.

Offline Hopalong7

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2010, 07:31:20 AM »
      Out of a 10-12" closed breech barrel.....no problem.  I agree with David...100yd in.  I would opt for the heavier bullets, i.e. Hornady 180XTP or Rem 180JHP and practice...practice...practice. ;)
Walt
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Offline gs50401

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2010, 08:08:13 AM »
I have the .357 barrel now. So i am not planning on buying another soon. It is accurate.

On other occasions though, even a .44 magnum seemed small compared to a shotgun slug.
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Offline Swampman

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2010, 08:44:34 AM »
It's very easy to rechamber one to .357/.44 Bain & Davis or .357 Max.  I had a .357/.44B&D and it was awesome.
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Offline gs50401

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2010, 10:40:11 AM »
It is a very accurate barrel so I do not want to mess with it. I have a large supply of 158 grain XTP hollowpoints but I was thinking about finding some Sierra 170 grain JHC's to try.

This darn contender has cost me close to 1500 bucks with barrels, frame,scopes,red dot and reloading stuff this year.
I am tapped out for this year except for some bullets.

Next year, I may be looking at a 357max or 375 winchester.  
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Offline DEACONLLB

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2010, 12:44:00 PM »
You did not know that they were habbit forming :)

Deaconllb
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Offline JW/OK

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2010, 01:22:37 PM »
I don't have a short barrel but my 21" 357 mag carbine likes the Hornady 180 grain XTP's with a max load of H110. Will shoot just over an inch at 100 yards with a 4X scope. Seems awful loud even with hearing protection!
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Offline Keith L

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2010, 01:49:05 PM »
$1500?  That's a good start.  I stopped counting a long time ago.
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Offline mbopp

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2010, 02:07:16 PM »
For cheap practice loads try cast bullets over some Unique, 231, or another pistol powder. I use Unique in my 357 Herrett.
Practice, practice, practice is the key.
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Offline gs50401

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #10 on: July 16, 2010, 05:37:49 PM »
$1500 since March.    I have a good all around load with 2400  and the 158 gr. XTP jhp's for my revolvers,contender and 1894c.

I might try a heavier bullet. The Sierra 170 JHC has intrigued me.   Raccoons have been the largest game that I have used this load and these guns on and it tears them up.
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Offline jbwell

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2010, 02:10:58 PM »

Might want to check, I read somewhere that they don't make the  Sierra 170 JHC any more.
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Offline gs50401

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2010, 02:25:19 PM »
I can't seem to find it online. I should have bought some a couple of years ago.
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Offline shot1

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #13 on: July 18, 2010, 03:43:27 AM »
Your 12" Contender 357 mag is plenty for deer out to a little over 100 yards. I have a 10" and have taken deer out to 117 yards with the 180 Hornady XTP and the max load of 13.5 grs H-110 that my book gives with the bullet crimped in the groove that is closest to the base of the bullet. I got better accuracy with it crimped in the lower band  verses the top band closest to the nose of the bullet. It's a very accurate load. I did recover one of the bullets from a deer. This was the one that I shot at 117 yards. The deer was at a broadside angel toward me. The bullet entered the center of the right shoulder went through the chest cavity taking out the lungs through the left edge of the liver and was found just under the hide at the beginning of the left ham. The bullet was a perfect text book mushroom. The deer almost went down at the shot but regained it's feet and took about a 50 yard dash. I sight my Contender in for 100 yards and it makes it just a touch over 1" at 50 yards. I just hold center of the front shoulder from point blank out to 150 yards and I am not over or under point of aim more than 2" from pointblank to 150 yards. Put that 180 XTP where it is supposed to go and you will have meat to eat.
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Offline tc scout

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #14 on: July 18, 2010, 05:59:20 AM »
Quote from: shot1 link=topic=211582.msg 1099130404#msg 1099130404 date=1279460607
Your 12" Contender 357 mag is plenty for deer out to a little over 100 yards. I have a 10" and have taken deer out to 117 yards with the 180 Hornady XTP and the max load of 13.5 grs H-110 that my book gives with the bullet crimped in the groove that is closest to the base of the bullet. I got better accuracy with it crimped in the lower band  verses the top band closest to the nose of the bullet. It's a very accurate load. I did recover one of the bullets from a deer. This was the one that I shot at 117 yards. The deer was at a broadside angel toward me. The bullet entered the center of the right shoulder went through the chest cavity taking out the lungs through the left edge of the liver and was found just under the hide at the beginning of the left ham. The bullet was a perfect text book mushroom. The deer almost went down at the shot but regained it's feet and took about a 50 yard dash. I sight my Contender in for 100 yards and it makes it just a touch over 1" at 50 yards. I just hold center of the front shoulder from point blank out to 150 yards and I am not over or under point of aim more than 2" from pointblank to 150 yards. Put that 180 XTP where it is supposed to go and you will have meat to eat.
That is interesting, a 180 gr. XTP crimped in the lower cannelure won't even chamber in my 12" factory barrel.
Is your barrel factory TC ?
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Offline shot1

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2010, 01:58:02 PM »
Sorry it has taken this long to get back to you.  I have been at church camp with 86 9-11 year old kids this past week. Yes my barrel is a factory 10" T/C barrel. I am not sure if it was a custom shop barrel or not. I got a frame and 3 barrels from an estate sale of a fellow that was a big time bench rest rifle shooter and he also had a BUNCH of Contenders and many custom Wild Cat caliber barrels. Everything this fellow had was a real shooter.
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Offline tc scout

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #16 on: July 25, 2010, 02:56:03 PM »
thanks, shot1
I would think that if it was a custom shop barrel it would be stamped as such. Maybe all are not, the only custom shop barrel I have owned was stamped custom shop.
Perhaps, the previous owner reamed the chamber a little for a longer bullet.

                                    Thanks for your reply, TC
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The strongest reason for the
people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves
against tyranny in government.

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Offline wallacem

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #17 on: July 29, 2010, 05:45:16 AM »
357 Mag does the trick very well.  I have used a 10" max bbl since 1985, use 357 MAG in it, never needed the max.  I use the Speer 140 gr hp bullet, I think it gives better speed/weight combo. Deer don't argue when hit by it also.  Wallacem in Ga
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Offline Hopalong7

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Re: 12 inch 357 for deer?
« Reply #18 on: July 30, 2010, 01:46:18 AM »
       Many of the older 357Mag barrels were chambered with quite deep throats.  This was also true of the 357Max barrels.  My Mag barrel and Max barrel will both
easily chamber a 180 shallow seated in the second crimp groove.  I shoot a lot of Lyman 205gr'ers out of both of mine.
GOOD SHOOTIN'  Walt ;D
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