357 mag which factory ammo for deer

[Deerhunter#1]

My buddys 8 year old will be using my mag/max handi for early doe season this year. The american eagle flat point shoots good but should i be looking at using a hollow point at mag velocities. just wasnt sure if the flat point would expand at all.

[parson48]

My granddaughter took her first deer a couple of years ago with a .357 Handi. The Rem 158 gr. hollow point fragmented badly. It was less than a 50 yard shot.

I would recommend flat points from a rifle.

[redleg11b]

Out of a rifle/carbine it shouldn't be a problem.  No 357 experience, but used Magtech SJFP in 44 Mag on deer.  They expanded well.  My favorite factory load for hunting was the Federal Fusion line.  I only recovered 1 bullet (3 deer shot with this round) from a 125 yd quartering away shot.  The 44 slug expanded to .8" and was just under the skin of the far shoulder.  A box should do an entire season.

[upnut]

I did a LOT of research on this subject when I bought a Marlin 1894c, and the name Jerry Lester kept popping up. An experienced deer hunter who really liked the .357mag for deer. I think he used to post on this site, couldn't find a post using the search function...Anyway, he highly recommended the Remington 158 grain JSP for deer hunting. Good velocity, mushrooming, weight retention, all around way better than hollow points which had a tendency to fragment and bounce around inside the deer vs straight line bone crunching/vitals wrecking power. If I may, here is a post by Jerry Lester from Marlin Owners.com:.357 for Whitetail:      

                     Like the others said, the 357 magnum in a rifle, or revolver is perfectly suited for short range deer hunting. I've killed 9 with my 357 Blackhawk, and I've killed considerably

  more than that with a 357 rifle.

I could write a very long post here about all the different bullet/load combo's I've killed them with that worked from so-so great, but honestly, you'll just need one load.

Like they mentioned above, I'm quite settled on the fact that a tough 158g SP is the hands down best balanced performer on deer sized game. I load the Remington bulk 158g SP's at 1400 fps in my Blackhawk, and around 1700-1800 fps in my rifle. With this combo, you get a maximum range of around 50-60 yards from the revolver, and about 100 yards from the rifle. I've killed them cleanly at ranges of 120-150 yards, but with the loss in velocity, you have to deal with FMJ performance from a tough bullet, or go with a HP for a clean kill, and make certain you get a perfect broadside hit.

The best bet is to use your rifle within the limits it works best in which is up to 100 yards. With a 158g SP(Remingtons are "THE" best), and a starting velocity of around 1700-1800 fps, you'll get great peformance with any reasonably sensible shot angle. Any full house 158g SP factory load like Remingtons, Winchesters, Mag-Tech, etc. will give you plenty of peformance within 100 yards if you're not a handloader.

If you're planning on taking butt shots or other less than normal angles, then the 357 magnum will definately not please you. If you're a hunter who waits for the angles you want, then the 357 will serve you as well as any other caliber you've ever used. My favorite shot is a quartering towards me shoulder shot. I like to take out the facing shoulder, and exit just behind the off shoulder. The 357(with a proper load) will often drop them in their tracks with this shot, and even if it doesn't, you're looking at about a 20-50 yards tracking job at most with a huge blood trail.

Hope this helps...                   Scott B.

[flinthead]

My 357 mag Handi shoots the 180 grain flat point Buffalo Bore's under an inch at 50 yards... I haven't had a chance to try these out on a deer yet, but I believe they will do the job nicely!
 

[Deerhunter#1]

has anyone tried reloading the 180 hor spp bullet in the handi mag. I see reports of top speeds with lil gun but no load data. I have the bullet and powder just wondering if i reloaded these if anyone has had good results. they shoot good in this gun as maxi

[rdlange]

OK, just asking, but we're talking 'factory' ammo, and no one's mentioned the Hornady Lever Evolution..?  Walmart cheap, so we'd like to hear about that too.

[jeepmann1948]

If you ask the young man in my profile picture, he will tell you that a 158 gr Federal Soft point will do anything a 357 mag is capable of.He may be right too. He is 3 shots for 3 dead right there 2 were 1 mule deer and a whitetail deer. The other shot really ruined an armadillo's day. The other buck he shot was with  a 125gr custom homemade thick jacket bullet.The Federal soft point as near as I can tell expand nicely and pentrates 
well.

[mcwoodduck]

Well the Federal 158 Grain American Eagle Soft point works well.  I know it is not a hollow point but is does expand at rifle velocities and works well out of my handgun.
If you are looking for a hollowpoint then any of the 125 grainers for self defence will get a boost out of the longer barrel and will act like the 125 grain Semi Jacketed Hollow point that is the #1 man stopper and should work well on a deer.

[quickdtoo]

OK, just asking, but we're talking 'factory' ammo, and no one's mentioned the Hornady Lever Evolution..?  Walmart cheap, so we'd like to hear about that too.

I've shot the 140gr FTX ammo in my 357Mag Handi prior to Maxing it, it averaged 1811fps which is way out of the 800-1650fps MV range parameter listed by Hornady, it's intended for use in pistols, their rifle handload data only lists it up to 1650fps while they list the 140gr XTP to 1900fps. Accuracy was very poor also, 3" at 100yds. 

Tim

[jjas]

OK, just asking, but we're talking 'factory' ammo, and no one's mentioned the Hornady Lever Evolution..?  Walmart cheap, so we'd like to hear about that too.

I was wondering the same thing.  Has anyone on here killed a deer with the leverevolution .357 ammo in a rifle?
 
Just curious what the results were.....

[cwlongshot]

Good morning,
I also have shot a "couple"with the little magnum in both rifle and pistols and can tell you with experience the 158 SP is your best bet for hunting deer and like sized game with a rifle /carbine in 357 Magnum. (In a hand gun I like a 140g HP and keep shots to 75 yards.)
 
Now, I hand load, so factory is not my normal fodder, I really like the Hornady .357 158g XTP FP bullet. I load it wiyth a stiff charge of H110 and attain just about 2000fps. It knocks the socks off  Mr. Whitetail if you do your part and get it in the boiler room. It has the snuff to break down the big bones BUT may not exit afterwards, so hi shoulder shots are just fine within range limititions. I feel this limitation should be 100-125 yards from a rifle/carbine in this caliber.
 
With cup n core bullets, HP bullets will over expand and under penetrate on all but perfect broadside lung shots. A 158 SP will preform like a big game bullet and expand and penetrate thru and thru on all but the biggest bones on the biggest deer. One acception has been the XTP line from Hornady. But I still recomend, 158 bullets.
I would have confidence in the Remington, Federal or Winchester brand, loaded with a 158g SP bullet as long as its not a redused velocity loading.

 
I also feel the 180's are OK, but the vel is still pretty lo and unreliable expansion is likely unless ranges ar short.
 
Good luck,
CW

[Fred McIntire]

Yes, I know he asked for factory loads; however, I'd feel bad for not sharing this custom hand load recipe.

I highly recommend the 185 grain, wide flat nose, gas checked cast bullet from Beartooth Bullets. This bullet loaded over 16 grains of H110 in the .357 Magnum is an awesome deer load. Just ask Marshall at Beartooth Bullet what his experience is with this load.

Besides, it is so simple to reload the .357 Magnum cartridge.   

[spikehorn]

I took a deer with with winchester 110gr jhp at 134 paces. Double lunged him and blew out the drivers side shoulder. Dropped where he hit. haven't shot a deer with the hornady LE rounds yet.