.357 loads for coyote?

[patrick_sween]

Looking for loads for a 6" .357 for use on called coyotes.  I'm guessing that a fast moving 125 or 140 XTP would do well, but I haven't tried any yet.  Anyone have a favorite load for either of these, or firsthand experience with them on coyote?  Thanks!

Patrick

[Mikey]

patrick:  I usually just plunk 'em with my normal loads, which are heavy cast bullets but, some of the other fellas have spoken to the use of 125 gn HPs for song dogs and they report good success.  I would think that if you can hit accurately with your 6" 357, a hot 125 gn load should do the trick for you.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Van/TX]

I would think that .38 Special would do the  trick so anything in .357 Mag would do.  You can kill 'em with anything including .22 rimfire if you can put the bullet where you want it. :-) .....Van

[BH]

Pat,

Never shot one with my 357 but I have to believe the 110 gr XTP would do the job quite nicely if your not looking to save the hide.  If you are, dump a cast 158  through him.

Bob

[PaulS]

patrick_sween,

here is the load that I use for all my 357 work:

Weapon make   Ruger   
Bore-to-sight height (inches)   .9
Weapon model   Security-six   
Twist rate   1 in 17
Barrel length   6 inch   
Serial number   156-2XXXX

Case make   
Cartridge head stamp   357 Magnum
Cartridge designation   357 Magnum
Trimmed length (inches)   1.29
Over-all length (inches)   1.59

Bullet make   Speer
Bullet weight (grains)   140
Bullet type                   JHP
Ballistic coefficient   .152
Bullet diameter   .357

Powder make   Hodgdon
Powder type   H110
Powder charge weight (grains)   17.3
Wad (make and type)                   None
Primer (make and type)   CCI 400

Recorded velocity(at 3 yards)1351      
Muzzle velocity(FPS)   1371
Standard deviation(FPS)10.2      
Extreme spread(FPS)   37
Sight-in-range(yards)   70   
Group size(at 25 yards)1.5

PaulS

[S.B.]

I'd say anyting from moderate to max in a .357 would do the trick. Personally, I'd prefer a .44 mag. The decible of report seems to me to be more tolerable in the .44 than the .357. Same thing in the .22 long rifle over the .22 mag., can't stand the report of the magnum, ears ring for hours if not days.

[Larry Gibson]

patrick_sween

"Looking for loads for a 6" .357 for use on called coyotes."  

You don't say which model of revolver you have.  I have found the 125 HPs like the Speer or Winchester work fine when started out at 1450 fps+.  In the stouter revolvers such as old and new BHs, S&W L and N frames, Ruger Security Sixes and Freedom Arms, etc., you can very safely push the 125s to 1600 FPS+ out of the 6" barreled revolvers.  I have a 6" Security Six that I worked up to the Max load of Bluedot as listed in Speer #11 with the 125 Winchester HP.  It runs 1680 FPS in my Ruger.  That was also the revolver Speer used developing the loads in the manual.  I can assure you it is quite deadly on coyotes out to 70 yards (about the farthest I'm comfortable shooting at one with iron sights).  That load does bark and snort a tudge and I found Pachmyer grips to work much better than the smaller, slicker factory wooden ones.

I use the same load for deer only with a 125 FP/xtp and it runs 1690 fps.  Zero is the same for either load.

Larry Gibson

[Old Griz]

I've got some Armscorp 125-gr. SP that really patterns great in all my .357s. I'm gonna try them with coyotes and see if they'll do less damage to the pelts than a HP.

If anyone as used a 125-gr. SP on 'em, please let me know! :cb2:

[patrick_sween]

Thanks for all the advice.  A bit more info: the revolver is a 6" S&W 28 (N-frame, square butt).  I've got Pachmyer finger groove grips on it, and it's really a pussycat to shoot, even with heavier 158 gn. loads.  I've worked up a load with the 140 XTP (that's all my gun shop had in stock) and IMR-4227.  It seems to shoot pretty well, and I'm going out tomorrow to see what comes to call.  I'll let you know how things work out.  I'll also have my .22 K-Hornet Contender along, in case I get a longer shot than I can comfortably hit with open sights.  Thanks again for the advice.

Patrick