.357 mag bullet for deer?

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Hi all,

I would like to try my .357 lever on deer this year, keep shots ideally to max 50m, maybe 60. I have a very accurate load using a 158gr XTP-HP with 14.5gr of H110 which Hornady (also using a 16” barrel) says should be just on 1600fps.

The rifle also shoots well with American Eagle 158gr JSP.

Can anyone comment on using the 158 XTP-HP on deer? US forums seem to indicate that it works well but can over expand /under penetrate if pushed hard or hits heavy bone. My load is not hot. It’s also unclear if those guys are hunting northern deer, or 100 lb gulf deer.

Any experiences?

Thanks
 
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You need to grab yourself the 158gr FP-XTP version. It is nearly identical to the regular XTP in every way except the hollow cavity is smaller and it is designed for a higher speed envelope than the plain XTP.
 
Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
You need to grab yourself the 158gr FP-XTP version. It is nearly identical to the regular XTP in every way except the hollow cavity is smaller and it is designed for a higher speed envelope than the plain XTP.
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Trying to find some but they don’t seem too common.
 
I took a whitetail last fall with my Henry 357 carbine. I'll have to dig out what the ammunition was I used.

50yds, hit between the ribs, no bone damage going in. Took out a lung and lodged inside the opposite shoulder. I have the bullet in a bag in my safe, I'll try and load some pics later.

He went about 75yds before he piled up.
 
I have both the regular XTP and the XTP-FP loaded on top of 17grns of H110. I knew the profile was different but I didn't know the bullet was supposed to perform better through a rifle. I will have to do some experimenting in the backyard. I figured sooner or later I'd be using my R92 to take some deer, but hadn't considered a significant difference in the two.
 
I'm also hoping to add a .357 to the collection this year with the hope of using it on deer. Do you think there would be a decernable difference between hunting with the 16 inch vs 20 inch barrels if Im hunting within 100m?
 
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Northern Shooter said:
I'm also hoping to add a .357 to the collection this year with the hope of using it on deer. Do you think there would be a dicernible difference between hunting with the 16 inch vs 20 inch barrels if Im hunting within 100m?

I recall seeing some ballistics tests at different barrel lengths and all rounds maxed out around 16 inches.
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Effectively no difference for almost any realistic hunting application I would say.
 
B said:
Effectively no difference for almost any realistic hunting application I would say.
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http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html

I just found this source that compares the ballistics of various .357 loads between 2" and 18" barrels. It looks like all rounds hit max velocity out of a 16 inch barrel and saw velocity losses for every inch greater than that. Interesting.
 
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When I got my 357 a guy suggested hms bear loads I belive they were 180gr hard cast. I didn’t take a deer with them or my 357 but I have killing everything else with my rifle, coyotes, gophers, beavers, magpies all with blazer 158 gr jsp. I wouldn’t hesitate to take a deer with the 158 gr jsp. My rifle key holes the fxt rounds so they were a no go. I have used them in my 45-70 on moose and they were great.
 
The velocity difference beyond 12" is pretty small when you go longer - I wouldn't worry about the difference between 16" and 20". A bullet designed for one will do fine in both. And that's a big deal, since they are actively making good hunting bullets for pistol caliber carbines and rifles. Otherwise yes, 180gr hard cast is the business.
 
Heavy charges of H110 benefit from the extra length but it seems to be less of a return as you go past 16". My 125grn loads show significant muzzle flash so perhaps in that case a 20" would give significantly more velocity. Regardless of which you choose there should be plenty of speed for expansion.
 
Note 30.30 150gr 1358 ft lbs @ 100 yds
44 Mag 140 gr @ 100 yds 607 ft lbs
357 148 gr @100 yds 396 ft lbs. Common advice recomends 1000 ft lbs for deer
 
Tick said:
Note 30.30 150gr 1358 ft lbs @ 100 yds
44 Mag 140 gr @ 100 yds 607 ft lbs
357 148 gr @100 yds 396 ft lbs. Common advice recomends 1000 ft lbs for deer
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Those look like revolver numbers for .44/.357. 148 grain is also an odd weight for .357 and I think the .44 is supposed to be 240?
 
mikeyb said:
The velocity difference beyond 12" is pretty small when you go longer - I wouldn't worry about the difference between 16" and 20". A bullet designed for one will do fine in both. And that's a big deal, since they are actively making good hunting bullets for pistol caliber carbines and rifles. Otherwise yes, 180gr hard cast is the business.
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Agreed. There are some decent choices in factory carbine specific ammo for those that don’t reload as well. Hornady makes a 140 grain “LEVERevolution”FTX hollow point and Federal makes a 170 grain “Hammerdown” bonded hollow point both in .357. They are also available in .44 mag.
 
I hunted deer in Maine with a 6'' Python. Federal Hydra Shock 180gr hollow points were very efficient. I guess something similar out of a rifle would do a good job.
 
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