Effectiveness of a 357 mag bear load on a bear or large animal

It's pretty simple imop....... if you are carrying something for "defence" then carry the biggest cartridge you can handle while taking the platform into consideration.......

If you are carrying a sidearm to suit the purpose, then get one in the biggest cartridge you can handle...... if you are carrying a rifle because compactness is a non issue, then carry a handy one in the biggest cartridge you can handle......if what you need size wise in a gun is somewhere in between, then carry a gun in the biggest cartridge you can that suits your needs....
 
You kids have at 'er, but you won't be including me into that fraternity. I know, and a 22 lr can kill a bear and a moose..........blah....blah....blah....I agree it is better than a sharp stick, and possibly better than a knife..........oh, or a 22 lr........But under absolutely no condition would I recommend it as a self defense cartridge..........except against another biped. Even a 44 RM is marginal IMHO.........
 
I've never shot an animal with a .357, and I don't ever want to have to, but I did try shooting about a 7-8" cottonwood tree with a hot load of 2400 and a hardcast 158 grain semi wadcutter. It went through the (live) tree and tore a decent chunk out of the back. I'd say that's definitely better than nothing.
Kristian
 
Every species of big game in North America has been taken with .357's from handguns, let alone rifles. I have no worries packing my Rossi RH in the bush around my area. I use hardcast 158 gr. boolits pushed out at 1700 fps. which will dummy pretty much any critter around here with a clean shot. The key is to be proficient & well practiced with your gun and load and most of all, be aware of your surroundings when afield.

A full sized butt stock on a Ranch Hand is a must for proper control in fast action scenarios.:)
 
mrgoat said:
Just for curiosity; what was the condition of your underwear when this was all over...!! I can appreciate this story as I had a very close encounter with a black bear when I was 12 yrs. old. They are unbelievably fast, and predictably, unpredictable. I also had a cow moose in my face as I was dressing her calf so fast that I did not have time to react let alone sh!t myself.
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It was the absolute silence after the shot that was spooky. He came so fast I didn't really think. Me and that gun are like one. It's built on the same frame as their sxs guns which I've put more than 50000 rounds thru. The one time I did almost #### myself was wacking one in the ass with a broomhandle to move him along off my trailer. He turned and growled at me. 400 lb class dump bear with no fear of humans vs a 130 lb redneck with a wooden stick that wasn't even sharp. I much prefer my 45/70 or 458 wm
 
Well this is getting more encouraging. I shoot my Ranch hand alot. I really like it and I've become quite a good shot with it. Ive never had to face a big animal in a serious situation so I have no idea how id react. What I do know, and what I bet on whenever I go out, is that regardless of what I actually end up doing in the situation, should it ever arise, ill be better off WITH my gun than without it. I don't have unlimited funds so when it came time to buy a ranch had I picked on that was in a caliber I'm already setup up to shoot (and reload, which, when i do another run of 357 ill be doing a bunch at the specs you guys have suggested). I can practice and shoot for fun with 38spl and break out the 357 when I want to impress the ladies (cough).

Thanks for the info everyone. This is why I hang around this place.
 
We used to reload 357's with the 180 gr fmj flat point silhouette bullet just for bears back in the 70's. Wasn't a great hunting bullet, but it would penetrate a bear's skull from a 4" revolver, which was pretty much the goal. I forget the exact load, but we pushed them as fast as we could. I knew two guys personally in the NWT that stopped a bear with this load. It's a thin hope, but better than your hunting knife. FWIW - dan
 
I owned a Ranch Hand as well as a Chiappa Mare's Leg, and while they were both a ton of fun to shoot, I simply couldn't get comfortable enough with cycling them quickly that I would want to trust one as a bear defense gun. Shell Shucker's comment above deserves repetition: a Ranch Hand intended for this use needs a full length stock to allow for quick, sure handling.
 
dan belisle said:
We used to reload 357's with the 180 gr fmj flat point silhouette bullet just for bears back in the 70's. Wasn't a great hunting bullet, but it would penetrate a bear's skull from a 4" revolver, which was pretty much the goal. I forget the exact load, but we pushed them as fast as we could. I knew two guys personally in the NWT that stopped a bear with this load. It's a thin hope, but better than your hunting knife. FWIW - dan
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I still have a big pile of the 180 gr. FMJ bullets, but I use them fer tree cuttin' or blowing out engine blocks on dead lawn mowers. One does not wanna be caught hunting game in BC with FMJ bullets.

That raises a question: What do game dept's consider mono-copper bullets to be?:runaway:
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
I still have a big pile of the 180 gr. FMJ bullets, but I use them fer tree cuttin' or blowing out engine blocks on dead lawn mowers. One does not wanna be caught hunting game in BC with FMJ bullets.

That raises a question: What do game dept's consider mono-copper bullets to be?:runaway:
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I'm more curious to know what they view cast bullets to be. Copper monos like the TSX, E-tip, GMX are all expanding bullets. But cast bullets...
 
BigUglyMan said:
I'm more curious to know what they view cast bullets to be. Copper monos like the TSX, E-tip, GMX are all expanding bullets. But cast bullets...
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I'd have to admit to a brain fart on the mono copper bullet question. I've zilch experience with them.:redface:

As for cast bullets, one can cast 'em super soft with pure lead, or alloy them & heat treat them to a point where they will perform in a similar manner to military hardpoints on soft targets. In many cases folks will find some deformation of the bullet nose when using hardcast, especially when bone is struck. Like any bullet, it's all about finding the right balance of weight, construction & impact velocity to get the results they seek for hunting.
 
I have killed several black bears with the 357 mag in rifles. It kills them just fine if you use 180grain plus bullets. Keep the distance down around 75 or less if you can. It rarely knocks them down, but they don't go far when hit squarely in the vitals. The 200 grain cast bullet idea is a solid choice! Thats what I am using now for all game I shoot with the 357 mag.(actually a 190 grain flat met-plat style)
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
I'd have to admit to a brain fart on the mono copper bullet question. I've zilch experience with them.:redface:

As for cast bullets, one can cast 'em super soft with pure lead, or alloy them & heat treat them to a point where they will perform in a similar manner to military hardpoints on soft targets. In many cases folks will find some deformation of the bullet nose when using hardcast, especially when bone is struck. Like any bullet, it's all about finding the right balance of weight, construction & impact velocity to get the results they seek for hunting.
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I know about that. I'm just halfway curious what the COs in BC (and other places) think of them. Halfway because, well, you can't un-ring a bell and when you consider how stupid the average person is you then have to realize that half of the people are stupider.
 
pavmentsurfer said:
I have a Rossi Ranch hand in 357 magnum. I bought it to carry in the bush and I'm wondering what the realistic effectiveness of it is on larger animals.

I bought a few boxes of 357 magnum bear loads... but I don't believe box art. Im wondering what the experts think about their realistic effectiveness. Obviously at medium to short ranges given the purpose of the gun. I have strong doubts that even these heavy loads would be effective against a bear... black bear that is, I'm in ontario.

Alternatively, would a 1oz slug have any effect on a bear from an 8.5 inch grizzly? These are the 2 guns I carry in the bush, just want to make sure theyre at least somewhat effective. I know they'd be enough for a coyote or other medium sized animal. But what about the bigger ones?
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The slug will definitely be more effective than the 357. I've finished off quite a few wounded black bears with slugs, they don't like them. I don't think I'd pick any revolver cartridge over them, especially not a 357.

That said, if you miss with an 8.5" slug gun, at least you won't hear him maul you, only see and feel it. ;)
 
pavmentsurfer said:
10:4. I figured as such. I can't say I would have trusted myself against a bear with those rounds. But It was worth asking.

What about the 12 gauge?
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Harry Callahan: Uh uh. I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?


Oh Wait, thats the .44 Magnum and not the .357 magnum he was talking about.
While there certainly are much better calibers to choose for hunting Black Bear why is there such a penchant for pistol cartridges for hunting purposes?
Six inch to 10 inch barrels for revolver hunting has been man a mans quest and some countries allow for it.
Isnt all about bullet selection, the stalk/hunt and finally bullet placement?
Hell, some guys even have gone toe to toe with a spear..
No, I am not advocating the spear or handgun hunting, but there is more to the chase ....
Rob
 
The frank answer is you're better off with spray. Not as much fun as carrying a gun, doesn't give you the puff of adventure, but statistics have proven you're more likely to survive an attack with a can of spray than a gun. I guide grizzly hunts for the source and like guns just swell, statistical realities are seldom exciting or interesting. If you're set on a gun get yourself a nice little 18" .308 with iron sights, worlds of difference from the .357. I've hunted and taken black bears with 9mm and .357 from carbines to be clear, both work but not so hot from the angles and shot placement defensive shooting allows.
 
I tried some fusion .357 180gr hunting rounds that were fairly potent , may have to get some hsm .357 . I made up some 140gr FTX hot loads and tried them on 2x6 planks the damage was pretty lack luster .
 
Harvested a Blacktail today at 45y with the 357 using a 180gr Federal jacketed hollow point.

It ain't no bear...... but he went down hard with a heart shot.
 
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