Hunting ammo for .357mag

Water-Man · September 23, 2008, 11:42 AM

I have a new PUMA .357mag rifle, 20" octagon barrel with a 1-30" twist. I'm looking for experienced opinions on appropriate ammo to hunt deer in the Southeast, 50-75yd. shots. Thank you.

kraigwy · September 23, 2008, 12:24 PM

I would thank any good SWC would work. I use a Lvman 358477 cast 150 Gr SWC. I think the best is the 158 SWC Lvman 358156 GC. Its been around for ever. Good write up about it in this months Handloader Mag on the 358156. They come in two styles, HP and straight SWC.

I use the 150 mainly because I also use a lot of 148 grn wadcutters for practice. Thats the closest SWC I can find to my practice ammo.

I shoot them in my 4 in Model 28, 6 in Model 27 and my Marlin 1994c. Both shoot great.

If you are gonna push them hard then I would recommend the 358156 with the gas check (it also works good without the gas check at milder loadings.

I dont load heavy, I shoot the 358477 @ about 1050 our of my Model 27, the same travels about 1250 out of my Marlin.

Either way, if your loading gives you at least 500 ft lbs at 100 yards (Which is the requirment for a pistol round to hunt big game in Wyoming) I think you are good to go. That would mean a muzzle vol of 1500 fps for the 358156 bullet and 1525 fps for the 358477 bullet.

Though that loading would be a bit hot for a pistol, its well within the capabilities of a 357 rifle.

jmho

Water-Man · September 23, 2008, 12:31 PM

Thanks Kraig.

guntotin_fool · September 23, 2008, 10:26 PM

If you go with factory loads, any of the JSP (jacketed Soft Points) will work better than the JHP's (hollow Points) as they will penetrate better.

I have seen hogs shot with 125 and 148 JHP's and the bullets will not penetrate far enough to reach the organs. JSP's will dig further in.

10-96 · September 24, 2008, 04:54 AM

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm

Those Puma's are s'posed to be hell-fer-tough. Have you taken a peek at Buffalo Bore ammo? Go to that link, click .357 and look at the numbers out of a 18" Marlin. That ought to do it.

458winshooter · September 24, 2008, 11:42 AM

I have an early 1990's Rossi puma 357 also.I am looking at trying loads for a Speer 170 jsp,Rem 180 jhp,and a Hornady 180 xtp.Rifle magizine #226 July '06 had a write up on this,shooting into wet newsprint.The Buffalo Bore factory 180 went all the way through the 24 inch block as did the 358156gc that Kraigwy mentioned,but they loaded it up to 1974 fps.The 150gr swc from Rcbs went in 20 inches.

Jack O'Conner · September 24, 2008, 04:47 PM

I'm glad to meet another Veteran. I was with USAF for many years.

This is a heavy bodied cow elk that fell to my .357 MAG revolver. Two shots at archery range did the job! First shot was about 50 feet. I'm certain that .357 MAG will kill at least as well as a compound bow at close range. Try to stretch this distance and you'll be displeased with performance. If you want to hunt big game at longer distances than say 75 feet or so, trade for a genuine rifle cartridge carbine.

I hunt with PMC 158 grain semi-jacketed hollow tip ammo. It's accurate in my revolver and hits hard. One recovered bullet was bent behind the mushroomed tip but still remained intact.

Jack

September 23, 2008, 11:42 AM	#1
Water-Man Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2,126	Hunting ammo for .357mag I have a new PUMA .357mag rifle, 20" octagon barrel with a 1-30" twist. I'm looking for experienced opinions on appropriate ammo to hunt deer in the Southeast, 50-75yd. shots. Thank you.

September 24, 2008, 04:54 AM	#5
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,160	http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm Those Puma's are s'posed to be hell-fer-tough. Have you taken a peek at Buffalo Bore ammo? Go to that link, click .357 and look at the numbers out of a 18" Marlin. That ought to do it. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

September 24, 2008, 11:42 AM	#6
458winshooter Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Transplanted to Ridgeland,SC Posts: 606	357 rifle I have an early 1990's Rossi puma 357 also.I am looking at trying loads for a Speer 170 jsp,Rem 180 jhp,and a Hornady 180 xtp.Rifle magizine #226 July '06 had a write up on this,shooting into wet newsprint.The Buffalo Bore factory 180 went all the way through the 24 inch block as did the 358156gc that Kraigwy mentioned,but they loaded it up to 1974 fps.The 150gr swc from Rcbs went in 20 inches.

September 24, 2008, 04:47 PM	#7
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	I'm glad to meet another Veteran. I was with USAF for many years. This is a heavy bodied cow elk that fell to my .357 MAG revolver. Two shots at archery range did the job! First shot was about 50 feet. I'm certain that .357 MAG will kill at least as well as a compound bow at close range. Try to stretch this distance and you'll be displeased with performance. If you want to hunt big game at longer distances than say 75 feet or so, trade for a genuine rifle cartridge carbine. I hunt with PMC 158 grain semi-jacketed hollow tip ammo. It's accurate in my revolver and hits hard. One recovered bullet was bent behind the mushroomed tip but still remained intact. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

September 23, 2008, 12:24 PM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I would thank any good SWC would work. I use a Lvman 358477 cast 150 Gr SWC. I think the best is the 158 SWC Lvman 358156 GC. Its been around for ever. Good write up about it in this months Handloader Mag on the 358156. They come in two styles, HP and straight SWC. I use the 150 mainly because I also use a lot of 148 grn wadcutters for practice. Thats the closest SWC I can find to my practice ammo. I shoot them in my 4 in Model 28, 6 in Model 27 and my Marlin 1994c. Both shoot great. If you are gonna push them hard then I would recommend the 358156 with the gas check (it also works good without the gas check at milder loadings. I dont load heavy, I shoot the 358477 @ about 1050 our of my Model 27, the same travels about 1250 out of my Marlin. Either way, if your loading gives you at least 500 ft lbs at 100 yards (Which is the requirment for a pistol round to hunt big game in Wyoming) I think you are good to go. That would mean a muzzle vol of 1500 fps for the 358156 bullet and 1525 fps for the 358477 bullet. Though that loading would be a bit hot for a pistol, its well within the capabilities of a 357 rifle. jmho __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

September 23, 2008, 12:31 PM	#3
Water-Man Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2,126	Thanks Kraig.

September 23, 2008, 10:26 PM	#4
guntotin_fool Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2004 Posts: 1,446	If you go with factory loads, any of the JSP (jacketed Soft Points) will work better than the JHP's (hollow Points) as they will penetrate better. I have seen hogs shot with 125 and 148 JHP's and the bullets will not penetrate far enough to reach the organs. JSP's will dig further in.