CastCore .357 cartridge

ump45 · October 16, 2002, 02:13 PM

What do you think about this Federal CastCore round? It's .357Mag 180gr with 1270fps out of a 4".

Here's what the site says:

"CastCore Premium CastCore gives you a heavyweight, flat-nosed, hard cast-lead bullet that smashes through bone, without breaking apart."

Would this be appropriate as a deep woods camping/backpacking gun? I'm going up to the Redwoods in Northern California, want to have enough to protect against an aggressive black bear, mountain lion, or wild deer.

whiskey · October 16, 2002, 02:45 PM

It is probably one of the better factory loads in .357. I would probably go with the heavy cor-bon load, but either is a good choice.

I have used the cast-core in .44mag and I was very happy with it.

October 17, 2002, 11:43 AM

Castcore in my 41 mags are excellent.
Federal I think.

caz223 · October 17, 2002, 07:34 PM

I cook up my own max loads in .41, .44 , and .45 colt, but I buy hunting loads for .357
I don't know why.
They're kinda weak, but they won't blow up the gun, and they will work.

taco · October 17, 2002, 08:01 PM

For hunting purpose, this would be good factory 357mag load. The bullet has very large megplate for the caliber.

I have shot some of this ammo in my 357 mags revolvers and found the velocity to be lower than advertised (as usual). From 4" revolvers I got 1,090 fps and 1,130 fps and from 6" revolvers I got 1,190 fps and 1,210 fps and 1,220 fps. Only from 8 3/8" revolver did I get 1,260 fps.

I have handloaded 180gr WFL (very similar bullet profile) hard cast bullets for hunting purposes for some time and they can be pushed to 1,300 fps from 6" barrel revolvers if you know what you are doing and use strong revolver.

For your purpose, if you are going to carry a 4" revolver, I think a good factory 158gr JSP would be just as good and would be much cheaper.

Jim March · October 18, 2002, 04:16 AM

The bullet is great but Federal often wimps out on the powder charge. I'd go with the Cor-Bon equivelent.

But when working as advertized, you bet these are good backwoods hunting/defense loads. They'll work on pigs, put Cougar in a world of hurt and are "bearly adequate" on BLACK bear. If you're in Griz country, upgrade

.

If I was carrying a 4" to 6" GP100 or Blackhawk/Vaquero in .357 on a long 48-state backwoods venture, I'd want about 60 of these along, plus about 50 148grain target wadcutters for game up to large coon size, plus 50 or so shotshells for small game and 24 - 36 "combat JHPs" for defense and fill-in game duties as needed. And a handful of blanks for emergency signalling

. The combat load would be a 140grain or heavier to give it better hunting abilities if you run low on 180s.

October 16, 2002, 02:13 PM	#1
ump45 Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2001 Posts: 286	CastCore .357 cartridge What do you think about this Federal CastCore round? It's .357Mag 180gr with 1270fps out of a 4". Here's what the site says: "CastCore Premium CastCore gives you a heavyweight, flat-nosed, hard cast-lead bullet that smashes through bone, without breaking apart." Would this be appropriate as a deep woods camping/backpacking gun? I'm going up to the Redwoods in Northern California, want to have enough to protect against an aggressive black bear, mountain lion, or wild deer.

October 16, 2002, 02:45 PM	#2
whiskey Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2000 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 431	It is probably one of the better factory loads in .357. I would probably go with the heavy cor-bon load, but either is a good choice. I have used the cast-core in .44mag and I was very happy with it. __________________ "So he cocked both his pistols, spit in the dirt and walked out in to the street."

October 17, 2002, 07:34 PM	#4
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	I cook up my own max loads in .41, .44 , and .45 colt, but I buy hunting loads for .357 I don't know why. They're kinda weak, but they won't blow up the gun, and they will work. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

October 18, 2002, 04:16 AM	#6
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	The bullet is great but Federal often wimps out on the powder charge. I'd go with the Cor-Bon equivelent. But when working as advertized, you bet these are good backwoods hunting/defense loads. They'll work on pigs, put Cougar in a world of hurt and are "bearly adequate" on BLACK bear. If you're in Griz country, upgrade . If I was carrying a 4" to 6" GP100 or Blackhawk/Vaquero in .357 on a long 48-state backwoods venture, I'd want about 60 of these along, plus about 50 148grain target wadcutters for game up to large coon size, plus 50 or so shotshells for small game and 24 - 36 "combat JHPs" for defense and fill-in game duties as needed. And a handful of blanks for emergency signalling . The combat load would be a 140grain or heavier to give it better hunting abilities if you run low on 180s. __________________ Jim March

October 17, 2002, 11:43 AM	#3
M58 Guest Posts: n/a	Castcore in my 41 mags are excellent. Federal I think.

October 17, 2002, 08:01 PM	#5
taco Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2000 Location: USA Posts: 936	For hunting purpose, this would be good factory 357mag load. The bullet has very large megplate for the caliber. I have shot some of this ammo in my 357 mags revolvers and found the velocity to be lower than advertised (as usual). From 4" revolvers I got 1,090 fps and 1,130 fps and from 6" revolvers I got 1,190 fps and 1,210 fps and 1,220 fps. Only from 8 3/8" revolver did I get 1,260 fps. I have handloaded 180gr WFL (very similar bullet profile) hard cast bullets for hunting purposes for some time and they can be pushed to 1,300 fps from 6" barrel revolvers if you know what you are doing and use strong revolver. For your purpose, if you are going to carry a 4" revolver, I think a good factory 158gr JSP would be just as good and would be much cheaper.