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Post by wheelguns on Jan 12, 2020 8:44:31 GMT -5
My hunting revolvers start at 41 mag and go up from there at this time. That said, I have a 6” gp100 that I just acquired an ultradot for. The plan is to give me another option for deer hunting here in Delaware. It is legal to use 357 mag here. I currently cast a 173gn wfn from a noe mold, and hp’s from the mp hammer mold. The lg hp weighs approx. 158gns. I have not cast any sm hp’s with it yet, but they should come in at about 165gns. There are also 180gn xtp’s available for $.26 apiece, and 180gn swift A frames at $1.00 a piece.
The velocity with a 180 gn should be about 1350-1400fps out of the revolver and maybe 1550-1600fps from my 20” lever gun. What bullet would you guys use? Should I even bother? Are these velocities too much to effectively use cast hp’s? I could develop a load with the xtp and switch to the a frames for the actual hunting. I really enjoy developing loads, but am not sure which direction to go on this. Thanks in advance for any and all information that might sway me one way or the other.
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Post by boolitdesigner on Jan 12, 2020 9:37:25 GMT -5
Use the MP Hammer (Large HP) with 2400 powder. I run HP's from 650 fps to over 2,400 fps with excellent results.
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Post by wheelguns on Jan 12, 2020 9:54:21 GMT -5
Use the MP Hammer (Large HP) with 2400 powder. I run HP's from 650 fps to over 2,400 fps with excellent results. Thank you for the advice!
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Post by silcott on Jan 12, 2020 10:25:59 GMT -5
I have used the 357 magnum here in Ohio for several years on deer. Using both handguns and rifles. I have used the 158gr jfp, 158gr XTPFP, 180gr. XTP, 173grSWC, and a 210grSWC. I haven’t noticed any big difference in killing power between any of these bullets out of the 20 some odd deer that I have taken with the 357 magnum.
Justin
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Post by apolitical45 on Jan 12, 2020 10:39:19 GMT -5
Do you have doubts about the XTP? The A-Frame is what anyone would call a high quality bullet, but why load the XTP for practice and the A-Frame for hunting? I have never hunted Delaware and most of my 357 "hunting" is on Oregon coyotes. Still, if I were planning a handgun hunt for deer with a 357 my experience would tell me that each projectile you listed will work. I would feel confident with our big mule deer as long as I was confident on my shot and the XTP may be the best value to be had in jacketed bullets.
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Post by silcott on Jan 12, 2020 10:55:03 GMT -5
I haven’t seen anything yet that tells me an XTP would fail on a deer. I have kill deer with the 180gr XTP out of my T/C 357 maximum at 2200fps and out of a 357 magnum Blackhawk at 1100fps. I hardly ever get to recover a bullet, but when I do they are very well intact.
Justin
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Post by oddshooter on Jan 12, 2020 13:05:06 GMT -5
My gawd, 2200fps !!! I've got a T/C Maximum, but I have to assume you are talking about a rifle barrel. Details please.
Prescut
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Post by taffin on Jan 12, 2020 13:14:35 GMT -5
My hunting revolvers start at 41 mag and go up from there at this time. That said, I have a 6” gp100 that I just acquired an ultradot for. The plan is to give me another option for deer hunting here in Delaware. It is legal to use 357 mag here. I currently cast a 173gn wfn from a noe mold, and hp’s from the mp hammer mold. The lg hp weighs approx. 158gns. I have not cast any sm hp’s with it yet, but they should come in at about 165gns. There are also 180gn xtp’s available for $.26 apiece, and 180gn swift A frames at $1.00 a piece. The velocity with a 180 gn should be about 1350-1400fps out of the revolver and maybe 1550-1600fps from my 20” lever gun. What bullet would you guys use? Should I even bother? Are these velocities too much to effectively use cast hp’s? I could develop a load with the xtp and switch to the a frames for the actual hunting. I really enjoy developing loads, but am not sure which direction to go on this. Thanks in advance for any and all information that might sway me one way or the other. I don't even consider a cast or cast hp for the .357 levergun UNLESS it is gas-checked.The old standard Lyman/Thompson #358156GC works fine as does the 180GC or 200GC.
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Post by bula on Jan 12, 2020 13:20:28 GMT -5
I've been tasked with loading other's 357 for hunting and we chose the 180 XTP at those times. The remainder left am gonna try in the 350 Legend that's here now. I'd pay attention though, to Silcott's info. My logic, per the gut piles stood over..
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Post by x101airborne on Jan 12, 2020 13:37:33 GMT -5
My hunting load for my TC Contender: 357 Magnum new cases Federal Magnum primer 14.6 grains VV-N110 Remington 158 Jacketed Soft Point
This load has accounted for several dump truck loads of hogs, several coyotes (including my longest range kill to date, 190 yards) all manner of miscellaneous vermin, one John Deere tractor muffler pipe, etc. But I don't know that I would try it in a production revolver. I have never cronographed it, just let "Herr Target Board" tell me what it likes.
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Post by wheelguns on Jan 12, 2020 14:05:05 GMT -5
My hunting revolvers start at 41 mag and go up from there at this time. That said, I have a 6” gp100 that I just acquired an ultradot for. The plan is to give me another option for deer hunting here in Delaware. It is legal to use 357 mag here. I currently cast a 173gn wfn from a noe mold, and hp’s from the mp hammer mold. The lg hp weighs approx. 158gns. I have not cast any sm hp’s with it yet, but they should come in at about 165gns. There are also 180gn xtp’s available for $.26 apiece, and 180gn swift A frames at $1.00 a piece. The velocity with a 180 gn should be about 1350-1400fps out of the revolver and maybe 1550-1600fps from my 20” lever gun. What bullet would you guys use? Should I even bother? Are these velocities too much to effectively use cast hp’s? I could develop a load with the xtp and switch to the a frames for the actual hunting. I really enjoy developing loads, but am not sure which direction to go on this. Thanks in advance for any and all information that might sway me one way or the other. I don't even consider a cast or cast hp for the .357 levergun UNLESS it is gas-checked.The old standard Lyman/Thompson #358156GC works fine as does the 180GC or 200GC. My mold is not a gas check mold. That is one of the reasons for thinking about the xtp. I also have read reports of the xtp failing. Notice I said “read”. I also have read reports of cast failing at higher velocities. This is some of my reasoning that has me asking these questions.
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Post by silcott on Jan 12, 2020 15:39:39 GMT -5
My gawd, 2200fps !!! I've got a T/C Maximum, but I have to assume you are talking about a rifle barrel. Details please. Prescut 18” Bellm barrel
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Post by boolitdesigner on Jan 12, 2020 16:01:30 GMT -5
I don't even consider a cast or cast hp for the .357 levergun UNLESS it is gas-checked.The old standard Lyman/Thompson #358156GC works fine as does the 180GC or 200GC. You might be pleasantly surprised what a plain base HP will do when alloyed and heat treated properly. I shoot the MP 360640 in HP out of Marlin rifles with full loads with no leading and a nice clean shiny bore.... palm size groups at 300 yards.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Jan 12, 2020 16:39:00 GMT -5
Wheelguns, I’ve “read” and “heard” those same stories, however I have never actually seen evidence of an XTP failing on deer or medium game. Once you step up to larger game in the +500 pound category I could see where the possibility could occur. I’ve taken lots of deer and pigs with XTP’s and had excellent results, even back to when they first came out. I’ve personally used them in 45acp, 10mm, 44mag, and 357max, on deer and pigs, with no regrets. I wouldn’t hesitate to poke a hole in a deer or pig with one.
Trapr
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Post by sixshot on Jan 12, 2020 16:56:56 GMT -5
I think I've only taken one deer with the 357 magnum but I'm not positive, could be more that I don't remember, I've killed a lot of deer. If you're going to use the 357 you need velocity because it's bordering on the small side for big game so you need all the help you can get. That means a quality jacketed bullet that will expand & penetrate or a good cast with a gas check so you can squeak all the speed out of it that you can. Or a plain base, soft nose cast.
It seems like I've used the Keith bullet on deer a long time ago but I just can't remember for sure so I'm sticking with the one deer & the Sierra 140 gr. jacketed HC for now. I have one friend who has taken about a dozen black bears with the 357 under controlled situations so it will work if you take the time to get your loads correct. I also used the Keith bullet on my mountain lion. I've taken many deer & some antelope with the Ruger Maximum but the velocity is much higher.
Dick
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