357 Mag hunting recommendations

[worldskipper]

Ok Dad gave me his 357 Mag redhawk (7.5") with scope (that has been worked on by Hamilton Bowen). Want to try my hand with deer hunting with it this year.

Any factory loads that anyone has used for hunting?

Also and handloads that are favorites. (I'm looking hard at the xpb 140gr) These are little deer (no bigger than 100 lbs).

Thanks,
Worldskipper

[PA PATRIOT]

I have used Federal's .357 mag 158gr H/Ps to take deer to 170lbs at bow hunting ranges. I limit my shots to 40yds and under and take clean broadside shots. This has accounted for about a dozen deer over the past 20 years.

For the smaller deer you hunt Winchester's .357mag 145gr Silvertips H/P maybe a better choice for quicker expansion in those slim bodied deer.

The one thing I find that most handgun hunters fail to do is to keep those shots close as one would do while bow hunting and avoid shooting into the middle shoulder, brisket or flank.

The .357mag will work for deer as long as one realizes the limitations and hunts accordingly.

This is what works for me but there has been a few specialized hunting loads using Gold Dot and other premium bullets which may work better. See what shoots most accurately in your revolver and practice shooting at 3"inch dots out to your reasonable max range.

[Wayne Dobbs]

I've killed several Texas whitetails with the WW 145 Silvertip HP load and it works well. Most TX deer run small (<100 pounds on the hoof) and they really don't take much killing. Just about any quality 140 - 158 JHP that's a consistent expander will work well on them.

[DocGKR]

My favorite .357 load is the Winchester 180 gr JHP (S357P) Partition load.

[BuckskinJoe]

My favorite .357 load is the Winchester 180 gr JHP (S357P) Partition load.

Would this also be a superior choice for self defense?

[DrJSW]

The WW/Nosler Partition 180 gr load DocGKR recommends is a fine hunting round in revolver or rifle. Recoil is mild when fired from a carbine, but stout in any handgun. A large-frame revolver such as the Ruger Blackhawk or S&W M27 is manageable with this load, but in anything smaller it can be a bear. Since most defensive revolvers tend to be L-frame size or smaller, I would say it's unlikely that you'd want to use this load in such an application.

[DMR]

DrJSW, DocGKR,

Anything on the 357 Magnum Hornady LEVERevolution?
https://www.hornady.com/shop/08_357-44_mag.htm

I'll be hunting with my old Dan Wesson so it has enough a$$ to WW/Nosler Partition 180 if the Hornady is a flop. Thanks for the info.

[BuckskinJoe]

Originally Posted by DocGKR
My favorite .357 load is the Winchester 180 gr JHP (S357P) Partition load.

The WW/Nosler Partition 180 gr load DocGKR recommends is a fine hunting round in revolver or rifle. Recoil is mild when fired from a carbine, but stout in any handgun. A large-frame revolver such as the Ruger Blackhawk or S&W M27 is manageable with this load, but in anything smaller it can be a bear. Since most defensive revolvers tend to be L-frame size or smaller, I would say it's unlikely that you'd want to use this load in such an application.

Appreciate the input, but recoil isn't an issue with me. The application would be in a medium frame Smith or Ruger revolver with 6" barrel (no snubbies!) I am just guessing that Doc's preferred hunging load might also be an excellent choice for a defense load; hence, the question

[DocGKR]

The Win 180 gr is the issued load for a LE agency nearby that still allows wheelguns for duty--it has worked well in actual OIS incidents (although no better than other common service pistol loads).

[DMR]

The Hornady LEVERevolution or the Winchester 180 gr JHP?