My 357 mag journey

[wvfarrier]

We are about 2.5 months out from deer and bear season. I believe I am only going to use my Win 92 in 357 mag for all firearm seasons this year. Its been quite a while since I have hunted with a firearm, I typically bow hunt through all the seasons. Ive taken quite a few deer, coyote, and turkey with it in the past but this year I plan to use it on black bear as well. My load for this go will be a Montana Bulletworks 160 grain hard cast gas chec LFN. I tried out several different powders and found Win 296 gave me the best accuracy and velocity combo, followed closely by Lil Gun. Im getting an average of 1791 from a 20" barrel with an sd of 28. I tried a couple loads pushing a little hotter (think Buffalo Bore) but the accuracy fell off pretty quick. Im a smidge over "pistol max" but dont have any pressure signs with this load, at .2 over this extraction got a little sticky but no primer signs. My groups average 1.25" at 50 yards which is about as good as I can do with buckhorns. I will, hopefully, have some post hunting pics in a few weeks

[AJMD429]

357 Mag with hardcast and accurately placed will do nicely for whitetail. Sounds like you have the recipe.

[wvfarrier]

I have previously used the 180 XTP and the Ranch Dog 190s but I wanna see if the extra velocity pays off.

[piller]

I use both 296 and L'iL Gun. 296 runs a little cooler. In my .480 Ruger, L'iL Gun gives the better accuracy out of my Super Redhawk, but 296 gives better accuracy out of my rifle. Funny, but 4227 is just as accurate and just as fast as 296 out of the rifle. Of course, you know that your guns may have different results. For the max loads, I have better results with magnum primers. Maybe Scott T or Cowboy Tutt have better information.

[mickbr]

I have previously used the 180 XTP and the Ranch Dog 190s but I wanna see if the extra velocity pays off.

Trajectory or effectivness? My feelings are a 180XTP probably doesnt get improved on by hardcast on medium game, but I'd be interested to learn otherwise.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Mic built a Marlin 94 for me some years ago and it was modified to use .357 cases with the 180 gr Hornady XTP crimped in the lower cannelure. He also adjusted to give me tight headspace. I loaded it hotter than a wood stove with Lil-Gun and it shot like we all wish a rifle would. Killed way out of proportion to what I thought a .357 was capable of. I never recovered a bullet from a deer or hog, but the wound channels were impressive. A lot like you would see from a .30-30.

The truth is that you really don't need to push that hard and still get excellent performance in a .357. These days I shoot a lot more 2400 and I don't load to the gills. The 180 gr XTP is still a great performer. And I use small rifle primers if that matters to you.

You sound like you are on track and I would not hesitate using your loads in a rifle that I was shooting well.

[TomF]

I use the Ranch Dog 190 and H110 in a Marlin 1894C. It is accurate and Texas whitetails don't like it.

[wvfarrier]

The meplat measure .300 so its pretty stout.

[Catshooter]

I'm sure that'll do the trick.

For me, sticky extraction is enough to make me back down until it goes away. A few feet per second isn't worth trying to find a new extractor for an out-of-production rifle.

Good luck with the hunting!


Cat