357mag bullet weight preferences

[Soilarch]

I'm thinking of gettins a set of dies and reloading for my dad's 357. I hear that penetration is usually a concern for the 357 on deer size and larger game. (Deer are the only "real" game intended...other than cans, papers, and maybe some 'yotes). I know the 'standard' offering is 158gr but I usually like to err on the heavy side of things...but I also know that there is always a point of diminishing returns. Haven't decided is I'll go jacketed or LCB. Is 158 enough for deer or do I need to look around for the 165-185 range?

[Frank in the Laurels]

It seems to me that 125's are a nice compromise between the 110 and 158...Seems I read a report along time ago that said that it actually had the best penetration of the three..nice speed and just the right amount of weight and some pretty good bullets.. I've been using the Sierra 125 JHP for as long as I can remember and have no complaint..

[pdp440]

i dont shoot alot of 357 but i use it some when i was looking for a bullet for it i asked a buddy of mine and he said 158 for hunting were great i have been using them for for a few years and they have done evey thing i wanted them to my buddy was a cop for 20 years and the weapons instrector for 15 years his hunting pistol and service pistol were 357's so i think you will be more than happy with the 158 for deer.

[HighDesertWolf]

try to stay away from semi jacketed hollow points and soft points. semi jacketed hollow points expand too fast and really hinder penetration and soft points lack expansion and will usually completely penetrate through a deer with minimal tissue damage. for optimum velocity and penetraion I suggest 158 grain hornady XTP's another good one is the 180 grain nosler partion though it wont go as fast as a 158 grainer the bullet design gives massive tissue damage with good controlled expansion thus giving good penetration aswell. those two are my top choices for deer from a 357 mag. another suggestion would be to use a good magnum pistol powder like 2400 or H110 these will give the best velocity for any load. ive loaded alot of 357 with unique but unique just wont give as good of velocities as the other two powders mentioned. another extremely good powder would be nobel sport SP3 but its very difficult to find these days its actually my prefered powder for the 357 mag my current hunting load is a 158 grain XTP loaded with SP3 and its pushing the 158 grainer with an average muzzle velocity 1401 fps from a 6" barrel.

[harter66]

I like the XTP also . I shot the 158s for a while I like the 140s they tended to group a little better in my security six than the 158s . Never had the chance to try them on a muley for real just a 5 pace "clean up" I wood say at 50-60yrds you could break the off sholder with some regularity . The doe I put down lost about a pound of neck roast . Knew a fellow in Utah that killed a buck and a doe at 75yrds shooting 158 kieth style swc's in the early 70's niether went over ten yrds .As I remember I only saw the buck till after the shot when the doehumped up behind she was hit hi enough that she was just getting out of the grass . I was like 8 .

#2 Always know whats beyond your target.