357 carbine and deer: opinions on the 158 gr Hornady xtp

[Treeman72]

I wish I could say that my 357 carbine was a leveraction, but it's a Ruger 77-357. I love the 240 gr xtp in 44 magnum, but can anyone tell me how the 357 does on deer? Maximum range and effectiveness?

[BrianSH]

My friend, it is very important for reason of clarity to use the proper terminology. You have a SIDE-LEVER gun. You are not alone in this, as there are many here that have these side levers. There are those that refuse to admit that they use them though.

I've heard good things about the 158 XTP in pistols, and in a rifle should be even more so. Check out Paco's article about 357 rifles. - Brian

[Marlin32]

I have used the Marlin 1894 in .357. I used the Federal 180gr hollow point bullet.
Works great under 75 yards. Bullet will mushroom perfectly and bullet will exit if close enough (on behind shoulder shots) or will be found just under the hide on opposite side.

[jmiller]

I wish I could say that my 357 carbine was a leveraction, but it's a Ruger 77-357. I love the 240 gr xtp in 44 magnum, but can anyone tell me how the 357 does on deer? Maximum range and effectiveness?

Treeman72, I have shot somewhere over 50 deer with the 357mag. The vast majority of them were shot with Hornady 158g XTP bullets. I've shot seven deer with a Marlin 357mag and all were shot with Hornady 158g XTP. Every deer I ever shot with that bullet was recovered. The only deer I ever lost with a handgun was lost with a 44mag using XTP bullets.....it was a bad shot on my part. The 357mag revolver is very effective on deer, and the rifle in that caliber is even more so. It has been my experience that the 180g bullet was "OK" in the revolver if distances were kept under fifty yards or so, or the bullet wouldn't expand very well. This should not be a problem at all with the rifle and it's extra muzzle velocity. I have a number of recovered bullets in 158g and they mushroomed nicely. Some have expanded to around .75". I rarely have a pass through with the XTP HP bullets. A lot of the bullets are recovered under the hide on the off side. If you're going to hunt with this caliber in a rifle, I don't anticipate any problems. Just remember, hit in the non vitals and no caliber is big enough. Hit in the heart lung area and almost any caliber will do. Good luck.

[JNG]

My son took a nice doe with a GP100 .357 158 grain bullet. Sack a taters at ~50 yards. This year in Ohio, he can use my Winchester in
.357. I told him to keep it under ~100 yds and he will be eating backstraps the next day.
Go for it!

Joe

[walks with gun]

When we say deer, are we talking about down south 80lb German Shepard size whitetails or 150-200lbs+ whitetails up north here. I too am wondering about bullet design, a buddy of mine swears by jsp bullets, he tells me, too many of the hp's expand too fast when fired from carbine length barrels.

[Nath]

There are two types of xtp. Both rake my foxes end to end.
I would shoot deer with my 94 357 to 100 and a little more yards all day long.
I only ever use 158grn in xtp.

N.

[jmiller]

When we say deer, are we talking about down south 80lb German Shepard size whitetails or 150-200lbs+ whitetails up north here. I too am wondering about bullet design, a buddy of mine swears by jsp bullets, he tells me, too many of the hp's expand too fast when fired from carbine length barrels.

I've shot several that dressed out (weighed on a scale, not "guessed") at over 170 lbs. No problem using the 158g XTP. I never had one over expand. At longer distances with a handgun I've had them not expand as well as being very close. You can definately see the difference in expansion but over expanding has never occurred.

[Pete44ru]

.

I only shot 2 (Maine) deer with my .357 Rossi M92 BigLoop (lost the big loop, though) 16" carbine.

One dropped DRT @ about 65yds, the other @ 45yds ran about 30yds B 4 dropping for good - maybe it was too stoopid to know it was dead.

The only ammo I ever put through it was commercial .357 Mag 158gr JSP's, but not XTP's (HP's ?).


.

[Treeman72]

The xtps I have are hollowpoints. 357 has been pretty rare in New York. I won't use that aluminum cased junk to hunt deer, but what I've managed to buy is american eagle 158 jsp and a few boxes or hornady custom 158 xtp.

Figure around 1700 fps rifle velocity, it should do the job from what you fine folks have told me.

[Treeman72]

The jsps are my plinking/woods defense ammo while the xtps are destined to fight the evil forces of bambi.

[jmiller]

I'm guessing you're not reloading? I'm in New York myself and getting all the XTP ammo I need is a simple case of putting some together. Might be something to consider.....?

[Treeman72]

How much does it cost to get a medium quality reloading set up going?

Tumbler, scales, primer equipment, and other things I'm sure?

[jmiller]

Here's a like to Cabela's reloading kits. You do not need a tumbler to reload. You can shoot pistol brass forever without tumbling it. It just doesn't look "pretty" until it's polished. You can get into reloading for a couple hundred bucks and up. It'll pay for it's self in no time.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search.c ... l+Products

[Pete44ru]

How much does it cost to get a medium quality reloading set up going?

Tumbler, scales, primer equipment, and other things I'm sure?

FWIW

.357 Lee Loader - $28 (+/-) handles de & re prime, neck sizing, boolit crimping, powder chart & measuring scoop.
http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/702138 ... uctFinding

A digital scale (optional) - $30-$35

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting ... t104661180

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/261503828257?lpid=82

I first started reloading in the late 1960's, and have never owned/used a tumbler to clean fired brass.

After depriming, I simply dump a bunch of fired brass into an old pillowcase & toss into a laundry load of towels (no case dents that way) - no, the cases are not shiney/bright, but they are clean & serviceable.

While the Lee Powder Dipper (scoop) system doesn't fit for fine load development, it works just fine for most target and/or hunting loads - I didn't buy a scale until a few years ago, whenI bought an inexpensive digi scale (a Frankfort Arsenal) for kicks & giggles.

Sooooo, a basic reloading setup (all you really NEED) for one cartridge can be as low as $30 - plus components (primers, powder & projectiles).

Once someone get into the reloading basics, inexpensively, they will then better know what they want/need; or simply decide to K.I.S.S.

.

[Gihon]

There are two styles of XTP bullets, HP & FP. When loading for deer, is there preference of one over the other, or does it matter?

[Alan Wood]

Treeman72
As much as I wish that I had bought a 357 94 instead of the 44 magnum 94 I bought the people here have made it clear that the 44 magnum was the right choice! Yes the 44 Maggnum tenderizes my shoulder rather a bit too much but it gets the job done. And the excessive shoulder tenderization is just a matter of having too much fun!
Alan Wood