357 Magnum performance (handgun or rifle) on deer?

you could drill a hollow point in your cast slugs for faster expansion. Which is what I used to do with the 357,41,44 mags and cast bullets, particularly if they were hard cast. Last doe I took with a 357 was was shot straight through the brisket 158gr with a drilled hollow point (Dan Wesson 8" revolver) . Pretty much made whipped jello of the insides dropped in her tracks. You could reference loads for the TC pistols for use in that Handy Rifle- but not for revolvers. For revolvers you could check out silhouette loads from back in the day. Some of that might still be around on the web. I do not know how much is still in print. I have noticed that the current reloading books have toned down some , but that may be due to most changing over from lup or cup pressure units to piezo electric strain guage systems now. 180's, 200's might just do a bit better job than the 158's - energy transfer and all that good stuff.
Long throat and seating out- we routinely did that back in the day- 4227 was one of the powder choices, 200 gr slugs knocking 50 lbs steel rams over at 200 meters ( not revolvers but the TC pistols 10" and 14" barrels)
Big Soft and Slow will do as much as small and super fast perhaps more as there is more energy transfer rather than zipping through.

 

With a 16" barrel like my buddy has on his 450 AR, it says just under 2200 fps at muzzle. It may be a .45 Cal 250 gr slug, but on the 2 bucks he's gotten with it, neither left any blood trail.

 

Today would have been the perfect time to test the 357 magnum hunting, and of course I didn't have it with me, I had the 45-70 with. Side of the old train tracks, 30 meters and a broadside shot on a decent doe. I'm holding out for the big fella I saw the other day, but I would have took her with the 357 if I had it along.

 

Still, you'd think it would have a thinner jacket and peel back a little better for more damage.

 

I know. We all thought that. There's really only 2 choices for OTC hunting ammo for that 450. The Hornady rounds he's been shooting and the Remington 260 grain accutip boat tail. The reviews of the Remington ammo sounds like they expand more than the Hornady. I do see there are 2 more choices in a hunting type ammo though now.

 

The thicker jackets may be intended for tougher built critters than a deer. Hear a lot of folks use the 450 on pigs, on what was posted earlier I think I read up to 1500 pounds. Hard to have a jacket that can take expand equally well on a deer, pig, bear, elk, moose, buffalo. I load different thickness jacketed rounds for different game. Having said that I am leaning more towards Barnes all copper. I am concerned with lead, in the meat. I have found jackets, almost no lead, hardly any meat damage. It goes somewhere.

 

Yes, plenty of guys use the 450 on hogs, but they are used in deer too.

There's this Underwood Xtreme Hunter 220grain load. Expensive though. Nearly $60 for 20rds. The Hornady is $26 a box.

My buddy is thinking about starting to reload for his 450.

 

Might as well have another expensive hobby.