357 Rifle for Hunting
- Thread starter fshfindr
- Start date
Bolt action .357? That's an interesting piece for sure! I would absolutely have to try some of those long pointed hornady bullets in that gun. FTX or FTP or something? Of stuff I have used, the XTP is far better for whitetails than a SWC in .44 magnum, and with a .357 hole, I would think expansion would be even more desireable.
For powder, H110/W296, especially for a rifle.
For powder, H110/W296, especially for a rifle.
buck460XVR
New member
JSPs and IMR4227 for the carbines and deer, whether it's .357 or .44.
16 grains h110 pushing a 158gr xtp, is my preferred load in my handi rifle. Velocity is around 1850 fps and groups are right at an inch at 100yds. Good expansion and penetration. Tried pushing them closer to max of 16.7 grains of h110 but groups instantly opened up after I passed 16 grains. ymmv
chris in va
New member
Ruger 77/357 rotary magazine bolt action. First I've heard of such an animal!
buck460XVR
New member
They've been around for a little over a year I believe. Introduced because of the recent popularity of the reintroduced 77/44. I have a recent production 77/44 and it's a great little deer carbine and prefer it for hunting over my .44 lever. Like most Rugers it had a terrible trigger outta the box, but that was easily fixed. Some of the older manufactured 77/44s had accuracy problems, but mine shoots very well.
You may be getting nearly 2,500 fps out of a rifle. I would certainly not use a fragile bullet. In fact, the solid lead hard cast may be a good choice, even, rather than to just stick a generic 125 grain JHP into it.
In any case, whatever you use, I'd really recommend a bonded 158 grain soft point at the velocities that you are capable of reaching. Most .357 caliber Pistol bullets are designed to run at 1-1,500 fps for .38 special or .357 handguns.
In any case, whatever you use, I'd really recommend a bonded 158 grain soft point at the velocities that you are capable of reaching. Most .357 caliber Pistol bullets are designed to run at 1-1,500 fps for .38 special or .357 handguns.
xtp are rated for 1800fps, which is about what you will get out of your carbine with a heavy load of h110. at least that's what I get from a 20" barrel pushing a 158xtp. I do not know what their 125gr xtp is rated at, but I know it's at least 1500 since that's what their loaded ammunition advertised speed is, but I am sure it is also rated over 1800. the leverolution bllets are rated to 2200 IIRC
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That's a tough question because of the state of supply of good bullets. If you can find them, the Hornady 158 XTP soft point (not hollow point) works very well for me in a number of loads. They are tough to find right now. A round that has also worked well at 1500-1600 fps is the Hornady 180 XTP JHP. They certainly work well in my .357 MAX.
I would not try to get 2,500 fps as someone observed. That is a tall order with a MAX with 140 gr. bullets. I think that I could get a 125 gr. JHP to go that fast but they have a bad habit of exploding in mid air about half way to the target at that level.
I would not try to get 2,500 fps as someone observed. That is a tall order with a MAX with 140 gr. bullets. I think that I could get a 125 gr. JHP to go that fast but they have a bad habit of exploding in mid air about half way to the target at that level.
http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine77357/models.html
Nice rifle. Almost a thousand dollars.
Nice rifle. Almost a thousand dollars.
buck460XVR
New member
The 158 gr XTP-HP is rated to 1400fps and would be a tad fragile(IMO) outta a carbine. I use the 158 gr XTP-FPs in mine. They are rated to 1800fps. There are XTPs in HP and FP in the 125s also.
Here's a good reference.....
buck460XVR
New member
Wow....they have gone up. But Ruger's MSRP is always way higher than what they actually sell for. I've had my 77/44 for 3-4 years and it was a special order item from my LGS. For the Rifle with a 2X7 Nikon mounted on it, the bill was just under $700 OTD.
reloader28
New member
The 158gr Lee RF works excellent on deer.
With a max load of 2400 it leaves the stubby Rossi at 1850.
With a max load of 2400 it leaves the stubby Rossi at 1850.