357 mag bullet input for pistol

[tomcat388th]

I have taken deer with my 44 mag and 41 mag. This year I want to use my late fathers S&W mod 28 with a 6 inch barrel for our late season here in IL. I've been leaning toward bear tooth keith style bullet 173 grains. Just wondering who has used what
Thanks justin

[shoot-n-lead]

That Keith 358429 bullet is a good bullet...shot thousands...but I use the NOE 180gr WFN for deer hunting...I just prefer more meplat than a SWC offers.

[wonderwolf]

Is the 28 the short cylinder?

[Thumbcocker]

Yup 28's had short cylinder.

[telebasher]

The 358429 will work on deer just fine. Be precise with placement and make sure its not to hard. I've used 50/50 @ 1100 fps muzzle velocity on several does and one small buck, no DRT but short death runs and east to find. Elmer knew what worked, and it still works just fine.

[wonderwolf]

The 358429 will work on deer just fine. Be precise with placement and make sure its not to hard. I've used 50/50 @ 1100 fps muzzle velocity on several does and one small buck, no DRT but short death runs and east to find. Elmer knew what worked, and it still works just fine.

Just have to remember ones compass I suppose :-D

[Bigslug]

With that bullet, which pre-dates the .357, you might as well load them in .38 cases, as you'll need to seat deep and crimp over the front driving band to get them to fit in your N-frame using .357 cases. The end result is about the same - a tenth of an inch difference between the two cases; lose a tenth of an inch of powder capacity in the .357 case; seat it to the crimp groove in a .38 and have about the same volume.

No question it'll work though - it's just got a long nose. Plenty of slugs of similar weight that will suit a .357 case better though. A 160-ish grainer will serve for deer just fine. I'm about to start experimenting with the last Ranch Dog 175gr mold that NOE had in stock - an aluminum solid. If all goes well with that (no reason to think it won't - really like my other R.D.'s) I'll grab one in brass with the hollowpoint option when Al makes more.

[dk17hmr]

The 28 I had wouldn't handle a 358429 seated to the crimp groove, it had to be seated almost to the shoulder on the SWC to fit in the cylinder. It still shot well and the 28 is built like a tank so you can really put some fire behind it.

[B. Lumpkin]

The 28 I had wouldn't handle a 358429 seated to the crimp groove, it had to be seated almost to the shoulder on the SWC to fit in the cylinder. It still shot well and the 28 is built like a tank so you can really put some fire behind it.

Same for mine. I seat midway between the crimp groove and the shoulder and crimp it really well with a Ranch Dog collet crimp die.

[tomcat388th]

Well I think I'm going to get a box of the keith style and some cast performance wfn and do some load work up. I have shot some of the cast performance bullet out of my other 41 I think they are 255 wfngc

[Eddie Southgate]

358439 Hp with Elmer's 38/44 load in Special cases. He used 13.5 gr 2400 in 38/44 cases . Start low and work up as usual .

Eddie

[jmden]

Have the same pistol, also inherited but from my father-in-law. Developed a load with 185g FN GC Beartooth Bullet: https://beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm. 16g of H110 at about 1365fps. It's a pretty potent load for the .357. From what I understand, this is a very well known load developed by the owner of Beartooth Bullets and has ventilated plenty of elk, so should do the job on deer. Just barely fits in the cylinders. No prob with a good roll crimp.

[roverboy]

Good luck with whatever you pick. Let us know if you get a deer.

[cherokeetracker]

I have taken deer with my 44 mag and 41 mag. This year I want to use my late fathers S&W mod 28 with a 6 inch barrel for our late season here in IL. I've been leaning toward bear tooth keith style bullet 173 grains. Just wondering who has used what
Thanks justin

Using the keith 173 grain it has to be loaded with a 38 spl case. the crimp grove was fine as far as length. The sometimes published load of 13 grains of 2400 is pretty hot for the smiths. Try starting at 11 grains and step up a half at a time to see what kind of groups you get. I am thinking that it is 12grains of 2400 that I am using. Remember this that Elmer was using Hercules 2400 not Alliant 2400 . Although they are supposed to be the same powder I think there is a slight difference. Also Lot to Lot the same brand of powders differs just a little. You can forget the 180 grain in the Smith. But that's no problem.
Please properly Lube your Smith with a little grease on the ends of the cylinder such as the ratchet end and the bearing end and the base pin. When shooting heavier loads such as this, it is important, since the lube will act as a cushion against recoils punishment. ( on the gun)
Share your results if possible. Thanks and good luck.

[tomcat388th]

I settled on using the cast performance 180 grain wfn. Been doing some load work up today blue dot was a shot gun pattern at 30 yards. 2400 is looking pretty good right now still got a little more tinkering to do. Our antlerless season is this weekend

[jmden]

Let us know how it goes. Have little doubt it will do the job. What MV are you getting with that bullet/powder combination?

[jmden]

You can forget the 180 grain in the Smith. But that's no problem.

Why?



Please properly Lube your Smith with a little grease on the ends of the cylinder such as the ratchet end and the bearing end and the base pin. When shooting heavier loads such as this, it is important, since the lube will act as a cushion against recoils punishment. ( on the gun) Share your results if possible. Thanks and good luck.

Good points. Thanks for the reminder!

[cherokeetracker]

[QUOTE=jmden;3888328]Why?

The 173 and the 180 grain bullets are too long to be used in a 357 Mag Case, in A S&W N Frame. The 173 grain is about as long as you can put in a 38 Spl case and still crimp it in the crimp groove. This is because the cylinder on a smith is shorter,, than say a Ruger Blackhawk. AT LEAST the 180s did not work even in a 38 spl case in MY GUN, an N Frame Smith. I prolly should have stated that.

Also if you can make them work with a 38 spl case, you will have to back off the powder some more because of the length, ( an pressures) so you are not gaining anything.
I have never tried " Deep Seating" bullets with a 357 using the 357 case. If I feel like I have to go with a much larger bullet then I go a larger caliber. But this can be food for thought. I have Deep Seated bullets with my 45 in the Ruger BH. I would have to look and see what I could find on how much powder to reduce also.
But we must consider accuracy also. Here,,,,,, the 173 has proven to be accurate in my S&W pistol. So why would I worry about another 7 grains larger in a bullet? NOT being a smart ****. Thanks for the Good question. We all can learn here

[cherokeetracker]

Have the same pistol, also inherited but from my father-in-law. Developed a load with 185g FN GC Beartooth Bullet: https://beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm. 16g of H110 at about 1365fps. It's a pretty potent load for the .357. From what I understand, this is a very well known load developed by the owner of Beartooth Bullets and has ventilated plenty of elk, so should do the job on deer. Just barely fits in the cylinders. No prob with a good roll crimp.

I did not see these,,,,,, I do not order from Beartooth. The cast I have in 180 are a little too long.

[tomcat388th]

Let us know how it goes. Have little doubt it will do the job. What MV are you getting with that bullet/powder combination?
Haven't put anything over the chrony yet playing with h110 now and later on some imr 4227.
My old eyeballs sure don't like iron sights anymore but I've gotten a couple of 3 inch groups at 30 yards but I have to cross all my toes and squint like Jim Plunkett. Once I get settled in on a load I'll post the info