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Thread: How's my 357 deer load?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    How's my 357 deer load?

    I have been using 11.5 grains of old Hercules 2400 with the Lee 358 158 rf out of my 3" barrel Smith and Wesson model 60 and a Rossi trapper. Been picking dandelions off my lawn, deadly accurate. My. First go at reloading the 357, intend to use tos load on deer, don't know the velocity or other specs, what do you guys think?

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    Don't have my notes handy, but IIRC 10gr 2400 with 158 Lee RNFP in a Ruger SP 3" gave around 900 fps, and 12.5 2400 with Lyman 357446 seated in center groove gave well above 1200 fps in same gun.

    EDIT: these loads were in .38 SPL cases
    Last edited by Tim357; 05-17-2017 at 02:52 PM.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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    All of this is based on a hazard of guess.
    IF that 158gr produces a little over 1000fps in the 3" barrel, it MAY produce a little over 1300fps in the rifle.
    IF that 158gr had a BC of .200 it SHOULD produce 423 ftlbs at 100 yards with a muzzle velocity of 1300fps and 494 ftlbs at 50 yards.

    Down here in SE Georgia the deer are small. 135lbs live weight is the norm, 175lbs is something to talk about.
    I try to base my hunting loads on a minimum of 500 ftlbs at the range of impact.
    In your instance, if it were my gun and load I'd consider it 50 yard deer rifle.
    Others are expected to argue different.
    Benny

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    I just caught the boolit being a RF, probably a BC of .160 but usually the preferred design for hunting purposes.
    That decreased the energy a little but still reasonable to 50 yards.
    100 yards 395 ftlbs
    50 yards 473 ftlbs
    Benny

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elbow View Post
    Been picking dandelions off my lawn,
    I need to try that version of weed control. However it probably won't work well in the city...

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elbow View Post
    I have been using 11.5 grains of old Hercules 2400 with the Lee 358 158 rf out of my 3" barrel Smith and Wesson model 60 and a Rossi trapper. Been picking dandelions off my lawn, deadly accurate. My. First go at reloading the 357, intend to use tos load on deer, don't know the velocity or other specs, what do you guys think?
    Used that load in my 686 ,it would work well in the desert eagle 357 too.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master


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    I shoot 12 grains of 2400 with a 180 grain WFN is running 1470 fps out of a 77/357.
    “Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
    ― Mark Twain
    W8SOB

  8. #8
    Boolit Master



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    IMHO, Your Load of 11.5 with Your Lee will go nearly length wise of a deer. I used to load at 1100 Fps out of my rook rifle with the NOE 358-160 WFN in 357 cases, for younger, new hunters to use on deer when they sat with my dad. Always pass threw never lost a deer and could eat up to the hole.

    Ken
    ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
    Je suis Charlie
    Remember Lavoy!
    I'll cling to my God and my guns, and you can keep the "Change".

  9. #9
    In Remembrance

    aspangler's Avatar
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    I use the same boolit in front of 13.5 gr 2400. It is hot. Use this load with caution. Use it ONLY in Ruger SA, or Dan Wesson revolvers. Would work ok in STRONG action single shot rifles. This is a load I WORKED UP TO! Work up to this load DO NOT START with it. YMMV
    Tennessee Hunter Education Instructor

    “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to
    restrain the people; it is an instrument for the
    people to restrain the government-lest it come to
    dominate our lives and interests"
    Patrick Henry

  10. #10
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
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    hey elbow answer your PMs

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    My go-to load in my '92 is 16gr of 2400 under a 158gr plated HP or a paper patched 158gr RNFP seated long for .357 OAL in .38 special brass. Primers are fairly flat, but there's still a visible radius. YMMV. There's an excellent article you may want to consult about the .357 at: http://www.leverguns.com/articles/pa...literature.htm.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check