.357 hunting boolits

[Rick R]

I realize that you guys are probably a poor choice when it comes to moderation in mold purchases. But, I have the NOE 360-158-WFN-T4 mold and it shoots delightfully in both my 6” Security Six and 2 1/2” GP-100 as either a .38Spl at 950fps or .357Mag at 1,300fps.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-moulds/358/360-158-wfn-t4/

Unfortunately I’m hearing the Siren song of the very similar 360-182-WFN-U2 180gr boolit for hunting.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-moulds/358/360-182-wfn-u2/

Is 20ish grains going to be useful for eastern whitetail hunting or should I just save my $ and buy more lead?
:cbpour:

[Daekar]

For something as thin skinned as a whitetail, I wouldn't think it would make a difference in a revolver. If you were using a rifle, I would recommend that you make the jump to 180gr or even 200gr, whichever the gun likes best.

If I recall, the 357 was made famous with its performance using 158gr SWCs to take all kinds of game, including things like moose.

[725]

Dakar is probably right. I'd err on the side of heavy for penetration if bone is encountered.

[Wheelguns 1961]

Shot placement trumps all else.

[Mk42gunner]

I don't think it would be much more effective, (how dead is dead?) unless you plan to make only Texas heart shots. I may be wrong.

How much will the extra weight offset the expected velocity loss?

Robert

[hc18flyer]

I have the 180 wfn gas check for my .357 Maximum Henry single shot. Be happy to send you some 'test boolets '? I also have the NOE 158 wfn in a plain base for my .38 Special. I think either will work for whitetail, with correct shot placement. hc18flyer

[Rick R]

I have the 180 wfn gas check for my .357 Maximum Henry single shot. Be happy to send you some 'test boolets '? I also have the NOE 158 wfn in a plain base for my .38 Special. I think either will work for whitetail, with correct shot placement. hc18flyer

Thanks for the offer! I’m mainly curious as to if the 158gr WFN is adequate for deer at archery ranges. Of the three deer I took last year the furthest was under 50 yards with a scoped 9.3x62 jacketed bullet. I’ve owned the Security Six since 1980 and never shot at a deer with it.

[hc18flyer]

It will work fine at archery ranges. A couple of years ago I used my .45 Colt Blackhawk. At 15 yards, he never took another step! hc18flyer

[hc18flyer]

Not legal in NE, but I am tempted to carry my .38 Special to my stand, just in case the opportunity presents itself? Morning, nice clean broadside, be tenderloins for supper! hc18flyer

[Rick R]

Not legal in NE, but I am tempted to carry my .38 Special to my stand, just in case the opportunity presents itself? Morning, nice clean broadside, be tenderloins for supper! hc18flyer

WV requires at least .357 Magnum for deer/bear/boar, luckily the 158gr over 14.0gr of 2400 shoots under 1 1/2” at 25 yards from the 6” Security Six. I also have a .45 Colt that needs to bring home venison at some point.

[MarkP]

WV requires at least .357 Magnum for deer/bear/boar, luckily the 158gr over 14.0gr of 2400 shoots under 1 1/2” at 25 yards from the 6” Security Six. I also have a .45 Colt that needs to bring home venison at some point.

NE requires handguns to have at least 400 ft-lbs @50 yds

[LEADHOPPER]

At archery range with good shot placement a 158gr WFN will definitely get the job done.

[derek45]

i’d keep the 158

buy more lead and practice practice

[Rick R]

This site needs a like button but with all the great info here we’d get nothing else done. :drinks:

NOE just listed the hollowpoint mold version of their 200gr WFN .401” I’ve been waiting for in inventory so this months discretionary $ are going to feed my 10mm guns. I’ll probably put the 180gr WFN .357 boolit off until Ruger releases a Marlin 1894c that’s not gold plated or tactikool.

[rickt300]

I realize that you guys are probably a poor choice when it comes to moderation in mold purchases. But, I have the NOE 360-158-WFN-T4 mold and it shoots delightfully in both my 6” Security Six and 2 1/2” GP-100 as either a .38Spl at 950fps or .357Mag at 1,300fps.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-moulds/358/360-158-wfn-t4/

Unfortunately I’m hearing the Siren song of the very similar 360-182-WFN-U2 180gr boolit for hunting.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-moulds/358/360-182-wfn-u2/

Is 20ish grains going to be useful for eastern whitetail hunting or should I just save my $ and buy more lead?
:cbpour:

Well I have the second mold and have to say once I got used to how the hollowpoint pins work it is a great mold. With the deep hollowpoint pin the bullet weighs around 155 grains gas checked and powder coated. Been shooting it in a 350 Legend but some are surely going to end up in my 357 soon. As for penetration with the 158 gr. Flat nose, are you planning on taking shots that require a lot of penetration? If all you plan on shooting are broadside rib cage shots you will have plenty of penetration. I rarely shoot shoulders and so far have never had a penetration issue with anything when putting a bullet through a rib cage of a deer. That said without some expansion you might have to look a ways to find your deer. I shot my first handgun deer with a 158 grain Winchester Luballoy factory load. Very soft bullet coated with a copperish substance. That bullet did flatten out, but did not exit on a perfect lung shot and the deer traveled some 60 yards. Yes I like a heavier bullet for deer hunting.

[ElCheapo]

I shot lots of deer with 180 grain WFN's out of my Marlin 94c carbine. I got complete penetration from any angle and lots of 1 shot kills. I did take shoulder shots when possible because with public land hunting you need to put your deer down fast. Shot a couple with 160 grain WFN's in 38 special +p cases. Velocity was 14-1500 fps and they did well too. A little less penetration but very deadly at woods ranges. If I had to choose one it would be the 180 though. Better penetration makes it more versatile (hogs, black bear, etc.) Good luck!

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I recently got an Arsenal 5 cav alum. mold. 175 gr. Keith style boolits. They shoot nicely so far with medium loadings and 20/1 alloy. IMR 4227 and HS-6. I would not hesitate to use these for Whitetales with heart/lung shots though I do have .44 mag and .45 Colt loads that would probably do even better. One member did well with a 5" GP100 in .327 Federal mag this fall in the deer woods.

[MT Gianni]

I think the 160/158 wfn is fine from a handgun. i would want the extra oomph from a rifle to be with a 180. I think your bullet if pushed hard from a revolver should be a good 75 yard combo. Double that from a rifle.

[Screwbolts]

I have both the molds your write of in post 1.

I now find no need for the 182 GC boolit as the 158 will do it all and and without the step of gas checking them.

There isn't a thin skinned animal on 2 feet or four that will notice the difference if one is sent their way.

I use the 158 version in things from 38 spec to 357 mag rifles with great success. And no magnumituse needed.

[wallacem]

I agree with Screwbolts. Wallacem in Ga

[Rick R]

Thanks for the excellent info guys. Contrary to the rest of the Internet where apparently you need a 180gr bullet for anything bigger than squirrel your collective opinion has me feeling pretty good about my current 158gr mold/boolit, I just need to get out and shoot it this summer which shouldn’t be a problem.

[waksupi]

I prefer the extra velocity from the 158 gr. bullet. I recently got a Ruger GP 100 Match Champion, and took it up the mountain shooting today. I only shot out to 80 yards, but the accuracy is certainly there. I don't have to keep to lower charges like I do with my S&W 19-6.

[Larry Gibson]

I always figured if a 358156 cast soft (20-1 or 16-1) at 1400 fps out of my Ruger Security Six with 6" barrel wasn't a heavy enough bullet I go to the 41 or 44 magnums.

[Jeff Michel]

I've used the 180 WFN in 357 rifles for years, 12 grains of 2400 will fetch you a fuzz under 1500 FPS. I'll take at least one deer per year with this combination, never had one travel thirty yards. Can't speak to 158 grain for a deer, but I'll trade speed for momentum any day of the week. Let us know what you settle on for a mold.

[mnewcomb59]

Hard to beat the 158s in the rifle. Lil' Gun and great accuracy all the way up to 2050 fps. The 180s and Lil' Gun will do 1850 if you push it a little, but the 158s beat it in energy at muzzle, retained energy at 200 yards, trajectory, momentum, you name it. 200 fps faster for just a little less bullet weight is significant.

My problem on my first few deer was too soft of alloy and no exits, so once I started jug testing and toughening up my alloy I have gotten exit wounds on pretty much every deer minus Texas heart shots and a full frontal neck shot that clipped all the neck vertebrae and passed through the neck. I am really happy with 2-2-96 baked at 420 for 25 minutes, then water dropped. 60-65 cal mushrooms, 5 jugs penetration and 100% weight retention at 1800+ impact velocity. I sight in for 2-2-96 air cooled for longer shots and deer drive with the water dropped where ranges are close, impact velocity is high, and I need more penetration for bad angles. I am up to 15-16 deer now with the 357 rifle and cast bullets.

The 158s do all I want them to. I am messing around with the Ranch Dog 178 right now and I might try to hunt it if there is a significant difference in muzzle blast. If it's not any quieter it will go up on swappin & sellin because it sure doesn't shoot as flat or hit as hard. I have also killed a few deer with the Ranch Dog 135 and I think it is a better deer bullet than the heavy Ranch Dog. The flat noses are the same size and the lighter bullet is going faster. When hard, it got me consistent exit wounds from 1600-2000 fps impact and jug tests showed 5 jugs penetration with 50-53 cal expansion and 90% retained weight with plain ol' water dropped wheel weights. The lack of tin allowed some of the outer edges of the mushroom to slough off and allowed it to penetrate great.

[mnewcomb59]

I want to add that I see you are primarily focused on revolver usage. The heavier bullet takes substantially less powder, so for roughly equal penetration, energy, momentum, etc, the 180 will have less muzzle blast. It willl still be more than a 38 special, but much quieter than 22 grains of H110 and a 125 grain bullet.

Penetration increases with velocity up to 1600 fps when the bullet doesn't deform. After 1600 fps, the flesh, ballistic gel, water, etc, gets harder and harder to penetrate, and penetration goes down even if the bullet doesn't deform. Since both bullets will be under that speed limit from your revolvers, if you can get a HARD cast 158 that doesn't deform at your top speed, it won't give up any penetration to the 180. Both bullets will penetrate 30-36 inches ballistic gel, 8-10 jugs of water, or penetrate like "elk" rifle bullets. The only advantage is the 180 might ring your ears slightly less.

In the rifle where velocity is higher, my first 180 Ranch Dog penetrated less than my 158 grain deer drive load. The Ranch Dog was cast out of 1.5-1.5-97 AC and the 158 was 2-2-96 WD. The Ranch Dog only made 4 jugs when it mushroomed freely at 1800 fps and the tough 158 penetrates 5 jugs at 2000+ impact speed.

[derek45]

I always figured if a 358156 cast soft (20-1 or 16-1) at 1400 fps out of my Ruger Security Six with 6" barrel wasn't a heavy enough bullet I go to the 41 or 44 magnums.

exactly

:drinks: