.357 hunting ammo

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HiggyBaby
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.357 hunting ammo

Post by HiggyBaby »

Recently shot a doe from about 30 yards with an American Eagle JSP 158 gr bullet. Doe ran about 30yds and died. The round did not exit and there was very little blood trail. Is this the expected performance for this round? It did break two ribs.
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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by Archer »

There are two links posted by HarryAlonzo in the following thread regarding .357 Mag:
https://rossi-rifleman.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7115
The second link gives quite a bit of info including a rundown on .357 mag ammo trends. Of particular note is the fact that .357 Mag ammo has been trending toward low recoil anti goblin loads INSTEAD of hunting level loads.
The article also mentions the possibility of lack of blood trail from a bullet that does not exit where the bleeding may be mostly contained within the chest cavity.

You do not list a particular Federal item number for the load you are asking about.
I did find AE357A listed with data as having 1240 FPS at the muzzle and 539 ft.lbs rated for Target Shooting
https://www.federalpremium.com/handgun/ ... E357A.html
(one vendor lists: "Target, Training & Practice.")

I also found THIS youtube ".357 mag gel test: American Eagle 158 gr JSP"
HiggyBaby
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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by HiggyBaby »

I saw the Federal site listed it as target. Other forums said it was good for hunting. It did it's job. I just expected a pass through. Love the gun, I'll try some different ammo.
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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by Archer »

I doubt there's anything inherently wrong with the ammo for either target or personal defense and as you say it did the job. I think it's probably a fair to middling load. There are some hotter or heavier loads that Federal as well as some other manufacturers put out but with the ammo companies concentrating on volume and from at least one rumor I've heard concentrating on NATO calibers I suspect it may be difficult to find a particular load or even a particularly good hunting load.
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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by GasGuzzler »

.357 is going the way of .32-20 and the do do bird on the shelves. It's a good round for a lot of things so I suggest getting started on reloading...even though it's a tough time to do so. I can't imagine hunting with factory pistol ammo in a rifle.
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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by Ohio3Wheels »

GasGuzzler wrote:.357 is going the way of .32-20 and the do do bird on the shelves. It's a good round for a lot of things so I suggest getting started on reloading...even though it's a tough time to do so. I can't imagine hunting with factory pistol ammo in a rifle.
+1

Either reload or get something like Buffalo Bore.

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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by Mad Trapper »

This is an article by Paco Kelly, HOT loads in his rossi 92s in 357 magnum.
Approach with Caution.
I dont think I have the nerve to try these loads.
Especially this load: 200 grain RN cast in 38 special+p cases 16/296 just over 1870 fps (52,000psi) for my strong 92s only...

https://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco ... rature.htm
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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by Archer »

I would have recommended Garrett but I don't think they make anything smaller than .44 Mag and souped up .45 Colt.
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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by plaidad »

GasGuzzler wrote:.357 is going the way of .32-20 and the do do bird on the shelves. It's a good round for a lot of things so I suggest getting started on reloading...even though it's a tough time to do so. I can't imagine hunting with factory pistol ammo in a rifle.
I think dodo birds are easier to come by than primers!
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Re: .357 hunting ammo

Post by Reese-Mo »

True dat! Ain't seen a primer since three haircuts ago, or about July 2020.
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