Deer Bullets for 357 and 44 Mag Weight Vs Velocity

[WSMDRT]

First these are east coast deer not huge beasts.
The 44 is a 8-3/8" with 2x Leupold and the 357 6" with Burris Fast Fire 4.

Looking for the pros and cons of weights vs velocity in relationship to hunting distance and performance.

Thanks in advance... I'll be at cabelas this weekend checking.

 

[Critter Picker]

I've had good luck with the Sierra 240 JHC in both the 44 Mag (8" Dan Wesson) and in my muzzle loader with a Harvestor sabot and BH 209. Only shot 1 deer with the 357 and it was with a 172 grain Lyman 358429 cast bullet at about 10 yards.

 

[Wolf76]

Take a look at bear creek bullets 162gr all copper bullet for the 44. They work well.

 

[338weatherby]

I've taken 3 whitetail with 240gr XTPs in a 9.5" super red hawk and a 6.5" 629. All ran about 30 yards and bullet did its job.
Load is about 1450 out of the smith and 1600 out of the Ruger.

 

[Greatgrandad]

I've used 44 mags in various revolvers, 10" and 14" Contenders and 1894 Marlin, and I have has success with 180gr SP, 200 XTP (One of my favorites for deer), 240 SP, 240 HP, 240 XTP, 240 LSWC, 255 LSWC and 265 SP. The 200 XTP has plenty of penetration even at the 2,000 fps I load them in the rifle. For years, I was dedicated to a 240 grain and heavier, but after some testing and hunting, I really liked the performance of the 200 XTP and some 180 SP's. I've had no issues with penetration on deer sized game at all, and I like the flatter trajectories.

In the 357's, I've used everything from a 4", 6" and 8" revolvers, 10" Contender and an 1894 Marlin. Typically, I used the 140 grain SP and heavier up to the 180 SP and HP, but most of the hunting has been with the 158 SP, HP and XTP with some 140 LSWC and 158 LRNFP for nostalgia. I tend to avoid the 125 HP's due to a friend's experience with too little penetration at distance, but that is just me.

 

[wvbearhunter]

I have had awesome results using the 140 grain XTP (357 obviously) pushed to just over 2200fps from a 24" barrel (Lil Gun powder). It has worked on deer and black bear and drops them like a ligbtning strike. I have not had to trail anything shot with it.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I would look into Chris Rhodes and the bullets he is using for a best option.

In a pinch, medium to heavy SWC in 44cal works quite well.

 

[dogbuster0006]

158gr sp from a 4.25" GP100 has worked fine for me. I'm running irons so bow range inside 50yds for me it's done fine. The older federal hydra-shock hp I think 130gr have done a fine job too.
I have recovered one under the hide mushroomed out like the pictures all three have been quick kills. One bang flop from a nearly point blank frontal shot but usually they run 50yds or so when double lunged. Small/light blood trails weren't great through. While it's done the job each time I want to try an all copper or hard cast for a little extra insurance to help get pass through if I catch a shoulder.
Any 180gr+ 44 mag that's intended for hunting/defense should be fine at close range. Dad swears by 240gr soft points for his 6" 629.
That being said I've killed two with Hornady critical duty 124gr 9mm and found them under the offside hide mushroomed. They were both car strikes and when I only had a 4" carry gun. Thumb size hole in the lungs, I hit one in the heart and tore a large chunk out.

 

[LDHunter]

My go to hunting bullets for handguns and lever guns in 357, 10mm and 44mag have always been either XTP or Gold Dot bullets and they've performed very well with some bang flop and a few 20-50yd runs before dropping.

Having said all that I almost always prefer a 308 for medium size game. It's way more devastating to the game and accuracy and velocity out to 200yds is much better. Don't get me wrong. I love handgun and lever gun hunting though.

I HIGHLY recommend ear protection when handgun hunting though. That's one reason I don't do it as much any more.

 

[ARlife4me]

I would say try some Speer deep curly, but probably can't find any? The dc's are tougher than the gdhp's. When you can get near same velocity in both 357 and 44, I'd go with the biggest of the 2. Hardcast should do the trick on retention.

 

[ARlife4me]

My bad i should start reading when on a bigger screen instead of my phone! Deer, not bear

Xtp and gdhp should be fine out to 150-200yards depending on mv.

 

[Lionel Boyd Johnson]

I've taken 3 eastern whitetail with the .44 magnum S&W, all at less than 75 yards using factory open sights. All went down within 0 to 40 yards. I used the "Kieth" style 250 grain cast bullet at about 1150 fps. Through and through penetration in all 3 cases. My friend has taken 3 or 4 doe at up to 50 yards with his Ruger 100 .357 using 180 gr. Sierras at top book velocity. They also went down very fast. I'm not casting right now, so I plan on trying some 240 gr. JHPs or JSPs. The Hornady XTPs do sound good.

 

[birddog 68]

No experience shooting game with my revolver but in my Marlin 1894 44 magnum Hornady 240 grain XTP has worked well from 20 yards out to 120.
No idea on velocity but the deer and one big Russian boar didn't like whatever it is.

 

[wvbearhunter]

The 300 grain 45 colt +p (ruger only) loads I use in my lever guns are pretty effective as well. They expand to over 1" inside 100 yards