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The Best .357 Magnum Ammo for Hunting

Whitetail deer hunting with .357 Magnum ammo

Hunting bonds friends, co-workers, and family members. Some shooters embrace family tradition while others see it as fun or a time-honored sport. People benefit from time outdoors and learning about animals, nature, and the life cycle. Shooters develop skills like tracking, marksmanship, sportsmanship as well as patience and respect. Hunting with .357 Magnum ammo supports the belief that smaller cartridges work as well in the field as on the range.

Critiques of Hunting

Critics often view hunting as a means to kill animals for fun or sport. Many hunters consider the action as an enjoyable way to get outdoors. Others use the hunt to feed their families. Most enjoy the experience even if they never capture their prey. Hunters love the chase and take the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

Experts advise seasoned shooters to take great precautions when training younger adults to hunt and handle weapons. Parents should train children on all aspects of hunting before going out into the woods. Community groups like the Boy Scouts hold safety training courses for new shooters. Hunters travel in groups of two or more for protection and safety against attacks, falls, and mishaps. Children need to be psychologically ready to hunt to avoid trauma and upset. Lastly, all hunters rely on proper outdoor gear, regardless of the type of weapon.

.357 Magnum Ammunition

Ammo for the .357 magnum becomes the ideal ammo because of its safety when shooting in the S&W Model 60 or other .357 revolver of your choice. One can rest assured that as long as their gun is in good condition, with the .357 ammo is easy to use and reliable. Buyers stock up for various purposes including hunting, self-defense, range training, plinking, and competition shooting.

When hunting, one needs ammunition that is guaranteed to make the shots accurately and at the range the hunter needs. Online stores stock .357 ammo, making it inexpensive and easily available.

History

In 1934, a team of firearms experts designed and developed the .357 Magnum cartridge. The crack team included Idaho rancher and weapons designer Elmer Keith, Col. Doug Wesson of Smith and Wesson and Winchester and Phil Sharpe, member of the technical staff at the National Rifle Association. The men planned to outperform Colt’s .38 Super Automatic, the only ammo on the market to exceed 1,000 FPS. The .38 Super served as law enforcement’s go-to since it could penetrate auto glass and the ballistics vests commonly worn by gangsters of the day.  

Creating a competitive round proved relatively easy. Law enforcement adopted the .357 and kept it in use for decades until semi-automatics came on the scene. Today, .357 Magnum ammo maintains a place among law enforcement officers. They rely on the .357 for back up purposes or for use in situations when a .45 ACP may be overkill.

Development

Well-known weapons enthusiast Elmer Keith was credited for designing the .357 Magnum, although each man played a large part. First, Philip Sharpe offered his significant technical expertise to the project. Second, Doug Wesson focused on using the new ammunition to boost sales for Smith & Wesson. He planned to use the new ammunition to propel S&W to become the sole provider of munitions for law enforcement.

The team succeeded in creating new ammunition that jumpstarted the “Magnum Era.” Shooters appreciate the power and accuracy of the ammo, as well as the ability to act as a dual-purpose handgun cartridge.

The Legends

Inventors test their creations to make sure they hold water. Elmer Keith used a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum and a 158-grain bullet. The ammo fired out of the 8 ⅜ inch barrel at 1,500 FPS. Keith claimed accuracy up to 500-yards. Today’s rounds travel more slowly, but still get the job done.  

In 1936, Colonel Doug Wesson took a train to Wyoming to show off his brand new Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum. He also carried 250-rounds of factory ammunition. Wesson’s audience reveled in his sportsmanship and the new gun and ammo. He took down an antelope at nearly 200-yards. Then he shot a bull elk at 130-yards. Lastly, Wesson killed a bull moose at 100-yards. North America’s biggest ungulate was no match for the .357. It traveled for 40-yards before keeling over. Wesson reported that the bullet had penetrated the moose’s neck, cut through one rib, and shot through the moose’s lungs.

Hunting

Accurate shot placement and good ammo make all the difference when you’re on the hunt. Experts recommend using soft point or expanding hollow point bullets for the best results. The rounds expand, delivering kinetic energy into the animal, assisting in the kill. Full metal jacket ammo over-penetrates and can leave an animal to bleed to death. Bullet weight plays a large part in choosing the correct ammo for certain game.   

Numerous stores, outlets and online stores sell factory loads for 357 Magnum ammo. Major brands manufacture the popular round. Different bullet types and weights round out a hunter’s arsenal.  Federal Ammunition produces a wide variety of .357 ammo including American Eagle Cartridge 158 grain JSP and Federal Power-Shok Ammunition 180 grain SJHP. Magtech and PMC offer JSP rounds. Buffalo Bore tops the list with the 180 grain Outdoorsman.

Handgun Hunting

Many handgun hunters swear that the right handgun and ammo work as well on the hunt as a rifle. The .357 Magnum ammo earns its keep when it comes to handgun hunting. Few cartridges boast the ability to take down large game, including grizzlies. Some large handguns hinder the shooter because of excessive recoil. Additionally, the gun’s report can deafen a user without hearing protection. While the .357 makes an indelible first impression, heavy recoil may convince the shooter to use .38p+ rounds for follow up shots.

Lever-Action Rifles

Cowboy shooters and recreational shooters swear by lever-action rifles, including the Henry Big Boy, Marlin 1894, and Winchester Classic. The lightweight rifles perform with light recoil and have ample capacity for cartridges. Paired with a .357 Mag round, the rifle can fell a deer at 100 yards.

The .357 fires differently from a rifle than from a revolver. Proper loading in an 1894 coaxes the round to take out a deer up to 150 yards.

Small to Medium-Size Game Hunting

Whitetail deer hunting tops the list of animals hunted with .357 Magnum rounds. Loading 158-grain cartridges gets the job done when it comes to small to medium game. Wolves, coyotes, deer, opossums and raccoons don’t stand a chance at 75-yards with a good marksman and a .357.

Using a lower bullet weight does the job on small game under 50 lbs. However, some shooters switch to a .38+P to save money and themselves from heavy recoil, noise, and a bright muzzle flash.

Best .357 Magnum Ammo for Small to Medium-Size Game Hunting Rounds

Barnes 140 Grain VOR-TX

  • 1,265 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 158 Grain
  • Jacketed Soft Point Bullet
  • Copper Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 498 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

CCI Blazer 158 Grain JHP

  • 1,150 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 158 Grain
  • Jacketed Soft Point Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 464 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Federal Ammunition 158 Grain JHP

  • 1,240 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 158 Grain
  • Jacketed Hollow Point Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 539 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Federal American Eagle Cartridge 158 Grain JSP

  • 1,240 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 158 Grain
  • Jacketed Soft Point Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 530 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Federal Premium Barnes Expander 140 Grain JHP

  • 1,400 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 140 Grain
  • Jacketed Soft Point Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 609 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Fiocchi 142 Grain FMJ-TC

  • 1,420 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 142 Grain
  • Full Metal Jacket Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 636 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Hornady Critical Defense 125 Grain FTX

  • 1,500 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 125 Grain
  • FlexTip Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 824 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Magtech 158 Grain SJSP

  • 1,235 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 158 Grain
  • Semi Jacketed Hollow Point Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 535 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

PMC Bronze 158 Grain JSP

  • 1,471 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 158 Grain
  • Jacketed Soft Point Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 759 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Speer Gold Dot 158 Grain JHP

  • 1,235 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 158 Grain
  • Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 535 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Large Game Hunting

Large game hunting with .357 ammo sparks controversy. One camp says the round isn’t powerful enough to take down a bear or feral hog. The other side protests with the theory that a good marksman makes every shot count and that the .357 Magnum ammo works just fine. The two sides agree that attempts to take down bears, elk, moose or other large game should use a higher bullet weight to aid in penetration. Shooters consider 158-grain to 180-grain with a heavy powder charge as the minimum requirement for confronting an animal that could kill you in mere seconds.

Best .357 Magnum Ammo for Large Game Hunting

Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman 180 Grain Flat Nose

  • 1,400 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 180 Grain
  • Flat Nose Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 783 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Federal Power-Shok Ammunition 180 Grain SJHP

  • 1,080 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 180 Grain
  • Semi Jacketed Hollow Point Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 466 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

HSM Bear Ammunition 180 Grain Lead RNFP

  • 1,200 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 180 Grain
  • Flat Nose Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 576 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Remington High Terminal Performance (HTP) 180 Grain SJHP

  • 1,145 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 180 Grain
  • Semi Jacketed Hollow Point Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 524 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Underwood Ammunition 180 Grain Lead Flat Nose

  • 1,400 FPS Muzzle Velocity
  • 180 Grain
  • Flat Nose Bullet
  • Nickel-plated Brass Casing
  • Boxer Primer
  • 783 ft-lbs. Muzzle Energy

Conclusion

The .357 Magnum ammo performs well as a hunting round, either in a handgun or lever-action rifle. Hunters aim for vital organs, ensuring the clean, human kill of their prey. The .357 outshines lesser cartridges with accuracy, power, and all-around efficiency. Handgun hunters concerned with recoil should use a handgun with a longer barrel rather than a snubnosed revolver.

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