357 Maximum

[Rapier]

The 357 Super Mag is an excellent hunting round with the choice of the right bullet. I prefer the 180 Hornady SP or the 200 Remington RN, both rifle bullets, for hunting. I like the 200 RCBS as a cast bullet. I prefer H-110 over W-296, just because (no, there is no difference).

I own several 357 SM guns and have shot the 357 SM in a DW, EL Dorado, TC, Martini, Ruger and a Seville. I received my first two Rugers from the factory, by way of Davidson, before there was any brass. The DW with a 200 Rem RN killed a 250lb wild boar at 30 yards. Took out about 4 inches of leg bone and the left shoulder joint before going through the heart and then lodging against the right side plate.

One thing that I found about the 357 SM is that for pure accuracy, the 357 Mag case loaded with a rifle bullet to SM velocity usually produced better accuracy, until you pass the point where the case capacity becomes a problem, then the SM case has to be used. Once you compress the powder heavily, the SM case produces good accuracy. By good I mean 3/4 inch at 100 or better.

The 357 SM in a little rifle carbine with the 180 SP is a real deer stopper, when you get over 2,100 fps. It will drop Bambi in his tracks like a lightning bolt. Did that last year. Bullet went that way, deer hit ground, two kicks, finis.

I quit shooting steel several years ago and started hunting again.
Ed