I want to use my IMI Timber Wolf to take a deer this season. I've whupped up on a few piggies using a Hornady 158 grain FTX, and it puts them down hard and fast at ranges 50 yards and under. What load would you recommend for 100 yard shots at deer? I'll be hunting from a blind with my grandson (the Wriggle Worm), and will know my range pretty well.

My favorite bullet for the 357 Mag and Max is the old 180gr partition which Nosler decided to discontinue several years ago. When my stash of that is gone I will be trying the 180gr Swift A-Frame. Graphs has the 180 a-Frame in stock. Another bullet I will probably try before the Swift due to cost is the 170gr Hawk hollow point. I am really liking their bullets in the 375 Winchester and 38-55.

Many others will work but I have been impressed with that weight much more so than the lighter weights on deer and hogs. Tried the Hornady Leverevolution but never got an exit and though it killed ok it did not do what I wanted on game though it is accurate in my rifle.

180s are not really required for deer but I like them and in my Marlin and 357 Max handguns the heavier have worked great, but they are a reloading option most of the time.

Thanks, kmon; what powder do you use with these heavier bullets? I use H110 on the 158's.

H110 in the 357Mag Looking back 13.2 gr with the partition in Winchester brass. think it was 13.3 in the Starline brass but not sure on that one. but that is mid level loads for H110 in the 357 with that bullet. Hodgdon lists 13 to 13.5 for starting and max loads with that bullet.

5744 in the Maximum. Loose a little speed in the mad max with it but with it no issues flame cutting the back strap n the old Ruger from the large grain extruded powder. .

I would use something similar to my NOE 180 grain RNFP that weighs out around 187 once checked. Big flat nose and large meplat is "very fatal". Load them over a stout fill of A2400, 300MP, H110, or my new favorite ... L'il Gun. I powder coat them now but here's an old lubed one.

I shoot hard cast over 2400 and H110 depending on the bullet the heaviest get the h110 use a mag primer all shoot well and carry a good thump. I’ve noticed that h110 won’t completely burn in a short barrel pistol so anything I shoot in a 4” or less I tend to lean towards 2400 and even unique.

Lots of good loads hard to go wrong, top of the scale with 2400 and H110 seem to be good accuracy with power.

In the past I shot 158 grain speer jacketed hollow points or Hornady XTP’s and H-110. Did not get exits but animals did not go far. Recently I changed my train of thought to either a 170 hard cast or 170 FMJ and H-110. I made a conscious decision to give up expansion for penetration. I get an exit on broadside shots for easier tracking. 75 yards is the longest shot I’ve tried. I’ve been using the Sierra 170 FMJ which is a silhouette bullet and very accurate. I’ve got 4 boxes or so left. Sierra discontinued them this year. When they are gone I will probably try a 180 grain jacketed or hard cast. For 158 and heavier W-296/H-110 is the top powder I’ve loaded in .357 magnum.

After liking what I am seeing in the 375 Winchester and 38-55 from Hawk bullets I think the 170gr Hawk is what I will be trying next in the 357Mag and Max for hunting. Price point is not bad either.

https://hawkbullets.com/handgun-hunting.html

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the suggestions!!

247gr cast for me has always worked fine for me. If they don't exit, nothing else will either.

I love the 357 in a rifle. My favorite load is hornady 158gr XTP/FP over 18.3 gr of 300mp.1800 fps over my chrony w/ a 20" barrel. The xtp/fp is designed for higher velocity than the standard xtp. My longest shot on a deer was 110 yards, and she didn't go but 10 yards. 357 mag in a rifle kills way better in real life than one would think just looking at ballistics on paper.

I used to load 140 gr xtp over blue dot for a really light kicking but effective load for my son. He used to be very recoil shy, but he's got over that now, so I no longer load those.

I've also experimented with subsonic 200 gr lead flat points on pigs. They didn't work very well, but I might work up a supersonic load and try them out in the future.