.357 Ammo for Backpacking

[LMNO]

Hi All,

I'm thinking about carrying a .357 mag revolver with me while hiking and camping (where legal).

While I realize that .44 mag is the best caliber to have for protection against bears and other predators, right now the .357 is the only option.

Which ammo would you recommend that will be best against large animals?

Thanks,

[Full Clip]

I'd go for some hard-cast lead.

[Napalm Bulldog]

Buffalo bore if dealing with wild life. Agree with poster above, Hard cast but if you cant get it in time there is this below. I have hard cast 255 grain for my .45acp for same thing.

http://www.shooterswarehouse.com/BUFFLO-BR-357MAG-158GR-JHP-20-240-p/buff19c-20.htm

[LMNO]

I'd go for some hard-cast lead.

Buffalo bore if dealing with wild life. Agree with poster above, Hard cast but if you cant get it in time there is this below. I have hard cast 255 grain for my .45acp for same thing.

http://www.shooterswarehouse.com/BUF...buff19c-20.htm

Thank you for the recommendation. Looks like Cabela's has them in stock at a cheaper shipping rate.


Not to go off topic, but how confident do you feel carrying the .45 for the same purpose? I know the one big advantage is being able to carry more rounds.

[JTROKS]

If you can get 180 grain hard cast at 1300+ FPS it will penetrate mountain lions or bears. It will have a nice trajectory if there is a need to shoot at 100'yard targets.

[JohnZ]

I am in the same position, I only have 357 to use. Im seriously considering the Lehigh Defense Extreme Penetration. You are getting the penetration of a solid bullet, with the would cavity of a hollow point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6-JmzXF6Zk

[Napalm Bulldog]

Thank you for the recommendation. Looks like Cabela's has them in stock at a cheaper shipping rate.


Not to go off topic, but how confident do you feel carrying the .45 for the same purpose? I know the one big advantage is being able to carry more rounds.

I don't worry but I am not in the wild where there is bears typically. I am never in Grizzly country that I know of. Either what you have or mine is better than nothing, Sure there is better calibers but like you said gotta use what you got. Overall I just know Buffalo Bore hits real hard. If you go to youtube you can see quite a few videos of people using it in many different calibers. Stuff is impressive. From what I understand the hard cast rounds are made for dealing with wildlife. If I was specifically going to buy a handgun just for the purpose of protection from big game. I would by a 44 mag or a 10mm and still run Buffalo Bore.

[mosin of nagareth]

Maybe try the Federal Vital Shok in 180gr Swift A frame. Bonded bullet, just over 1100 fps at muzzle. Decent speed, not too fast, heavy for caliber. Not sure if it beats hard cast, like Buffalo Bore. But the later is hotter and moves faster, and extra recoil might make follow-up shots harder. I lean more towards the Federal.

[Ronin2]

Hi All,

I'm thinking about carrying a .357 mag revolver with me while hiking and camping (where legal).

While I realize that .44 mag is the best caliber to have for protection against bears and other predators, right now the .357 is the only option.

Which ammo would you recommend that will be best against large animals?

Thanks,

Not sure what .357 you have but if you are here asking this, chances are you are not a re-loader and are not carrying a hand cannon, making many of the options above seem like a foreign language. Others will get into the whole "no Grizzlies, black bears are wimps or Mountain lions aren't a threat, tangential discussion. They probably aren't but you just want to be prepared. Of course these people are the ones with a handgun hidden in every room of their homes, just in case of.....

A nice standard commercial manufacture 158 gr. jacketed soft point should serve you well defensively against two or four legged threats out of a "typical" backpacking .357 revolver. Nothing wrong with a little prudent preparation. I personally carry Federal or Winchester 158 gr. jacketed soft points in a S&W model 66 or a model 28 in similar circumstances.

[GreaterFool]

7" Kabar 'cuz I have visible abs

[Ronin2]

7" Kabar 'cuz I have visible abs

And CalGuns member "Greater Fool" lives up to his self chosen moniker once again...

[GreaterFool]

And CalGuns member "Greater Fool" lives up to his self chosen moniker once again...

Why so serious

[Wes C Addle]

357 has more stopping power than 45

[JimWest]

Ok, had to do it...draw your bear spray canister first if you want to live.

[rengawsirhc]

Underwood Ammo has some good 180 grain gas checked hard cast and some 140 grain Leihigh Defense Extreme Penetrators. I think either of those rounds would do you well. Some would say "no" on the 140 grains but if you watch the extreme penetrator tests, you'll see it goes through 36" of gel, 4 gallons of water, and still smacks a steel plate pretty hard, the copper bullet never losing its shape. Can't go wrong with the good heavy hard cast either. Underwood's prices are a little more fair than Buffalo Bore.