357 Magnum

[RockinHRacin]

Will a .357 Mag loaded with a 158 grain bullet reliably take down BB Rams?

I'm going to shoot this out of a S&W 586-1 with an 8" barrel.

[highstandard40]

I would have to say it depends on a lot of factors. I fired a lot of 158HP from an 8" Dan Wesson back in the 80s. I had purchased a case of factory S&W ammo REALLY cheap and shot them Standing. I rang a lot of rams with those and did knock some of them down. I've left some standing with my 170gr loads also. 158gr would not be my choice for silhouette unless you don't mind leaving some rams standing.

[marshall623]

Will a .357 Mag loaded with a 158 grain bullet reliably take down BB Rams?

I'm going to shoot this out of a S&W 586-1 with an 8" barrel.

Going by sierra soft ware at 1200 FPS that gives you .62 ( lbs-ft/sec ) momentum at 200 meters. Thats getting close you will have to keep em high. 180's would do better on the rams if they fit in your gun.

[19Turkeys]

The only 2 handguns that I have seen reliably take rams in .357 Mag. are either a 10" T/C or FA. Then, 180 grain bullets are generally required. That said, I am crazy enough to shoot a .25-20 Standing in my 10" T/C with a 120 grain bullet. It rings rams. However, when that happens the "O" on my scorecard is an "X" in my heart! Shoot & have fun!

Steve W.

[BurmKiller]

The couple times I shot my FA .357 it left ringers on both pigs and rams. If you are perfect with shot placement, you can do it. I am...well...not.

[Melvin]

I've only stuck one ram target with my FA357. That was at Conover and it cost me a 40 Revolver. Steve and Ronny B. eventually fixed that ram, as it was bowed in the middle. I shoot Rem. 200 grain .358 bullets at 1280 fps. For a while, I was shooting Hornady 160 grain bullets on Chickens and Pigs, just to save the expensive 200 grainers, and they reliably took pigs. I even shot some on our rams at LRGC in practice with the 160's, and they took all the rams over.
The heavy bullets(180-200) are the way to go.
MC

[BurmKiller]

Melvin - Mine was also at Conover. I was using rounds that Dwayne loaded...maybe that was my problem? Since he never reads this, I am sticking with that answer.

[Smokin7mm]

One of our shooters started with a 686 using 200gr cast bullets with book loads. They were pretty reliable on the rams but our rams are not tough and cant be hard set due to stops welded to the rails. He has since upgraded to a FA 357.
Bret

[armorpl8]

A stuck ram is usually my spotters fault...hey its as good an excuse as any

[Melvin]

Melvin - Mine was also at Conover. I was using rounds that Dwayne loaded...maybe that was my problem? Since he never reads this, I am sticking with that answer.

Douglas,
Yep, that was your problem!! I think he said he loaded 148 gr. wadcutters for you!!

[RockinHRacin]

Melvin, we'll need to talk at the Gainesville match... I already have the 158gr bullets... I might just load some up and see what she does at the Lincolnton range... My 7TCU will definitely be there.

[braud357]

I will offer my advice as a long-time 357 magnum revolver shooter. The 158's will do the job on everything BUT rams. You could also lose a pig on occasion. My advice would be to use them on the first 3 sets of animals, then use a heavier bullet ram load. A lot of people advocate using 180's in the smaller frame (Dan Wesson, S&W) revolver guns, but in my experience they are very hard on the gun. If you load them to an effective velocity, they will beat-up the gun. This was MY experience with a Dan Wesson - knocked it out of time in less than 1/2 season. I settled on (and recommend) the Sierra 170 FMJ. This bullet has a much better ballistic coefficient than the 180's, and in my experience are better on rams. So perhaps you could use the 158's on c-p-t, then use the 170's on rams. I used the 170's all the way through, but I also believe in using what I have "in hand". Good luck in your quest !