Thread: Loads for Rossi Puma 357 Magnum

I wonder if there is anyone out there who has good knowledge and advice on reloading for the 357 Magnum. I made up a pile of reloads recently and worked up a load for the Hornady 140gr FTX projectiles using 17gr of AR2205. I have had this Rossi Puma for a number of years now but only recently started to carry it around the farm instead of my trusty old Parke Hale 7x57 which at 10m - 35m on goats was simply overkill. I settled on the 17gr of AR2205 because it shot consistent groups of 3/4" at 33m. More than enough to shoot the goats at the distance I normally encounter them at. And it dropped them pretty well with heart/lung shots. 3 weeks ago I was up the perimeter ridge and came across a very decent sized pig which ended up weighing 67kg gutted. It was healthy and had a good layer of fat on it. The issue was that when I shot it with the 357 with my awesome accurate 140gr FTX load it jumped and then ran away. I gave it a minute then went looking for it and 2 hours later I gave up and went back to the farm and got my dogs and they managed to find it - not dead but definitely bruised and rather pissed. By this time I had my old .444 marlin with me and quickly dispatched this poor ol'hog. After butchering it was apparent that there was little to no real penetration by this projectile - in hindsight not surprising given it is a pistol round. I should have known this so my bad. So this lead me on to the purpose of this post. Does anyone have a good recommendation for a load that I can use on pigs and goats at close range, preferably not a compressed powder load that would work in both the standard 357 magnum cases as well as the shorter Hornady cases. Not the 180gr projectiles as they kick too much for my daughter hen she uses the firearm. I was thinking the 158gr? What is a good projectile for hunting? I am not after super hot loads just goo accurate-ish loads out to 60m max. Look forward to some advice.

You are asking a lot to do both jobs well. For sure your goat load will be great bail load. No over penertration BUT if you get a load that will consistently penertrate big pigs at any range,it will zip through goats like a bit of steel rod. The resistance to projectiles is hugely different. If you double load you have good pig,deer load and soft goat load. Find something your happy with for pigs and keep a few in top pocket while continuing to use current load OR pick shot placement better.in the earhole or slipped in behind shield with pig facing away from you. As for daughter...same deal. Two loads.one hot and one not so much.

Where did you hit the pig? Where did you aim to hit?

Ftx are a little explodey aren't they?
I'd be looking at some 158gr flat noses or maybe heavier.
Especially if you aren't shoiting too far away

It was about 15m away and on a 30-ish degree angle below me on the track. I hit it just behind the shoulder joint - it was not a good shot as it was barreling down the slope. It was quite an instinct shot really. Had I thought about it I would have let it go and came back a couple of days later and staked it out with my .444

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

You are asking a lot to do both jobs well. For sure your goat load will be great bail load. No over penertration BUT if you get a load that will consistently penertrate big pigs at any range,it will zip through goats like a bit of steel rod. The resistance to projectiles is hugely different. If you double load you have good pig,deer load and soft goat load. Find something your happy with for pigs and keep a few in top pocket while continuing to use current load OR pick shot placement better.in the earhole or slipped in behind shield with pig facing away from you. As for daughter...same deal. Two loads.one hot and one not so much.

Most of the shots I take with the 357 are quite close as it is usually when I am riding the fence lines through the bush, get around a corner and see a mob of goats - and the occasional pig. The issue with the 2 loads is that it all happens very quickly. I don't have time to change rounds. When I actually go out with the intention of shooting some table meat I shoot from my back lawn that has a 360 degree view of the paddocks and I can nail animals out to 300m. If I see pig rooting in the bush areas and know they are around I take the dogs and stick them otherwise if I see them on the paddocks from the farmhouse I can nail them from a distance.

Maybe as you allude to, the 357 is the wrong choice but it is so light and easy to carry around - and being stainless can take the punishment. Many thaks.

Originally Posted by csmiffy

Ftx are a little explodey aren't they?
I'd be looking at some 158gr flat noses or maybe heavier.
Especially if you aren't shoiting too far away

I just ordered some of the 158gr and will try them out.

I find the 158-180gr XTPs great on goats and chest shots on deer as they expand pretty quickly out of my 357.
My pig hunting mate hates them and instead swears by 158gr flat points for penetrating tough pigs.
I tried the FPs on goats and it was surely zipping through, was a bit untidy

Don't give up on it....try some different projectiles till you find something your happier with. Actually you still got your pig,all be it later with your dogs so not a total write off,had pig been smaller results would be much better.

Have a go with cast lead hollow points in your 357. Shooternz on here sells them. I've rolled pigs goats and deer with 170 gr hp casts admittedly in a 3030 velocity of that load is 1400 fps with blue dot shotgun powder ranges between I stood on it and 150 yds. I'd be all over a 444 marlin if I could find one

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Have a go with cast lead hollow points in your 357. Shooternz on here sells them. I've rolled pigs goats and deer with 170 gr hp casts admittedly in a 3030 velocity of that load is 1400 fps with blue dot shotgun powder ranges between I stood on it and 150 yds. I'd be all over a 444 marlin if I could find one

I do have a good bullet mold for the .357/.38 it is a 166 grain TC , it performs well in handgun silhouette matches, should be good for lever guns it is not coated it just went though the tumbler
I don't have any in stock at present.

I've shot a bunch of goats with my 357 all with 158gn cast either lubed or powder coated. I've used round nosed, flat point and truncated cone. The Rossi likes them all. They all do a job on goats. Back before the legislation changed things I hot loaded the same pill in 38sp because I could get more in the tube. Using old much loaded ex Pistol brass I had the occasional split case..like somewhere around the 100 reloads done. Nickle plated cases worn down mostly to brass as well. They all killed well on head, neck and shoulder shots. I won't tell you at what distances because I already had shit on this forum from disbelievers. Suffice it to say, more than 15m. Goats are pretty soft. Never taken a pig with a Rossi but flat point or TC would definitely be my choice, full house Magnum load. I'm thinking penetration that I doubt you'd get with ftx.