.357 Mag question

[C-Money]

Anyone ever reload for the .357 mag. I want to reload for a pistol, and was wondering about if the case/bullet needs crimped to shoot threw a revolver?? Are the primers smaller in diameter than standard center fire primers, will I need a different primer set up on my RCBS rockchuckar?? Anyone ever hunt deer with the .357?? Thanks for the input!

[CP]

I load 158g Hornady XTP bullets with a near max dose of Ramshot Enforcer and a CCI 550 primer.  I find that if I don’t use magnum small pistol primers the powder doesn’t fully burn. 

You do need to crimp them to make sure that the rounds don’t stick in the cambers and that the 5 other bullets don’t dislodge from the recoil when the revolver is fired. 

This round will effectively kill deer-sized game at short yardage.

I don’t use an RCBS press so I can’t answer that ? 

[C-Money]

Thank you for the info. I need to look into crimping, as I know nothing about it. I guess I need a new tool??

[MHWASH]

You don't have to change out the primer seat but it helps. The seat is easy to change. If you don't have one I'm sure RCBS will send you one.

 Crimping the bullets is not a difficult operation either. Once you get the die set it's just like seating without a crimp.

[C-Money]

So the die set I will buy places the cripm?? Dose it do this as I press in the bullet??

[MHWASH]

Yes, yes. Basically once you have the bullet seated to the desired depth, you then screw the die in a little further to set the crimp. You seat and crimp in the same stroke of the handle.

[C-Money]

Thank you for your help!!!

[PolarBear]

Is the .357 mag legal for deer in this state?  If so I might have a new goal in mind for my Python.

[C-Money]

I think WDFW passed a law a few years ago allowing a wide range of centerfire pistols "legal" to hunt with. They did this so hunters could carry a side arm and not get in trouble??? Dose this sound right??

[bobcat]

That's right but the only reason they did it was to simplify the regulations. At least that's the way I understood it. I think just about any handgun cartridge other than the 22 rimfire is now legal for deer, and probably all big game, in this state. It's up to the individual to use common sense, rather than having their choice dictated by law. Which is as it should be in my opinion. A 357 magnum is more than enough for deer, but if it were me I'd limit my shots to about 35 yards.

[PolarBear]

I just might hunt modern for a change and give the bow a rest.  I can still "bowhunt" with my .357!  I get within 30 yards with my bow, why not with the old python?  I shot competition with the old girl years ago but never thought about taking her into the woods after "soft" targets.

[Kain]

Handguns: Big game, except cougar, may
be hunted with handguns with a minimum
barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturers
specification, and fire a minimum 24 caliber
centerfire cartridge. Cougar may be hunted
with 22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire
handguns are not legal for big game.

From the regs

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/huntregs2008.pdf