Handloads: A Subsonic .357 Mag. Rifle Load

In a lever-action rifle, the .357 Mag. offers tremendous utility to the target shooter, varminter or even the short-range whitetail deer hunter. Loading this cartridge with easily expanding pistol bullets helps it retain its lethality while offering flexibility in the velocity department. When all is said and done, it’s quite simple to make a .357 that is effective and, with the right equipment, exceptionally quiet.

My recipe starts with Hornady brass, as it’s one of the least expensive options on the market while still offering excellent ductility. Like most, these take small pistol primers, and given the components that follow, I cap them with CCI Small Pistol Magnums. This product lights more powder during ignition, creating a cleaner, more even burn in reduced loads like this. Several propellants can get the job done, but I’ve found Hodgdon Titegroup to stand head and shoulders above the rest in this application. Aside from creating lower standard deviations, it takes much less than the others to achieve the same velocity. I recommend grabbing a pound, as the same is true for several .38 Spl., 9 mm Luger and .45 ACP recipes.

The bullet I used is the 180-grain Hornady XTP hollow point. Calculated serrations and a variable jacket thickness create predictable expansion even at subsonic velocities, making them excellent for use on possums, raccoons, coyotes and, with careful shot placement, whitetail deer at distances inside 100 yards. A gentle flare is needed to seat them without disturbing the jacket. I’ve achieved my best results by setting up a Hornady Custom seating die with a quarter turn of crimp and letting the case swallow the cannelure.

This load has become a favorite with guests due to its accuracy and surprisingly flat trajectory across our hunting-themed course. Recoil-sensitive shooters also find favor with it, as dropping velocity also drops kick. Above all, the neighbors love it, as the only noise they have to deal with is the distant ringing of a steel target.