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Gear Testing Here are some of the findings on gear we use and test. The tests below are actual facts they are based on how the product works. Federal Fusion in .357 Mag. 158 gr. The test gun was a Ruger New Model Blackhawk at 25 yards using 3 phone books we used 3 types of ammo Federal, Hornady, and Speer loads all 158 Gr. The Federal Fusion retained the best weight and did not separate from the core it also got the best penetration. We were looking for a load that would stop a whitetail deer in its tracks I had an experience last year with a six point buck I shot him at 10 yards with a bow which put him down inside 30 yards I watched this deer for 5 minutes. He was down and had not moved I got out of the stand and reached down to position him for the chore of field dressing him as I grabbed his rear leg he kicked spun around and had me on the ground I had one hand on his rack and with the other I drew my .357 and fired hitting him in the center of the chest and I thought it was over he went down again. I went to circle him to make sure he was down for the count and he got up again and ran 165 yards before I found him expired. I could not believe this deer was shot behind the front shoulder and had both lungs hit and a .357 slug in his chest and still ran that far. When I got him field dressed the .357 load never entered the chest it hit and mushroomed only breaking the skin this is why I did the testing for the .357 if that were a bear or a big buck it could have been fatal I know I should have double checked this deer before I approached him so in part it was my own fault. But I am thankful I found my loads for the .357 were very poor for whitetail deer. Knowing that I went to work on loads for the .357 in 158 gr. Here are the results and loads we used.
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