This will be my first year hunting big game with a handgun. I recently picked up a smith and wesson M57 to hunt with. I'm thinking that 210 gr jsp should do the job, if I do mine. I was also thinking of possibly using hard cast for through and through shots. Any suggestions, tips or such are welcome. I just want to make sure I can get clean kills, and yes, I know, practice brings proficiency. Now I need to get the dies, bullets, powder and magnum primers.
If anyone has any favorite recipes for .41 I'd like to hear them.

210 gr. JHPs work a little better. Remington makes a good one. Casts are OK but not really needed for usual whitetails.

Welcome to the forum and heaven help you when you get your first handgun buck, you will be hooked for good. The JHP advise is spot on.

Thanks Paul0. I did my due diligence in research and luckily for me I was given 120 rds of 210 jsp and 50 rds of 210 swc. I'll probably go through 500-1000 rds before gun season. Hopefully that will be enough to build a little proficiency with the M57. The grip is so different from my other pistols (sig 226, 229, 239, springer 1911, walther p38). It's quite a learning curve. I can't wait till I get my first whitetail with it.
My hunting buddy of 18 yrs is already trying to get me to sell it to him. He's wanted a .41 for years and was flabbergasted when I traded a 1500 dollar AR pistol for it. Now I want a .41 lever rifle, but they are few and far between. All the ones I've found are in the 1200 dollar and up range.
I hope the .41 is everything I've read about it.....

You won't be disapointed with the .41. Like the other calibers place a good bullet in the right place and get out the camera and skinning knife. Put it in the wrong place and get out the tracking shoes, bullet placement and construction is everything. Welcome to the addiction!!!!!!!!
The wvhitman has probably done more bullet tests on whitetails and other game than anyone on here.

Who me?? I'm only up to 2210 with handguns.

Geez Doc - wake us when you get to 2500...

Welcome to HHM, lyytinen.

WTG Doc!

Thanks all. I hope this will be a new and exciting type of hunting for me.

Welcome to the site & to the addiction!

Welcome and good luck this season. You might be interested in this article, if you haven't already seen it.
Mod 57

I have been hunting with a .41 of some sort for about 10 years now. All of the guns I've had/have have done well with the 210 grain xtp. I've pushed it with h110, AA#9, and even Blue dot. Somewwhere just below published maximums tends to get the best accuracy in my experience. Right now I'm using 21 grains of h110 and CCI large pistol(not magnum!) Primers. Your mileage may vary but it is a place to start. I think you will be pleased with your new hunting tool. Happy shooting.

Welcome. New to handgun hunting, I HIGHLY recommend the Gun Digest book Big Bore Revolvers by Max Prasac. I've read it and re-read it then loan it to my Son in-law now he wont give it back so went out and bought another copy. Best of luck on your hunts.

Welcome. Enjoy that .41. I bet james has some good loads. Great gun!!!

Welcome! Lot of great people here, and tons of great information exchanged.

can anyone recommend a good aftermarket grip for the m57? it wants to try and break my knuckle with each shot. darn it's painful..

I have Pachmayrs or Hogues on all but one of my hunting guns, they don't make them yet for the Bisley grip frame. The Pachmayrs decelerators are better for smaller hands as the Hogues have a palm swell that makes them to big for some .If you can try both ,the filler behind the trigger takes the bite out for me.

mule deer taken with 210gr XTP handload. In and out at 100yds....