Is the .357 Magnum a deer load in a rifle?

[Kiwi cop]

My brother has always been the hunter in the family. I am the target shooter but I have always kept at least one deer hunting rifle in the safe. Currently it is a Parker Hale small ring Mauser .243. I haven’t actually gone deer hunting since the beginning of the 21st century, but there is a guided service available half hour from where I live offering Sika and Fallow deer.

For a number of reasons I am going through my rifles rationalising each one and selling off tnose I can not justify keeping. It has come down to either my Parker Hale .243 or my Henry Big Bore .357 Magnum.

Personally I would prefer to keep the Henry, fit it with a scope base and sight it in for 100 meters (the longest range I have available to me and the longest realistic hunting distance in my area). But the question I have is will this take a deer humanly?

Or should I keep the Parker Hale “just in case”?

 

[Eddietruett]

The .357 is a good cartridge for deer but bullet placement is the key. I've killed deer with .357 from a handgun and a lever action rifle. I think 100 yards is the max I would try.

 

[tug700]

Keep the Parker Hale

 

[NautiS&W]

What kind of terrain would you be hunting in? That would pretty much dictate what type of rifle you would use. Open country with longer distances I'd use the .243. For more wooded & swampy areas with shorter distances I'd use the .357 mag.

 

[texmex]

357 Magnum out of a rifle will work fine on deer at 100 meters. I think I would stick to the heavier bullets like 158 grain to be on the plus side of penetration. Lightweight hollow points made for self defense might not be the best choice for deer as they might expand too rapidly and not get adequate penetration. 158 grain hollow points or soft points either one should be deadly at any range from point blank to 100 meters or so. I would think the Henry would be great with a Scout Scope. Purist may cringe but nobody's eyes are getting younger.

 

[nicky4968]

I am a big fan of the .357. Even so, the .243 is a far superior cartridge for deer.

 

[nachogrande]

SHORT ANSWER....

357, YES it can be at closer ranges than the 243 is able to reach. You could also bump the bullet wt to 180 gr & load with some 2400 powder (if available) for ^ velocity. Bullet or cast boolit choice is important if planning on deer hunting & faster than pistol velocities, IMO. I'd probly stick with the 243 too.

 

[Kiwi cop]

Keep the Parker Hale

Well my thoughts were to keep the. .243 as well. Given that terrain can range from dense scrub to open grassland on the bush edge it is probably the more versatile caliber.

On the other hand the Henry is a much nicer rifle and a bit more difficult to sell here.

 

[diyj98]

One more vote for keeping the 243. Yes the 357 with a 180 grain bullet will kill deer at 100 yards, but the 243 a much better deer rifle.

 

[ameridaddy]

Do you have a pistol(s) in .38 or .357? If so, I'd keep the Henry and simplify my ammo stock.
.357 is a simpler reload too if you do that.
If a deer hunting is your prime and only consideration, I'd vote for the .243 if the deer in NZ are similar in size to USA white tail deer. If bigger... I'm not sure. You'd probably do better with the .357's heavier bullet and stick to closer range shots, say under 100 yds as you posted.

 

[shouldazagged]

Versatility and accuracy are outstanding attributes of the .243. As much as I love lever action rifles, I would keep the Parker Hale.

 

[JayFramer]

Keep the Parker’s Hale. The .243 is a dandy deerer.

 

[stansdds]

Given a choice between a lever action in .357 Magnum and a bolt action in .243 Winchester for deer hunting, I'd take the .243 Winchester.

Yes, the .357 Magnum with hard cast LSWC bullets of 158 to 180 grains will kill a deer, but requires a more precise hit, broadside as quartering shots may result in poor penetration, and a limit of 100 yards when fired in a rifle.

The .243 Winchester is simply far more powerful. Ranges are not limited to 100 yards. With a 100 grain bullet, 200 yards is easily doable and even 300 yards is not beyond a good kill range.

Then there is accuracy. Lever actions can be accurate, but I doubt there is any mass produced lever action that can equal or exceed a decent bolt action rifle. At least that has been my experience.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

Since these are your firearms and you already stated which one you prefer to keep, I'd say the choice is already crystal clear. Keep the .357.

I urge you though, as I urge everyone; do your best to not sell firearms unless you are just unhappy with them.

 

[murphydog]

You are looking at this far too rationally if "having" to sell either one of these is that important. I can think of many things a .357/.38 lever action carbine can do outside of hunting in which a .243 would not be near as much fun.

However, to answer your specific question, the .243 'will' handle the hunting situation you describe with some margin to spare (accuracy, power, etc.) and the .357 'may' handle it, as others above stated. Good luck in your decision (but keep them both ).

 

[LoboGunLeather]

.243 Winchester is one of the most versatile and effective hunting rounds for thin-skinned game. I would much prefer the .243 for deer and similar game animals.

Will the .357 magnum kill deer reliably? Certainly, with proper bullet selection and good shot placement. I have taken a couple of Colorado mule deer (200-300 lbs. live weight) with a .357 magnum revolver, both within about 40 yards and standing still with full side profile offered. I like a hard-cast 158-grain semi-wadcutter that will punch through bone and fully penetrate the heart-lung area, a task for which I do not trust lighter bullets or hollow-points.

 

[rockquarry]

Like the .223, 7.62x39, and a number of other cartridges, the .357 Magnum can be used for deer hunting, even humane deer hunting, particularly in the hands of experts who place shots well. Shot placement margin of error is significantly reduced when using cartridges that are already marginal for the purpose.

 

[gwpercle]

Keep both .
The 357 can be a deer rifle...if the conditions are just right.
The 243 can do a lot of things the 357 can't and the 357 can do things the 243 would be unsuited for.
I can see justification for both !
Gary

 

[diyj98]

The 243 can do a lot of things the 357 can't and the 357 can do things the 243 would be unsuited for.

Not to be argumentative, but I can't think of anything a 357 magnum rifle can do that a 243 rifle couldn't, accept shoot 38 special or 357 magnums of course.

 

[phonejack]

Last deer I shot was with a Rossi R92. I used a 158 xtp at 1400 fps. It was broadside at 40 yards. Deer ran about 25 yards . Double lung shot.