RGVshooter
Member
A well placed shot with a 357 magnum handgun can take a good sized deer. In a rifle? One can't go wrong with a Henry in any caliber...
Is the .357 Magnum a deer load in a rifle?
- Thread starter Kiwi cop
- Start date
Happen to have a 24 inch 94 Win and I would use it to shoot deer out to a 100 yds or so But I would use heavier bullets for certain. I use 170 gr cast bullets out of a M-64 32 Sp at about 1800 FPS. A.357 should do as well I would think. My FIL shot deer with his Marlin 44 Mag with some 200 gr handloads. That little carbine was pretty rough on him with 240 gr loads as he was taking blood thinners...so I fixed a load that worked for him. fot yhe next gew years He shot his last deer in 99 at 100 yrs old,,,But not for lack of trying in the next year or so.
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Biggfoot44
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I've taken .357 rifle out after deer, and connected with wild boar .
With non- expanding 158gr , had close to three feet of penetration thru boar, including thru the skull .
Factory loads gave 1700's fps, handloads can hit 1900 fps .
If you are in mental sync with non-expanding , there are whole buncha cast bullet designs , limited only by COL and shape for feeding in particular rifle .
If you seek controlled expansion , bullet selection must be carefully matched to your vels , as most jacket bullets are designed for handgun vels .
With non- expanding 158gr , had close to three feet of penetration thru boar, including thru the skull .
Factory loads gave 1700's fps, handloads can hit 1900 fps .
If you are in mental sync with non-expanding , there are whole buncha cast bullet designs , limited only by COL and shape for feeding in particular rifle .
If you seek controlled expansion , bullet selection must be carefully matched to your vels , as most jacket bullets are designed for handgun vels .
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Why wouldn't the .357 Magnum make a good deed rifle? My grandfather used 25-35 to hunt deer to feed my mom and family for his whole life. I'm not sure what weight bullet he used but I believe back then it pushed a 117gr bullet at under 2000 fps. If he would have brought out a 30-30 be friends would have laughed and asked why he needed such a big gun! I guess the deer back then weren't armor plated.
I load a Sierra 150gr JHC bullet to 1826 fps
A Sierra 170gr JHC bullet to 1793 fps (amazing!)
A Cast Performance 180gr WFNGC bullet to 1657 fps
Any of the 3 will do the job but I prefer the 170gr Sierra bullet.
I even tested a 125gr XTP bullet to over 2200 fps but I fear it won't hold together on game.
I load a Sierra 150gr JHC bullet to 1826 fps
A Sierra 170gr JHC bullet to 1793 fps (amazing!)
A Cast Performance 180gr WFNGC bullet to 1657 fps
Any of the 3 will do the job but I prefer the 170gr Sierra bullet.
I even tested a 125gr XTP bullet to over 2200 fps but I fear it won't hold together on game.
OP
Well the decision has been made for me. By market forces.
I needed to make some room in my safe as it was getting hard to close with all the contents. I listed four firearms that I have limited and irregular use for on a local auction site; the Parker Hale, the Henry Big Boy, my Stainless Rossi '92 (44/40) and my Remington 1100 shotgun. None sold first time listed but I received a request to relist the Rossi, which then sold.
I may still have to rationalise my firearms ownership at some time in the future. In the meantime I'll take the .243 to the range to check it is still sighted in, have some fun on steel plates with the Henry and see about shortening the barrel on the 1100 to be used on steel plate "man on man" side matches.
But the fact that for the first time in several decades I no longer have a 44/40 rifle is starting to sink in
I needed to make some room in my safe as it was getting hard to close with all the contents. I listed four firearms that I have limited and irregular use for on a local auction site; the Parker Hale, the Henry Big Boy, my Stainless Rossi '92 (44/40) and my Remington 1100 shotgun. None sold first time listed but I received a request to relist the Rossi, which then sold.
I may still have to rationalise my firearms ownership at some time in the future. In the meantime I'll take the .243 to the range to check it is still sighted in, have some fun on steel plates with the Henry and see about shortening the barrel on the 1100 to be used on steel plate "man on man" side matches.
But the fact that for the first time in several decades I no longer have a 44/40 rifle is starting to sink in
Bin their, done that......................
Why do we sell a collectors weapon or a first edition to someone
when deep down we will know that we will regret it down the line.....................
When our brains get back inside our skull!!
We will survive.........
but with scare tissue.
Why do we sell a collectors weapon or a first edition to someone
when deep down we will know that we will regret it down the line.....................
When our brains get back inside our skull!!
We will survive.........
but with scare tissue.
I don't think I would be comfortable using a 357 at 109.333 yards.
ABPOS
Member
I don't envy your decision. But I agree with what this guy said. A rifle is just going to be more effective at all ranges. I personally think it's that simple. The other choice would be more of a "fun gun". And maybe better suited for a self defense weapon.
A sporterized mauser is a gem and not one to be taken lightly.
Again I don't envy your decision. Would be nice if you could keep both. One could be viewed more of a longer range gun and the other a shorter range gun. You'd have your bases covered.
DB404
Member
A number of years back, Brian Pearce wrote an excellent article on .357 magnum carbines in either Handloader or Rifle magazine. Based on his testing, IIRC he felt that when fired from a carbine, it compared favorably with the 30-30 when using bullets in the 150 to 170 grain range. His fastest loads were right at 2,000 fps. People who have not taken game with the 357 (or the 41 or 44 magnums) have no idea of how much critter they will penetrate, even with velocities down around 1,000 fps. With todays monolithic bullets (Barnes, etc) your .243 will now likely equal the penetration of a 357 on a stem to stern deer shot. Until those bullets came along, the 357 with a decent bullet design and weight would often out penetrate most 6mms. Artificially limiting the 357 to 100 yards on deer from an accurate carbine is silly, and such arguments are nearly always based on "common sense" or the old "'cause everybody says so". Look around on the internet for other opinions. Look at Tim Sundles Buffalo Bore ammunition web site or Double Tap ammo's web site for modern 357 loadings. Google "hunting deer with 357 carbine" and see what you turn up. BTW, they're both fun guns, in useful chamberings.
Dave
"A strongly held opinion is not necessarily the same as a well informed opinion."
Dave
"A strongly held opinion is not necessarily the same as a well informed opinion."
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Spokes
Member
Almost any cartridge will kill a deer. For an all around great everything cartridges you cannot beat a 243.
38SPL HV
Member
357 Magnum in rifle adequate for deer, yes! Use 158 gr JSPs or cast 158 gr swc's in Magnum loadings (i.e. 13.5 grs 2400 or commercial grade 158 gr JSPs) and harvest them within 100 yds. Boiler room placement and you'll have venison each and every time. Don't expect them dropping right there unless spine is hit, but with a good shot they will not go far.
Well when you think about it, it comes down to............
do you want to load a rifle or pistol cartridge?
Well, do ya?
Have fun.
do you want to load a rifle or pistol cartridge?
Well, do ya?
Have fun.
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