i have a 73 in 357, 20 inch barrel that i was thinking about shooting a deer with this season. what bullets would be best? i was thinking about hornady american gunner 125 gr xtp. but maybe won't get good enough penetration. anyone used a 357 mag rifle for deer? maybe too light?
357 mag for wt deer
- Thread starter James1873
- Start date
safehunter
Regular
- Location
- South Western Onterrible
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...05-Best-357-magnum-cartridge-for-deer-hunting
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-as-a-hunting-round-(From-lever-action-rifle)
This topic comes up regularly. The search function works great if you change the timeframe to 3years
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-as-a-hunting-round-(From-lever-action-rifle)
This topic comes up regularly. The search function works great if you change the timeframe to 3years
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
It will kill deer and there are also few good reasons to choose it aside from novelty. I had a phase with my Marlin .357 then realized I was driving screws with a hammer. One possible use I can see for it, and one that I used it for myself, was with a 35 Rem bullet or heavy cast shooting subsonic over trail boss or the like (at that time titegroup, as trail boss wasn't out yet). This was for 50 yards and less coyotes and the odd whitetail on our own small acreage, with neighbours and their horses and cattle in earshot. They were no louder than a pallet dropping and didn't sound particularly like a gunshot from a distance.
Aside from this niche use, you're giving up a heck of a lot of trajectory, and accepting poorer terminal effects than a real rifle chambering, even the .243. The .243 is a much better all round rifle for coyotes, wolves, and deer too, and more effective despite popular wisdom dictating otherwise. Believe me I know because at the time I could only afford one hunting rifle at a time, and I replaced my Ruger .243 with the "neat" .357 carbine. I regretted it about a month later, as the shortcomings were extremely evident.
Aside from this niche use, you're giving up a heck of a lot of trajectory, and accepting poorer terminal effects than a real rifle chambering, even the .243. The .243 is a much better all round rifle for coyotes, wolves, and deer too, and more effective despite popular wisdom dictating otherwise. Believe me I know because at the time I could only afford one hunting rifle at a time, and I replaced my Ruger .243 with the "neat" .357 carbine. I regretted it about a month later, as the shortcomings were extremely evident.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
The 125 grain bullet you are contemplating is about the worst possible choice. 158 grain soft point ( not hollow point) is about as light as I would recommend, in order to get sufficient momentum and penetration. Keep your shots close, under 100 yards, and broadside. It should work OK within those limitations.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
get some 180grn XTP
out of a 20 inch barrel you should be able to get some good MV
out of a 20 inch barrel you should be able to get some good MV
These topics always give me a chuckle. I've seen a few articles how American handgun hunters shooting 6" barrel revolvers in 357 declare phenomenal performance on white tails, but mention the idea to rifle deer hunters and the 357 is a lame duck. Unless you've tried it and have personal experience, nay naying the OP is adding more heat than light.
Its one of the other.
So flame on my brothers.
Its one of the other.
So flame on my brothers.
Not about flaming Larry...... And I have seen both American and Canadian hunters preaching the virtue of just about everything out there.....
BUT you never hear about the wounded that weren't recovered or the abysmal failures.... And that is a shame, because we could all learn from them (I know I have from my own, even with a proven deer cartridge)..... Everyone posts their bang flops, next to nobody posts their deer got away and died slow death..... It's the nature of the beast....
If you hunt enough, you will inevitably have this misfortune and dissapointment.... Regardless of cartridge..... But I feel it is my duty as a hunter to use a good tool for my harvest and take cartridge out if the equation so that the rest is up to me......
There is zero bravado to be had in using a lesser cartridge to make a harvest..... And the hunter has everything to lose and nothing to gain by doing so.....
When I hunt, I want the confidence of knowing that what I carry will do the job.... My chosen cartridge will never impose a limit on me.... It doesn't make sense for it I do so.... And if it does, I haven't picked the right tool for the job.....
safehunter
Regular
- Location
- South Western Onterrible
I can find the 150s but never the 180s
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
I have been having the same problem, shame the 180s out of my S&W 28 group nicely.
you may be able to order some in, try mystic, he seems to get hornady product.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Shoot to kill, not shoot to tickle.
You are trying to knock down and kill an animal that weighs up to 150lbs with a stubby 9mm projectile fired with not a lot of powder behind it. The .30 Carbine is a similar round, and I don't consider it has the terminal velocity to make an honest job of deer hunting. Having wounded and lost deer which were hit with bigger cartridges, I take comfort in carrying a rifle that will do what I need.
You are trying to knock down and kill an animal that weighs up to 150lbs with a stubby 9mm projectile fired with not a lot of powder behind it. The .30 Carbine is a similar round, and I don't consider it has the terminal velocity to make an honest job of deer hunting. Having wounded and lost deer which were hit with bigger cartridges, I take comfort in carrying a rifle that will do what I need.
Hornady 158gr or 180gr XTP loads @ 75-100y seem to perform about as well on Blacktails as a 150gr 30-30 round at the same range.
I'd avoid the 125gr loads for deer.
I loaded 158gr XTP's in my Whelen for a bit, held together well at about 1800fps
I'd avoid the 125gr loads for deer.
I loaded 158gr XTP's in my Whelen for a bit, held together well at about 1800fps
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ok thanks guys. If i were to use 357, the message i got was a regular spot point bullet that is heavier grain. i got the rifle because it was my dream rifle, and i thought it would be kind of nostalgic to spot and stalk hunt with it if that makes sense? i normally will use my winchester 300 win mag.
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
I can't see any problem with using one at very moderate ranges (100 meters or less) with good shot placement. It would likely mean you have to turn down some shots, depending on your style of hunting, but that's really not the end of the world if it happens.
I wonder how the energy compares to a 45 or 50 cal round ball from a muzzle loader at comparable distances? I heard those worked on deer for a couple of years or so.
Although it would never be my choice, particularly on a trophy hunt, I would use one for a meat hunt and use 180 gn 35 Rem roundnose style bullet. Keeping your shots inside 50 mtrs and waiting for the correct presentation is absolutely critical for success, hell lots of deer have been taken with the venerable 22 LR but one must do it right and not throw lead at any deer one sees. The old 38-40 and even the 32-20 were considered adequate deer cartridges in their day, but their users were well aware of their limitations. You should easily be able to match 38-40 BP ballistics with a 180 from your 357 so there is no reason it isn't doable. I get a kick out of guys on here who applaud loudly when someone like 38-55 goes out and harvests a deer with his old 38-40 Mod 92 and then poo-poos and discourages people like the OP when asking questions such as this.
In cases such as this it comes down to the correct bullet for the job and the skill of the hunter.......PERIOD. I would rather see a guy out there still hunting with a 73 in 357 with the right loads than a wannabe with his black rifle in 223.........JMHO.
In cases such as this it comes down to the correct bullet for the job and the skill of the hunter.......PERIOD. I would rather see a guy out there still hunting with a 73 in 357 with the right loads than a wannabe with his black rifle in 223.........JMHO.
I've misjudged a deer broadside at 30 yards with a bow. I'd have bet my new truck it was 40 yards. The look on his face as my arrow sailed over his back was as funny as the lighted knock an inch over his back was heart breaking. A 357 rifle would have been a different story that day.
Used within its limitations it can and will work
Used within its limitations it can and will work
