Would you use a .357 Lever rifle for Deer?

Use a Lever .357 for Deer

  • YES, use a .357 for deer. It'll work

    Votes: 52 76.5%

  • NO, don't try it, it's not powerful enough

    Votes: 16 23.5%

  • If it's not a bolt, it's not a deer gun

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    68
Sure a 357 will work at close range but why handicap yourself needlessly and worse yet, possibly wound and loose a deer ?
Stick with the 30-30.It's minimum deer medecine in my book.
 
What type of loads are you shooting in that gun? I know if you handload the rifles can take more than the pistols, and most of the ammo is made for pistols. As for using it on deer, they use it in the states for deer all the time out of pistols, make sure you know where the bullet is hitting and keep the range short, I would say in the 50 yard range.
 
Yes, know the limits of the cartridge, don't expect +200 yard shots. For that matter I think anything over 100 yards is pushing the clean kill zone. It will work as well as any bow or BP rifle within its range.
 
Fox said:
I know if you handload the rifles can take more than the pistols, and most of the ammo is made for pistols.
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Definately NOT TRUE..........
Do not assume because it's a "rifle" that it will take "more than the pistols"

What you will get is "More Velocity" with the same loads due to the Longer barrel of the rifle vs the Handguns;)

Yes within reasonable ranges (I'd say 50 or less...) the 357 will Kill things just fine:)
 
If you look at reloading books and in the magazines you will see loads listed for rifles, mostly the M92. They are higher pressure than those for pistols. If the M92 can take the 460 or 500 it can handle a hot 357.
 
CanAm said:
If you look at reloading books and in the magazines you will see loads listed for rifles, mostly the M92. They are higher pressure than those for pistols. If the M92 can take the 460 or 500 it can handle a hot 357.
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Nobody said the M92 couldn't handle a hot 357...?

I just corrected an assumption I hear alot that because it's a Rifle it Will take "more" then a Pistol...........:rolleyes:

I can assure you I've shot loads through a Freedom Arms Single action revolver that will likely send the Bolt from a Marlin 94 through your forehead;)
 
The .357 a great round if you first tie the deer to a tree and than shoot him in the head point blank. :D
Seriously, the .357 will kill the deer but you need a really good shot in close range. The 30-30 is a much better choice.
 
.... Would it work ? Yes ! But there are better choices, and if used, the range would have to be kept short, IE 50 to 75 yards, and good bullet placement for a human/sportsmanlike kill. .... David K.
 
Thanks for making the assumption that people blindly reload, that is very dangerous. What I was saying is that the pistol loads are not that hot so that they can be used in a lot of different revolvers, examine the reloading options for your gun and it may be possible to increase the velocity a significant amount over commercial rounds designed for potentially weaker actions.
 
I think you can still get partition golds for your .357 from Wimchester.A red dot on top of your rig would make it a dandy little deer rifle out to 100yds.
 
Fox said:
Thanks for making the assumption that people blindly reload, that is very dangerous. What I was saying is that the pistol loads are not that hot so that they can be used in a lot of different revolvers, examine the reloading options for your gun and it may be possible to increase the velocity a significant amount over commercial rounds designed for potentially weaker actions.
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No actually you said exactly........
"I know if you handload the rifles can take more than the pistols"

I was pointing out that this isn't necessarily true, just in case some people do in fact blindly reload ! :)

Assuming that Rifles can take "more" then pistols is what's dangerous.
Thanks anyways :wave:
 
I have no experience with this round whatsoever...but my opinion is that it's the duty of the sporting hunter to do whatever he's shooting the courtesy of a confident kill...If what your shooting has potentially insufficient backbone, then there's always another gun that can do the job with better certainty...
 
Meat in the freezer id you do your part. Use a 158 gr jsp or a decent 180 gr. Just for kicks look up the velocity and and energy numbers for the 30/30 then compare them to the 357 launched from a carbines 20 inch barrel.
 
csmith99 said:
I have a Marlin 1894 Lever in .357, and rarely get to shoot it. I was thinking of taking it as a back up gun for my Deer season. My regular guns are my Marlin 336 in .30-30 and my Winnie Model 94 in .30-30.

So, do I try to take down a Deer with a .357?
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You never shot a deer before did you??
 
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