Would you use a .357 Lever rifle for Deer?

[2fat2fly]

Would a 357 work, probably. Are there better alternatives, definitely, and you already own them. I would equate this to the folks that use a .22 cal centerfire for deer or other large game, it will work, but you are taking a chance of wounding and loosing an animal.

 

[Big JD-From the hills]

I think 158grain gold dot hp .357 mag would be great on deer out to 100 yards. Its a bonded bullet, with great expansion, and it won't fly apart or blow up. I would pick this over the hornady just because of the bonded factor, and you want expansion.... penatration on a deer won't be an issue.

 

[RobertMcC]

I found with my Marlin 1894 is you cannot use any factory ammo out there. Marlin manual says 1.5" MAX loaded round OAL. Most 357 or 38 Spl are well over 1.5" I can fire manually chambering rounds, but it will not feed out of the tube.

So really you gotta reload to really fire it...

 

[csmith99]

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.

That's kind of what I was thinking but I wanted some more expert opinioin. It seems that a lot of people that the gun will do the job, but at a short range, and only under specific conditions. I think I'll stick to my trusty .30-30.

thanks

 

[csmith99]

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.

No, I don't handload (yet) and the cartridges I buy are for my .357 pistol as well as my rifle.

I think I'll stick with my .30-30

thanks

 

[csmith99]

You never shot a deer before did you??

Yes, I have. With my .30-30. The difference between my .30-30 and my .357 would be range, and in Southern and Central Ontario, when forest hunting for whitetail, you rarely have a "long range" shot. Most deer are taken with a single shot within a hundred yards. If I was to come hunting with you in Alberta, I'd be looking to bring my .300 WSM, and use my .30-30 as my backup.

thanks

 

[csmith99]

I found with my Marlin 1894 is you cannot use any factory ammo out there. Marlin manual says 1.5" MAX loaded round OAL. Most 357 or 38 Spl are well over 1.5" I can fire manually chambering rounds, but it will not feed out of the tube.

So really you gotta reload to really fire it...

Interesting statement. I've recently had some issues with cartridges "popping" out of the tube and ejecting with the spent round. I suspected it may be a feed issue, and was going to take it into a gunsmith this winter. I use factory Winchester white box 125 gr loads. I will ask my gun store to sell me less powerful rounds.
Thanks,