This might be a stupid question, but is a .357 Magnum rifle big enough for hunting deer in Ontario? I know the Americans use it for deer in revolvers but I'm wondering about how effective it is and what would be the maximum range it could be used for in a rifle? Thanks
.357 Magnum rifle?
- Thread starter RCPerkins
- Start date
It is perfectly fine, I have two rifles on 357 a ruger 77/357 and a marlin 1894 lever, both are great for the area I hunt. I wouldn't push it further than 150 yards with my ruger and leverevolutions and I keep the marlin for a bush gun with hard cast semi wadcutters shots usually aren't over 50 yards
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I have not used mine for deer yet, but from the research I have done a .357 carbine would do best duty for deer with flat point jacketed bullets of 158 grains, not hollow points or anything lighter. It should be about as effective as a muzzle loader with round ball, or minimally adequate to 100 yds or less.
Try the hornady leverrevolution ftx, they have really opened up the range of my 357 rifles. Before I used them I wouldn't think about over a hundred now I'm good to 150-175 pushing it. But for in close don't discount hard cast lead swc they leave a nice big hole right through.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
neal, have you cleanly taken deer at 175 yds with the Leverrevolution ammo, or is this "paper figures" confidence? I mean no disrespect, but would like to know your actual experience.
The FTX bullets look to me like they would open up very easily and penetrate poorly but that is only a visual assessment. What has been your experience of their performance in deer - penetration/controlled expansion? What has been the shot placement of animals you have hit? Internal damage?
I have tried them on targets, but they grouped poorly in my Rossi so I am currently shooting conventional 158 gr, jacketed bullets in hand loads with W296 or Lil' gun for 1750 fps out of a 20" barrel. Adequate power for deer at 100 yds and less in my opinion. I personally don't see the point of trying to make a .357 into a medium range rig, but that's just me and my middle aged eyes and iron sights. If the FTX Leverrevolution ammo is actually good for 175 yards, that is pretty far in the real world and would be serviceable for almost all the deer hunting that most people would actually do.
The FTX bullets look to me like they would open up very easily and penetrate poorly but that is only a visual assessment. What has been your experience of their performance in deer - penetration/controlled expansion? What has been the shot placement of animals you have hit? Internal damage?
I have tried them on targets, but they grouped poorly in my Rossi so I am currently shooting conventional 158 gr, jacketed bullets in hand loads with W296 or Lil' gun for 1750 fps out of a 20" barrel. Adequate power for deer at 100 yds and less in my opinion. I personally don't see the point of trying to make a .357 into a medium range rig, but that's just me and my middle aged eyes and iron sights. If the FTX Leverrevolution ammo is actually good for 175 yards, that is pretty far in the real world and would be serviceable for almost all the deer hunting that most people would actually do.
I don't know if things changed but way back 20 years ago when I hunted deer in the US with a S&W 686 357 6" Magnum effective range was 25 yards with a 158gr SWC full load.
You might get a much higher velocity from a rifle and improved bullets with higher BC might improve effective range but a 357 mag rifle can't possible by more powerful than a 30-30 Win rifle with it's 100 yards or so effective range!
357 magnum is a excellent handgun cartridge which in no way can be compared to even a "lowly" 30-30 Win.
aLEX
You might get a much higher velocity from a rifle and improved bullets with higher BC might improve effective range but a 357 mag rifle can't possible by more powerful than a 30-30 Win rifle with it's 100 yards or so effective range!
357 magnum is a excellent handgun cartridge which in no way can be compared to even a "lowly" 30-30 Win.
aLEX
I took a small doe with the 357 at just a bit over 150 yards, it ran about 10 yards and flopped. Got a lung shot on the doe. I didn't recover the bullet but there was a good wound channel. There was an exit hole.
I know what you mean about not trying to make the 357 a medium range rifle. I have others that do the job but I always bring some lever revolutions when I have one of the 357's out since they group very well and place very close to my handloads only 3 inches lower than my 125 yard zero at 160 yards. This is shooting with a 1.5-5 scope though. I wouldn't be trying it with iron sights with this configuration too much left to chance for my eyes.
They are a nice bullet but they do seem finicky for a lot of people. Have you tried loading any of these yourself to find a charge that may group better in your rossi?
You consider a 30-30 only a hundred yard cartridge?
I'm very conservative with effective ranges: what works perfectly at 100 yards works very well at 125 yards.
In it's classic form a Winchester 94 rifle with a 150gr FN ammo, 30-30 Win is one of the best short range deer cartridge.
That being said, the classic 150gr flat point bullet is so blunt that muzzle velocity drops rapidly and you quickly end up with a rainbow trajectory.
Using best modern hunting bullet with the best propellant could almost double this number.
Alex
I see what you mean Alex, a marlin with a scope or even a bolt with scope and different modern ammo does help. It is really all about ethics with whatever we use. If we know we can make a clean kill with what we have go for it. But if you aren't sure about the shot it doesn't matter if it us 357, 30-30, 303 etc, you shouldn't take it.
telesquirt
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fort Frances
This heart belonged to a large doe I shot this year with a Ruger 77/357. I was pushing a Berry's 158 gr plated hollow point with 16 grains of Win 296. She was broadside at a measured 134 yards and went 20 feet after the shot.
I took a second doe two days ago at 65 yards, the bullet exited the off side and it was a Bang Flop.
I took a second doe two days ago at 65 yards, the bullet exited the off side and it was a Bang Flop.
The Hornady leverlution might be ballistically superior but I'm thinking they expand too rapidly to be effective at moderate to far ( cartridge size considered ) distances.
I'd think the rapid expansion would be ok for a frontal chest shot, being that there isn't large bones and muscle > tendons to penetrate as which would be encountered on a sideways front quarter shot.
A jacketed flat point with a large Meplat area pushed ahead of a healthy reload would be my thoughts. Keep the distance realistic too. Open sights on a carbine 100 yds give or take. A scoped rifle maybe stretch that out to 150?
I'd think the rapid expansion would be ok for a frontal chest shot, being that there isn't large bones and muscle > tendons to penetrate as which would be encountered on a sideways front quarter shot.
A jacketed flat point with a large Meplat area pushed ahead of a healthy reload would be my thoughts. Keep the distance realistic too. Open sights on a carbine 100 yds give or take. A scoped rifle maybe stretch that out to 150?
