Our hunting group was talking about the benefits of a 44 mag for deer since we usually only get shots from 40-100 yards max. However, I was wondering if anyone out there has used the 357 for deer? Large caliber and the velocity should be several hundred feet faster than out of a pistol. Perhaps this has been discussed before but I'm old enough to forget where the car keys are I just had in my hand.
357 for deer
- Thread starter big boar
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maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Ruger sold a lever action .44 mag rifle for a while. It has used by one of the more successful hunters in the family hunting camp for many years, accounting for a couple of whitetail and a black bear.
I know there are older smaller lever action cartridges of old that have less terminal velocity than a .357, but I think of myself as ethical enough to not use any of them in the woods. The number of deer, the number of days in the season, the chances of seeing a legal deer, etc all make me want to shoot something bigger and more likely to drop or seriously wound any deer that presents itself. FWIW, I left the east with a 30-06 gas auto, missed (or hit and lost) a few animals in the west, changed to a 300WM and dropped every one.
I know there are older smaller lever action cartridges of old that have less terminal velocity than a .357, but I think of myself as ethical enough to not use any of them in the woods. The number of deer, the number of days in the season, the chances of seeing a legal deer, etc all make me want to shoot something bigger and more likely to drop or seriously wound any deer that presents itself. FWIW, I left the east with a 30-06 gas auto, missed (or hit and lost) a few animals in the west, changed to a 300WM and dropped every one.
44 mag and 30-30 are pretty compatible with energy to abotu 150 yards. 357...Not so much. I know I would shoot a deer with a 357 rifle at under 100 yards, and there have been many deer killed with less, but it wouldn't be my first choice, for sure.
What was your preferred load?
Hornady 158gr XTP killed my mulie buck at 120yrds out of a ruger 77/357. One shot, bang flop. Sold rifle to my buddy, his wife claimed it and kills her deer every year with it just fine. Lots of power, but for me i limit it to 130yrd shots because of ballistic concerns. Dropping hard past 130.
Killed a blackbear with the same rifle and load. It died fast, cant recall any particulars past that though. Lots of marmots...
Killed a blackbear with the same rifle and load. It died fast, cant recall any particulars past that though. Lots of marmots...
Yup within range and good shot placement it has enough zip. I would make sure I was both super accurate and could gauge ranges accurately - lots of folk can't and if you don't believe me just goose Hunting and watch guys start shooting at geese 100 yards away! Fun to carry and shoot. Where I live in the last 10 years my farthest shot has been 77 yards. I guess for the price of ammo though, why not use a 30-30?
