.357 rifle for deer?

I have no doubt a good heavy cast bullet & some Lil'Gun powder will do the job within 100 yds. Heck I would even use them on Bear up close if I had to....
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These work fantastic in my marlin....
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Lots of old timers took deer yrs past with .22's of some sort, so no doubt the .357 will do it, if you do your part....:)
 
A RB in 7x57 47-70 50-70 or many other would be better than 357. Why use a marginal cal? the game deserves better. Look at some of the other single actions. They too are great fun. A folling block is a thing of beauty and in every cal you want. JMHO and good luck AJ
 
the ONLY reason for the .357 is the rifle-a ''baby''rolling block,very compact little package.If I had my druthers,I'd go with a 38-55-but that is only available in the full sized rifle.I got the bug from my Husqvarna rolling block .22 short.I don't like big heavy rifles-or magnums that hammer your shoulder.I'd rather opt for a lighter smaller caliber thats fun to shoot-get closer and pick my shots,and limiting my distance to under 100 yards is no real disadvantage-well over 90% of my deer were taken well within that range.I'm also thinking the 35 caliber even at a lower velocity is going to be pretty lethal at that range
 
you could carry some .38 specials for rabbits, or shot cartridges for birdies.
i like the light and handy idea too.

still, if you got that 38-55 i think it would extend your optimum range quite a bit, and allow for quicker kills on the bigger and tougher beasties. the extra weight might prove to be worthwhile in those regards...

I have read about single shot rifles chambered for .357 maximum, that would be pretty neat! im not sure if the baby rolling blocks could handle it though...
 
"Sixguns" by Elmer Kieth, tells the whole story how himself and Phil Sharp did experimentation on behalf of S&W and Remington leading to the first production magnum. (38/44 HD aside)
Everything from the extensive use of the Pre-Model 20 Heavy Duty 38/44 (38 Police Hi-Power) to the first Pre-Model 27s in 357 magnum.
It's a very good read, even if you are not into sixguns.

Edit: Ruffbird, those rounds look really neat!
They would do fine I'm sure.
 
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You might want to have a look at newultralight.com

4.5 lb .243, 6mm or .257 , Just a thought. Light yet won't bust your shoulder.

I never found the Winchester '94 30-30 to be hard on the shoulder or carry either.
 
Where did you get the cast bullets? Those look to be the ticket for the 357!

ruffbird said:
I have no doubt a good heavy cast bullet & some Lil'Gun powder will do the job within 100 yds. Heck I would even use them on Bear up close if I had to....
myreloading043.jpg

myreloading039.jpg

These work fantastic in my marlin....
myguns212.jpg

Lots of old timers took deer yrs past with .22's of some sort, so no doubt the .357 will do it, if you do your part....:)
Click to expand...
 
I think a couple of my American friends used the 180 grn cast in their rifles and pistols for deer hunting, if memory serves me well they were handloaded. No problem dropping the deer, but 50/70 yards was the normal range they hunted.
 
ruffbird said:
I have no doubt a good heavy cast bullet & some Lil'Gun powder will do the job within 100 yds. Heck I would even use them on Bear up close if I had to....
myreloading043.jpg

myreloading039.jpg

These work fantastic in my marlin....
myguns212.jpg

Lots of old timers took deer yrs past with .22's of some sort, so no doubt the .357 will do it, if you do your part....:)
Click to expand...

Awesome post ruffbird I 100% agree with you.

People like handgun writer #### Metcalf have been promoting these loads in 357 mag handguns for up to 100 yard deer hunting for years now.
 
Typical ''woods'' hunting is generally well within 100 yards,probably half that or less.If I was planning on hunting open country,I would choose my 6.5x55 swede,but a heck of a lot of deer were and probably still are shot with 30/30's and with muzzle loaders.Its kind of funny-many people today seem to think a 30/30 is way too underpowered for deer-and even a 270 is marginal yet don't say the same thing about a muzzleloader or a shotgun and slug.I have to admit-the idea of a rolling block is more what appeals to me more than the 357-but if it could be loaded to close to 30/30 ballistics, that would be acceptable.Even the SKS or ruger ranch rifle 7.62x39 is now considered to be OK for deer hunting under 100 yards
 
A friend of mine and I used a lever action .357 mag on two escaped Llamas here in Southern Ontatio. Farmer wanted them taken care of for fear of reprisals should an auto accident happen. 40 yards for the first on, one shot kill, and 75 yards for the second, also a one shot kill. Of course shot placement is key, as with even a 300 mag on Moose has to hit some vitals. I would like the rules changed a bit to allow a few handgun calibers an deer down here, untill then I guess we will just have to wait for some more escapees.
 
444shooter said:
Where did you get the cast bullets? Those look to be the ticket for the 357!
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I bought them some yrs ago at Cabela's in Dundee Michigan while on a vacation trip. These "LBT Series" cast bullets are made by www.castperformance.com
I like these in my Marlin rifle because they feed slick through the action into the chamber, & the OAL is within spec to allow it without any hangups...
Here's a good read about them:
http://www.gunblast.com/Cast_Performance.htm
I like a good alloy cast bullet for hunting,...& I'm sold on these!:)
Wish we could get them from a supplier in Canada, because I don't have many left. When I become desperate, I will have to search out a home bullet caster with the right bullet mould & some gas checks to make something close in alloy to these....:cheers:
 
A single shot .357 doesn't quite compare to the multi shot levers and pumps. A Marlin 1894c in .357 or an IMI TimberWolf in .357 have the advantage of a fast follow up shot should it be required do to who knows what reason maybe a branch deflected the shot. The animal deserves a clean quick kill. Even Poachers take multi shot .22 mags and such, mind you they really want the animal not to get away.
 
I don't know-I've killed a lot of deer,and I think a single shot makes you take just that extra second or two to make your shot count.[An old friend who shot a lot of game told me that-he hunted almost exclusively with a single shot ruger in .243-guy was a surgeon, too]Archery is virtually a single shot ,as are muzzle loaders]I think a lot of it comes down to where you hunt and what style of hunting you do.
 
We were out picking pine mushrooms today had a blacktail doe about 40 yards away from me a 357 rifle would have worked perfectly if this was a buck and I would not have been over or under gunned.
 
Check your hunting Regs. for your area. Some parts of the country may not allow you to use pistol calibers regardless if it is shot from a rifle.
 
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