.357 rifle for deer?

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ratherbefishin

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I'm partial to rolling blocks,[got the bug when I bought an old Husqvarna in .22 short]and pedersoli makes a ''baby'' rolling block in .22 hornet and one in .357 .While the .22 hornet is quite capable for taking deer[an old guy I knew shot hundreds of them with a .22 hornet as part of forestry management]it seems to me the .357 would be a better choice.Since virtually all my deer hunting is well within 100 yards[closer to 50] and besides-with open sights thats as far as I would shoot anyway,I'm thinking the .357 would be up to the job,bullet placement being the usual caveat.But-who hunts deer with a rifle chambered in .357-and what has been your experiance?
 
Deer hunted with a .357 magnum (Hornady Lever Evolution's) last year. Didn't get a chance to use it on a deer, but same situation. All my shots would have been inside 75 yds as well. With properly constructed bullets & a well placed shot, I think it is a humane cartridge on deer.
 
Yes, indeed there is a list of better cartridges, but it is satisfactory as a deer number at the distances mentioned...
Bullet construction is the key to a one shot kill. I would say velocity is secondary to this as there are a lot of ultra fast cartridges we wouldn't dream of deer hunting with.
 
A boiler room shot with a soft or hollow point would do the job. Just make sure you don't hit the shoulder bone. Deer are not difficult to kill.

I would fire one shot and then sit tight for 15 minutes. The deer might run 50 yards, then lay down to bleed out. No point in spooking him into a longer run.
 
it would not be my first choice-but unless I go to a full size rolling block, my choice is either a .22 hornet-or a .357 .I'm thinking the longer rifle barrel would give better velocity than the standard handgun length.I read somewhere that a 180 gr bullet .357 in a rifle would be about 1800 fps -approaching 30/30 ballistics.Possably the larger diameter bullet would compensate for being a bit slower,and a deer hit in the lungs wouldn't be going far
 
The 125 grn Semi jacketed hollowpoint from Remington would be a good choice. The 158 grain has a little less velocity and penetration would be affected slightly, but would do the job. The .357 magnum is a weak cartridge for hunting beyond 50/75 yards, I would opt for a .30 30 myself.
 
My choice would be a 38-55-but Pedersoli only chambers that in a full size rifle-the ''baby'' rolling block is limited to a .357 or .22 hornet,and I figured for deer, the .357 might be a better choice than the hornet,although I have no qualms about that either if limited to a well placed shot
 
ratherbefishin said:
My choice would be a 38-55-but Pedersoli only chambers that in a full size rifle-the ''baby'' rolling block is limited to a .357 or .22 hornet,and I figured for deer, the .357 might be a better choice than the hornet,although I have no qualms about that either if limited to a well placed shot
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That's good reasoning, yet a clean and sure shot outweighs hunter comfort.
The 357 sounds marginal by most accounts.
 
Our American cousins have been killing deer cleanly with .357 revolvers for decades... That said the range is definitely limited to imo 75 yds. with a carbine; a stretch at 100-125 yds... More lethal then buckshot for sure, but both probably falling off in power by then. Knowing what your rifle & cartridge can & cannot do will provide you with a successful hunt. Day dreaming that a particular rifle, scope or cartridge will replace practice will only cause you grief.
 
Chambered in a rifle would it not be practical to load them up to a slightly higher pressure loading and squeek the bullet up to a hair over 2000 fps? Or at the very least load them to the max given in the reloading tables? I'm guessing that if there are other versions of the rifle you're using chambered in higher pressure rounds that are the same other than for the chambering then you're operating with a very high strength reserve and could safely load the rounds to a higher pressure level. Something you'd obviously want to confirm with the maker of the rifle first of course.
 
Elmer Keith ..357 for deer no problem .State of Indiana I believe only allows Pistol cartridge in rifles for deer. There are numerous articles on the 357 for deer 75 yards and in. The 180 gas checked cast bullet will do fine. Had a buddy in Ohio that went out I believe Texas way used a 357 and 44 mag . Deer and Feral Pig no problem just close range shots.

The 44-40 is a lever action used on deer. Scope it with a 1 to 5 power. My Winchester 357 groups better at 100 yards than my 3030. Hornady 158 XTP's. 2400 powder SPMP Winchester brass. Love that rifle !!
 
I'd use a single shot .357 at 75 yards and less. Know Your limit on distance and know your distances. Number of guys I've met that can't tell the difference between 200 yards and 75 yards is to many to count.

A nice 1879 single shot Enfield Martini in 303br would be much better and give you a couple of hundred yards plus.
 
75 yards sounds short-but its over 200 feet away-and using open sights and hitting a 6'' circle at 200 feet without a rest is probably about the practical limit of what a lot of guys, me included can do consistently under hunting conditions.You are absolutely right when it comes to people not being able to accurately judge distances-and I venture to say a lot of ''200 yard shots'' are really a lot closer.I try to practice estimating distances to an object,then pace it off-and more times I'm wrong than right-its not a bad exercise.
 
My Marlin 94 shoots good groups with 14gr W296 180 gr XTP small rifle primer. Wouldn't hesitate to use this load on deer at the range you suggest, I just have bigger guns with scopes that I like better. Give 'er.
 
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