.357mag for deer?

Jager

Jager

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What are you're thoughts on the effectiveness of the .357 on deer? I've been looking at some of the lever guns used for cowboy action shooting and their chamberings. I know the .44mag would be better but wanted some opinions on the .357. If I get into the shooting games it would be nice to know I could use the rifle during hunting season.
 
If I used one I would limit my shots to fifty yards or less,and I think with a good hard cast bullet that would deflate both lungs to ensure adequate penetration.22's have killed many deer and the 357 is a lot more than a 22 but for the deers sake limit your range to ensure a quick clean kill.
 
You are going to hate it when an easy to make misjudgment of distance means your otherwise accurate rifle is putting bullets beneath the deer's chest and not into it. I hunted with a 44 magnum and could hit hit a golf ball at 100 yard with it, but completely missed two shots at a standing deer. I paced off the distance and discovered that I couldnt' judge distance as well as I thought and was putting the slugs into the earth. Go for it, but be very cognizant of distance.
 
Don't underestimate the .357. Got a friend south of the line who likes to shoot off his back porch. At night with a million cp spot aimed at the target you shoot so the bullet follows the beam. you'll be surprised how fast and flat those bullets fly out of a 5 inch barrel let alone a rifle. Yep go for it, legal now in Alberta.
 
Good question I was wondering my self. Does anyone know if it's ok to hunt deer in Quebec with the 357 or 44 mag calibers? They only state that you need to use a 243 or greater caliber and do not offer any details about "handgun" calibers.
 
I have hunted deer and moose with a .44 with no issues out to a hundred yards. Drop a red dot on the top for a better judge of distance and take her out to the 100 yard range and start playing to get an idea.

I have engaged a full 5 gallon water jug out to 150 yards with the .44 (lever 94, 240g semi jacketed hollow points) and it went through in through with enough energy to go through the water melon behind it.

Not a great refeence for you, but you get the idea.
 
i do know a few guys in the north-west of BC (and at least one in central)
who use the 357 for deer (and more).
some cast their bullets themselfs, others buy Federal (180 grain) ammo
(this one was market once as bear defense ammo).
with the soft pistol bullet, put the shot behind the shoulder into the vitals
and restrain yourself from neck shots.
 
357 and deer

was way up north a few years back ,met up with some hunters and trapers.While talking with them ,one of them spotted a dear,..the traper pulled out a ruger black hawk 357 ,pointed and shot. deer droped like a stone.We paced it off and it was afew feet short of 100yards. I was impressed and surprised .He then proceded to show us how well they could shoot.Some with 30 30 ,s These first nation people know there guns well.They use them every day.I asked about the legality of hunting with the 357 and he said...its our land and we will hunt how we want, and when we want "with a smile upon his face". Allrighty then...wasnt about to argue any political points of law in that enviroment.
 
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"...357mag is darn near the ballistic equivalent of the 30 30..." They're not even close to being the same ballistically.
The .357 mag is marginal for deer. A 165 grain .357 bullet has less than 400 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards. Under 400 at 50.
A 170 grain .30-30 bullet has 1355 ft-lbs at 100. 989 ft-lbs at 200.
 
Ive used the 44-40 on deer, at 900fps. Close range, it works very well, with complete penetration.
My wife took a doe last year with her 44 magnum in a 96 Ruger rifle.

Both were within 50yards, neither ran more than 20 feet.

The 357 mag will work fine, as a close range deer cartridge, if you do your part, and put the bullet in the right spot.
 
From the Hogdon website under RIFLE loads for the 357 mag

170GR. SIE JHC Hodgdon H110




15.5 grains 1662 Fps 40,800 CUP

So, it doesn't equal the 30-30, but, at close range, (Inside 100 yds) the deer will never know the difference.
 
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I would have no reservations about hunting deer with my Marlin 357 at all, especially after reading Brian Pierce's article in Rifle Magazine doing Penetration tests with various 357 loads and a couple 30-30 loads. I probably wouldn't stretch the range a whole bunch but would have no doubts while stalking deer with the 357.
 
I plan on using mine for deer this fall,and am quite confident it will be plenty for deer out to 100yds.Not that I will be shooting that far as 100yd shots where I hunt are few,and far between.
 
Coyotes Abound

My Marlin .357 Mag is my favorite deer rifle in the pack 3x9-40 Bush 4200 I have taken many deer (some pretty nice ones) to 200Yds using UMC 125 JKTD SP I have taken some good size Blackies also, using Rem. 158 GR SEMI-JKTD HPs. Just bought a bunch of Rem. golden Sabres that our friends at Wolverine supplies had on sale can't wait to see how these babies perform on yogi this spring. Have lots of choices when I lace the boots for a day of fun but with that calibre I just can't leave home without it..
Pete....:dancingbanana:
 
I have not read all posts but some provinces may have a calibre size minimum as they do for Muzzleloader in Manitoba.
 
JIMJ said:
I have not read all posts but some provinces may have a calibre size minimum as they do for Muzzleloader in Manitoba.
Click to expand...

Well since the 357 caliber bullets are bigger in diameter than say, a 308, caliber wise he should be good to go.
 
i know there used to be cartridge length restrictions for some provinces but since the super short mags were invented Alberta did away with that law allowing us to hunt with pistol calibers in rifles.
 
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