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.357 for deer.
- Thread starter RHarris
- Start date
Robert the41MagFan
New member
CorBon makes a 200 grain bullet. It seems to be the best available commercially.
http://www.corbon.com/357magnum.html
http://www.corbon.com/357magnum.html
All of the 357MAG 180gr loads kill deer very well. The Federal 180, the Remington 180, and the CORBON 180 work well, usually giving complete penetration. If you can shoot there's no percentage in using anything bigger. If you can't shoot ther's still no percentage in using anything bigger. You poke a deer in the right place with one of these loads, better have a sharp knife with 'cause you're now in the venison business. [ I do love venison jerky...]
I personally like the Federal Classic 125 gr. HI-SHOK jacketed hollow point in 357 Mag for close shots on whitetail. The Winchester 145 gr. SILVERTIP should penetrate a little deeper on average. Both of these loads will produce at least 500 ft.lbs. of energy from a 4" bbl revolver. (This is an Illinois state requirement for handgun ammunition used for antlerless deer hunting.) For weights of 158 grains or more, a hard cast semi-wadcutter is probably best. COR-BON sells several 357 hunting loads with 170, 180, and 200 grain bullets which might work fine out of a T/C Contender or similar pistol.
Anyone using a four-inch .357 with 125 grain HP's as a primary weapon must be hunting deer the size of spaniels or jackrabbits!
On thick-bodied, big-boned northern deer, you really need a heavy bullet at the highest velocity reachable...that means a long barrel on your shooter. And unless you like long walks in the woods, plan to break some major bones when you shoot.
I once put down a deer, a 125 lb doe, with a 4" Model 19. The load was a 170 gr. copper-plated Markell at about 1200 fps. She had been sideswiped by a car and was in shock, so felt nothing. Took two shots: one to the body to put her down, one to the head to stop her thrashing. I decided at that point that the .357 (at least in that gun) was too light for the deer hunting I do.
If I were to use my .357 Marlin as a deer rifle again, I'd dip into a careful hoard of 180 grain Black Talons. It worked before, it might again.
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If they take our guns, I intend to let my hair grow long and acquire the jawbone of an ass.
On thick-bodied, big-boned northern deer, you really need a heavy bullet at the highest velocity reachable...that means a long barrel on your shooter. And unless you like long walks in the woods, plan to break some major bones when you shoot.
I once put down a deer, a 125 lb doe, with a 4" Model 19. The load was a 170 gr. copper-plated Markell at about 1200 fps. She had been sideswiped by a car and was in shock, so felt nothing. Took two shots: one to the body to put her down, one to the head to stop her thrashing. I decided at that point that the .357 (at least in that gun) was too light for the deer hunting I do.
If I were to use my .357 Marlin as a deer rifle again, I'd dip into a careful hoard of 180 grain Black Talons. It worked before, it might again.
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If they take our guns, I intend to let my hair grow long and acquire the jawbone of an ass.
P
PreserveFreedom
Guest
I have thought about hunting with my 357. I have a pre-sellout S&W 586 with an 8 3/8" barrel. Would expanding or FMJ ammo be better for this?
It depends on the size of the deer. My family have taken several deers with 357mag revolvers but here in Florida most deers are small and shots are close. 145gr Silvertip and my handload with 180gr WLN cast bullet both worked well for us. If the deer was larger I would only use handloaded 180gr WLN cast bullet. I believer Federal makes such ammo now. NEVER use FMJ bullet for hunting deers.
I have a .357 taurus and have not yet shot a deer (with it), but I found a load my pistol shoots well, a 158 gr Jacketed Soft Point that should work. (box not at work, e-mail me if you want particulars...)
I personally think more important with a open sighted pistol and deer hunting is to consider range and shot placement. You may have to set some pretty strict limits on yourself. (i.e. you aren't going to take a deer a 100+ yards, you maybe shouldn't take a deer at 75+ yards.
can YOU live with that?)
Can you hit the vitals with one shot? (pretend you are a single shot hunter a la contender or bow.)
I intend to take mine out this year again, and maybe during one of the special antlerless only Wisconsin hunts I will connect.
as always IMHO and YMMV.
Let us know how it goes.
Gfrey
I personally think more important with a open sighted pistol and deer hunting is to consider range and shot placement. You may have to set some pretty strict limits on yourself. (i.e. you aren't going to take a deer a 100+ yards, you maybe shouldn't take a deer at 75+ yards.
can YOU live with that?)
Can you hit the vitals with one shot? (pretend you are a single shot hunter a la contender or bow.)
I intend to take mine out this year again, and maybe during one of the special antlerless only Wisconsin hunts I will connect.
as always IMHO and YMMV.
Let us know how it goes.
Gfrey
slabsides, you have never seen Oklahoma deer. They ain't like Texas deer. I got an Okie deer with a VW one year. Game warden said it was one of the largest in the county (eastern Oklahoma), dressed to 88 lbs. We have jackalopes in west Texas that are nearly that big! I use to carry a 4" mod 19 myself, though back then 125gr JHP were rare, I used a 158gr SWC. A 125 should knock an Okie whitetail on its a$$.
[This message has been edited by Jeff OTMG (edited July 26, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Jeff OTMG (edited July 26, 2000).]
Jody Hudson
New member
The boys who get the most deer use a .22 and get several each night. These are the boys who supply the NYC exotic restaurant trade. The bizness they're in demands dependable supply or the customers will go on to someone else who uses a .22 and shows up with the meat more regular.
It's where it goes that counts! Choose the round you can hit with best and put it where it counts.
As an old coot I know well from West (By GOD) Virginny says -- and he is one who eats venison every night "Git 'em in the eye and they go down like a plate off the edge of the table."
His shot placement is pretty good!... From what I've seen when we are shooting long range at used golf balls. He uses an old S&W Model 41 pistol, .22 cal. of course and "about a half a box a year of bullets" keeps him and his family from buying beef.
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Talk is cheap; Free Speech is NOT.
It's where it goes that counts! Choose the round you can hit with best and put it where it counts.
As an old coot I know well from West (By GOD) Virginny says -- and he is one who eats venison every night "Git 'em in the eye and they go down like a plate off the edge of the table."
His shot placement is pretty good!... From what I've seen when we are shooting long range at used golf balls. He uses an old S&W Model 41 pistol, .22 cal. of course and "about a half a box a year of bullets" keeps him and his family from buying beef.
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Talk is cheap; Free Speech is NOT.