I have a lever action rifle in 38/357 mag and its a lot of fun to shoot at the range. But, shooting at steel targets set at 100 yards you can easily hear that the round is running out of gas fast as it hits the steel. I don't hunt with this rifle, but if I was going to hunt I'd have bought the 44 Mag instead. Hotter round with more punch. An animal being hunted deserves a quick clean kill. I personally don't think the 357 delivers that kind of firepower once you get past 50-75 yards.