Effective range of the 357 for hunting?

B

Boogershooter

New member
I very recently inherited my fathers 6 inch python! Took it to the range yesterday and was very very impressed with the accuracy! It shot very accurate to fifty yards! Didn't have time to shoot past that! I'm looking for some advice from people that have experience! Is the 357 very very reliable at killing deer at 50 yards? I hav'nt tested it for accuracy with any heavy hunting loads but before I do that I hope somebody can tell me if I'm wasting time? I have taken a few deer 2 or 3 with the old marlin chambered in 357 but that's alot longer barrel! This is just a thought as I've been practicing all year with my super blackhawk hunter in 44 mag out to 100 yards!

I don't reload so all hunting will b done with commercial ammo
 
When the round was first developed the guy, Phil Sharpe, went out and killed a moose with it. I think it was with a S & W 38/44, an N frame.
In any event at 50 yards if you place the bullet correctly, should kill a deer. Penetration is a big issue, obviously a broadside shot through the lungs will kill better than relying on the bullet to plow all the way through a front shoulder.
The Colt Python in one of the All time great guns. Love it, care for it, baby it. :cool:
 
Most people's shooting skills determine the effective range, not the cartridges ability. With the right loads 100 yards is not out of the question, maybe a bit farther. But I'm limited to 50 yards or less.
 
I think out of that 6" Python, something like a good 180 grain or 158 grain LSWC or one of the advanced hunting hollow points should work well. I'd invest in some Buffalo Bore, Underwood, or Double Tap ammo as these companies load the .357 magnum to full power. Make wise bullet choices and for God's sake make sure you can reliable hit a deer's vitals at the range, and I think you will do well. :)
 
I did hunt deer once with my Python (6" barrel), when it became legal here, at that time I limited myself to maximum 50 yards. Even that would be like a clean head, or sideways heart/lungs shot. It's a marginal/minimum round for white tail.
 
It is, but again with keen marksmanship and the right load it should be effective.

OP, make sure you know what you're doing before going to the field. Personally I'd keep it under 30 yards or so if possible but 50 should be doable.
 
I hunted this year with my 357 Blackhawk, shot a 4-5 year old doe at 60 yards broadside with a load of 13.5 grains 2400 with a 180 grain rim rock hard cast gas check at 1300 fps. it obliterated her close side shoulder and exited the brisket she ran about 40 yards and piled up. the rim rock slug is the one that buffalo bore uses and they are getting 1500 fps or so. google buffalo bore 180 357 you will not find any negative comments. a 357 is a great deer pistol IF the right bullet is used.
 
At 50 yards the cheap white box winchester loads were great! I have all year now to prepare! I won't push it past 50 yards simply because I don't like to lose deer! I will always have a rifle for those shots! Just don't want to see this beautiful pistol collect dust! My buddy who shoots a pistol far better than myself shot it yesterday also! He couldn't believe the groups at 25 and 50 yards! My next question is if I move up to the high powered hunting loads how much can I expect my point of aim to change? I know every one could b different but how much deviation should I expect?
 
My next question is if I move up to the high powered hunting loads how much can I expect my point of aim to change? I know every one could b different but how much deviation should I expect?
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You will need to thoroughly characterize your hunting loads in the handgun you intend to use before taking them to the field to use on game. Fire as many as it takes to be absolutely sure of the accuracy and point of aim.
 
I have shot and killed well over fifty whitetails with the 357mag over the last forty years. I shot about seven or eight with a Marlin 357mag rifle and all the rest were shot with various handguns. Your biggest factor in hunting with this caliber is bullet placement. The second biggest factor is bullet expansion. I've used everything from 125g JHP up to 180g JHP. Beyond fifty yards you lose bullet expansion rapidly. I have a good number of bullets recovered from deer and I've noted the entry points and what they hit to the point where they stopped. You can still kill a deer past fifty yards but as I said, the bullet doesn't expand much out of a handgun. The most effective bullet I've used over the years, and the only one I use anymore, is the Horndady 158g XTP. It has the best balance between expansion and penetration. My second choice is the Horndady 180g XTP. Both need to be driven as fast as safely possible for best results. I've posted pics on here before showing bullet samples recovered from deer. If you look you should be able to find some. I always equate handgun hunting for deer to the same tactics used with a bow. Work within your range capability (remembering adrenalin plays a role when actually shooting at a deer) and try to hit the heart lung area. A head shot is almost useless. Very few people can hit the brain of a deer at practical distances, the deer isn't going to just stand there while you try, they are always moving their head or body. I've seen a good number of deer running around over the years with holes in their noses, ears, and I've seen two with their lower jaw shot off. Lots of keyboard experts on here but I'm not one of them. I've given you the advice of what I've learned with forty-five years of shooting handgun....a lot. Hunting and competition which I did very, very well at. Good luck. Put the time in practicing and you can do it if you commit the time in learning good shooting technique and know your ability.
 
TRY THIS...

If you are well and truly certain that you are launching 158gr. projectiles at no less than 1300 f/s, adjust your sights so that the pistol prints groups 3" above point of aim at 50 yards. From 0 to 100 yards, all shots should hit within a 6" circle which is, I believe, about the size of the heart-lung vital area located behind the shoulder.

NOW, then...

The revolver's effective range (ballistically) is probably about 50 yards, perhaps more, if your muzzle velocity exceeds 1400 f/s.

YOUR effective range will be that distance at which you can place no less than 5 of 6 rounds into a 6" circle, no less than 9 times out of 10.

Limit your hunting range to whichever of the two is the shortest, and you'll probably do quite well. Best of luck.
 
Thanks gentlemen. I plan to use my pistols in my bow stands! I won't shoot any game animal past the effective range of the weapon! Maybe I will have a great year and get one with both pistols!
 
With my 8" Dan Wesson and a good scope I'm comfortable with 100yrds if a good angle presents itself. Haven't managed a deer that far but have scored a hog right at 80. With my 14" Contender and a better scope I add a good 50 yrds to that.
 
Put me down for the "50 yards or less" category, and keep it to rib shots. Though some loads may well penetrate the shoulder, few will continue in the same direction after doing do.
 
all shots should hit within a 6" circle which is, I believe, about the size of the heart-lung vital area located behind the shoulder.
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Either that's one tiny deer, or you have a skewed idea of what 6" looks like..... :D
 
My personal opinion is that you should gear your shooting toward about 50 yds with iron sights and a 6" Python 357. I would still take a 60 yd shot with the 6" Python if it was a good angle. You need to develop a sense of what you are capable of in terms of hitting your target. You also need to shoot to develop some confidence with whatever hunting load you decide to use. Generally speaking, the larger heavier bullets will hit higher on a target as compared to 125 gr loads.

My first hunting handgun was a 6" Python. This was back in the day when gun magazines ruled as information sources. Most of the reading I did suggested that I get something a bit more powerful for whitetail hunting, basically a 41 or 44 mag for me. At that time, I knew little of the 45LC but loaded properly it is a fine hunting round. Time passed and I never really used the Python for hunting as I was living in the city in TX and for me it was unrealistic to consider deer hunting in TX. If I did, I would have chosen a rifle at that time.

I got a 8 3/8" S&W M57 after moving to a more rural location. I never got a buck with that revolver and only hunted a few seasons. It was always a backup for me at that time and I was certainly more confident with a rifle.

Move forward a few years and Ruger came out with the Super Redhawk (SRH) in 480 Ruger. The caliber impressed me based on my reading and I picked one up. I learned what pain was, but I got used to it. At that time, I wanted to use a scoped handgun as a primary and I was not going to drill and tap my beautiful M57. So, the ugly SRH was the choice. I have never looked back since that point and have a 6.5" BFR in 475L/480 Ruger now that is my preferred deer hunting rig. My target limit is 100 yds. I don't even really consider using a rifle anymore unless I have not practiced much and felt uncomfortable with my shooting abilities with the handgun. That has happened.

Good luck handgun hunting and enjoying this new sport. Look at it as bow hunting with a bullet but you can get a bit more range with the handgun comfortably if you practice.
 
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