How far is a .357 magnum rifle accurate/effective?

H

Hoss Delgado

New member
I'm looking at getting a Marlin 1894 lever action rifle and I'm not yet sure if I want to get a .44 magnum or a .357 magnum. I've been told a .44 is accurate at 100 yards or so, but I'm having some trouble getting sources to agree on the .357, so I figured I'd ask here.
 
I have a friend that has one in 357 he claims that it is good out to 75 yards.
If you think about it, thats pretty practical range, and he also said that it is very nice to shoot with very mild recoil, and not too loud.
I have fired one similar to it with 38 special loads, and I really enjoyed it.
Good luck.
 
I've taken deer with an 8" Python out to about 125 yards. Rifle should be good for at least that, depends on how far out you can hit well.
 
If you use the pointy Hornady LeverEvolution ammo, you should be able to get a tad extra range due to the better BC of the bullet.
 
I hit with my 8" 686 pretty well with a subsonic load, today I got 1.5 inch 3 shot group at 100 yards, (I should have never taken that 4th shot making it 4.5 inches.) When I've developed loads that were supersonic, the groups grew abnormally at range due to transonic effect, (8" or more.) A rifle load will be supersonic unless developed otherwise; whereas, it will experience the transonic air flow which will hamper accuracy.

I would get the 44 mag and develop a subsonic load using a 300 grain hollow-point. That load would have the same energy at 375 yards as my 357 has at the muzzle... Not that 375 yards is your hunting distance, just that there will be enough energy as well as accuracy at say, 200 yards?

You could always develop a subsonic load using the 180gr .357 bullet if it is that you like 357s. I would think it would do well at 200 yards also.
 
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.357 carbines

I consider the .357 carbine with a proper heavy bullet, 158 gr and up, a medium range (125 yd or so) deer rifle. The accuracy is there, but the punch is not, for big deer and game over 150 lbs or so, at ranges much past that. I am a big fan of the Marlin .357 carbine, but do not consider it a "real" deer rifle, though I have no doubt within its range especially under 100 yds, it would work just fine. I've dispatched plenty of deer crippled in deer v. car MVA's w/ .357 revolver or carbine,, and have no doubt of the power available at short range with the .357 handgun, and the carbine only improves on that. But a "rifle" ctg it is not, nor can it really run w/ the .44 mag either.

In terms of sheer accuracy, the .357 and .44 carbines are largely equal in any of my guns. Groups at 100 run about 3" w/ what I have. Many guys report better. I have had absolutely zero luck in using heavy (265 gr and up) .44 bullets in my carbines w/ barrels twisted 1-38" (Ruger auto's, and the Marlin .44 is so rifled) My Marlin .357 carbine can ring a std pistol size popper target w/ head or torso hits about as fast as I can run the lever at 100. using the peep sights I screwed on many years ago.

Finally, a .44 zeroed "on" at 100 will be about 18" LOW at 200. That's way to much drop to be considered useful at that range for me.
 
If you believe that you need 1,000 ft-lbs of energy to kill a deer, then 60 yds. If you believe you can kill a deer with 600 ft-lbs of energy, then 150 yds. And considering that the deer in North America were almost wiped out with black powder rifles that did not generate 600 ft-lbs at the muzzle, I think you're good out to about 150 yds.
 
I don't know what your current needs are relative to firearms and I have trouble with the word "effective" as a general term that is not further defined in terms of the anticipated "target".

What I would do... if you own a 357 revolver and like it, I'd choose the 357 mag version of the Marlin. If you already own a 44 mag revolver or have plans to acquire one, I'd go with the 44 mag version of the Marlin.

I consider the practical effective range to be about 125 yds on a whitetail deer with the rifle and no more than 75 yds with a handgun in 357 mag. Add 25 yds for each in 44 magnum.

Accuracy is a relative term as well as some people are satisfied with a rifle shooting 4-6" groups at 100 yds (reference Ruger Mini-14) or 1/2" groups at 100 yds with many centerfire sporting rifles. My thought is that the Marlin will be some where in between that practical accuracy with open sights.
 
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I have gotten my marlin 357 to shoot around a 1.5 inch group, sometimes a little under at 50 yards. When I shoot 38 spl. the groups loosen up. Take it as you may, it is good enough for me.
 
I have an 1894c in .357. With a standard factory .357 load, I am able to acheive 1-2" groups at 100 yards using a williams peep sight. I have not taken any deer with the rifle, but I believe that you will be accurate out to at least 150 yards. Whitetail in North America should be no problem at these ranges.

-George
 
One follow up to my last post: Use the 357 for hunting and 38 special for plinking/target. You WILL enjoy this rifle, and 44 mag prices are up there!! I handload everything I shoot, so price is not a terrible concern for me.

I would guage it this way: If you already have revolvers in 357/38, go with the 357 rifle. If you have 44 mag revolvers, go with the 44 mag. Reloading one caliber (or if you dont reload, BUYING for one caliber) makes life alot easier!!

-George
 
I shoot a S&W 686 with 8 3/8" barrel from time to time. Besides loving the revolver it is remarkable accurate. I just an average shooter and hit a 12" plate at 100 yards more often then I don't offhand at 100 yards.

I think the site radius of the long barrel helps a lot.

I do the same with the S&W 629 and 8 3/8" barrel too with similar results.

If you've not done so, try it. It is great fun!

Best,

Rich
 
I also had a Marlin "microgrove barrel" 1894 that was very accurate out to 125 or so yards, of course it took a fair # of clicks on the scope to get it in the 9 or 10 ring at that range. Hunting, can't say since I didn't hunt with it, but I think I would only trust a 357 on deer size game to 50 yards or so. Just me, but if I'm not hand gun hunting I want a real rifle cal for rifle hunting.
 
With my Ruger I have pretty well kept it 125 yards or less for deer, but it definately doesnt have any problems at 125.
 
Go with the .357. Scorch nailed it. The little Marlins are drilled and tapped. They are accurate enough to mount a scope and see a major improvement over irons. A little 1.5-4x will fit just fine. I ran my 1894FG like that.
 
H&R Handi Rifle in .357 Mag,,,

Off of a bench I am able to hold 1.5 to 2.5" groups at 100 yards,,,
I believe the rifle to be more accurate than that,,,
I'm old and my eyes are not that sharp.
HR-357.jpg

Once I got the scope dialed in,,,
It's minute of Armadillo at 75 to 125 yards.

I have been using Aquilla 158 grain semi-jacketed soft points,,,
Not especially for any performance factor,,,
It due to availability.

Point of impact doesn't vary much,,,
When I use Winchester 125 grain hollow points,,,
The only real perceivable difference is in the louder report.

Aarond
 
Marlin .357 Lever Action

Me and my Marlin lever action are 'accurate' at 50 yards. At 100 yards we get a little hopeful. I think it all depends on your skill level.
 
I have a c.1970's era Rossi 92 that is capable of a 3-4" group at 150 yards if the winds are calm and I'm having a good day. I don't know how much energy it would have left for "taking game" at that distance but the accuracy is good.

If I were really trying to hunt something with that gun I don't think I'd push it past about 100 yards but that's more my preference than any scientific knowledge about the velocity and bullet energy at those ranges.
 
I've shot .38 Special +P loads in a .357 Marlin lever action and got 3-inch groups at 100 yards with open sights, so, given my (lack of) shooting skill, an experienced shooter should be able to tighten up that group...

Depends on your definition of accuracy, I suppose.

Hope that helps!

Cheers!
McClintock
 
About 10 years ago I was reloading .357 Mag for a friend of mine who was using them in a Timberwolf pump-action carbine. We did the load testing at 100yds and averaged between 1 1/2"-3" groups using Speer Golddots. He intended to use it for whitetails, though I dont know if he ever did actually get one with it. I do know it was plenty accurate at 100yds though for the job.

Ironincally the best 1 1/2" group we got out of it one cold day at the range beat every group we fired testing loads with my friends Mini-14 we were also trying loads in. The Mini-14 he had wouldn't do better than 2". The .357 Mag outshot the .223 Rem that day.
 
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