I've got a 5" S&W Performance Center N-Frame .357 Magnum 627 with iron sights that I'm pretty handy with. What do folks think about using it to hunt with at distances of 50 yards or less? Would you load it with 180-grain bullets to hunt mule deer and boar? Assuming shot placement was not an issue, would you be comfortable hunting with it for any larger animals, bear, moose, elk at closer distances ? Thanks, Dennis
Hunting with an N-Frame S&W .357 Magnum?
- Thread starter DennisE
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Sir William
New member
I have had no problems. 180 gr Winchester Supreme black box 357 Magnum. I have had one shot kills on cats, hogs and deer. The larger the mass, the larger the caliber. A M29 or SRH should do well in 44 Magnum or 480 Ruger for bigger game. I hunt with a revolver only and I like my 6" M28. I was more often disappointed with my LA rifles in 30-30 or 357 Magnum and 44-40.
I own five Smith N Frames, three are .357 magnums; therefore, you can imagine that I believe these are outstanding revolvers.
With this said – and assuming, as indicated in your post, that “shot placement is not an issue” – I would feel comfortable going after mid-size game (whitetails, etc.) with appropriate loads (for example, Federal 190 grain CastCore), with 50 yards being my PERSONAL outside-limitation. I would not hunt larger game at reduced distances, because I believe hunting demands a fast kill and an immediate harvesting of the game; I am afraid that larger mammals might not be quickly killed with a .357 magnum, given my good (sometimes excellent) but not superb marksmanship.
I also wish to add a final thought: with precision accuracy, an appropriate .357 magnum round can probably quickly kill most North American game (obvious exceptions include brown, grizzly and Kodiak bears). However, the certainty of that “precision accuracy” is the key issue. Accordingly, I would opt for several larger/more-powerful revolver calibers, such as the .44 magnum, the .45 Colt, etc.
With this said – and assuming, as indicated in your post, that “shot placement is not an issue” – I would feel comfortable going after mid-size game (whitetails, etc.) with appropriate loads (for example, Federal 190 grain CastCore), with 50 yards being my PERSONAL outside-limitation. I would not hunt larger game at reduced distances, because I believe hunting demands a fast kill and an immediate harvesting of the game; I am afraid that larger mammals might not be quickly killed with a .357 magnum, given my good (sometimes excellent) but not superb marksmanship.
I also wish to add a final thought: with precision accuracy, an appropriate .357 magnum round can probably quickly kill most North American game (obvious exceptions include brown, grizzly and Kodiak bears). However, the certainty of that “precision accuracy” is the key issue. Accordingly, I would opt for several larger/more-powerful revolver calibers, such as the .44 magnum, the .45 Colt, etc.
dairycreek
New member
Been a handgun hunter here in the northwest for over twenty years and my personal hunting experiences have left me with some really strong biases as to which handguns to use. For the record, I have taken blacktail and mule deer, elk, and one black bear with handguns.
Of course proper shot placement is always the key issue and hunting at distances appropriate to handgun use should, almost always, result in proper shot placement. But, sometimes that is just not the case.
Over the years I have become convinced that the .357 magnum is a truly marginal hunting round at any bullet weight. Just not enough mass/energy to do the job unless shot placement is doggone near perfect. Even well placed body shots on blacktail deer have resulted in less than satisfactory results. Using a .357 on an elk is IMHO just plain nuts.
So, over the years, I have gravitated to hot 44 magnum handgun loads for hunting. Make no mistake, even with these hot loads, shot placement is still critical but leaves some margin for error. Love my 357's, just not for hunting.
Of course proper shot placement is always the key issue and hunting at distances appropriate to handgun use should, almost always, result in proper shot placement. But, sometimes that is just not the case.
Over the years I have become convinced that the .357 magnum is a truly marginal hunting round at any bullet weight. Just not enough mass/energy to do the job unless shot placement is doggone near perfect. Even well placed body shots on blacktail deer have resulted in less than satisfactory results. Using a .357 on an elk is IMHO just plain nuts.
So, over the years, I have gravitated to hot 44 magnum handgun loads for hunting. Make no mistake, even with these hot loads, shot placement is still critical but leaves some margin for error. Love my 357's, just not for hunting.
22-rimfire
New member
I also believe the 357 Mag to be marginal. But, it should be okay on whitetail deer sized game or less with good shot placement. I am partial to the 41 magnum, but have been using a 480 Ruger SRH of late. I believe the 41 Mag to be an excellent deer caliber from a handgun. I moved up in power in the hope of quicker cleaner kills.
I think the most important question is to be honest with yourself about your competancy with the 357 at practical hunting ranges. I personally feel good about 50 yard shots, and would stretch that to 75 yards depending on the situtions.
I think the most important question is to be honest with yourself about your competancy with the 357 at practical hunting ranges. I personally feel good about 50 yard shots, and would stretch that to 75 yards depending on the situtions.
The only limitation that I can see for the .357 on deer sized game is range. A heavier caliber will retain more energy at extended ranges. At 50 yd or less, I'd think a .357 would be fine. It works wonderfully on 200lb men so I don't think a deer the same size will be a huge problem.
What caliber to use on Deer
Hello
This has been a long time argument on what caliber to use on game. Deer are a thin skined animal, and I have seen them shot with a .22 caliber to a 50 caliber. Shot placement is KEY with any caliber. Hit A vital spot, Heart or Lungs, and it will go down. A .357 is fine for deer at 50 Yards and I have killed them with one. Another fine round, and one I favor is the .41 Magnum. I bagged the Buck shown with a model 57 6" barrel, at a range of 75 Yards from a rest. Again it was a lung shot and that was the final factor in me getting this nice Buck.. Hammer It.
Same Deer on my den wall Now..
Hello
This has been a long time argument on what caliber to use on game. Deer are a thin skined animal, and I have seen them shot with a .22 caliber to a 50 caliber. Shot placement is KEY with any caliber. Hit A vital spot, Heart or Lungs, and it will go down. A .357 is fine for deer at 50 Yards and I have killed them with one. Another fine round, and one I favor is the .41 Magnum. I bagged the Buck shown with a model 57 6" barrel, at a range of 75 Yards from a rest. Again it was a lung shot and that was the final factor in me getting this nice Buck.. Hammer It.
Same Deer on my den wall Now..