Need advice on 4" Security Six for Deer Season

advice

Hate to rain on your parade, but if you shoot it much( and you should in prep for hunting) I'm predicting the BSA scope will not last long. Good optics are worth the price in the long run. I'm a Leupold guy, and like Burris as well.

There's no reason that a deer can't be humanely taken with a .357 revolver. Just remember that you are on the lower end of the spectrum power wise and much depends on your accuracy and shot placement (as always). I'm in agreement that you should be looking at shots 50 yds and under, and half that would be better. There has been a comparison to archery distances and I think that's valid. As in bowhunting, I would work for a broadside or shallow quartering away shot, the goal being to take out the lungs.

I do not think that one needs premium, boutique ammo to use the .357 on deer effectively. Over the counter 158 JHP/JSP is far more common and affordable, and you will want to practice plenty. White tail deer are not all that tough, meaning that they are a 150 lb or so thin skinned creature whose hide, ribs can be fairly easy to penetrate, and vitals are not that hard to reach. A 158 gr JSP or JHP, applied to the ribs, will most certainly punch through to the vitals and result in a dead animal in short order. Botch the shot, and they may run a long way and you may not recover it, even if you were shooting an '06.

A deer with the .357 revolver is entirely possible, but attention to the details concerning range and bullet placement are more critical than ever.
 
I agree with the scope. Not my cup of tea. Better to practice with the iron i think. I want a deer with my casull this year so i put about 200 rounds in practice on the iron. Now if i can fix my old guy wobbles freehand i will be all set
 
I have shot over fifty deer with the .357mag using several different revolvers and one Contender over the last forty years. I have yet to lose even one deer with that caliber. I have dozens of recovered bullets from deer shot at various ranges and it is very apparent that the .357mag loses steam pretty quick even out of a six inch barrel revolver. I would suggest you use full power loads that have a 158g jacketed hollow point bullet, and keep all your shots under fifty yards.....if you're even capable of keeping them grouped inside six inches at that distance. I use Hornady XTP 158g JHP bullets almost exclusively now days. Trial and error has show them to work the best for me with the revolver. Second choice would be Nosler 158g JHP bullets with the same powder (WW296/H119). You don't really gain much on penetration using a 180g bullet due to decreased MV with the heavier bullet. You gain some on expansion with the lighter 158g bullet and still have adequate penetration. I'd ditch the scope and get a red dot if I were you. A scope adds a whole different level of problems trying to shoot at a possibly moving target and not lose the target due to "blackout" due to not being centered. Put a "tin can" type of red dot on it like the UltraDot....which has a lifetime guarantee and will withstand recoil even from a 45-70 rifle. If you need further info, PM me. Good luck and have fun.
 
bamaranger said:
Hate to rain on your parade, but if you shoot it much( and you should in prep for hunting) I'm predicting the BSA scope will not last long. Good optics are worth the price in the long run. I'm a Leupold guy, and like Burris as well.

There's no reason that a deer can't be humanely taken with a .357 revolver. Just remember that you are on the lower end of the spectrum power wise and much depends on your accuracy and shot placement (as always). I'm in agreement that you should be looking at shots 50 yds and under, and half that would be better. There has been a comparison to archery distances and I think that's valid. As in bowhunting, I would work for a broadside or shallow quartering away shot, the goal being to take out the lungs.

I do not think that one needs premium, boutique ammo to use the .357 on deer effectively. Over the counter 158 JHP/JSP is far more common and affordable, and you will want to practice plenty. White tail deer are not all that tough, meaning that they are a 150 lb or so thin skinned creature whose hide, ribs can be fairly easy to penetrate, and vitals are not that hard to reach. A 158 gr JSP or JHP, applied to the ribs, will most certainly punch through to the vitals and result in a dead animal in short order. Botch the shot, and they may run a long way and you may not recover it, even if you were shooting an '06.

A deer with the .357 revolver is entirely possible, but attention to the details concerning range and bullet placement are more critical than ever.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Ill also consider your advice.
 
NoSecondBest said:
I have shot over fifty deer with the .357mag using several different revolvers and one Contender over the last forty years. I have yet to lose even one deer with that caliber. I have dozens of recovered bullets from deer shot at various ranges and it is very apparent that the .357mag loses steam pretty quick even out of a six inch barrel revolver. I would suggest you use full power loads that have a 158g jacketed hollow point bullet, and keep all your shots under fifty yards.....if you're even capable of keeping them grouped inside six inches at that distance. I use Hornady XTP 158g JHP bullets almost exclusively now days. Trial and error has show them to work the best for me with the revolver. Second choice would be Nosler 158g JHP bullets with the same powder (WW296/H119). You don't really gain much on penetration using a 180g bullet due to decreased MV with the heavier bullet. You gain some on expansion with the lighter 158g bullet and still have adequate penetration. I'd ditch the scope and get a red dot if I were you. A scope adds a whole different level of problems trying to shoot at a possibly moving target and not lose the target due to "blackout" due to not being centered. Put a "tin can" type of red dot on it like the UltraDot....which has a lifetime guarantee and will withstand recoil even from a 45-70 rifle. If you need further info, PM me. Good luck and have fun.
Click to expand...
Thanks!! I might just try out the Hornady XTP. Eventually I may go to a red dot. But I want to try this BSA out first. I just ordered one of those laser bullets that go into the chamber so I hope this will get me close on sighting in.
 
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