Hunting with .357mag Revolver

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Deadheadted37

Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Messages
136
Location
Illinois
Hello,

I recently bought a Ruger GP100 4" .357mag as was wondering what anybody's thoughts where for hunting white tailed deer with it?
 
Your .357mag should be great for hunting deer. Just geat the loads that are rated for deer-sized game in the Winchester game chart (or same in other makes) and take close shots. It should work great (did for me last year-37yd.s). Good luck!
 
The .357 will due its part if you do yours I would go with a heavier bullet such as a 158 JHP and get within 50 yards or less if possible.
As with anything shot placement makes a big difference.
Good luck and good hunting.
 
Sometimes I am amazed at what I read on this forum. Simply amazed.
My thought would be " go buy a suitable deer rifle"
 
Let me amend that OK " Go purchase a suitable gun in a proper caliber for the job at hand"
 
Last edited:
Let me amend that OK " Go purchase a suitable gun"
Click to expand...

OH PLEASE! Go scrounge together a couple dollars and buy a clue:banghead: A 357 magnum is an artillery piece compared to what our forefathers used sucessfully in the 19th century. Cartridges like 32-20, 44-40 or even 44 rimfire and lastly god forbid round ball:evil:

Heck true 357 magnum loadings puts even the old 45 colt loadings "back on the trailer"
 
in the 19th century.
Click to expand...

But as outdoors men with horses to help, and skills most folks now days don't have a clue about, much less posses, or we wouldn't be discussing this and 4" 357's, AK's and other such nonsense to hunt big game with..
Just because something "can" be done doesn't make it a good idea.
I give up.
This is foolish on my part, to even inter into.
I learned along time ago not to argue with women and fools. so,
I am gonna shut up. Before I get myself into trouble if I haven't already.
 
OH PLEASE! Go scrounge together a couple dollars and buy a clue
Click to expand...

in some states - like my current one - a 357 mag is not legal for deer. the minimum legal handgun is a 357 max, minimum legal commonly available is the 41 mag.

i'm not saying a 357 won't kill a deer, but am saying it isn't the ultimate deer whacker.
 
of course you can drop a deer with a .357 mag handgun..... i have a 6" barrel on my smith&wesson and i've seen what it does to targets like cars and steel appliances....... i have no dought it will harvest a deer!!!........... and i second krochuses comment!!..............
 
My 2 cents....

I recognize that the .357 has taken EVERY game animal walking the U.S. (google that if you are in doubt). One of my customers, who is an avid hunter, had an intersting point. I asked him if I should hunt deer with my 629. He suggested that if you are going to hunt, you should do what is fair to the animal. If you are going to kill it, kill it well. krochus mentioned that our fathers hunted with inferior ballistics. Well, people once hunted with boomerangs and slingshots. But that was all they had. Not terribly handy for big game. Shouldn't we choose the best tool for the job?
 
This is foolish on my part, to even inter into.
I learned along time ago not to argue with women and fools. so,
I am gonna shut up. Before I get myself into trouble if I haven't already.
Click to expand...

YEP those dang FACTS keep popping up, so for you it's best to leave when that happens.

Please enlighten us as to how a 200grn Keith style .357 diameter hardcast that'll put a 35 caliber hole through both shoulders of a deer is inadequate. Or how it's irresponsible to use a 180grn bonded cor-bon slug with over 600 ft lbs of energy!


Well, people once hunted with boomerangs and slingshots. But that was all they had. Not terribly handy for big game. Shouldn't we choose the best tool for the job?
Click to expand...

Animals don't get any deader with newer cartridges than with more traditional hunting methods. Our current generation is a really self centered lot in a large portion of us actually believe that we're at the pinnacle of human's hunting achievement.
 
Last edited:
okay...here's another point to ponder; not everyone has the ability to control recoil and maintain good clean tight shot groups from the latest batch of super magnums such as .480 Ruger, .460 S&W magnum, and the .500 S&W magnum or some older favorites such as the .44 magnum, .454 Casuul, or .475 Lingbaugh

I've tried shooting .44 magnum several times with different handguns and even a .500 S&W chambered in a Magnum Research BFR...I had no accuracy to speak of due to flinching from recoil; the largest handgun I tromp thru the woods with is a .357 magnum revolver
 
I'm looking to trade my 4" 686 for a 3".

3" in .357 mag is good to at least 30m.

If I can't take a deer at 30m w/ 3",
then I deserve to starve.
 
what is fair to the animal
Click to expand...

If you really want to be fair to the animal, don't shoot it at all. While you're at it, joint PETA and become a vegetarian to become even more fair. Oh, forego the leather shoes and belts while you're at it.

Also, methinks a 4 inch 357 Mag. is probably as effective or more effective than a bow. But I guess bow hunters should really go buy rifles instead.
 
I did not buy a .357mag to hunt with, it is just an after thought. I prefer a slug barrel on my 870. A .357mag with a 4" barrel is legal in my state as long as the load is 500lbs on energy or more and rifles are illegal.

I have hunted once with a 30-06 in MO. and dropped a deer from about 850 feet out, it's not my style of hunting. I like to use the analogy that you should only shoot something as far away as you can hit a baseball. (for me about 110 or so yard’s.)

How close can you get is always the challenge, how well can you shoot is a matter of practice. 4" grouping at 25 yard's is not bad for only shooting this gun twice.
 
I'm thinking a lot of these folks who make a deer out to be some kind of behemoth that takes armor piercing .50cal rounds to kill have put none in the freezer! The .357 has killed game many times the size of a Whitetail with ease and in a responsible way, go for it if you can shoot well enough.
 
here's another point to ponder; not everyone has the ability to control recoil and maintain good clean tight shot groups from the latest batch of super magnums such as .480 Ruger, .460 S&W magnum, and the .500 S&W magnum or some older favorites such as the .44 magnum, .454 Casuul, or .475 Lingbaugh
Click to expand...

as a sidetrack to this thread... i submit my smith 686 w/ full honk hunting handloads has much more severe recoil, noise, and general obnoxiousness than my ruger srh in 480 w/ nuclear level loads. i also know the 480 will end-to-end a 215 pound buck at 80 yards - and know a 357 will not w/ a 190 pound buck at 60 yards... however, the 686 is far easier to pack...
 
usually folks who say a .357 isnt a good idea for deer, also think using an AK or SKS isnt a good idea....

They also more than likely havent shot a deer with a .357, or an AK ;)


alotta GunSnobs dont understand, there is more than one recipe for any meal...

Enjoy yer hunt with that .357! it will do its part if you do yers!

ip.
 
I wonder how folks like eliphalet feel about bow hunting (with projectiles that carry less energy than a 22lr)?
 
I have used a 6" GP100 with 180 Grain Winchester Partition Gold to harvest a doe at 63YDS. The bullet went through that deer like she was toilet paper and she dropped on the spot!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
357mag revolver for deer hunting?
2
Replies
43
Views
7K
MaxP
MaxP
T
  • Locked
Buffalo Bore .357Mag's hunting?
Replies
9
Views
2K
rcmodel
R
B
  • Locked
Lever Gun Hunting
Replies
18
Views
1K
H&Hhunter
H&Hhunter
S
  • Locked
what game for those rifles
Replies
12
Views
2K
Shung
S
riverhawk308
  • Locked
Short range 308 bullet for White Tail
2
Replies
40
Views
4K
DKSDonnie
DKSDonnie
Back
Top