Dead thread revived
While searching archives tonight, I found this thread.
I found several very useful bits of information in here (see below), but was left hanging on a crucial point. Specifically, on this question by Baron Holbach4.
I reiterate Oracle's question of whether anyone has taken a deer
with a lever-action in .357 magnum? Obviously, the evidence
indicates that .357 magnum revolvers can also be used to take deer.
If not .357 revolvers, then why not .357 lever-action rifles?
No answer ever came forth to that question, so I've revived this thread in search of an answer.
Here's some background on why. (Note: this is very similar to a post I just made in
another thread about the same general topic. Apologies for the redundancy.)
I've been making noises for the last few months about getting a Marlin 336 (probably A or C) in .30-30 as my main (really, only *) centerfire rifle. It's main use would be deer. One can find several threads in THR that were started by me or with me as a partipant about that issue.
(* My only centerfire rifle? Yes, I'm a minimalist, looking for that optimal small toolkit, especially for emergency SHTF type scenarios. I'm also semi-nomadic, so a small toolkit is desirable. The optimal toolkit for me is one shotgun {got it}, one rimfire rifle {working on it}, one centerfire rifle {either .30-30 or ...well, read on}, and one or two handguns {see below}.)
In the last 24 hours, I've started considering a .357 handgun, probably something like a SW 686, SW 620 or a Ruger GP100. (I'm now considering selling a K9 and replacing it with a .357 mag revolver.)
I'd like to use said .357 mag revolver for both SD (in addition to my 642 in .38) and possibly for short range deer hunting. I'd prefer a 4" barrel for general all-round use, but am open to a 6" if it's substantially more effective for deer at 30 yds or less.
I've spent the evening reading threads on the .357 mag, and it's sufficiency for deer hunting, especially in a handgun (the answer is unequivocally "yes"), and whether a 4" barrel would be sufficient. In most threads on that caliber for deer, I'm finding that most recommend a 6" barrel for a .357 for deer. That makes sense in terms of extra velocity and sight radius.
Yet I was fascinated to read some surprising comments in this thread about the adequacy of a 4" .357 for deer, especially for shorter ranges.
I like the idea of having only limited types of ammo to deal with. Depending on the outcome of this research, for me, that could be 12 ga, .22 LR and .357/.38 spl. (Admittedly, even if I go with a .30-30 rifle, that's still not many types of ammo to deal with. But if I could make do without .30-30, then all the better.)
So, to my question: I can't find a reliable source of info anywhere comparing the ballistics of .357 mag out of an 1894C with the .30-30 from a 336.
The Remington ballistics page doesn't deal with handgun calibers.
I've read several comments in this and other threads to the effect of, "With appropriately hot rnds (e.g., Buffalo Bore), a .357 mag out of a carbine will rival a .30-30, at least inside 100 yds."
Could anyone offer up more information about that topic? For example, why only to 100 yds? My suspicion is that the .30-30 is still going to be more effective on deer past 100 yds, at least to, say, 150. But I'm no ballistics expert.
Any information comparing .357 mag in a carbine to .30-30 will be great, including links to good essays comparing those calibers, especially for deer, at modest ranges.
Opinions welcome.
Nem