T.R.
Member
357 MAG is deadly within short range hunting distances. I killed this cow elk with my revolver shooting 158 grain hollow tips by PMC. Shooting distance was about 50 feet.
TR
TR
.357 lever gun for deer?
- Thread starter NY Yankee
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Don't worry, you're not alone. When I realized that it is, it took me five seconds to decide that I want one. That was back in pre-remlin days when 1894C wasn't that expensive or hard to find. After a meticulous, preventative "Marlin Jam" fix at 0 rounds I b*stadized it with a low power 1.75-4x32 scope (because I could) and have kept it as a handy truck gun since.
Never hunted with it, though, but this thread made me consider it. It's no .44 but with hot handloads it might well pack enough punch for deer...
MCgunner
Member
I've taken one doe, a rather small one, at 80 yards with my Rossi 92 20" .357 magnum when I first got it. I hunted the WMAs in east Texas with it at the time where ranges were generally short and shots could be quick. I don't hunt those public areas anymore. I stand hunt here on my place and might put another tripod on my other place about 100 miles from here, but I don't walk around in the woods with people making "sound shots" anymore. So, the lever carbine has become a plinker and I feed it mostly light .38s for that. 
They approximate .22, maybe .22 magnum, except a much slower, bigger bullet.
A .357 is most definitely enough gun to 100 yards. My loads are/were a gas checked Keith style SWC weighing 165 grains as cast with gas check installed over 14.5 grains of 2400. It gave 1800 fps at the muzzle. I have since discovered Li'l Gun and I can get 1900 fps out of the same bullet, but tone it down to 1850 or so as to lower pressures a bit. The gun has a ghost ring aperture sight on it and I kinda prefer a scope even in deep woods due to light conditions when the animals are most active. Scopes just work better, especially for old eyes.
Yeah, .357 loaded right isn't far off .30-30 or 7.62x39, two other guns I've used to take deer. I've taken deer quite cleanly with a 12" Contender, though I admit I'm pushing a 150 BT 200 fps faster than that .357 load, but the bullet is lighter, too. Energies are actually pretty close and the bigger, flat point SWC puts a hurt on 'em without relying on expansion.
They approximate .22, maybe .22 magnum, except a much slower, bigger bullet. A .357 is most definitely enough gun to 100 yards. My loads are/were a gas checked Keith style SWC weighing 165 grains as cast with gas check installed over 14.5 grains of 2400. It gave 1800 fps at the muzzle. I have since discovered Li'l Gun and I can get 1900 fps out of the same bullet, but tone it down to 1850 or so as to lower pressures a bit. The gun has a ghost ring aperture sight on it and I kinda prefer a scope even in deep woods due to light conditions when the animals are most active. Scopes just work better, especially for old eyes.
Yeah, .357 loaded right isn't far off .30-30 or 7.62x39, two other guns I've used to take deer. I've taken deer quite cleanly with a 12" Contender, though I admit I'm pushing a 150 BT 200 fps faster than that .357 load, but the bullet is lighter, too. Energies are actually pretty close and the bigger, flat point SWC puts a hurt on 'em without relying on expansion.
Thanks a bunch!
Hoping against hope Illinois legalized pistol caliber carbine. I have the 45 dollar 92 Winchester my brother and I had Ward Koozer convert to .357 waaay back when. Nice little rifle, 24", shoots 3.5 MOA on a good day. 80 yards is a long shot on my land.
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