Can I use my marlin 94c for deer? I live in Indiana and we are only allowed to use rifles chambered in pistol cartridges so I'm kind of limited on my options. Almost all of my shots are within 100 yards because of all the hills around here so range isn't that far. Will a stout .357 load do the job or should I invest in a .44 or .45 long colt? Thanks.
.357 magnum rifle for deer?
- Thread starter Medinac
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paintballdude902
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go for it. just take the time to learn your rifle and learn how it shoots.
i use a .44 mag for black bears so a .357 for medium deer if perfectly fine.
i use a .44 mag for black bears so a .357 for medium deer if perfectly fine.
nyresq
Member
i have taken a white tail with a 16" winchester 94, and have seen a few more taken by friends with similar rifles in 357 as well. If you stay with a hundred yards and can pick your shots a 357 mag will do the job on medium sized deer.
If you handload, your range and shots can open up a bit, but if you are stuck with factory ammo, not many loads are made for hunting from rifles. Most are made for 6" barrels and lose a lot of potential when shooting out of something longer like a 16" or 20" barrel.
If you think you may be faced with some longer shots or you may not have time to pick the best shot, then step up to a 44 mag. The recoil isn't much worse, but it gives you better selection when it comes to hunting loads and more range.
If you handload, your range and shots can open up a bit, but if you are stuck with factory ammo, not many loads are made for hunting from rifles. Most are made for 6" barrels and lose a lot of potential when shooting out of something longer like a 16" or 20" barrel.
If you think you may be faced with some longer shots or you may not have time to pick the best shot, then step up to a 44 mag. The recoil isn't much worse, but it gives you better selection when it comes to hunting loads and more range.
shiftyer1
Member
I sometimes use mine for that purpose, although my dog weighs more than the deer around here. I keep my shots under 75 yards normally but I have taken 1 shot at around 115 or so. It worked fine.
I don't know but I assume a .44 would do it just a little better? I don't yet own one.
I don't know but I assume a .44 would do it just a little better? I don't yet own one.
Tex4426
Member
357 should be ok out to 100..I use. 44 pistols and I to live in Indiana...my girlfriend uses a. 44 mag handi rifle...it has 200 yrd potential but best suited at 150 and under...I suggest a 44 but 357 is adequate
Tex4426
Member
I also suggest hornady lever evelution...Theyve worked good on every gun I've shot them out of and they are extremely deadly...haven't lost a deer yet
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Based on years of comments in this forum, it seems reasonable to call it a 100-yard deer killer.
No it will not work. I will PM you my address and you can send that useless rifle to me for disposal. Just kidding. I hunted with a .357 Marlin this past season and I really enjoyed hunting with that gun. It was very light and short and easy to swing around and carry around all day. That one will be seeing a lot more time in the deer woods next year.
MCgunner
Member
I load a 165 grain SWC Keith profile gas checked to near 1900 fps over 16.8 grains of Lil Gun from my 20" barrel Rossi 92. It shoots about 4 MOA. I figure it's as good as any .30-30 inside 100 yards. 100 yards is an effective limit on large hogs and deer. .357 is more akin to .30-30 than the .357 revolver when fired from long barrels. Sure, one can get 2100 fps from a 170 grain .30-30, but factory ammo in the caliber is usually sub 2000 fps. Me, I'll take on ANYTHING with the .357 carbine to 100 yards I'd take on with a .30-30. I don't need no stinkin' .44 
What I really like about the gun is its versatility. With a 105 grain SWC over 2.3 grains of B'Eye, I get 900 fps and it's 1.5" at 50 yards accurate with that load. I have not hunted squirrel with it, YET, but it certainly would make a good small game gun with that load, anything a .22 could do.
What I really like about the gun is its versatility. With a 105 grain SWC over 2.3 grains of B'Eye, I get 900 fps and it's 1.5" at 50 yards accurate with that load. I have not hunted squirrel with it, YET, but it certainly would make a good small game gun with that load, anything a .22 could do.
A buddy of mine used a 357 mag rifle for a deer for quite a while and was very successful. It makes a very nice lightweight package when covering long distances. The new Hornady "lever evolution" rounds have really given 357 hunters an edge over the rounds previously used.
fallout mike
Member
Good stuff fellas. I'm debating a handi myself, between .357, .44, .45 colt, a.d. id like to find out how much recoil the .500 has.
MCgunner
Member
How's that? They give you MAYBE 50 yards more? Hell, if I need 150 yards, I have 150 yards plus guns, including one handgun that's lighter and more compact than even my Rossi 92.
But, if they give you any edge at all and all you hunt with is a .357, hey, go for it! I like to handload, though.Just wonder how much extra a pointy bullet could possibly give this caliber, though. It only gives .30-30 about a hundred extra yards, but that can be significant. I wouldn't get excited over 50 yards for my .357, though, as I don't have a scope on it and with irons, I don't really wanna shoot past 100 anyway.
My eyes, you see, are aging.How's that? They give you MAYBE 50 yards more? Hell, if I need 150 yards, I have 150 yards plus guns, including one handgun that's lighter and more compact than even my Rossi 92.
True, not much more effective. The 357 doesn't get turned into a 300win mag or anything but if you would consider the 357 to be a 100yrd gun with normal ammo I would say the 50% gain you get is still a pretty substantial gain for this round.
R.W.Dale
Member
You guys do realize that the 140g leverevolution rounds actually have a LOWER BC than the 158g XTP
Can you say marketing hype.
I have a box of these that I'll Chronograph and report on later.
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MCgunner
Member
Thanks, confirms my suspicions. I was thinkin' such a short bullet couldn't possibly gain much BC over a flat point. Only the ogive is different and most of the drag is caused by the flat base and turbulence behind it. That's why boat tails work so well, but there's no room for boat tails on a pistol bullet.
I'll stick with my hand cast handloads.
zxcvbob
Member
From a carbine, .357 Magnum should do everything a .30-30 does except reach as far.
Lee's 158 grain "2R" bullet is interesting for its good BC, but I don't know how well a round-nosed lead bullet kills. Probably better to stick with RNFP, SWC, or heavy JHP's.
Lee's 158 grain "2R" bullet is interesting for its good BC, but I don't know how well a round-nosed lead bullet kills. Probably better to stick with RNFP, SWC, or heavy JHP's.
MCgunner
Member
I cast Lee's 358158GC. It actually weighs 165 grains with gas check installed. The flat is wide, Keith style, and the gas check eliminates leading right up to 1900 fps. It leaves an impressive wound channel at 80 yards, can tell ya that, DRT with a lung shot.
Alternative would be Hornady XTP JHP in 158 or 180. You can REALLY send a 158 with Lil Gun with a 20" barrel. Check out Buffalo Bore's stuff.
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=102
Alternative would be Hornady XTP JHP in 158 or 180. You can REALLY send a 158 with Lil Gun with a 20" barrel.
Check out Buffalo Bore's stuff.http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=102
dprice3844444
member
get a 45/70. they make pistols for that,too
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Zeke/PA
Member
Remember ,the .357 AIN'T a high powered round.
In my opinion a 50 yard thing at BEST.
Shot Placement , Shot Placement, Shot Placement.
In my opinion a 50 yard thing at BEST.
Shot Placement , Shot Placement, Shot Placement.
dprice3844444
member
R.W.Dale
Member
Had one, a friend still owns it. An interesting range piece with no real application afield since it weighs as much as many carbines.
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Very interesting indeed!
MCgunner
Member
A .357 carbine can EASILY kill deer and hogs to 100 yards. The .357 makes a decent brush rifle, the .45/70 makes a STUPID pistol. If you need a .45/70, hell, get a 600 nitro express, they make handguns for that, too.
I have a .30-30 contender, 2x scope, 12" hunter barrel. I don't own a .30-30 rifle, anymore. No real need for one. I have the .357 for lever guns and if I need reach, I have a .308 Winchester chambered Remington stainless M7 that's just as handy and a lot more powerful and accurate. I have a couple of other rifles, too, 7 mag, .257 Roberts, and I love my .50 caliber front loaders. The little Rossi carbine has its uses, though, fits in my scabbard on the bike or on my pack, good squirrel rifle, good deer/hog rifle, very versatile. When I get moved to the hill country (God, I hope soon!), get my land up there, the .357 is probably going to be a ranch rifle. I have an SKS, actually 2, for a truck gun, though. It's sort of a semi-auto .30-30 and it's pretty short, if heavy. That .357 is light and handy.
I have a .30-30 contender, 2x scope, 12" hunter barrel. I don't own a .30-30 rifle, anymore. No real need for one. I have the .357 for lever guns and if I need reach, I have a .308 Winchester chambered Remington stainless M7 that's just as handy and a lot more powerful and accurate. I have a couple of other rifles, too, 7 mag, .257 Roberts, and I love my .50 caliber front loaders. The little Rossi carbine has its uses, though, fits in my scabbard on the bike or on my pack, good squirrel rifle, good deer/hog rifle, very versatile. When I get moved to the hill country (God, I hope soon!), get my land up there, the .357 is probably going to be a ranch rifle. I have an SKS, actually 2, for a truck gun, though. It's sort of a semi-auto .30-30 and it's pretty short, if heavy. That .357 is light and handy.
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MCgunner
Member
Oh, if you're all worried about .357 or .44 mag not being enough and want a light, handy rifle, Rossi offers the 92 in .454 Casull. That's a handgun round that'll do about anything from a rifle that the .45/70 will do.
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