357 max power & on game performance?

[jh41mag]

 I AM NEW TO THIS FORUM & WAS WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS USED THE 357MAX ON DEER OR ANY OTHER GAME AND WHAT THE RESULTS WERE. I'VE HEARD RUMORS THAT THIS IS A 200YRD CALIBER BUT DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD BELEIVE IT. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THIS CALIBER AND WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE. PLEASE GIVE ANY INPUT YOU CAN PROVIDE IT WILL BE GREATLY APRECIATED, ALSO WHAT KIND OF ACCURACY CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS CALIBER?

[quickdtoo]

Welcome! Easy on the caps key please, no need to yell.  There's a link in the FAQs and Help sticky on deer hunting with the 357Max, the FAQs is the best place for newbies to start reading, it's there just for you. 

Tim

http://internet.suite101.com/article.cfm/netiquette_guidelines

[cwlongshot]

I AM NEW TO THIS FORUM & WAS WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS USED THE 357MAX ON DEER OR ANY OTHER GAME AND WHAT THE RESULTS WERE. I'VE HEARD RUMORS THAT THIS IS A 200YARD CALIBER BUT DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD BELIEVE IT. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THIS CALIBER AND WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE. PLEASE GIVE ANY INPUT YOU CAN PROVIDE IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, ALSO WHAT KIND OF ACCURACY CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS CALIBER?

WELCOME!!

 I agree with Tim, and will add, caps make it harder to read.

I have a handi 357Maxi and love it for eastern whitetails. I am sure it would do a 200yard shot, and I would use it if it was what I had and the shot was good. But if I had a choice, I would use more gun. IMHO, it excels at close range hunting for most all game up to med non dangerous big game.
I  have  shot quite a few deer with mine. Most with a hand loaded 180gr Hornady SST bullet with AA1680 powder. In my barrel I am getting over 2100FPS.

CW

[petemi]

I have a Handi .357 Maxi and a second one being reamed to Maxi as I write.  If you want a 200 plus yard rifle, get something else.  There are a lot of calibers out there that will reach much farther than this old man can see.  The .357 Maximum is a superb caliber.  It is versatile, inherently accurate and is one of my favorites.....It won't knock down a bear at 400 yards, but it'll do a whitetail buck at 175.

If you're talking about hitting at 200 yards....that's easy....learn it and you can hit at 400. 

Now, killing is another thing.  What do you want to kill?  You could kill a woodchuck at 400 yards if you could hit him, but I think a black bear or hog would be another issue.

What I'm trying to say is that it is all relative.  Every caliber has its limitations and the primary limitation is the shooter.

I guess, I'd say, if you're looking for a 200 yard plus gun for deer, go buy a .280, .308 or something of that nature.  I don't believe in pushing a rifle's capabilities to its limits.  Small pill + long range + big critter = disaster.

The .357 Max Handis are the most useful and versatile rifles I own.  If you've ever owned, or do own a .30-30, think of it in those terms.

Pete