Who uses their .357 mag/max for deer hunting

[jason045]

And what are your thoughts on it?  My son, who turns 9 in July, is ready for his own deer rifle and I plan on getting him a handi for his birthday gift.  I have considered the 44 mag, 30-30, and 7.62x39 but i think that the .357 would be the ideal match for him.  Maybe break him in on some 38 spl loads and work our way up.  Definitely dont want to make him recoil shy.  What do ya'll think of the 357 for a kids first centerfire?

[Jimbo47]

In my opinion it's a no brainer!

It's the perfect rifle for a younster, and keeping  within a hundred yards it is deadly on deer size animals.

What is so nice about it is he can shoot .38 specials or .357 mags to plink with and build his confidence, and form and the rifle is so quiet he won't develope the bad habits (flinch) that he may pick up with a larger caliber.

I love mine and love to plink with the .38's

My first deer with it was a doe at 96 yards using a 180 grian jacketed bullet in a Maximum, and she flipped backward when I hit her in the front shoulder and only went about 15' before she fell.

[mike@nds]

You are on the right track.

Shot my first deer with a Handi .357mag, it was bang-flop at 25 yards with 158gr JHP's.

I have since reamed it to Max, but have not had an oppurtunity for a shot at a deer with it.

 

[schoolmaster]

M:y eight year old grandson took his first deer last season with a 357 mag handi at 58 yards. Hit her a little far back but she only went about 60 yards. We put a youth stock on the rifle and a lx4 leup. He shot targets all summer with the 38 specials and we switched to .357 mags with a 158 jacketed soft point for hunting season. I had an old foam archery deer target that he practiced on at 50 yards so the transition was easy. His dad and his uncle each took a buck with a .357 maximum handi one at 109 yards and one at 70 yards using a top load of 1680 powder and the Hornady 180 grain single shot pistol bullet Both were easy recoveries. When the grand kids get a little older all the 357 mags will be bored to 357 maximum. It is a great cartridge.

[Kal52]

Ive taken 7 or so deer with my 357 levergun, one of which being a hog of a buck.

most were taken within 100yds, one or two maybe a touch further, but not much.  I learned to stay away from the hollow points when using .357 rounds in a rifle, they dont seem to wanna put them down. I prefer a 158gr jacketed soft point, or 180gr cast. I dont reload so these are all factory.  At close range the fusion ammo will leave an exit wound the size of a fist, but its not my first choice.

I think its a good choice, the .357 is pretty potent out of a rifle, and at the range a new hunter would be shooting its gonna work fine.

Good luck to both of you!

Dave

[Old Fart]

I would think the 357 max would be a good choice for hunting in some locations.
I've used my 357 mag lever gun and revolvers many times.

[Doublebass73]

In my opinion there is nothing better to start a young kid hunting on than a .357 Magnum Handi rifle.

[wreckhog]

And what are your thoughts on it?  My son, who turns 9 in July, is ready for his own deer rifle and I plan on getting him a handi for his birthday gift.  I have considered the 44 mag, 30-30, and 7.62x39 but i think that the .357 would be the ideal match for him.  Maybe break him in on some 38 spl loads and work our way up.  Definitely dont want to make him recoil shy.  What do ya'll think of the 357 for a kids first centerfire?

I think that a 357 handi is heavy for a 9 year old. As you will probably be carrying it in and out and he will only be holding it for the couple of seconds it takes to shoot, it should be OK.

[Spanky]

I'd go with a 44 mag.



Spanky

[Austinite]

I've taken 5 or so deer with a .357 mag revolver, but none with my .357 handi (yet).   

From everything I've read, the 158 JSP are the way to go in rifle length barrels.  I'm curious about how some of the tougher JHP would work (158 and 180 XTP, 158 Gold Dot) out of a rifle. 

BTW:  I think the 7.62x39 would make a great first deer rifle, especially if your deer are on the smaller side.  Ammo is dirt cheap for practice, and you can switch to good SP rounds for hunting. 

[jason045]

Well another advantage of going with the .44 is that handis are allowed during primative weapons season here in Louisiana given that the caliber is .38 or larger.  So he would have three extra weeks of hunting with me and my 45-70   Just dont know how the recoil would be with minimum lethal deer loads.  BTW my boy is quite big for his age...he is 5'-2".  Docs say they expect him to be 6'-9" to 6'-10" 

[Doublebass73]

I think that a 357 handi is heavy for a 9 year old. As you will probably be carrying it in and out and he will only be holding it for the couple of seconds it takes to shoot, it should be OK.
[/quote]

Good point, that's the only thing I don't like about the .357 Mag and actually the reason I got rid of mine. I switched to the .45 Colt because it's much lighter and I have a bad back. It also has no recoil either. A .44 Mag is another great choice. The .357 is the best when it comes to a recoil shy kid, .38 wadcutters are VERY quiet to get a kid started shooting.

[Doublebass73]

Well another advantage of going with the .44 is that handis are allowed during primative weapons season here in Louisiana given that the caliber is .38 or larger.  So he would have three extra weeks of hunting with me and my 45-70   Just dont know how the recoil would be with minimum lethal deer loads.  BTW my boy is quite big for his age...he is 5'-2".  Docs say they expect him to be 6'-9" to 6'-10" 

I don't have a .44 Mag but my .45 Colt with max loads from the Ruger-T/C section of the reloading manual have next to nothing for recoil out of my Handi.

[Kal52]

I have a .44 mag, if it gives him more time out in the field with ya, Id go for the .44
I love mine and the recoil is minimal. I think itd be fine, if not put a better recoil pad on, or a shoulder pad.

Dave

[ELMO]

   My 11 year old grandson took a nice 5 point with his .357 mag handi this past season. I put a set of youth stocks on the gun and a red dot scope also. The shot was about 50 yards, double lung and the buck ran maybe 50 yards and dropped. I reload ammo for this gun and he was shooting the 158gr JSP bullet. This setup is really quite light and the grandson likes it, and can hardly wait for next deer season.....

[gendoc]

i've used my ruger#3 in max since 1988 with great results out to 150yrds
shot placement and load development goes along way.

my grandson and i have been developing loads for his new handi max... and
we don't see any reason the performance will be any less.  and it looks like it could be better 

[yukondog]

Good cal. to start, with recoil is almost nothing and teaches good shot placement.

[parson48]

My granddaughter took her first deer last year with my 357. It dropped instantly with a neck shot at about 30 yards, but the bullet, a Remington 158 gr. jhp, pretty much fragmented. Gonna go with heavier bullets, maybe a cast, this year.

[gcrank1]

I didnt read all back thru, but dont believe anyone has mentioned shooting .44Specials in the .44Mag. It should be about the same difference as .38Spl in the .357Mag.
I had a Shikari .44Mag 25(?)yrs ago and reloaded mag cases to .44Spl and even round ball loads. I dont remember if I used .44Spl cases, but it wouldnt surprise me as I had .44Spl revolvers. That gun shot everything I tried in it with remarkable open sight accurracy.
Now, will someone remind me why I sold it?

[cwlongshot]

I have shot a bunch of deer with the Lil turdy fives!! Got a couple with revolvers shootin' Speer 140gr HP's. A couple more with a marlin shooting 158 XTP FP bullets and still more with a maxi Handi with 180SSP's!!  I even shot two bucks in one day with my maxi!! 

These two fell about twenty minutes apart one cold November morning some 5-6 years back..

 

This guy fell to another 180 SSP high thru the shoulder.



CW

[mike@nds]

i've used my ruger#3 in max since 1988

I'd really like to see a pic of that one.

My Hornet No.3 may be going to Wayne York soon.

[Jimbo47]

Yep, that .357 Mag./Max is one that if I ever had to get rid of my guns, it would be the last one they pry out of my dead fingers.

[Badnews Bob]

Yep the .357s of all types are my favorite hunting round. Great for kids.