Author Topic: .357 for whitetail? (Read 2260 times)

THE#1hunter · « **on:** August 17, 2004, 06:42:56 AM »

I have a .357, and I was thinking about doing a little hunting with it, but im new to the fine sport of handgun hunting, so I really dont know much about it...First of all, is it a good gun for whitetails, and what load(factory) should I use? Any help is appreciated

Thanks in advance

THE#1hunter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2004, 11:00:28 AM »

Thnx for the help

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2004, 11:04:12 AM »

Clearly you are a bow hunter. Think of it as a bow that makes a lot of noise and it will do fine I'm sure.

Gregory · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2004, 01:59:18 PM »

C130:
That was very good of you to provide links to the previous discussions rather than saying "that's been discussed so many time before". You're a class act.

The deerslayer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2004, 04:53:05 PM »

I would say corbon ammo for the 357.

THE#1hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2004, 04:13:56 AM »

Thanks for the help...Now all I have to do is find some ammo that i'll be using in the field and practice with it :grin: , just another excuse to get up to the range :-D

rickyp · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2004, 10:36:54 AM »

Have you checked you state, county and town laws regarding the use of a handgun?

In my state a handgun must have a muzzle energy of 700 foot pounds or more. In all my loading manual the 357 mag. has a hard time making 600 foot pounds at the muzzle.
my county i can only use a muzzle loading handgun.

You need to check and have everything in righting before you go out with your 357 mag.

bea175 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2004, 02:38:09 PM »

The 357 is great load for whitetail as long as you keep you shot 50 yards or under. If you Handload, use one of the 180 gr. bullets with a heavy dose of Win 296 or H110. If you use a factory load you can get the 180 gr in Remington or Fed 357 loads. The secret to handgun hunting is practice and know your limitation.

Shoot Straight and good Hunting :gun4:

cbagman · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2004, 03:36:02 PM »

:grin: I like a 170 g Sierre HP #8365.. Very accurate in a Revolver and a Marlin carbine... Plenty of H110 behind it..cbagman

WV Cowboy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 27, 2004, 11:14:16 AM »

This is a subject dear to my heart. I have been a dedicated handgun hunter for more than thirty years. I have been fortunate enough to kill deer with many calibers (357,41,44mag, 45colt,10mm,454 casull,480 Ruger,& 500 Smith. Any of these will do the job if you place your bullet where you should. I have only used the 357 a couple of times. Felt that it was marginal. I really love my Smith 500. I admit its not for everyone. Not as unpleasant to shoot as some say. Main thing is "do it right" know your limitations. Have fun & good luck.

GunnyII · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2004, 07:52:57 PM »

Last I checked, Federal loads Cast Performance 180gr LBT's in their premium line. I've had good luck with it. Very accurate.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #11 on:** August 29, 2004, 05:27:19 AM »

I'll throw my $.02 in and say IMHO you want/need expansion. A good 158gr hollow point is a good place to start. The bullet should be traveling at max velocity or near it out of the muzzle. Range should be limited to about 50 yards max until you get a feel for your load and how well it works. Your barrel length should be at least 6" for enough velocity. I got one deer with my .357. It was a leaning experience for me. One deer is not enough to really judge a load and I'm not an expert. I had a good 158gr hollow point loaded to max with a powder that is much like Unique. Not the fastest load. I did get some expansion going by the exit wound but IMHO not enough. Part of the results was my fault. I misjudged the angle the doe was standing so I didn't place my shot far enough forward. The rest was the bullet hit the side edge of a rib going in and turned south so I only hit one lung. IMHO more velocity wouldn't have changed my mistake but would have done more damage and brought her down faster. I hope this helps. Normally you read the positive experiences. The only negative part was my fault not the .357 magum.

stevinator · « **Reply #12 on:** August 30, 2004, 03:21:53 PM »

I shot a couple last year with my 357 and it worked fine. Both were shot from stands at about 40 yds. Some good info at huntingnet.com http://www.whitetaildeer.com/hunting/handguncalibres.asp

stevinator · « **Reply #13 on:** August 30, 2004, 03:29:50 PM »

A picture is worth 1000 words. Enjoy the 357 I did.

Van/TX · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2004, 04:08:31 AM »

Here's my loud bow (.357). I hunt with a longbow and wood arrows so I'm used to getting close :-) ....Van

THE#1hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2004, 06:18:24 AM »

That looks like a nice rig you have there Van/TX, whats your choice of ammo. ?

LMM · « **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2004, 10:32:27 AM »

Quote from: rickyp

Have you checked you state, county and town laws regarding the use of a handgun?

In my state a handgun must have a muzzle energy of 700 foot pounds or more. In all my loading manual the 357 mag. has a hard time making 600 foot pounds at the muzzle.
my county i can only use a muzzle loading handgun.

You need to check and have everything in righting before you go out with your 357 mag.

Here are a couple .357 Mag rounds that will meet your state requirements.

As shot from my Ruger GP100 6" barrel.

Buffalo Bore 125gr Gold Dot MV 1700fps ME 802fpe
Buffalo Bore 158gr Gold Dot MV 1500fps ME 789fpe
Buffalo Bore 180gr Hard Cast Gas Check MV 1400fps ME 783fpe

As advertised by Buffalo Bore (I haven't tested yet)

Buffalo Bore 170gr Gold Dot MV 1400fps ME 740fpe

I wouldn't use the 125gr for deer but it does meet your states requirements.

My pick this year Buffalo Bore 180gr HCGC.

Van/TX · « **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2004, 02:27:20 PM »

THE#1hunter, I'm trying Fed Premium 180 grain castcore this year. Hope they work

.....Van

THE#1hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2004, 06:13:31 PM »

Good luck to you

FrankCommes · « **Reply #19 on:** October 25, 2004, 04:01:12 AM »

If I were a deer I,d rather get it from a .44 mag. Like the others have said though the 357 will work up close and personal.

LMM · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2004, 05:12:49 AM »

If I were a deer I'd rather not get shot! :eek: :shock: :wink:

yosimite sam · « **Reply #21 on:** October 25, 2004, 09:48:36 AM »

When I was 21 I bought my first real handgun it was a .357 Mag Smith and Wesson small frame I was really excited I finally owned a handgun capable of deer hunting with. That pistol has took six deer to date without any negative results two of those deer were out past seventy yards those were one shot kills. Shot placement is everything, no matter what caliber just shoot within your confidence level and you will be fine.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #22 on:** October 25, 2004, 01:22:12 PM »

A .357 will drop a deer at 100yrds. It dose require a good shot. If you can't shoot that well, learn how to get closer. I can bust clays at 100yrds off a rest, thats only a little larger than a deers heart. you have about a eight inch kill zone on an average size whitetail.(least around here anyway) A clay is a lot smaller than that and with the wrap around bar on front of my tree stand I have a very steady rest.

All that said tou can't see a 100yrds outta my stand, about 70 if you want to pick between trees so I am very confident with a .357 pistol my marlin or my NEF in .357 or the big hammer my .357 Max with 180gr GCLFNs it'll knock'em down where they stand.

No if I just learn how to shoot........

Van/TX · « **Reply #23 on:** October 26, 2004, 03:05:10 PM »

:grin: Bob, sometimes deer will drop, sometimes they don't. It's a weird thing. Ain't got much to do with what you are shooting at 'em with. 357 Magnum or a .300 Magnum. Shot placement is most important but sometimes a bad hit will "drop 'em in their tracks when a perfect hit will cause them to take off like a scalded dog. My experience anyway :wink: ....Van

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #24 on:** October 26, 2004, 09:43:47 PM »

I'm with ya there Van, but he wanted to know if it would work and I know they will. That sure don't make a case for the deer going along with our plan

it would be nice if they would come stand broadside to me at 25yrds like that paper one I have dose but they just don't get what I want them to do. :roll: I believe even the best woodsman hunters still engage lady luck as often as possible,they'er just stacking the deck better than me.

Van/TX · « **Reply #25 on:** October 27, 2004, 02:31:15 PM »

Agree Bob

I feel lucky when I wake up each morning :shock:

....Van