357 Maximum VS 44 Mag for deer

[northern hunter]

Hey guys i can get a contender pistol with either a 10 inch 44 mag barrel with a old TC scope2.5 power,or a super 14, 357 Maximum with a 2x Leupold on it.more money for the 357 max because of scope.$100
What would be better for deer out to a max of 100 yards,most shots would be around 60 though.
I do hand load so that's no problem.
What do you all think??

[sk330lc]

If I had to do it over again I would go with the Max.  Less recoil being the Main reason! 

[Hopalong7]

Well, I had both......sold the 44.........use the Max.  Either will actually work well for your stated purpose.   GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt

[Bullseye]

I would take the 44.  I never liked shooting the Max., it has a sharp recoil back in your hand but it always twisted more than any caliber I have ever shot and actually made my wrist hurt if I shot very many rounds.  For the range you are talking the 44 would be plenty good.

[myronman3]

the 44 for sure.  put a pachmayer decellerator grip on it and since you reload,  use cast bullets and run them at medium velocities and you should be set.    remember,  just because your car can do 140 doesnt mean you have to drive it that fast.     happy shooting!

[EdK]

Interesting comments - I would have thought a Super 14 357 Max to have way less percieved recoil than a 10" 44 mag - including muzzle flip.

[jhalcott]

PERCEIVED recoil is the problem.  I have several barrels that ,to ME, do not seem to recoil that much.I also have a 358 JDJ and 45-70 barrels that DO kick and hard! I have a 14" 6.5JDJ and a 14" 7-30 waters barrels. One of the club members thinks the 7-30 kicks way more than the 6.5 does. Both are loaded with 120 grain bullets to within 50 fps of each other.Both weigh within a couple ounces of each other.
  Northern , the 44 mag will do what you want ,but I'd like a bit more power in the scope. 2X seems to make the targets SMALLER to me. 4X seems to be the best all around power for MY hunting.  In all honesty though ,there ain't that much difference in the 2 calibers you are looking at.

[Hopalong7]

With a near max load in both(240gr bullet in the .44 and 180gr in the Max) my 10".44 kicked a lot more than my 14" Max.....perceived or otherwise, it wasn't even close. My 10" .44Mag barrel kicked more to me than any 10" barrel I've ever had on my Contenders and that includes .357Max, 41Mag, .30 and .357Herrett, .45Win Mag., and .45Colt.  Walt

[SHOOTALL]

THE 44 ! nothing beats cubic inches !
bigger hole ! recoil - you pay for what you get , more on one end more on the other !

[rand4c]

I'm new to Contenders and haven't hunted with one yet but did a lot of research online  , at a bunch of gun & hunting sites ,  before I purchased and went for the 44 mag . Mostly because most everyone I read thought it was a better deer caliber than the 357 or any other..Also a number of sites mentioned the "crack" of the 357 max saying it will kill your ear drums..Need to mention that I hunt southern N. H. and can only use....357 , 10mm , 41 ,44, 45 or 480.'s.......Randy

[Tom W.]

Wear muffs when you shoot and hunt. That "crack" you hear  now won't be heard in a few more years....

[handi243]

I've owned both i always come back to the 44 I think it is the best deer/hog round IMO plus you can find ammo on the shelf for the 44 the max is a loaders round. As far as recoil i think the max had a sharper recoil than the 44. Both will kill plus most of the time you never hear of feel the kick when your shooting at game. Good luck they are both great rounds.

[northern hunter]

  Thanks guys for the input,I bought the 44 mag.Might want to change the scope to a 2x6 bushnell,some time later.
Thanks again.
Shoot once and carry a sharp knife

[BubbaNColo]

I've owned both, 14" max, 14" 44. Rather shoot the max any day. Now I've got a 12" with the hunter muzzle break and find it very nice to shoot even with 300 grain loads.

[SLAVAGE]

buy them both and sell the one you dont like

[1187VX2]

Of course the 357 does have the advantage of (relatively) cheap practice using 38 special, right?  I'm sure you all know what 44 special rounds go for.....