Straight Walled cartridge for Deer?

[jeremiahm]

Here in Ohio we have a rule that says you can only use straight walled cartridges for deer hunting with a handgun.  They also have to be .357 and larger in caliber.  

I'm wanting to know what is the ultimate contender chambering for an Ohio deer hunt?  

I'm thinking 357 max for its flat shooting characteristics.  

What does everyone else think?

At what range will the Max run out of enough power to kill deer sized game?

[Big Gun]

I think the 357 Max would be pretty good too, fair ballistics, light recoil.  The only drawback tot he max is there is no major manufacturer loading ammo for it anymore, but you can still find Remington on some of the auction sites, and you can get factory ammo via Dan Wesson - but I am not sure who loads it for them.  Other interesting options would be the 41 mag, 44 mag, 375 win, 405 win (custom), 444 marlin, 45-70.  Any of them would take down a deer with a well placed shot.  Good luck.

[freddogs]

I think the 44 mag is a nice calibur which I use. I just bought a 375 winchester barrel which I think will make a great deer/bear round and give me extended range over the 44. It's at a gunsmith's right now getting a scope mount installed. I'm fired up to start using this round which I may eventually use for elk. :-D

[Sixgun]

My vote is for the 357 max.  Shooting cast 180gr bullets with a gas check I get 1860fps from a 10 inch barrel.  I think the load is 21 gr of 296 or H110 with CCI 400 primers.  It shoots very flat and is able to keep everything under 2 inches at the 100 meter ram line at my range.  It doesn't kick as hard as a 44 mag either.

Sixgun

[7bru]

what barrel length would be better for the 357max.  does a 10 inch have a lot of recoil. how much velocity diff between a 10 and a 14. does anybody shoot lil' gun in this caliber. BRU

[Lone Star]

I think the 10" barrel is probably the best compromise in this chambering.  Sierra says there is only 75 fps average difference between the 10" and the 14" barrels.  Hornady lists loads with Lil'Gun and this powder gives top velocities with all bullets in their 5th Edition Manual.

[myronman3]

well it isnt new, it isnt exotic, and it isnt the most powerful.  but the 44 is pretty hard to beat.  reloading components are common, as is boxed ammo.   and  you can expect closer to 454 velocities out of the t.c. design.  it is a very serious chambering.  now some might say they like to be different; but it seems to me that so many are trying to be different that a guy that shoots a plain old 44 is probably a rare bird nowdays.   the one bit of advise that a guy hears alot by those who have vast experience is use a caliber that starts with "4" or larger.     good luck.

[7bru]

thanks lone star, I have had good results with lil gun in my 357 magnum gp100 and was looking for personal experience with it in the max. I think i will be picking one up in a 10 inch. 75 fps won't make a difference to a deer. thanks bru

[Gregory]

I'm not sure what the "ultimate" cartridge would be but I've got both a 357 Max and 44 Mag and wouldn't hesitate to use either one for deer.  My preference lately has been for the 357 Max.  My 357 barrel is more accurate than my 44 and with less recoil.

[casper_zip]

Hey everyone: :grin:

I, too, love the 44's and also the 357 Max. You can get the cases from MidSouth, no problem.

Gregory, a question for you. What's your favorite loads for your 357 Max ?
Don't know if you are aware, a fairly late Handloader Mag had a big write up of a 357 Max in a 15" Encore. Mine is a 12" T/C barrel.

Both these will easily kill deer at any sane handgun range. I've killed many a deer with my handguns, and the only one I've ever dropped in his tracks with a chest shot was with my 44 Mag RedHawk. I've shot many deer in the neck, and they are dead before they hit the ground, (looks that way anyway, they don't move). Years ago, when I hunted with rifles, I had shot deer with my 270 and 25-06, chest shots, deer would often run up to a 100 yards, with lungs and heart pulverized, (when opening chest cavities), just a jelly like mess inside. How deer can do this is beyond me.

Best to all,

Casper_Zip  :grin:  :grin:  :grin:

[Pie-bald]

Well, speaking from Ohio experience the 357 Max does an excellent job. With 180gr HornadyXTP and H110 it's a deer stopper!!. Then there's the 44mag which has also done well on Ohio deer. This year instead of 240's and 300's I used 200gr Hornady and the results were also good. Now for the big stuff. I've killed quite a few deer with the 45/70 both in Ohio and Penna. It's the ultimate deer getter! 300gr Hornady's are great but this year I killed a big buck with the 350gr Hornady RN. I just aquired a 375Win custom shop 15" that will see a bunch of use this fall also(will be doing crop-damage permits). Also despite what you hear the 45/70 IS LEGAL IN OHIO!!!!!! Yes it is a tapered case but it still fits the legal description for deer in Ohio(called the chief law-enforcement officer my-self). The 357Max is in 14", so is my SSK 14" 45/70 and my 44mag was also. I like the feel of the 14" barrels better for hunting , they seem to balance better with a scope on top.

[SLAVAGE]

how much is an out of state lic for ohio for deer hunting, mother in law lives in beaver county an ohio is a hope skip an jump from ther i wouldent mind taken a trip a few mins over the border with my 444 carbine if its leag.  ther if not thers all ways the 41 to get blood for the first time on

[jeremiahm]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.  I think I'm still going with the 357 max.  I like the flat shooting characteristics and the fact that I can shoot magnums in it for practice.  

The 375 winchester looks somewhat appealing to me, but the cartridge drawing shows a taper to a parallel neck section.  I don't think that meets the laws here.  The same configuration shows up for the 45-70 though, and someone said that they think it's legal.  I guess I'll have to see for myself.  

Carbines aren't legal here in ohio.  No rifles of any kind for deer, only handguns, shotguns, and smokepoles during gun season.

[SLAVAGE]

do you nead a permit to hunt with a hand gun in ohio?

[jeremiahm]

There isn't a handgun specific permit.  You just need a hunting license and a deer tag.  The tags aren't weapon specific.

[Pie-bald]

Non-resident general hunting tags are $120.00. These are required for hunting deer. A deer tag either sex, and bought over the counter via computer at various vendors are $25.00 each for resident and non-residents.(which is the way to go. They all use the same color tag just marked different by the printer, no running all over the place like I do in Pa. trying too find non-resident tags).  No permits required for pistols, just straight walled 357 or larger. And again TAPERED STRAIGHT WALLED cases are LEGAL. Friends with the former and present Chief of Division of Wildlife and he got the word from the top law enforcer dude himself!