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Author Topic: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?  (Read 1936 times)

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Offline Jghoat

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357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« on: July 22, 2010, 06:21:11 AM »
 I am about to get a new barrel and am thinkin 357mag, but the 44mag came up (thanks Spanky).
Forgive my ignorance but I don't know to much about guns other than the 12ga. So I am thinking 357 because, I hear its good on deer, my wife just got a 38spl(I always can get plinking ammo from her), I hear it's easy on the shoulder, and if I need another project I can make it max.   
Now what does the 44mag have over the 357. Is it better on deer? Is it power and distance? better loads? more fun? could I throw in some hogs? and last but not least how is it on the shoulder?
Thanks
Old Goat

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Offline 1NEFsofar

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2010, 07:04:39 AM »
Don't know about the 357 but I have a 44 and it's shoots great.  With the increase in energy due to a longer barrel as apposed to a pistol, I think that for a <100 yard deer gun it should be great!  Matter of fact I have one with a wooden pink stock for my 12 year old daughter to use this year.  I have added a reacoil reducer for her but even without it the recoil is not that bad.
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Offline mrcoolid

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2010, 07:15:31 AM »
I have them both, as do many others here. My advice is to get them both. They have very little " Kick".  The 44 mag will toast just about anything you want to shoot. I recently reamed my .357 to the max (Thanks Tim) and I am 1.25" at 100 yds for 3 shots, minute of deer for sure. They are both accurate out of the box... I shoot 180 gr cast performance in the .357. The FAQ will help you a bunch as well.

They are accurate and fun to shoot... ;)

Mike
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Offline spikehorn

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2010, 07:23:12 AM »
I have both a 357 and a 44 I haven't killed a deer yet with the 44, I've killed plenty with 357. This is just because I've had the 357 much longer. It sems to me the 44 would have a slight edge because of more enegery and a bigger wound channel. Recoil is nominal in both. My 44 has a hard plastic butt plate and is not uncomfortable to shoot, and you can always gat a slip on limb saver for it if you need to.
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Offline GreenMachine79

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2010, 07:53:12 AM »
No questions about it the 44mag will have more stopping power.
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Offline petemi

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2010, 07:59:24 AM »
I too have both Handis in .44 and .357.  My two .357s are Maxis and the .44 is a supermag.  I wouldn't hesitate to take a deer inside 100 yards with either .357 or .44 mag  factory loads.  Both will kill cleanly.  As has been said a million times before....it's shot placement that counts.

I like the Maxis because they shoot the .38s and mags well too.  To me, they're more economical than the .44 supermag, even though it will shoot .44 special, .44 Russian, .44 Mag and .44 supermag.  Also, just now, brass for the .44 super is about non-existant till Starline makes another run.  There's some on Gunbroker right now, but the price is high even for the opening bid.

Pete

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Offline bikerbeans

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2010, 11:11:40 AM »
Spanky, please answer this one for me!

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Offline Spanky

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2010, 01:50:51 PM »
The 44mag just plain packs a bigger wallop.



Spanky
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Offline spruce

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2010, 01:51:40 PM »
I have an H&R .44 Mag and a Rossi SS .357 Mag.  The way I would describe the recoil is the .357 is a little less than a .410 and the .44 is just a little more than a .410.  At least that's the way it feels to me.

I know some will disagree with me, but I view the .357 as about a 100 yard deer rifle and the .44 as about a 125 yard deer rifle.  That's just my personal "comfort zone" with them.  A lot of people have killed a lot of deer a lot further than that with both, but if I am going to shoot further than those yardages I'd be a lot more comfortable with a rifle cartridge.

The .357 is cheaper to shoot, especially with .38 plinking loads.
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Offline briannmilewis

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2010, 03:16:32 PM »
Either one reamed to Max or Super Mag will cleanly kill whitetails to 150 yards. There is a very good 357 Maxi field article...
http://357maximum.com/
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Offline wreckhog

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2010, 03:40:02 PM »
I feel that the 44 kicks like a 30-30. Factory ammo costs the same. The 44 is slightly easier to reload, and make bigger holes. I tend to love the 30-30. No real reason. The .357 is kinda unique. Very little kick IMHO. And still capable of killing deer. The ultimate recoil sensitive (kids, some ladies, newbies) gun.
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Offline kevinsmith5

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2010, 04:55:02 AM »
If recoil is a concern get a .357.  If you're in a pistol cartridge only state and want the extra stopping power get the .44. If you aren't in a pistol only state and reload I'd get a 30-30. Very efficient to reload (compared to other deer rifles) and in the single shot you can use bullet profiles you can't in a levergun. Even if you just use LeverEvolutions off the shelf you can go 200 yards (with practice).
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Offline petemi

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #12 on: July 23, 2010, 08:05:16 AM »
Perhaps I'm way too conservative  .44s and .357s to 75 yards max.  Maxis and Supermags out to 100.  If I need to go longer, I've got rifles that handle it better.  Probably the .308 is the shinning star in that crowd, even over the .30-06.  It's just so long distance accurate it is sometimes hard to believe.

Pete
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Offline Jghoat

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #13 on: July 23, 2010, 09:26:26 AM »
Thanks Guys
  Being conservative is not a bad thing. Nothing worse that wounding and not finding game. It happens but I like a good clean kill. 75 yards is the longest shot I would take. I live in NC in the Western mountains. In these hills I think a long range shots are not necessary. I would look into a 30 30 barrel but I am using a shotgun receiver. I think I'll go with the 357 and if I find it under powered it gives me an excuse to get the 44 or max it out.
Thanks
Old Goat
 
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Offline Handi-Fan

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #14 on: July 23, 2010, 09:28:25 AM »
 I just finished a 357 maxi and it shoots great. ;D My 44 mag. is a knight kp-1. I harvested 3 deer with it last year all 1 shot taken down. But, I do agree with the idea of getting them both because you will in the end. It's very addictive and enjoyable besides if you don't spend your money on that you wind up just wasting it. ;D My wife would'nt agree with that but oh well. ::)
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Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #15 on: July 25, 2010, 02:55:22 PM »
I like my .44 handi a lot. But, I grab my .357 way more often and they have taken several whitetails up to 125 yards, The largest going a little over 200 Lbs, The .44 is a little more but the .357 is plenty.

BTW I hunt in south eastern KY It's about the same.
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Offline myarmor

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Re: 357mag vs 44mag for deer?
« Reply #16 on: July 25, 2010, 03:21:30 PM »
Old goat, I too am born and raised in the Blue Ridge and have owned and shot both. If your in the woods and in 75 or so yards they both work very well. A longer rifle barrel really helps out these guys and if you go to shorten them further to make a smaller carbine out of them, they are among the best choices, with very little to no loss in performance. Personally I like my 44Mags over my 357's oddly enough, though shooting 38's is nice and quite I have to admit, plus the 357/38's are cheaper to shoot as stated earlier. If you can, try both....




-Aaron
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