Finally, last Saturday morning I am sitting on a hill watching the creek bottom for deer. A doe comes walking by at approx 25 yrds and 10 feet below me. Bang, flop, bullet hits the spine about mid way of the ribs... now the fun starts. After field dressing and dragging 150 yrds out of the bottom( got to love those plastic game slides), we get her home and she hits 140 lbs on my hunting buddies scale. Not bad. Three days later in a different part of the state, a 4 point comes by at 35 yrds, walking fast thru one of the shooting lanes. He stops behind a tree, walks around another and ends up facing me. Finally turns around and I have a quartering away shot. Bang....he runs in a half circle for approx 40 yards and drops. Bullet entered behind the last rib, exiting at the front right shoulder, missing the bone. Two in the freezer and still have the rest of the year.
Must say, I am impressed with this little 357 mag Marlin lever action. The 158 gr flat nose performed beyond my expectations.....now me thinks we needs one for the grand kids.