.357 for whitetail...new to handgun hunting

[870 expressmag]

I just recently aquired a S&W model 66 with a 4 inch barrel...i want to take this with me when i go hunting along with my 12ga....i figure any shots under 70yds i should be able to take with the 357...my question..whats the effective range of a 357 on whitetail?   i can consistantly hit a gallon jug of water at 75 yds with open sights so i am assuming i can hit a deer but would like to know my range so i know when to not remove it from the holster and just use the 12ga

[Jerry Lester]

Stick with a good 158g SP loaded to maximum, and you'll have a great 50 yard combination. It'll work farther, but honestly, I'd keep my range with that revolver to the point that I could hit a grapefruit, or canalope(small one ) consistantly instead of a milk jug.

The 357 magnum will definately kill deer cleanly. I've killed 9 with my 357 Blackhawk, and a slew with a 357 rifle. You just have to hunt smart, know your guns limitations, and be willing to pass if everything doesn't feel just right with the shot angle, range, etc.

[dougk]

What are you shooting in your shotgun?

[Graybeard]

Jerry is our resident expert on the use of the .357 on game, I'd listen to his advice.

[870 expressmag]

remington 870 with 3" remington copper solids

[dougk]

remington 870 with 3" remington copper solids

I have the Remington's.  Looks like a nice combination...

[rickyp]

something no one mentioned, check your state, county , town and even the land owner , for the rules and regulations!
they can very widely from location to location. Like  I can use a M.L. handgun for deer on the private farm I hunt but If I cross the property line into the state hunting land I can not use the handgun so just a few steps can land me in hot water.
Also in Maryland one must have a handgun with a min barrel of 6" and center fire rounds can only be used for deer hunting in the western and a few parts on the eastern shore and it must have a muzzle energy of at least 700 foot pounds. With a 10 inch contender barrel the 357 magnum runs right around this limit (some load higher but most are lower)

[Old Griz]

whats the effective range of a 357 on whitetail?

With a .357 I'd suggest you pretend you're bow hunting. If you keep your shots at the same range that you'd use with an arrow you'll be fine.

[Ahab]

With a .357 I'd suggest you pretend you're bow hunting. If you keep your shots at the same range that you'd use with an arrow you'll be fine.

Gotta agree with Ol'Griz. Hunted the eastern shore of Maryland for 11 years doing just that with both and never had a problem.

[lovedogs]

All of the above is good advice.  Just remember that any .357 load is very limited on deer-sized game.  When it's done right and things happen as they should it'll work fine.  But if it doesn't you'll wish you'd had more gun.  For that reason I went to the .44 mag.  It, too, must be used with caution.  Remember, even a good .44 load isn't close to the old .30-30.  Limit range with any revolver and use the right bullet.  If you must use jacketed then use a good flat-point with goodly amount of exposed lead.  Hollow-points don't always perform as advertised.  Better yet is a good cast lead with as wide a meplat as you can find.  Good luck!

Mike

[rickyp]

A 4" barreled 357 mag is on the border line for deer size game As I stated above the 10" contender barrel is right at what Maryland finds acceptable for deer hunting, this is with no cylinder gap and a 6" longer barrel to give it more speed.

Will the 4" 357 mag kill a deer sure will but then so will a 22 long rifle.
For hunting I think you you should sell of the 4" S$W ( or save up ) and use the money and buy a handgun in at least a 41 mag with no shorter then a 6" barrel. This will give you a little more horse power for when shots are not perfect and when is a hunting shot perfect? You will be better searved and much happyer.

[PaulS]

If you are a good hunter, have a lot of experience shooting your 357 with full power loads, are very accurate with it, and use bullets that are at least 158 grains then the 357 Magnum can be a useful gun for deer sized game. If you are missing any one of the five points that I made it is not a good choice to hunt deer with for you. The 44 magnum will make up for a little bit of the bullet size and you don't have to be as accurate but you still need to be able to hit the vitals. You still have to be a good hunter (able to get within 50 yards of a deer), you still need to have lots of experience shooting your gun with bullets of 240 grains (you could get away with lighter bullets but then you need to be more accurate), and you still need to ba able to be accurate with full power loads.
Pistol hunting is an art form that takes real hunting skill or a lot of luck.
I stopped hunting deer with my 357 after the first one - I saw that it was not enough gun for me to cleanly kill a deer. I use a rifle without apologies.

[Redhawk1]

I have kill several deer in the past with my Ruger Blackhawk in 357 Mag.  But I was always within 40 yards, I never took a long shot or risky shot. When I felt I wanted to stretch out my distance with a handgun, I stepped up to the 41 Mag in a Blackhawk and then a Redhawk in 44 Mag. I always wanted more from my handguns, today I am using the 460 and 500 Mags. Are they needed, no but with a lot of practice I know just how far of a shot I can take, so I no longer limit myself to 40 yards.

The key to good accuracy and consistency in your shooting is practice, practice, practice. Also know your guns limitations.

[Old Griz]

Hey Redhawk;
The .460 appears to be an incredibly versatile gun. Which do you prefer, the .460 or the .500 (and why)?

[Redhawk1]

Hey Redhawk;
The .460 appears to be an incredibly versatile gun. Which do you prefer, the .460 or the .500 (and why)?

I like them both, but if I had to choose one, it would be the 460 Mag. Here is why I choose the 460 Mag.  I like the X frame in general, the 460 Mags I have shot are all extremely accurate. Even with a 300 gr. flat nose cast bullet I can make a 200 yards shot and have enough energy to humanly take game. I don't just go for the long rang shooting ability, but just the raw power of the 460 Mag. The recoil is a little easier on the hands over the 500 Mag while at the range.  I really do not care about the 45 Colts or 454 Casull's that can be shot, because I only shoot the 460 Mags in it, but it is a plus to be able to shot the other rounds. I don't go for the 200 gr. bullets going 2300 fps either. I have owned a lot of different handguns and calibers and the 460 just impress me to no end.  My buddies have the same impression of the 460 Mag, they just like the overall package. As far as the weight of the gun, it is well balanced in my opinion.

[jro45]

Very Well Said Redhawk1. I don't own one but I do own the S&W 500.

[terry]

 I have taken four wild hogs in the last two evenings with my new S&W performance center 357mag handgun. I am using 180gr XTP HP loaded with 2400 power at 1050 FPS out of a 6" barrel. The were all medium sized hogs for around here 125 to 200lbs each the XTP HP's blew through every hog with lung shots leaveing a nice exit hole and big blood trail for about 30 yards where they piled up. One ran about 75 yards but I hit him alittle to far back. I have been sneaking up and down a creek here that is drying up from the summer heat and catching those hogs in wallows. I am going back out this evening ,but It's mostlikey the last time for aleast a week I am tired of cleaning pigs at 9pm in the evening no matter how fun it is to hunt them.

[rickyp]

what do you do with then hogs once you clean them?

[terry]

 I cut them up and save the back straps to grill or fry. The ribs I smoke and then grill with BQ and they are tastey just like you would eat at your favortive BQ place. The front and back hams I smoke and then strip the meat and slow cook it in a pot with a bottle of BQ  sauce and then serve on bread or alone with home made fried potato's it's all great and no wild taste as long as you keep those hogs under about 200lbs. 75-125lbers are the best. There is a place here in town which will process them just like a domestic hog for $60 inclueding sauge.