357 magnum for deer?
03-10-2012, 02:59 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 136
357 magnum for deer?
i have myself selling several guns lately and one was my deer rifle. i have been trying to figure out how to get another cheaper gun and ammo. i came up with the nef 357 magnum, i've owned nef's in the past and they have been good guns. since i have a 357 magnum revolver a 357 rifle makes sense to me as i can just get one kind of ammo and save money. i hunt in kentucky woods where my shots will be 100yds or less. so will a 357 magnum be a good whitetail deer gun at 100yds or less? thanks
03-10-2012, 04:01 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pa
Posts: 4,647
i dont think its a true 100 yard gun... will it kill a deer at 100 yards prob... a 22 could prob kill a deer at 100 yards but i wouldnt deer hunt with one...
03-10-2012, 04:21 PM
#3
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Seagrove N.C. USA
Posts: 7,281
i have myself selling several guns lately and one was my deer rifle. i have been trying to figure out how to get another cheaper gun and ammo. i came up with the nef 357 magnum, i've owned nef's in the past and they have been good guns. since i have a 357 magnum revolver a 357 rifle makes sense to me as i can just get one kind of ammo and save money. i hunt in kentucky woods where my shots will be 100yds or less. so will a 357 magnum be a good whitetail deer gun at 100yds or less? thanks
It is what I use.
Winchester 94AE 357 magnum.
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Rifle (18" Barrel) Velocity
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At 50 yards Energy (ft-lbs) 1632 / Energy (ft-lbs) 828
At 100 yards Velocity (fps) 1272 / Energy (ft-lbs) 503
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Last edited by jrbsr; 03-10-2012 at 07:35 PM.
03-10-2012, 04:47 PM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
Not a very good idea, especially if it's only to try and save several bucks on ammo!
03-10-2012, 05:54 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Audubon & Red Rock, Penna.
Posts: 4,472
What kind of bullets? 158gr hollow points? What velocity? Around 1000fps? Pretty marginal for deer - especially if shots aren't perfect broadside. Penetration and energy are pretty low. Minimum rifle I would go is 30-30. If you want a rifle in a pistol caliber, get a 44 mag, use heavy bullets and keep shots inside 75 yards.
03-10-2012, 06:53 PM
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 970
Wow. A .357 with modern ammo out of a rifle has better, the same at worst, ballistics than the old 30-30 unless you handload.
It's a perfectly good hunting round out to 100 yards.
Let's face it, the 30-30 is a bygone cartridge that has been surpassed many times over. It's a nostalgic round more so than anything else.
It's a perfectly good hunting round out to 100 yards.
Let's face it, the 30-30 is a bygone cartridge that has been surpassed many times over. It's a nostalgic round more so than anything else.
03-10-2012, 07:55 PM
#7
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 136
being out of work has put me in a place thats hard. with a 357 handgun i really need to get a 357 rifle because money is tight. i respect the animals i hunt and will not take a shot unless its a good one. i passed up this past deer season a 10pt buck because he was about 75yds moving thru brush and would not stop. i took a nice doe that did stop, i believe in being ethical when hunting.
03-10-2012, 09:39 PM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Port Neches, Texas
Posts: 5,514
[quote=Sfury;3919831]Wow. A .357 with modern ammo out of a rifle has better, the same at worst, ballistics than the old 30-30 unless you handload. [quote]
I'm not a great fan of the 30-30, but in this case I'll have to defend it! The 30-30 has nearly twice what the .357 has to offer ballistically. Also, Leverlution has breathed new life in the older calibers.
I'm not a great fan of the 30-30, but in this case I'll have to defend it! The 30-30 has nearly twice what the .357 has to offer ballistically. Also, Leverlution has breathed new life in the older calibers.
03-10-2012, 10:32 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: PA
Posts: 1,778
Take prudent shots and you'll be ok.
03-11-2012, 01:55 AM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,926
Someone will use and try the marginal
Of course, bullets have improved over the last twenty five years. Cartridges aren't exactly the same.
.357 magnum was seen as marginal in a revolver on deer, but was seen as adequate by some.
It may never be a case of if they work. When will we hear of cases when they don't work. Don't work on the highly prized trophy deer. Get a testimonial account of the bullet that didn't work. If it doesn't work? And what really is marginal to use? For some or many?
.357 magnum was seen as marginal in a revolver on deer, but was seen as adequate by some.
It may never be a case of if they work. When will we hear of cases when they don't work. Don't work on the highly prized trophy deer. Get a testimonial account of the bullet that didn't work. If it doesn't work? And what really is marginal to use? For some or many?