357 handgun for deer?

Stephen Grace · 11-14-2003, 07:38 PM

357 mag pistol on deer? experiences?

Vapodog · 11-14-2003, 07:50 PM

If the range is very close and the shot is in the " right" place.....

I personally consider the .41 Mag a minimum for deer.

sam 444 · 11-15-2003, 07:50 AM

I have killed 2 deer with my 357 magnum.Both deer were shot from a treestand ,one at 40 yds and the other at 55 yds.Both deer dropped within 20 yds of being hit.I use the hornady 140 gr XTP bullet.
My handgun is a ruger gp100 witha 6 inch barrel and a 2x-7x scope.

Nomercy · 11-15-2003, 09:08 AM

Ok, here' s the skinny on it...if you' re an archery hunter, a .357mag is plenty good medicine, if you' re a rifle hunter only, the short range of the .357mag will probably drive you nuts. It' s a good round for deer under 50yrds, and only that far if you shoot better than most, basically, we' re talking about a range under 35yrds. With good bullets, there' s nothing wrong with it out to that range, I recommend a keith bullet, or lead round nosed, but Speer gold dots and other soft points are good too. I' ve had good experience with Winchester super-x half jacketed soft points too.-for factory ammo.

James B · 11-15-2003, 01:59 PM

If you can shoot a three inch group at 50 yards with it then you should have no trouble out to 50 yards. You want to be sure you can place that bellet within an inch or two of where you aim to use that small caliber handgun. I think I would stay with a good 158 grain jacketed bullet. I carry mine when I deer hunt but have only used it for finishing off a few critter. I like a 44 mag for handgun deer hunting.

dog72 · 11-15-2003, 08:53 PM

Go with the 180gr jhp, or a hardcast keith style semiwadcutter, and keep shots to around 50 yards. I would avoid lead roundnoses, the factory ones are loaded at low velocity to prevent barrel leading at .357 mag speeds, and they don' t do much tissue damage.

Nomercy · 11-16-2003, 08:30 AM

Good point Dog, I' ve never bought factory loaded lead round nosed cartridges, so I tend to forget the difference in the factory loadings...

Deleted User · 11-16-2003, 08:44 AM

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Stephen Grace · 11-20-2003, 10:55 PM

Thanks for the replies. I am going to give it a go fri am during our slug season. they said we could use a handgun or slug gun. Normally the handgun season isn' t till mid january. I bowhunt the same areas so should be a close range proposition. Most my shotgun deer have all been 40yds or less.I have shot it quite a bit but I will keep the yardage close being new at this. I have some different types of the bullets you guys mentioned so that' s what I' ll use. Thanks and good luck deer hunting.