I have a chance to pick up a Marlin 1894C chambered in .38 special/.357 magnum.

Would this rifle have the ballistics suitable for deer hunting out to 100-200 yards using the .357 bullet?

Thanks

According to the ballistic charts I would say 100 yards would be a max . Beyond that its pretty weak in ft lbs energy . Thats just my opinion though .

I' m thinking more like 75 yards. 357 loses energy pretty fast.

no.....don' t buy it for deer.....it' s horribly anemic!!!

I would stay away from the .357 mag for deer hunting. If you like the Marlin carbines I would get a .44 mag. The .357 especially with .38 spls would be a great plinker though.

Inside of 150 yds. it will serve you very well as a deer rifle. It gets about a 300-500 fps velocity boost from the rifle barrel over a pistol. It has more velocity at 100 yds., that at muzzle from a pistol. And therefore, if a pistol 357 is good for deer out to 50 yds., this will be good for them out to 150.

Stay away from light bullets and JHPs.

Go to http://www.marlinfirearms.com
Follow the link to " marlin talk" , and then 1894 forum. You' ll be able to find much more info here.

Good luck and happy hunting.

have you considered the 1894 in .41 magnum , it' s still chambered in the ruger blackhawk , and is superior to the .357 , it' s kind of like a compromise between the .44 and .357 to be truthful , and is very capable of taking deer sized game