RE: .357 for deer
 

take your rifle and your pistol thats what i say if its a long shot use the rifle if its coming in close use the pistol or just use the pistol if you end up shooting all your rifle shells and have no more or if to finish off the deer <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: .357 for deer
 

Pabuckhunter has a good Idea. That is how I get all my pistol shots. I always carry a side when Im rifle hunting and like he said when they come in close I use my pistol. I have shot a few deer with my pistol that I would have never had with a rifle. I do a lot of still hunting and when a deer walks up on you and you have no cover a pistol is heaven sent to have.

RE: .357 for deer
 

I like to still hunt when I hunt with a handgun ( I use a S+ W .44 mag ) not that I don't think a .357 wont get the job done it's more that I Like the .44. The idea of still hunting to me is get into what would be considered bow range 20 - 40 yards. If this is what you were thinking a .357 would work fine. I find it much easier to still hunt with a handgun too.

RE: .357 for deer
 

In North Carolina, .357 was the minimum. However, there was a 6 inch barrel mininmum as well. In New Hampshire, there are no restrictions (&quot;Live Free or Die&quot;)

I personally consider the .41 Mag a minumum. I've shot several small - medium game animals with a .357 and many required an additional shot if not two. For Deer, I like me .44

RE: .357 for deer
 

Unless you are talking a short range shot, I don't think I would try it. You want something that will put the animal down as fast as possible.

RE: .357 for deer
 

I've used 170 grain JHP's out of both, my scoped Dan Wesson with 8 inch barrel and my Marlin rifle. Yes, I limit my shots to around 75 yards or so (first off, it's usually less distances due to where I hunt, and second, it falls within the same distance as shotgun ranges that I'm used to). I worked up a relatively stout load using 296 powder that offers good power and accuracy.

In Georgia, where I used to live back in the 80's, there's a minimum energy requirement that basically would only allow very few commercial 357 loadings, hence the foray into reloading.

RE: .357 for deer
 

I've hunted with a Ruger GP 100, 357 Mag using 180 gr Winchester Partition Gold. I've shot 357 Mag for the last 30 years simply because I enjoy shooting this caliber during deer season and all year round. I've probably shot 30,000 rounds through my GP 100 and it performs just as good as the day I bought it. When I'm hunting, I carry a rifle and a 357 Mag. If the range is within 50 yards, I take the deer with the 357. I only use open sights. I find it much more challenging and exciting to take game with a good handgun.

RE: .357 for deer
 

The daughter-in-law got her first deer with a 357, 6&quot; bbl. Sitting in the crotch of a tree. The 6 point crossed on her right side, and using a 12ga. as a primary weapon couldn't get on him, pulled the 357, 3 shots, 2 hits, one in the boiler room. We later found that the 3rd. shot hit a limb as the deer crossed in front of it. He did travel 80 yds across an open field. Her husband was quite proud,(and a little jealous.)

RE: .357 for deer
 

Wow how did I miss a handgun hunting question. Well yes it will work but try to keep your shots to under 75 yards and use heavy bullets like 180gr xtp and push them to about 1100+ fps and you will be fine. Yes there are better cartridges out there but it can be done and has been done many many many times with the 357mag. Good luck and have fun and by all means practice practice practice and practice some more.

Brian

RE: .357 for deer
 

.357 in Indiana. It will work.