.357 lever action rifle for PA whitetail/ PA black bear...good choice?!?

[Buckmark.35]

Originally Posted by CoyoteJack

To me issue isn't whether or not they can get the job done it is one of wanting to do what I can to insure as humane a death to the animal as possible. To that end I use ample power for the task and don't take shots I don't feel are suitable for a clean kill. This is the reason I don't hunt archery. I've shot or seen shot several deer that had festered wounds from arrows that missed the vitals. I've seen the same thing with old bullet wounds but not nearly as often.

Naturally. I think the point we're making is that it's hard to be "under gunned" for whitetail. I don't use anything under .30 calber. I know people swear by their .243 and .270... just not my cup of tea.

[stopphillysmrdrrate]

no I think it is very easy to be undergunned especially using the lower end off the .22 caliber round..the .243 is the very minimum even that round is a better varmit round than whitetail

[Buckmark.35]

Originally Posted by stopphillysmrdrrate

no I think it is very easy to be undergunned especially using the lower end off the .22 caliber round..the .243 is the very minimum even that round is a better varmit round than whitetail

The point I'm trying to make is that since you can successfully take deer with one of the least powerful cartridges out there.. Using a caliber that is legal for deer (i.e. Centerfire) would provide you with plenty "gun". In this case, the .357 is absolutely adequate for whitetail..

[stopphillysmrdrrate]

ok that is your opinion but taking a deer with any handgun under a 44 mag is careless and nonethical

[andrewmyers]

Originally Posted by stopphillysmrdrrate

ok that is your opinion but taking a deer with any handgun under a 44 mag is careless and nonethical

wow..anyone else see the irony?

[stopphillysmrdrrate]

not a city boy here haha..born and raised in northern Wayne county..it's all in good fun guys I value everyone's opinion.

[TaePo]

Gentlemen (and ladies), hard to tell by screen names, the caliber is considered a handgun caliber but they are using it in a lever actioned Marlin rifle. I happen to have one myself.

Remember, the longer the barrel the more push from the explosion. So a snubby would fire the projectile at a much slower velocity than the carbine would. Look at some data tables / velocities. I think in a rifle, a 357 adequate for deer.

[CoyoteJack]

Originally Posted by TaePo

Gentlemen (and ladies), hard to tell by screen names, the caliber is considered a handgun caliber but they are using it in a lever actioned Marlin rifle. I happen to have one myself.

Remember, the longer the barrel the more push from the explosion. So a snubby would fire the projectile at a much slower velocity than the carbine would. Look at some data tables / velocities. I think in a rifle, a 357 adequate for deer.

I just did for a refresh. In comparison a .243 generally has more energy at 200 yrds than a .357 out of a rifle at the muzzle, and still as much at 400 yrds than the .357 does at 100. A .30-30 can have more energy at 300 yrds than a .357 does at 100. So then that should mean all other things equal that a .243 is good to 400yrds for deer and a .30-30 is a good 200 yrds + deer gun.

That same .357 drops anywhere from 8 to over 12 inches at a mere 100 yrds. IMO only such a caliber is adequate for shooting deer inside bow range only and then with a well placed shot. Sure it makes for a good brag back at deer camp to have shot your deer with a lesser caliber but from the stand point of ensuring a humane end for the deer it is questionable.

Granted energy isn't the only aspect of bullet performance. Good expansion and such play a role as well. Still the thread is about opinions and as usually individual differences in opinions are rarely changed.

[stopphillysmrdrrate]

thank you coyotejack exactly my point

[kmrcstintn]

ya gotta luv the fact that this thread was deader than a western ghost town when I opened it and was seeking feedback and has caused a controversy after hunting season when the info is no longer relavent...

just to let y'all know that the majority of my deer rifle season was done with my Savage 111G in .25-06 w/ 100 gr Remington CoreLokt PSP's and the only day I actually used the Marlin was on the last day when we were moving to multiple locations on the property trying to push deer into one another; I figured that a 35-50 yard shot was definitely all that I would be presented with;

heard alot of movement, does mewing, a buck grunting...hell I even kicked one out going to my stand the first morning...in the pitch dark; didn't see a damn thing...

the 1894 carbine experiment is over...she'll become a recreational shooter and infrequent hunting camp defensive firearm when we scout higher on the mountain where the bears/coyotes roam around...case closed