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

[kmrcstintn]

I own a Marlin 1894C lever action carbine in .357 magnum that I got for fun shooting and a camp rifle; dad is up in age and has lost some body mass and I want setup the .357 mag carbine for him this year for PA whitetail & possibly PA black bear; my concern deals with the lethal capability within 75 to 100 yards; he favors Remington CoreLokt 165 gr jhp with Federal Corelokt 180 solid lead as a 2nd choice; I'm thinking of Federal American Eagle 158 gr softpoint...

ideas, comments, advice?!?

[Punisher]

Originally Posted by kmrcstintn

I own a Marlin 1894C lever action carbine in .357 magnum that I got for fun shooting and a camp rifle; dad is up in age and has lost some body mass and I want setup the .357 mag carbine for him this year for PA whitetail & possibly PA black bear; my concern deals with the lethal capability within 75 to 100 yards; he favors Remington CoreLokt 165 gr jhp with Federal Corelokt 180 solid lead as a 2nd choice; I'm thinking of Federal American Eagle 158 gr softpoint...

ideas, comments, advice?!?

personally, i'd go with the american eagle 158gr - i've had too many problems with the remington corelokt although, the federal seems to do ok, but that's a heavy bullet - i might use that on black bear, but i don't think it's necessary for white tail deer.........

[WMG]

O.K , 1st lets all do the thing where we agree the 22LR will kill a deer , ok , now lets move on. The 357 in a rifle is fine for deer however it is my BELIEF that you are getting close to the point where it is not a good choice , so what does that tell you I think of it for bear?
Now for deer the 165 rem would be a good one so long as the gun feeds/shoots them and I feel you would make do with the federal promo 158gr soft points
However PA bear are getting bigger , is it goin be a 250 pounder or a 500 - 600 pounder????????????? If you choose the 357 for this the federal cast cores are just about the only way to go i FEEL so long as the gun shoots/feeds them , the bears have fat and hair that makes them not bleed much keep this in mind , and there is no way I would give the man who fed and clothed and housed me for 17 yrs a 357 loaded with the fed promo 158's with the hopes he gets to sling some lead at a bear , esp one of unknown size ...... I would be ashamed of myself. I also ASSUME this is a mirco grooved barrel , try those cast cores and see what happens , they are a great bullet/load , they ain't cheap .... but then again .... neither was him raising you all them yrs either.But for the record I say get a different bear gun , get the 1894 in 44mag at least , and yes use the cast cores there to , they are 300grains of whooop ass
And the 165 357 bullets do not suffer the same type of blow ups experienced often with the rifle ammo , these are tuff handgun bullets , they could come apart but I have never seen the 165gr 357 or the 275 gr 44mag one do this ..... hell the 275gr one in 44mag could shoot threw a tank and still be reloadable I think

[1927A1]

When it comes to handgun loads for bear it would be a wise hunter to have a partner with a high powered rifle near.

[knight0334]

357 will do just fine for deer, although at a limited range. I've taken them with my old Colt Python. And for black bear, I was in a hunting party 3 years ago and a member took a blacky in Penfield with his 357.

Deer = 125-158gr slugs
Bear = 158gr slugs minimum

[imashooter2]

There are a few guys over at the Marlin Owners Forums that have taken more deer with an 1894C than you've had hot breakfasts. They almost universally recommend 158 grain soft points.

I love my 1894C and I load some nice hot 180 grain cast loads that would penetrate quite a ways and shoot marvelous groups. But if I was leaving the house looking for bear, the 1894C would be in the safe.

[kmrcstintn]

guess I shoulda been more specific...

purpose: hunting deer

just in case: bear wanders in and decides to get ornery

Federal CastCore 180's shoot high and right...just like in everything else we've tested to include several 6" S&W 686's and a 6" Ruger GP100; the rifle loves 158's all day long; BTW: Ballard rifling, not MicroGroove & CastCores are highly hardened w/ antimony which reduces lead fouling and allows deep penetration

consider the subject closed!!!

[stopphillysmrdrrate]

A .357 is a horrible whitetail choice at least get a .44 unless you like tracking deer for miles or missing totally

[kmrcstintn]

thank you, but...from my last posting...

consider the subject closed!!!

[ar15jules]

Originally Posted by knight0334

357 will do just fine for deer, although at a limited range. I've taken them with my old Colt Python. And for black bear, I was in a hunting party 3 years ago and a member took a blacky in Penfield with his 357.

Deer = 125-158gr slugs
Bear = 158gr slugs minimum

How much did the bear weigh?
Jules