Hunting deer with .357?

[Glock17]

I was considering going deer hunting this year with my .357. I don't feeling like carrying my .30-.30 around, plus I haven't had time to site in the scope.

Does anyone have any advice for or against? What about cartridges?

[smoke-wagon]

i think the .357 will definately do the job for deer, alot of people will suggest a larger caliber such as .41 magnum and up but my friend's dad has been hunting with his python for years. the smaller projectile does definately make it a little more "challenging" but not impossible, jus be sure you can keep your rounds on a paper plate at the range you want to be able to shoot at. for cartridge, i would recommend buffalo bore 158 grain:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...con&hasJS=true

180 grain is a bigger bullet but with a smaller bullet you want as much penetration as possible so if the deer is not downed immediately you can track the trail of blood from the exit wound. what kind of gun are you using? the 180 grain bullets may not fit all .357 cylinders but if you're using say a ruger then corbon also offers a 200 grain .357 magnum. i would also recommend a barrel length of atleast 6 inches, the longer sight radius will come in handy and add velocity as well. hope this helps you.

[27hand]

I know an ex LEO who uses his .357 4" bbled S&W regularly and tells me he has killed deer out to about 50 yds.

I have hunted pretty thick cover and put aside the .06 and pulled my .357 to use as my primary gun although I have never shot a deer with that pistol.

I have shot a deer with my .44 mag Redhawk.

I would say if you can hit a pieplate consistantly at the range you will commit to a shot, you are good to go.

I personally would make sure it is a good deer presentation before pulling the trigger as tracking wounded deer takes the fun out of the hunt.

I have passed on deer in archery that were 10 yds further than I practice.

Good luck,

27hand

[Glock17]

It is a Taurus 66, 6 inch barrel.

[WMG]

I have used handloaded bullx 158 gr swc in the 357 , that is what I like to use with the 357 on deer , others feel different

[Chazman321]

Only thing I can suggest, is to use semi-wadcutter's. When it comes to penetration, an SWC is hard to beat, and you can get them rather heavy... Go for it, I know quite a few people that hunt with revolvers...

Or you could always go out and buy a bolt action .270 pistol, those look cool... lol

[shermdo]

+1 for Buffalo Bore ammo for the .357mag.

[Xringshooter]

A good 158 gr JSP in a magnum load should be good for most of the deer in PA. Same with a good 158 gr SWC (jacketed or not).

[Hokkmike]

I tried it one year with my S&W 686. It was fun but very limiting. It is amazing the number of bucks that I could have shot with a rifle that I saw while carrying my handgun. It is as if they knew. Personally, I would not hunt again with a .357 magnum. I would require a .44 magnum. My advice, get the rifle sighted in and use it.
Whatever you decide have fun and be careful!

[Pa. Patriot]

+1 on the SWC. Most hollow points will expand too much (they're designed for defense against thinner, softer humans).
I've never hunted with a 357 but a 240gr SWC 44MAG is an awesome deer round. decent expansion and always a 100% pass through for me even on a solid shoulder hit.

I look at handgun hunting the same as bow hunting. Get them in close, wait for and only take the shot that your 100% confident you can connect with the vitals on and you'll be fine.

Another tip, practice shooting from field positions/conditions. Shooting at paper off a sandbag/bench is really no help, especially with a handgun. If you use a treestand, or blind get in it and practice. You may find some important things out that you would not be able to deal with with a nice buck 20 yards in front of you