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Old November 8, 2015, 06:01 AM   #26
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Deja vu, of those 30 Idaho mule deer what ranges were they taken at out of curiosity?
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Old November 8, 2015, 11:17 PM   #27
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typically 50-100 yards. I dont think I would go much farther than that (may be 120) I have gotten them as close as 10 yards before.

Where I hunt up near the selway the area is very wooded so not a lot of chances for long shot unlike most of Idaho.

since my son has my old marlin I went and got a new 357 magnum rifle. This one is a Ruger 77/357 and its scoped with a Leupold CDS dial and it even has a suppressor! I still kept iron sights on it just in case.
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Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull.

all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...
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Old November 12, 2015, 06:00 PM   #28
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A 357 rifle is no were near a 30-30.
No, but it handily matches the published data for an AK 47

I've clocked 125gr JHP at over 2200fps from the .357 Marlin carbine. Plenty fast enough and plenty of energy.

HOWEVER, the drawback with the .357 in a carbine is FACTORY AMMO, loaded with PISTOL bullets.

Particularly the 125s. The are optimized for performance from 4-6" and from an 18" carbine they are going too fast to do well when they hit. They tend to "blow up", and some guns just won't shoot them accurately.

The 158s are generally better performers, not being driven as fast, and so closer to their designed velocity performance range.

If you want penetration and consistent performance, go with either a FMJ or better, a hard cast SWC. Forget expansion with these bullets.

Quote:
My youngest brother dumped a full mag. (Marlin) into a fair sized hog and it only ticked it off, two 30-06 rounds dropped it.
Which only proves your brother is a poor shot and the guy with the 06 wasn't.

I watched a friend put 3 158gr Luballoy SWC in a skunk without stopping it. CLose range (dozen yards, or less). All shots went in aft the diaphragm. HE gut shot it. 3 times. Nothing wrong with the rifle (marlin) or the ammo (Winchester) the fault was ENTIRELY with the shooter.

I won't hunt with him, or even dispatch varmints with him, as after 3 tries and fails he begged me to finish the skunk. Disgusting. yes, I did, one .45Colt to the head ended the poor beasts suffering.

Anytime I hear about this or that round failing, I think of this, and how 99.99% of the time, its neither the gun nor the ammo at fault.
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Old November 12, 2015, 08:31 PM   #29
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.357 sure gains mightily from the longer smoke pole, no questions there.

It'd be good for deer and MAYBE even lightly built pigs at distances under 50 yards, but no more. Just not enough power IMHO.
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Old November 13, 2015, 09:44 AM   #30
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Quote:
It'd be good for deer and MAYBE even lightly built pigs at distances under 50 yards, but no more.

If its effective deer range from a rifle is under 50 yeards, then what do you consider it's effective range from a 6" revolver?
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Old November 13, 2015, 02:11 PM   #31
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Within it's parameters and the skill level of the shooter, a .357 rifle is just as effective on deer size game as any other caliber. No different than a bow or crossbow. Anyone who disputes this does not know what the 'ell they are talking about. Problems arise when folks without the skills needed, shooting at excessive distances and using improper bullets for the job, take to the field with one. No different than with any other caliber or platform. I've taken several deer with a .357 revolver and none went more than 40 yards. I've also taken a couple with a .357 carbine. Same ending.
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Old November 13, 2015, 07:12 PM   #32
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The paramount factor is the skill of the shooter, both in their knowledge of deer anatomy AND their ability to put the shot in just the right place, for the weapon used at the range needed.

Fail in any of this, with ANYTHING and you fail to cleanly take the game.

Many, many deer have been killed with guns of lower power than the .357 Magnum. The energy is not the issue, the shooter's ability to deliver it properly is.

And that includes choosing a suitable bullet (and speed) for the shot to be taken. If you don't have a bullet that will reliably punch through heavy bone, DON'T SHOOT through heavy bone. Its really that simple.

If that means you pass on some shots, then that's what an ethical hunter does.
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Old November 14, 2015, 08:57 AM   #33
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I know an ex green beret who shoots deer in the head with a 22 magnum rifle.
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Old November 14, 2015, 06:22 PM   #34
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I know an ex green beret who shoots deer in the head with a 22 magnum rifle.
And I knew an old hillbilly who ate venison year round because he was deadly with a .22LR.

Also met an old fellow in his early 80s who had just taken his 6th elk with a .243Win. And I have heard that Inuit consider the .243 to be a "heavy" round and use it for polar bear.

What you use isn't as important as being able to use it well.
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Old November 15, 2015, 01:04 PM   #35
buck460XVR
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I know an ex green beret who shoots deer in the head with a 22 magnum rifle.

Don't know what that has to do with legally hunting deer with a .357 rifle. Poachers around here regularly do it with .22 shorts.....less noise, doubt very much if any of them were Green berets tho. What does being a Green Beret have to do with it? Does that make it legal or a good thing?
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Old November 16, 2015, 03:51 AM   #36
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Just means shooting a deer in the head with a 357 ought to get'er done.
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Old November 16, 2015, 06:56 PM   #37
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if you are useing custom loaded shells in a .357 rifle, lets use custom loads in a 30-30 rifle. a 125gr 30 cal bullet can be pushed over 2600fps at 35,000 cup and a 150gr 30 cal bullet at 2400 fps at 38,000 cup with out breaking any thing. and if you use pointed bullets in a 30-30 bolt action(rem-788-savage 340) or (H&R handi rifle) single shot rifle, the 357 mag don,t look so hot. eastbank.
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Old November 18, 2015, 05:47 PM   #38
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http://palmettostatearmory.com/hsm-3...-357-18-n.html

Hard, heavy, and relatively cheap compared to other boutique heavy 357 ammo like Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap.
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Old November 20, 2015, 09:06 AM   #39
Matt M
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Has anyone tried the Lehigh xtreme penetrator? Underwood Ammunition loads those bullets hot so I hear. It looks like it may be a good hunting round.

https://www.underwoodammo.com/357-ma...me-penetrator/
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Old November 20, 2015, 09:55 AM   #40
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As mentioned in an earlier post, if the OP would be comfortable as to the lethality of
a 357MAG handgun put right up to the chest of a White Tail and trigger pulled, then
he gets the same result w/ a rifle out to ~75 yards.

The game is then all about shot placement & discipline.
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Old February 21, 2019, 10:53 PM   #41
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Putting the paddles to this old thread.

Am working up field loads, both Factory and Handloads, for the RUGER 77/357.



I'll start w/ this vid, as I found it very interesting.




Sighted in for a MPBR(3") (+/- 1.5"), I get a Max-range of ~ 125 yards - and at that range a Velocity of ~ 1370 fps, and ~ 660 Lb-ft of Energy.

Should be good for 150 yards (~ 1300 fps/600 Lb-ft) with ~ 4 inches of hold-over.

Under 50 yards, this round is a little over-stressed, but is very dynamic.


The XTP FP would probably be a better bullet at this velocity, but I got a few boxes of the HDY Custom on sale, and then a pile of the FM loading of this bullet at a ball ammo price.


So it's a start.




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Last edited by Red Devil; February 21, 2019 at 11:21 PM.
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Old February 22, 2019, 02:33 PM   #42
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"100 years ago, the 32 WCF (aka 32-20) was considered an entirely adequate deer cartridge (deer being kind of on the smallish end of "big game")."

I've got a Winchester m1892 in 32-20 and cringe thinking about deer being shot with them. The .32 is misleading... it's a cool caliber, but pretty puny overall.

On another note, to whoever said a snub 357 is useless... I've got one and sure as hell wouldn't want to be shot with it!
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Old February 22, 2019, 02:55 PM   #43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clockwork65 View Post
"100 years ago, the 32 WCF (aka 32-20) was considered an entirely adequate deer cartridge (deer being kind of on the smallish end of "big game")."

I've got a Winchester m1892 in 32-20 and cringe thinking about deer being shot with them. The .32 is misleading... it's a cool caliber, but pretty puny overall.

On another note, to whoever said a snub 357 is useless... I've got one and sure as hell wouldn't want to be shot with it!
This vid pretty much puts the snub-nosed .357 Mag to rest.




As for the .357 Mag. Carbine?

This is a Federal AE 158 gr. JSP at 135 yards.


Sighted in for a MPBR(3") (+/- 1.5"), I get a Max-range of ~ 125 yards - and at that range a Velocity of ~ 1350 fps, and ~ 635 Lb-ft of Energy.

Should be good for 150 yards (~ 1270 fps/565 Lb-ft) with ~ 4 inches of hold-over.

Under 50 yards, this round mushrooms nicely and really plows in.






Red
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Old February 22, 2019, 03:16 PM   #44
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Red - I'm not saying it's going to halt a charging Kodiak. But based on the video, 1250fps with the right bullet is still going to leave a mark...
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Old February 22, 2019, 03:39 PM   #45
Red Devil
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clockwork65 View Post
Red - I'm not saying it's going to halt a charging Kodiak. But based on the video, 1250fps with the right bullet is still going to leave a mark...
The way I figure it - If the Carbine produces 158-180 gr. (or 140 gr. copper) Point-blank range/6" Revolver performance at 150 yards?

Then it should put a nice big hole through most anything tasty in the field.




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Old February 22, 2019, 06:04 PM   #46
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Firepower you can reload the 357 for a rifle. I do not know of any one that loads 357 for a rifle so reloads is it. The Hodgdon reloading book has the 357 loading in it the Western Powders reloading book does NOT have it I know there is different reloading book that does have it GOOD LUCK
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Old February 22, 2019, 09:46 PM   #47
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Whee! A double necro!
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