.357 Mag Rifle for Deer

[shaman]

Greetings from a long-time lurker and a first-time poster. I have come into a 357 Mag Marlin Lever Rifle, and I'm very intrigued by it.

Since early fall, I have been carrying it whenever I get away from the house to ward off the critters. I figure 158 grain hardcast SWC will do a nice job on a coyote. Now I'm thinking what it will take to make it a deer rifle.

I don't want to push the envelope. I don't mean to try to make it into a 30-06, but I figure with the proper loads it should be able to take a deer out to 80 yards.

What are y'all's recommendations?

Funny, I was looking at this thing with dark thoughts about turkeys. It's a shame KY does not allow rifles for turkeys. I figure a light 38 special target load would be awesome on a gobbler in the spring. It always galls me that I have to take out a shotgun that has all the recoil of an elephant gun just to shoot a dang 20lb bird. Oh well (sigh!)

[Mescalero]

When I was young,N.M. allowed .22Mag for turkey.
I always looked forward to that hunt.
Then some moron made it shotgun only, have not done it since.

[Pisgah]

>> It always galls me that I have to take out a shotgun that has all the recoil of an elephant gun just to shoot a dang 20lb bird. Oh well (sigh!)

So, do what I do. Most of my turkey hunting is in fairly dense woods with shots not exceeding 25 yards. My granddaddy's old Winchester Model 42 .410 does a stellar job for me.

[shaman]

Ah! But KY also does not allow .410 for turkey. (Sigh!)

So, how do I turn this thing into a viable deer rifle?

[TedH]

Just about any stoutly constructed 158 gr. bullet will do for deer. Many others here, myself included, prefer a wide flat nose hard cast bullet of 180 grains. Excellent short range deer getter.

[TedH]

Oh by the way, welcome to the group!

[vancelw]

I prefer a 158gr JSP for deer. I seldom use .357 and prefer .44 mag or .45 Colt in my pistol cartridge guns, but it can get the job done if you are familiar with your rifle and stay within it's limitations.

[castcat]

have taken deer with 94 trapper 16" barrel using lil' gun mag primer and rem 158 grain jacketed soft point not hollow point getting 1900 fps from that gun

[jmiller]

I've shot quite a few with the 357 in a Marlin lever gun. My favorite load was with 296 powder using a Hornady XTP 158g HP. I've killed deer out to 100yds with no problem and got a couple further than that with no problem. Deer just aren't that hard to kill. Shot placement trumps muzzle energy every time.

[Old Ironsights]

180gr Buffalo Bore hardcast is deadly on midwest whitetails out to 100yds...

[Rusty]

Welcome Shaman. Do you have a Marlin or a '92 clone?

Both will work just fine. Stick with 158 or 180 gr and you'll do fine.

[44-40 Willy]

I've killed several deer with a 357 rifle. Like mentioned above, they're not that hard to kill if you do your part.

I've got a cousin who killed 2 or 3 deer a year with her Marlin 1894 in 357 Mag using cheap factory 125gr JSPs. A couple of weeks ago, Mrs Willy got a nice 5 point buck with my Navy Arms 1892 in 357 Mag using my handloads of a 145gr Winchester Silvertip in front of a middling load of H110. It was her first deer. She's put the claim on my rifle now.

[Griff]

and Welcome to THE Forum.

[shaman]

Thanks all for the welcome. As I said, I've been here for years, quietly lurking and enjoying things. This is just the first time I've been moved to ask a question.

BTW: It's a Marlin Lever. My deer hunting buddy was lightening his load in preparation for a move, and I'd always thought a 357 Mag rifle would be handy to have. I had not really thought about it as a deer rifle until one day I was out pre-season scouting with my son, Angus, and we had the rifle along in case one of the coyotes or feral dogs showed up-- they've been a problem lately. Angus asked me what would happen if the CO showed up-- would he cite us for hunting deer out of season. I said that I didn't think so. He then asked me if the rifle would be useful for deer. That's what got me to thinking.

I added my signature line to my profile. Y'all are welcome anytime. The link goes to my weblog. I'm on the pro-staff for Deer and Deer Hunting and Turkey and Turkey Hunting, and I frequently post my ramblings up there. Some of y'all may know me from 24HourCampfire. I'm that shaman.

As to lever guns in general, I have a few, and I really like them. My GoTo deer rifle is a Savage 99 in 308 WIN that I download to 300 Savage levels. I've carried it on the Opener since 2003, it has only taken bucks, and mostly big bucks at close range. I've taken my camp's #1, #3, and #4 bucks with it, so it's kind of my lucky charm.

I also have a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Frankly I haven't had quite as good luck with it-- had some strange results early on. That was our family Yute Rifle for many years-- both my sons started deer hunting with it. I've got a bunch of stories on it and the other rifles on the website.

44-40 Willy has it right: Whitetails are not that hard to kill. Hunting them can be devilishly hard, but the killing's easy.

[Old Savage]

Welcome

[tman]

Welcome. I agree that your piece would make and excellent turkey/deer combo. The BB 180 hardcasts mentioned above should handle any North American game out to 100 yards. Unfortunatley PENNA. doesn't allow the .357 for turkey

[JerryB]

Welcome to a great forum. My gunsmith's young son has taken several deer with a Rossi single shot rifle in .357 mag. His son is small so he loads the Remington soft lead hollow point in 38spl cases with the +P load for him.

[Marlin32]

I have shot quite a few deer with it. All under 50 yards, 180gr Fed hollow point.
I would bet the buffalo bore 180 would do the trick as well.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Welcome. Although I own several .357 mag. rifles I have yet to hunt with any of them.
Others say they will do the job and I believe them. Hit em where it counts and within a range you can put the bullet there 100% of the time.

[GonnePhishin]

Welcome sir to the forum. Lots of good information from extremely knowledgeable people here. Sit by the fire and git yerself warmed

[1894c]

HELLO... :)

[RustyJr]

Welcome to the forum. As others have already said the 357 will do fine for deer. I may be mistaken but I believe that Veral Smith's wife has used her 357 Magnum rifle on elk with success.

RustyJr

[Old Ironsights]

110 yds, stepped-off. Deer on the run from being busted out of bed. (You can see the deer just between the front tire & my FiL...)



The Bullet:

The Damage:



I think the .357 will do just fine.

[shaman]

That was your 180 grain Buffalo Bullet that did that?

Sir, you have my attention.

[BigSky56]

There isnt a animal in NA that hasnt been dropped with a 357 in a handgun with 158 & 173 gr cast bullets so I'd say a 357 in a rifle might have the edge over a handgun. A 158-160 will hammer a deer if you are going after larger game use a heavier bullet and adjust the alloy to suit the job. danny

[Mescalero]

Bug Sky,
What's the load you carry in your Ruger?

[Tycer]

That was your 180 grain Buffalo Bullet that did that?

Sir, you have my attention.

Yep. Looks like he hit the foreleg on the on side. Those flat point bullets will send bone frags in a very wide dispersal under the hide if you hit a leg first. If you don't pick up bone on the way, you can eat right up to the hole on cast.

This is was a flat point. Frontal, this is where it entered the ham from the body cavity after passing through the heart and everything else. I've not shot a front-on shot on a deer since this one. yuk. Other than the rumen stains, notice how clean the hole is. Looks like someone pushed a 5/8" needle all the way through the animal. Those 357s do work just fine on deer.

[Tycer]

another. On-side in the first pic, off-side in the second.

[BigSky56]

Mescal I use 180 wfn for brownie defense up close 2400 or lilgun for 1300 fps out of a ruger 3". For hunting I would use a 158 or 173 keith SWC as they are more accurate at distance than a wfn just adjust the alloy to suit the game your after. danny

[Mescalero]

I knew you carried the 3' for the up close, just curious on the load.

[BigSky56]

Mescal this is the belly gun I carry in a crossdraw or chestdraw holster when rifle hunting, I can work on chores or break down game and pack meat and not worry about having a rifle at hand all the time and its handy. danny

[Mescalero]

What model is that.
I bought myself a 629 .44Mag for a retirement present.
If you have that for browns, I could use it for blacks; it would be a lot handier.

[BigSky56]

A gp100 3" with compac grips and bobbed hammer DA only. danny

[Mescalero]

Thxs.

[Old Ironsights]

That was your 180 grain Buffalo Bullet that did that?

Sir, you have my attention.

Yep. Looks like he hit the foreleg on the on side. Those flat point bullets will send bone frags in a very wide dispersal under the hide if you hit a leg first. If you don't pick up bone on the way, you can eat right up to the hole on cast.
...

Yep. Lead him just a little too much on the bound . Caught the ball joint square on rather the heart-lung I was hoping he'd jump into.

Here's an unfired bullet similar to the Buffalo Bore just for observation sake:



I load my own equivalent to the BB load. It hits 1800fps from my Rossi & 1200 from my 2.5" SP101

As for "eating up to the hole" - absolutely. Below is a "state park depredation" fawn (does & fawns only) that I shot at about 50yds. Unlike the one cratered by the shoulder hit, this one went just under 20 yds. Not my best shot (weird angle) but no meat lost.

In:

Out:

In:

Lung:

[Joe S.]

Dont listen to these guys. You need a 300 Win Mag minimum to kill deer with!!

I may have a couple mags i would trade for that old crusty Marlin so i can deer hunt with it. Er. I mean, target practice. Yea. Thats what i meant!!

I have seen my dad roll a running doe at 50 yards with a 4" Smith revolver, not to mention countless deer that rode home on his 3 wheeler rack when i was growing up. Got to where we asked him not to take the gun when he went to check fences or on the cattle, in hopes he wouldnt kill another deer and we could eat hamburger for a change. (Spoiled kids! Lol). I have killed a deer with his 357 Winchester. Have yet to take one with MY Marlin but i KNOW it will. That is a GREAT DEER RIFLE!! And a joy to shoot to boot!! Id say ya done good.

[wvfarrier]

I dusted a nice deer this year with my 357 marlin. Buffalo bore and double tap make great hard hitting ammo if you don't reload. I like the ranch dog 195 grain hard cast or the 180 grain xtp's.

[Birdman]

I won't clutter up all this good advise with more, I think we all know the ol 3-5-7 will do the job. I'll just say my howdy doudy and welcome you aboard.

[Canuck Bob]

Welcome, that 357 in a lever action is a dandy deer gun. Just follow the above advice and you are well on your way.