.357 magnum for deer?

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11-03-2009, 04:10 AM
uad7116

.357 magnum for deer?

Just got a S&W .357 mag w/ a 6" barrel and was wanting to try hunting whitetail with it this season and was wondering if anybody else does and what was your results? I mainly hunt in pretty heavily wooded areas and my shots aren't over 60 yds, I took it to the range the other day and at 50 yds I could hit a 6" shoot-n-see target everytime while shooting some 158gr JHP's. Also wondering if that bullet combo would in a hunting application, I know there probably better options but thats all thats available to me at the time. Thanks for the input. Kris
11-03-2009, 07:47 AM
savageboy

Re: .357 magnum for deer?

I killed 4 nice deer- 1 buck 3 doe with my 6" bbl S&W 586 w/ a 2x Burris scope on it. I decided to use a 140Gr Horn. XTP as deer are a thin skinned animal and the 140 gr would expand more than the 158. I was right. Longest shot was 56 long paces on a nice 4 pt. All were 1 shot, All but 1 complete penetration. The one that I recovered the bullet was a front quartering shot. Bullet went fron just in front of shoulder to opposite back hip and ended up buldging just under the skin. A full 3-4' of penetration. My 586 liked a stiff load of 2400 and the 140 xtp.
11-04-2009, 03:19 AM
RandyWakeman

Re: .357 magnum for deer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by uad7116

Just got a S&W .357 mag w/ a 6" barrel and was wanting to try hunting whitetail with it this season and was wondering if anybody else does and what was your results?

Stay off the shoulder and get close. I've taken deer, hogs, and ram with a .357-- but would never go that route again. A .44 RemMag is a far, far, far better choice.