|
|
Post by evolutionsthunder on Jan 4, 2011 16:50:28 GMT -5
looking for some input on hunting deer with this gun
|
|
|
|
Post by HuntMeister on Jan 4, 2011 17:11:28 GMT -5
Just my opinion...
If I had a choice I would move up to a .44mag, it has more energy and range than the .357. Not saying the .357 can't get the job though.
|
|
|
|
Post by dbd870 on Jan 4, 2011 18:51:18 GMT -5
I would use a carbine in 357Mag out to 100yds without a second thought. If you want to stay in a 35 cal the Max will add some range it out & the 35WSSM is a good one as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by kodiak50 on Jan 5, 2011 6:46:34 GMT -5
Ream the .357 to .357 Max
|
|
|
|
Post by xizang on Jan 9, 2011 9:56:24 GMT -5
I would not recommend the .357. Although it will do the job, as stated earlier the .44 will be a much better choice. For example, I had a buddies son take a buck at 15 yards with a .357 and did not get pass through. The deer was shot through the left shoulder and bullet was laying under the skin on the other side behind the far shoulder. If it will not pass through at 15 yards what will it do further down range.
|
|
|
|
Post by danf on Jan 9, 2011 10:16:57 GMT -5
The .357 is fine, but appropriate bullets must be used. Generally, the heavier the better.
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Jan 9, 2011 12:26:40 GMT -5
I would not recommend the .357. Although it will do the job, as stated earlier the .44 will be a much better choice. For example, I had a buddies son take a buck at 15 yards with a .357 and did not get pass through. The deer was shot through the left shoulder and bullet was laying under the skin on the other side behind the far shoulder. If it will not pass through at 15 yards what will it do further down range. Bullet used? The .357 is fine, but appropriate bullets must be used. Generally, the heavier the better. Exactly. the proper bullet is more important than the caliber. A deers front shoulder is the densest part of the animal and that projectile passed through them both, not to mention everything in between, lodging just under the skin. I once shot a deer with a 12 gauge Brenneke slug from 30 yds. in exactly the same spot with exactly the same result. That is the result I would expect from any bullet designed to kill deer. I would expect the .357 bullet used by your buddies son to perform in exactly the same way if the deer was shot from a distance of 75 yds. An unobstructed double lung shot from the 357 would undoubtedly pass completely through the animal even if striking ribs entering and exiting. |
|
|
|
Post by imnatree on Jan 9, 2011 12:46:38 GMT -5
[quote An unobstructed double lung shot from the 357 would undoubtedly pass completely through the animal even if striking ribs entering and exiting.
[/quote]
Not necessarily true. My son took his 1st buck with a K77/44 using PMC bronze 180 gr. JHP @ 63 yds. The deer was at slight 1/4 away. Bullet entered behind shoulder blade mid level hitting both lungs and back of heart. We recovered the bullet on the exit side between ribs and hide. The buck piled up within 10 yds.
I chose the lighter 180 gr for tragectory purposes. Shot placement in most important for a quick kill.
|
|
|
|
Post by schoolmaster on Jan 9, 2011 13:08:04 GMT -5
The key to killing deer with the .357 mag is to use 158 gr SOFTPOINT bullets or heavier. Stay away from hollow points. My grandson has killed two deer using Remington 158 gr. softpoints. Both were one shot kills, one at 40 yards and one at 58 yards. Both were pass throughs and boiler room shots. So shot placement becomes important. My son has killed 3 deer with the 357 maximum using 180 gr. Hornady SSP bullets. The farthest at 195 yards facing him lying down. The bullet landed between the nose and eye, penetrated the head, neck, and ranged down through the deer exiting the left hip! With good shot selection and proper bullet, the .357 mag and maximum kill much better than their paper ballistics indicate.
|
|
|
|
Post by danf on Jan 9, 2011 13:15:26 GMT -5
Not necessarily true. My son took his 1st buck with a K77/44 using PMC bronze 180 gr. JHP @ 63 yds. Once again, bullet selection is KEY. 180 grains in a .44 mag is too light, IMHO. I absolutely would not even think about using anything under 200 grains in a 44, and 240-300 grains is ideal. While I have yet to shoot a deer with them, I've been hunting with Winchester white box 240 gr soft points in my .44 mag carbine and do not believe I will have any issues at all with good shot placement. |
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Jan 9, 2011 16:30:17 GMT -5
[quote An unobstructed double lung shot from the 357 would undoubtedly pass completely through the animal even if striking ribs entering and exiting. Not necessarily true. My son took his 1st buck with a K77/44 using PMC bronze 180 gr. JHP @ 63 yds. The deer was at slight 1/4 away. Bullet entered behind shoulder blade mid level hitting both lungs and back of heart. We recovered the bullet on the exit side between ribs and hide. The buck piled up within 10 yds. I chose the lighter 180 gr for tragectory purposes. Shot placement in most important for a quick kill. [/quote] I have no problem believing this. A hollow point bullet is a poor choice for deer hunting. I made that post assuming correct bullet choice. I do agree however that shot placement is the most important factor regardless of the bullet used. |
|
|
|
Post by swilk on Jan 9, 2011 18:52:39 GMT -5
I would not recommend the .357. Although it will do the job, as stated earlier the .44 will be a much better choice. For example, I had a buddies son take a buck at 15 yards with a .357 and did not get pass through. The deer was shot through the left shoulder and bullet was laying under the skin on the other side behind the far shoulder. If it will not pass through at 15 yards what will it do further down range. I shot a deer this year with a 358BFG .... a 180gr bullet going over 2800fps. The bullet penetrated one shoulder blade and came to rest under the skin on the far side. My bullet selection is why I did not get complete penetration. |
|
|
|
Post by firstwd on Jan 9, 2011 20:23:48 GMT -5
looking for some input on hunting deer with this gun Are you looking for your use or one of the kids? If you, I say go for it. If kids, I say put the 44 back in her hands. The 357 we has at the youth hunt if firmly in my cabinet, and the kids will have 44's this season. |
|
|
|
Post by evolutionsthunder on Jan 9, 2011 20:37:57 GMT -5
Are you looking for your use or one of the kids? If you, I say go for it. If kids, I say put the 44 back in her hands. The 357 we has at the youth hunt if firmly in my cabinet, and the kids will have 44's this season. looking to get kish a gun and found a h&r at a good price. now i am leaning more at an 1894 in 44 mag for me giving her the ruger.
|
|
|
|
Post by imnatree on Jan 9, 2011 21:37:51 GMT -5
So. . . The deer got away?? If you would have shot behind the shoulder blade, you might have damaged less meat, probable? Idk I'm just a meat eater. That hollow pt expanded to almost the size of a quarter, took out the vitals, and dropped the deer within 10 yds. All of it's kenetic energy was consumed by the body. Not the case when u have a dbl penetration. If we were talking archery, I prefer a pass through so the deer bleeds out faster. I have yet to have a deer drop within 10 yds even with a pass through dbl lung and heart shot from an arrow.
Up to 125 yds, that 180gr stayed within a +/- 1.5" of zero in the k77/44. For my son, it gave less room for error. No adj. For short or long range(125 yds)
Idk what the 357 ballistics are, but bigger is not always better. E.g. I chose a 9mm over a 45 for p.p. Cuz the 9 actually has more "stopping power." meaning a bullet which passes through does less damage than one that mushrooms and doesn't exit. 45 lovers will argue but ballistics and velocity speak for themselves.
Shoot both if you can, research the ballistics, and if all else fails and ur not concerned with shot placement either buy a bazooka and aim at their butt. Lol
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Jan 10, 2011 1:50:08 GMT -5
We're a little off topic here, but this does concern bullet choice. Incorrect. Simply perusing a basic ballistics table disproves this statement. www.handgunsmag.com/ballistics/ballistic-tables/Real world shooting data makes the 9mm look even worse as a choice over the .40 0r .45. Ballistics tables can give some idea of effectiveness, but past performance is the best indicator. This myth has been debunked. Have you ever compared the size of an entry and an exit wound? Are you familiar with bullet yaw? That factor aside, if this statement is what you believe, then it contradicts your rationale in choosing a handgun caliber. The 9mm is notorious for over-penetration due (in part) to it's smaller diameter and increased velocity. Compounding this problem is the fact that hollow points often do not expand, depending on their design and types of clothing required to penetrate before entering flesh. A down vest for instance will relegate a 9mm hollow point to perform similar to a .38 special . All other things being equal, a bigger, slower bullet always has less penetration. Most police departments have left behind the 9mm for the .40 or even the .45. The 9mm isn't used in serious pistol competitions because it cannot meet "major power" parameters. This should be a clue. |
|
|
|
Post by swilk on Jan 10, 2011 10:02:01 GMT -5
No, the deer did not "get away". Would have been kind of hard to confirm that the bullet rested under the skin on the far side had I not found the deer.
Other than that I will have to simply say "have a nice day".
|
|
|
|
Post by hornharvester on Jan 10, 2011 11:35:02 GMT -5
The big buck I shot threw both shoulders @40 yards this year with my .358BFG wildcat PCR, weighed well over 200 lbs. I used a Speer 180 grain SP @ 2800 FPS at the muzzle over a Hornady 180 SSP because the Speer had a thicker jacket and would hold together better than a bullet made for the .35 Rem which has a much slower velocity.
The Hornady was slight more accurate @ 200 yards but I will always sacrifice a little accuracy in hunting for a better designed bullet for that caliber. I read that some guys who shot the .358 WSSM and the 180 Hornday lost deer due to the bullet blowing up at the velocity the .358 has so I used the Speer and glad I did.
I killed the buck on the second day of gun season and another big buck the 4th day of season at a park reduction hunt, so i decided to doe hunt the rest of the season and use the .358 180 SSP Hornady.
A week later a coyote walked out of the woods, 20 yards broadside and I shot her. The Hornady blew up and blew the whole side out of her on exit.
Bullets are designed to perform at certain speeds, too slow and they don't expand, too fast and they blow up and don't penetrate, especially on big buck shoulders.
For whitetail deer hunting in .357 mag the best bullet to hunt with are 158 grain soft points, .357 Max 180 grain Hornady SSP, in .358 BFG(WSSM) wildcat 180 grain Speer or any of the 200 grain and up bullets. h.h.
|
|
|
|
Post by swilk on Jan 10, 2011 12:14:09 GMT -5
The big buck I shot threw both shoulders @40 yards this year with my .358BFG wildcat PCR, weighed well over 200 lbs. I used a Speer 180 grain SP @ 2800 FPS at the muzzle over a Hornady 180 SSP because the Speer had a thicker jacket and would hold together better than a bullet made for the .35 Rem which has a much slower velocity. The Hornady was slight more accurate @ 200 yards but I will always sacrifice a little accuracy in hunting for a better designed bullet for that caliber. I read that some guys who shot the .358 WSSM and the 180 Hornday lost deer due to the bullet blowing up at the velocity the .358 has so I used the Speer and glad I did. I killed the buck on the second day of gun season and another big buck the 4th day of season at a park reduction hunt, so i decided to doe hunt the rest of the season and use the .358 180 SSP Hornady. A week later a coyote walked out of the woods, 20 yards broadside and I shot her. The Hornady blew up and blew the whole side out of her on exit. Bullets are designed to perform at certain speeds, too slow and they don't expand, too fast and they blow up and don't penetrate, especially on big buck shoulders. For whitetail deer hunting in .357 mag the best bullet to hunt with are 158 grain soft points, .357 Max 180 grain Hornady SSP, in .358 BFG(WSSM) wildcat 180 grain Speer or any of the 200 grain and up bullets. h.h. I have used the Hornady SSP for the last two years from my 358. I have not lost a deer but my father lost one and a friend lost one. I do the reloading for everyone so we will all be changing to the 225 Accubond by next year. We are just pushing that Hornady to fast for reliable performance. |
|
|
|
Post by hornharvester on Jan 10, 2011 13:26:15 GMT -5
Ive shot many Accubonds and Sierra's and the Sierra's were more accurate in the 1-14 twist barrels. If you have a 1-12 twist barrel the Accubond will shoot good. Accubonds are longer than Sierra's and need the added twist to be more stable out past 200 yards. Either of them will be more than efficient to do the job. h.h.
|
|
