Thread: 357 and 44 mag for deer?

Hey guys how do these go on deer?

Commercial ammo at around 100-150m would be the max.

Always loved the 357 for its ability to use 38sp for plinking.

Mostly shoot fallow and sika.

If they are no good will get a 45-70.

Cheers

Iv shot a couple of red hinds using 158gn hollow points (handloads , 357 ) both around 50m away first one the bullet ended up under the skin on the far side and the other it went clean through I was really surprised by the results as the hollows on those things are huge .

Hey Fraser, the old man has shot a few at bush ranges with his 44mag. They kill well at those distances with none running off. He was using the leverevolution ammo big exit wounds alot of damage.

A few years ago I owned a Ruger 77/44 bolt action, and I shot a number of big pigs with it out to about 75m using the lever revolution ammo ( with the pointed projectiles)
The damage was substantial and none moved more than a few paces .
The thing was very inaccurate though no matter what load I tried so it got sold .
I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot a Deer with .44mag as long as the range wasn’t long and you could actually place the bullet where you want .

Have shot a few reds with 44mag with Barnes projectiles, there was a bit of meat left around the hole and they travelled no where.

I've had a few 44/40 rifles and carbines that I've bush hunted with, and they're a bit below 44 magnum so far as velocity/energy is concerned.

Thanks guys,

Found a nice Rossi 44mag with a scout mount and cheek riser that might go well with a scout scope or red dot.

Or just save for the Marlin SBL 45-70

I have shot about 20 deer using both 357 and 44 magnum. Two stags at one time one behind the other at a measured 100 yards in Ashley Forest some years ago. The majority were shot well within 30m as they crossed a track or while pig hunting and making haste. The 357 took two deer one week using 38 pills. They were a great pill for using over a dog at the bail also.
I have used a 44 magnum and 6.5 this roar. Nil issue and the smaller rifles have great benefit for quick shots. Like always one must know the bullet strike at ranges and the limitations of the said bullet.

44 Magnum is epic. I love mine. Shot one deer with it. It died.

Used to run the 240 gr in my Rossi 44 mag, could hit turkeys easy at 100 yards so wouldn't be an issue on deer.

I have a 77-44 ruger that I run 44 special thru.

its great fun but all iv shot is a peacock,turkey and put down a dog with it

the 44 special feeds like it was made for it, ill try some actual magnum thru it eventually but at this stage im enjoying the pop rather than boom aspect

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

I want a 454 Casull. Heaps more horsepower than the 44 and you can run 45 colt for playing.

You mean a 460 Remington, and you can use 454 Casull for playing?

I see the new shipment of Rossi’s finally hitting the shelves, quite like the look of the 44 mag

Originally Posted by Survy

I see the new shipment of Rossi’s finally hitting the shelves, quite like the look of the 44 mag

The new ones have a safety on the bolt, and it fucking sucks. Loose, stupid position, and once I take it apart I'm going to throw it far far away. However, it's reasonably smooth out of the box, and I'm giving serious thought to lopping an inch off the mag tube and putting a can on it. Need the hysteria to die down so I can get a few bits in (pic rail for my now unused red dot/s, sights will be a tad obscured with a can. Something like this perhaps: https://store.stevesgunz.com/index.p...products_id=80 )

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

Hey guys how do these go on deer?

Commercial ammo at around 100-150m would be the max.

Always loved the 357 for its ability to use 38sp for plinking.

Mostly shoot fallow and sika.

If they are no good will get a 45-70.

Cheers

Leaving aside shot placement etc....

For hunting on DOC land you are LEGALLY restricted to minimum .222 Remington, the lowest muzzle energy of which listed on Wikipedia is 1,141 ft/lbs muzzle energy.

The .357 Magnum according to Wikipedia is 583 ft/lbs muzzle energy but that is out of only a 4" barrel, maybe even a revolver.

Don't know how powerful a hot .357 load through a continuous 16" barrel will be, but it looks doable.