357 mag for deer???

[su106]

i have a s&w 357mag has 8 and three eights barrel i would like to hunt deer with it i've been at the range shooting is a 50yd shot to far i am get good at 50yds but 25 is better

[hunt NH]

so assuming your asking the question. is a .357mag good for deer hunting?my answer is yes. they make a 180gr. hunting bullet. that would do the trick nicley. as for if your asking what range its good for. take an 8 inch paper plate out to the range and find out how far away you can shoot at it from and hit every time. then cut that distance in 1/2. and that would be the max distance i would shoot at a deer with it.

[Hunting Man]

I think its not a deer gun at all, sorry. 44 mag would be a starting point to me for hand gun hunting deer with. The barrel length may not be legal in some states.

[critter gitter]

Though the .357 isnt't my choice, it would be fine for deer hunting.

[extremehunter007]

Originally Posted by Hunting Man

I think its not a deer gun at all, sorry. 44 mag would be a starting point to me for hand gun hunting deer with. The barrel length may not be legal in some states.

I would agree. HOWEVER, i know in WV the minimum pistol is a .357, with a 6" barrel. I shoot dads .357 all the time, but if i were to head out with a pistol, it would be the Ruger SuperRedhawk sitting in the gun cabinet. with 300 GR hornady XTP's, i wouldnt have a doubt that it would kill a deer. hell, my uncle dropped a bear with it...

[Hunting Man]

I have a hard time looking at my Colt trooper MK3 and seriously consider it a deer hunting rig. Maybe the old 41, but I'll stick to my opinion that the 357 should stay what it was created for, 2 legged upright walkers.

[hunt NH]

ya i traded up from my taurus model 66, 357.mag to my ruger superredhawk .44mag. but a .357 would be fine.

[Hunting Man]

Those red hawks are a nice hunting rig. My buddy in PA has a new Ruger model in something like a 450/480 Ruger not sure which one? with a red dot. He uses it for bear hunting. I shot the darn thing but it was more than I care to shoot.

[extremehunter007]

Originally Posted by hunt NH

ya i traded up from my taurus model 66, 357.mag to my ruger superredhawk .44mag. but a .357 would be fine.

redhawk is an amazing gun....dad has one, and with the 300 gr. hornady XTP's, holy crapola

[rdrader2002]

Originally Posted by Hunting Man

I have a hard time looking at my Colt trooper MK3 and seriously consider it a deer hunting rig. Maybe the old 41, but I'll stick to my opinion that the 357 should stay what it was created for, 2 legged upright walkers.

Yup, bought me a Ruger Blackhawk over 30 years ago for just that purpose - them two legged varmints. Still have the thing in my gun safe. Mama likes it too, even named it for me -- Sandy -- just don't ask me where she got the name for it. Ain't got a clue!

As for using it for deer? Nah! Got too many other toys that work a whole lot better.