[jjfuller1]

Title says it. So far the farthest deer I've shot was about 40 yards. At least 3 have been under 15yards. So I thought if I buy a pistol I'd like to use it for a deer. Just wanted to see if you thought this round capable enough for the task or should I go with a .44?

[Gatoragn]

.357 mag will work, get at least 8 inch barrel. .357 ballistics improve greatly with increases in barrel length.

C3shooter has pictures of a 357 mag with a 10 inch barrel and says he uses it to deer hunt.

[texaswoodworker]

IIRC, a .357 is similar to a 30-30 at close range, so it should work just fine.

[willfully armed]

An 8" bbl is not a requirement.

I've got some 140gn XTPs I loaded over 19gr H110 that should do just fine out of my 6" Ruger on Whitetail. I usually carry my 10mm during deer season, but this year it will be the gp100.

[spittinfire]

Inside 50 yards a 357 will get the job done with no problems. Stick with the heavier bullets, I would go with nothing lighter then 158gr. I would also get a barrel at least 6" long, anything shorter then that doesn't really have a place hunting, IMHO.
I would also double check to see what, if any, barrel length requirements your state has.

If you can handle a 44, it will handle the deer well past 50 yards if you can keep the bullet on target. You also open yourself up to a much wider range of bullet weight that will take deer as well as larger animals.

[c3shooter]

I do indeed use a 10 incher- for Eastern Whitetail. Hunting laurel thickets where 50 yards would be a LONG shot. I do my own handloads- 185 gr hard cast. DO NOT use a 125 HP.

However, check your state game laws. When I lived in Colorado, THAT revolver would not have been legal for deer.

My rule of thumb- the range that I can put 6 rounds in a 5 inch paper plate - using the shooting position I would use in the field- is my max range. That is about the size of the rapid kill zone for a deer.

Yes, 44 Mag will work- but my .357 also does to job if I do mine.

[303tom]

Originally Posted by texaswoodworker

IIRC, a .357 is similar to a 30-30 at close range, so it should work just fine.

Ain`t no way a .357 Mag. will even come close to being similar to the .30-30 Win. , not even at muzzle, out of a carbine, the .357 at 1900 fps & the .30-30 at 2500 not even close

.357 mag. for White-tail out of a revolver, YES keep it under 50 yds............

[ineverFTF]

Originally Posted by 303tom

Ain`t no way a .357 Mag. will even come close to being similar to the .30-30 Win. , not even at muzzle, out of a carbine, the .357 at 1900 fps & the .30-30 at 2500 not even close

.357 mag. for White-tail out of a revolver, YES keep it under 50 yds............

I think he ment performance wise, not velocity. A 357 hollow point is plenty for deer. I would stick to 50 yards or under.

[The_Kid]

I use my 686 8" barreled 357mag with 180gr bullets now. The last time i shot one with it I was using 158gr HP-XTPs and at 65 yards. Went clean through it broadside hitting the heart and lungs breaking a rib on exit. Lots of damage to the innards but the exit wound was 45cal or so. It ran about 50 yards before it collapsed.

[ineverFTF]

Originally Posted by The_Kid

I use my 686 8" barreled 357mag with 180gr bullets now. The last time i shot one with it I was using 158gr HP-XTPs and at 65 yards. Went clean through it broadside hitting the heart and lungs breaking a rib on exit. Lots of damage to the innards but the exit wound was 45cal or so. It ran about 50 yards before it collapsed.

Nice shot. Optics or just irons?