357 vs 30-30

[JEBar]

In Indiana, only shotgun slugs or straight-walled handgun calibers are legal, so no doubt that here a .357 is more popular than a 30-30!

I didn't realize Indiana was among the states that have adopted the straight-walled handgun calibers requirement .... I tend to believe that as population growth shrinks the country's wide open spaces, more states will adopt that provision

[clovishound]

I've posted this before, but will bring it up again. I ran some American Eagle 158 grain soft points over the chronograph from my Henry .357 Big Boy steel. 20" barrel. They came in at an impressive 1800 fps. Good enough for me on 150 lb, or less, game, at ranges under 100 - 125 yds or less.

[White Squirrel]

In Indiana, only shotgun slugs or straight-walled handgun calibers are legal, so no doubt that here a .357 is more popular than a 30-30!

I didn't realize Indiana was among the states that have adopted the straight-walled handgun calibers requirement .... I tend to believe that as population growth shrinks the country's wide open spaces, more states will adopt that provision

Just the opposite. Indiana has only recently allowed straight wall cartridges rifles. Prior to that the only firearms allowed for deer hunting were shotgun slugs, straight wall handgun calibers, or black powder firearms. Hunters have been trying to get the higher powered rifles like 30-30. .308 or .223 included for years, but with no success. In 2015, they lobbied extensively to get a change. At the last minute, the Department of Natural Resources ruled against it saying in their surveys of hunters, there was not enough support to warrant a change.

[JEBar]

Just the opposite. Indiana has only recently allowed straight wall cartridges rifles. Prior to that the only firearms allowed for deer hunting were shotgun slugs, straight wall handgun calibers, or black powder firearms. Hunters have been trying to get the higher powered rifles like 30-30. .308 or .223 included for years, but with no success. In 2015, they lobbied extensively to get a change. At the last minute, the Department of Natural Resources ruled against it saying in their surveys of hunters, there was not enough support to warrant a change.

interesting info .... as noted, I'm not up on Indiana regs .... my experience has been that slugs and some black powder rifles are best suited for short range hunting .... the same is true for straight wall pistol cartridges fired from a rifle .... they apparently don't see the need for long range hunting rifles

[Steve51]

I enjoy reloading straight walled handgun cartridges but have no desire to load bottle neck cartridges. That would be my main reason for staying away from the 30-30. It is very rare for me to take a shot over 100 yds, so the .357 magnum and the .44 magnum rifles work for me. Then there is the .45-70 if I need some real firepower under 100 yds.

[Travlin]

Just remember not too many dear are killed at the muzzle of the hunters rifle. The short fat .357 slug will lose velocity and energy a lot quicker than most any 30 caliber slug.

[Deadwood Dutch]

I'm not sure which I will hunt with this deer season, one of the .44 magnums or my .30-06, 760 Gamemaster. The .30-06 probably needs sighting in since it has been a few years. It has been too darn hot for me to go shooting. It has see-through mounts and a cheap old Armsport 3X9 scope that I have used since about 1976 but it has served me well and I only focused it once in all the years. I have shot a pile of deer with it and missed my share too. I have lost count but I believe that the number shot is something like 33 or 34. With the .44 magnum I have killed a couple and with a Winchester model 94, .32 Winchester Special, I only ever had one shot around 1969 and I lost that one after tracking it from 10:00 in the morning to sundown. Most all of my shots have been 75 yards and under. And, in the past few years, the deer herd is definiteltly not what it was in the larger numbers like before, where we hunt. All I can say is, with the .30-06 and either 150 or 180 grains, it dumps 'em, most of them in their tracks. Now, in regards to the .357 magnum, I don't own one, I never hunted with one, but if I owned a nice steel or brass Henry .357 magnum I certainly wouldn't want to only take it to the range or for a hike or have it sit in the gun cabinet. It may not be my first choice for deer hunting, but if I had one I would certainly want to see how it performed in my favorite corner of the woods where I have hunted since 1969, either from a tree stand or still hunting. I can certainly understand how you guys that own them can't wait for opening day, and I wish you all the best of luck with yours. Oh yes, I almost forgot, I wish that I still had my Model 94 Winchester, but I sold it a long time ago. There are a lot of .30-30's in this neck of the woods.

[Hunter5567]

In the Hodgdon manual, 15gr is the starting load for H110/W296 with the 158gr bullet up to 16.7grs for max load. You might get just under 1500fps with the max load in the revolver. 1619fps and 1757fps in the rifle with the start/max loads. A rifle will gain 300-400fps over the revolver with the same loads. H110 and W296 are the same powder.

[Mistered]

With good bullet and reloads the .357 essentially equates the 30-30 to ABOUT 100 +/- yards but that needs to be considered maximum for deer hunting. The .357 Mag is a fantastic cartridge - and maybe the BEST in it's class (straight wall pistol/rifle). Good bullets are the key for hunting with the .357 and I REALLY like the 158 gr. Speer Gold Dot. They are an incredibly accurate bullet with 16 gr. of WW 296 which is probably the best powder for full house .357 loads. It meters well and burns very clean. I have (and do) load and shoot more .357 than anything else!

[shaner]

In Indiana, only shotgun slugs or straight-walled handgun calibers are legal, so no doubt that here a .357 is more popular than a 30-30!

same deal here in ohio,