Henry Rifle Forums

well is the 357 mag the duel round from deer to small game. I would keep my deer shots under 100 yards. what do you think with your experience?

without a doubt .... given hunting level ammo (example : not 38 spl ammo that the Henry will fire), a 357 Henry rifle is more than capable of taking deer at such a range .... as with most all calibers, shot placement is important

I've met several handgun hunters who have used the 357 with good results in revolvers out to about 50 yards. Handgun cartridges like the 357, 41 and 44 get a considerable boost in velocity when fired in a rifle. Out of a rifle, the 357 delivers more fpe at 100 yards than a 357 revolver does at the muzzle. Personally, I'd still try to keep under that 100 yard max, but I'd have no issues using a 357 in either a rifle or a revolver for short range hunting in our woods, where 50 yards is often a long shot.

I don't reload so for deer hunting at least 158gr JSP and for small game 38 specials

dad wrote:I don't reload so for deer hunting at least 158gr JSP and for small game 38 specials

as far as factory ammo is concerned, the strongest I know if is marketed by Buffalo Bore ===> http://www.cabelas.com/product/Buffalo- ... 740558.uts <=== as noted earlier, I believe that any factory hunting grade ammo your Henry likes will do the job .... using Buffalo Bore ammo would take it to the next (and highest) level

Real world chrony data from American Eagle 158 grain soft point was 1800 fps from my Henry BBS 20" barrel.

That's almost 30-30 territory.

.357 for deer out of a carbine? For sure most definitely!!!....you put the bullet where it’s supposed to be and you are in for a drag and tenderloin supper. I think 100 yds or inside is best depending on how it is sighted. A scope would get you out farther but I don’t like to lose the handiness of these little woods carbines. It may be a bit much for small game but it would be a good coyote thumper too.

I can't imagine shooting a squirrel or rabbit with a 38.

Better make it a head shot or it won't be worth the animals life. Are we talking bugout conditions here or just "I'm going small game hunting today and I think I'll take my .38"?

more decades ago than I care to think about, I used to squirrel hunt with a Ruger 357 Blackhawk loaded with 38 wadcutters .... head shots were the order of the day .... don't ever recall hunting rabbits that way

Henry88 wrote: Are we talking bugout conditions here or just "I'm going small game hunting today and I think I'll take my .38"?

JEBar wrote: I used to squirrel hunt with a Ruger 357 Blackhawk loaded with 38 wadcutters .... head shots were the order of the day

So it sounds like you were the latter JEBar