Is the 357 mag rifle

[dad]

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?

[JEBar]

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

[North Country Gal]

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.

[dad]

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

[JEBar]

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

[clovishound]

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.

[TNman]

.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.

[Henry88]

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"?

[JEBar]

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]

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

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

[Redthies]

I was seriously considering .357 for my deer lever gun, but found such an amazing deal on a .44 I had to jump on it. I think (know) I still want a .357 too, but it would be a bit hard to justify right now.

[JEBar]

I suspect that you will be very happy with the 44 .... a 357 is great, we have one but there is nothing it can do that 44 can't do a bit better

[TNman]

Don’t forget the 41!

[North Country Gal]

Henry carbines are heavier, so recoil is probably not much of a factor, but I do know from a lot of experience that in the lighter Marlin 1894 carbines, there is a pronounced difference in recoil between the 357 and the 44 mag. My 357 Marlin 1894 is much easier to manage than the 44s I've had. The 44s are gone, now, but our Marlin 357 is now a never sell category gun.

[Vaquero]

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.

And yes, with a wider boollit.

I have a Rossi 92 with a 24" octagon barrel in 357.
First year I had it, "several years back now" I took it deer hunting.
At around 90 yds. I shot a nice little 8 point with one of my hand loaded 158 gr cast.
He didn't go more than a few yds.
Shot placement is key.

Got one of the Henry 41's and am gonna try it out this season.

RP

[Vaquero]

Sorry thought I was editing a post, and ended up a quote.
Sooooooo

But as far as hand guns go,
I've taken 3 deer with one.
First was a scoped Ruger SBH 44 mag. around 60 yds.
Then a Ruger BH 41 mag. and the last time about 3 yrs. ago. probably 25 yds.
Ruger Vaquero 44 mag. 20-25yds.

All were one shot kills.

I have taken a 357 a couple times but never got tried it.

RP

[Vaquero]

Henry carbines are heavier, so recoil is probably not much of a factor, but I do know from a lot of experience that in the lighter Marlin 1894 carbines, there is a pronounced difference in recoil between the 357 and the 44 mag. My 357 Marlin 1894 is much easier to manage than the 44s I've had. The 44s are gone, now, but our Marlin 357 is now a never sell category gun.

I don't think the BBS's are all that heavy.
But now like you said about the Marlins,
the 44 has a bit more recoil than than 357.

But my Henry BB in 44 is not bad at all.
And my BBS in 41, even with some 280 gr cast that I'm working up ain't bad.
The 357 Rossi is about like shootin a 22 mag.
The Marlin Cowboy in 45 colt is another fun one to shoot.
Maybe I can take a deer with it also this year.

RP

[clovishound]

Sorry thought I was editing a post, and ended up a quote.
Sooooooo

RP

Can't tell you how many times I've hit the quote when I wanted to edit. Just for info, you do realize that you can delete a post in edit mode. DAMHIKT.

[Vaquero]

Sorry thought I was editing a post, and ended up a quote.
Sooooooo

RP

Can't tell you how many times I've hit the quote when I wanted to edit. Just for info, you do realize that you can delete a post in edit mode. DAMHIKT.

No I didn't know that.
Thanks.
I'm a member of several firearms related forums,
every blame one is a little different to navigate.

RP

[Redthies]

Henry carbines are heavier, so recoil is probably not much of a factor, but I do know from a lot of experience that in the lighter Marlin 1894 carbines, there is a pronounced difference in recoil between the 357 and the 44 mag. My 357 Marlin 1894 is much easier to manage than the 44s I've had. The 44s are gone, now, but our Marlin 357 is now a never sell category gun.

I was looking for a .357 lever gun, and the only one I found was a Winchester take-down that was out of my budget (double), so I started looking at Marlin .44s, and thought recoil might be more than I wanted since I injured my shoulder last year with a hasty 12 gauge shot. The Ruger I stumbled on is a semi auto so felt recoil should be less than the lever .44. It’s definitely MORE than the .357 Rossi I’ve shot. The best part about this is now I have an excuse to buy a CCH BigBoy Carbine in .357, assuming I can get it passed the next time the acquisitions committee meets...