I am looking to pick up a new winchester 94 trails end model. I pan on using the gun largely for plinking and traget shooting. I dont plan on mounting a scope, and rather preffer using iron sights. However, i do plan on doing some PA deer hunting in the near future with this rifle.

My main question is what caliber gun would best fit my needs? I dont reload, and I am looking for a gun I can cheaply go through ammo with. This is why i have been leaning towards the .357 over the 44mag, and 45 colt. Will the 357 accept 38 special rounds kindly? Is the 357 powerful enough for PA deer hunting out to 100 yards with iron sights? SHould i consider the 44mag or 45 colt, maybe the ammo is not that much more expensive?

Any information and opinions would be appreciated. I am new to the forum, and relize I am not as experienced or as knowledgeable about firearms as the majority of its members. Thanks

I wouldn't use a .357 magnum round for deer hunting in PA. My preference is for the .45LC, which I use in the Winchester 94AE. The loads can't be the mediocre "Cowboy" rounds that are wimpy at best. Those are fine for CAS, but NOT for hunting. The Buffalo Bore Heavy 45 LC loads would be better. The main reason the .357 magnum isn't a preferred caliber is that in the woods, and that's what you're hunting in mostly in PA, the .45LC Heavy load performs better with twigs and such, and is better at 100 yds and under, which is max for me with iron sights. I just don't think the .357 magum would cut it, though it will have a lot less recoil than the heavier .45LC heavy loads. Maybe someone else will havesome different experience with the subject.
On the subject of ammo....,45LC is going to be expensive store bought, and very disappointing! Reloading cuts the costs, but is more useful when it comes to working up an decent load. Reloaded the .45LC can rival the lower end 45-70 caliber and the middle .44 magnum loads. If you're going to just shoot targets, the .357 is the way to go, and yes, if it shoots a .357, it will handle the .38 spl. However, when I use the .38 spl in a revolver, I have to do a lot more cleaning of the lead deposits, before I can shoot the slightly longer .357 magnums, otherwise they don't go into the cylinder far enough to close the gate. I don't know if that is a problem with using .38 spl in a .357 magum rifle though.

J.R. - do you reload? If not, I would advise you against the .45LC, reason being that factory ammo suitable for deer hunting will be much harder to find than it will be for the other two cartridges you mentioned. Most factory .45LC loads are designed to be safe for Colt SAAs or replicas; because of this they are not as powerful as some of the handloads you could generate for this cartridge...the factory .45LC is also EXPENSIVE!!!! (that's why I don't shoot my Vaquero as much as I'd like :( )

Personally, I'd take the .44 mag...I know this next statement is likely to start a lively debate, but I don't think deer hunting is something the .357 is cut out for UNLESS you can keep your shots under 50 yds., just my opinion. With the .44 mag, you have a good selection of factory ammo available that is more than adequate for deer. .44 will be more expensive to shoot than the .357, but not as bad as the .45LC. A plain old 240 gr. hollow-point out of that .44 mag will flat butcher a deer, but I think it's a good idea to keep your shots within 75 yds., especially w/iron sights.

Is this your first deer rifle...? If so, there may be some other options you might want to consider...

Anyway, good luck with your selection!!!! :) Let us know what you decide on...

Be careful with the winnie's the 357 rifles do not always fire the 38 Spl.
If you need to buy Ammo the 44 Remington would get the nod to go hunting.Your going to be able to buy a good range of bullets .
As far as what might be the best in the woods,it would be the 45 colt and reloads.
If you want to do a lot of shooting then reloading the big bores and cast lead is the way to go.
I can not see using these guns for just plinking or target use with the price of factory ammo.Firing off three box's of Ammo out for a day of shooting would soon warrant another rifle in 22/22Mag or the 17HRF.
What you need to know is how much are you willing to spend a day on Ammo?
When I started I asked my self that question . Then I got a freind to reload for me , and quickly bought a used press and had some one to teach me to reload . I bought the Lee Turret press which I still reload the 44 Mag on . This press has served me well for twenty years though I now hand prime all my brass first.
Can you do it with all one gun ? Maybe .I started with the 303 B because they were cheap , then moved to the 308 , 'cause Ammo was cheap.
Now for small game and up we go from the 17 HRF and the .22 all the way back to the 3006 and the 45/70. I just needed a gun for deer at first and wanted to do some plinking too!Now there are ten different rifles and we hunt just about every thing in the eastern bush.
Plan on what you want to do the most of. Maybe your better off with the 30/30.What is the price of Ammo? You could hunt that rabbit and that big moose with the same gun with in range.

The question on the trails end has been asked before on this forum Check it out. Research the killing power of the 45 colt and heavy loads . Would you maybe want some day to tackle a moose or black bear with in the range?
Look for what you can afford to day , but remind your self ,what might you want to hunt tomorrow.
Have fun.

Personally, I always recommend joining a shooting club with a range, to help decide which piece to buy. You would never buy a car without a test drive.

Buying a gun first, then finding a place to shoot and trying it out, then changing your mind a few times, can get more expensive than joining a club and test firing a number of different pieces to help you decide which will meet your needs. Find a club with people you like to be around and listen to them about their experiences when they were trying to sellect a piece.

My recommendation.