Has anyone done any whitetail deer hunting with a .357 Mag. Model 94? I've heard some opinions that you're OK up to about 100 yards -- does anyone have any experience to confirm or dispute that?

Much obliged.

- VF

Has anyone done any whitetail deer hunting with a .357 Mag. Model 94? I've heard some opinions that you're OK up to about 100 yards -- does anyone have any experience to confirm or dispute that?

Much obliged.

- VF

Marshall Stanton, the owner of Beartooth Bullets (and this forum) talks of using a 357 for taking lots of dear as a depredation hunter in orchards some time ago. Get his book that he sells on this web site (it has a wealth of great information for just a few dollars). Better yet, give him a call and discuss your desires and then order some of his bullets. You'll be hard pressed to find better information, or bullets.

If my .357 revolver will kill a deer.... a rifle easily adds 100+ yards to the effective range.

You're gonna pick up at least 300 fps at the muzzle compared to the revolver. So the bullet from the rifle is going to be faster at 100 yards, than the bullet from the revolver is right at the muzzle.

Sight in 2" high at 100 yards; that will leave you dead on at about 125 and 3-4 inches low at 150 or so. After 150, I'd call it quits.

If you want to play with numbers.... figure a 180gr. .357 bullet will be real close to a B.C. of about .2, and add a minimum of 300fps to the velocities you'd get from a handgun. Then any ballistics program or table will tell the rest of the tale.

I'd suggest trying the Beartooth 185gr. FNGC if you reload; if not, you can get near-identical performance with the Federal Cast-Core 180gr. load.

Good luck with your hunt!

If my .357 revolver will kill a deer.... a rifle easily adds 100+ yards to the effective range.

You're gonna pick up at least 300 fps at the muzzle compared to the revolver. So the bullet from the rifle is going to be faster at 100 yards, than the bullet from the revolver is right at the muzzle.

Sight in 2" high at 100 yards; that will leave you dead on at about 125 and 3-4 inches low at 150 or so. After 150, I'd call it quits.

If you want to play with numbers.... figure a 180gr. .357 bullet will be real close to a B.C. of about .2, and add a minimum of 300fps to the velocities you'd get from a handgun. Then any ballistics program or table will tell the rest of the tale.

I'd suggest trying the Beartooth 185gr. FNGC if you reload; if not, you can get near-identical performance with the Federal Cast-Core 180gr. load.

Good luck with your hunt!

Thanks, MIke! The hunt will need to wait until the fall -- but I much appreciate your response.

-- VF