Hi gentlemen.
I'm back with yet another question :)
I have researched and researched what rifle to buy. I've changed my mind several times almost as many times as I switched majors in college.

I originally wanted the 357 and I'd have the sidearm in 357 as well. I've already got a 22mag ruger and thought I didn't need another single action sidearm so i'd buy the 357 Sp100

THen I chose the 30-30 figuring I could buy one rifle that could pretty much hunt it all. I never want to hunt buffalo and I'll not be hunting anywhere near elk for atleast 5 more years since I'm working so hard.

But since I liked teh sp100 I figured I didn't need another 357 so I'd buy the 30-30...
the 30-30 is going to cost me a lot more the shoot with, I know that, so I switched back tot eh 357.

Here's where you guys come in.
If I buy a 357 lever, win legacy most likely, will it be humane to hunt deer out to 100yards, boar, and antelope?
I'm not a good tree stand hunter, I have the worst ADD on earth, si 30 yard shots won't be happening.

lastly what is the minimum amount of energy needed to take down a boar or Deer?

thanks in advance,
Rinaldo

The rifle is going to gain 300-500 fps over the handgun, depending on the barrel length, so that is how you can calculate effective range vs. the handgun.

Let's say, for the sake of example, that you 'only' get the additional 300fps. That translates into about an extra 100 yards of range, speaking strictly from the point of impact velocity. So.... your rifle is just as effective at 100 yards, as a .357 handgun is at the muzzle, or as effective at 150 yards, as a handgun at 50.... Make sense?

The biggest issue with a rifle is going to be that quite a bit of the pistol ammo will be fragile at the higher rifle velocities. If you handload, no problem, but if you are using factory ammo, need to stick with heavier bullets and/or soft points, for the most part. Lightweight JHPs are not going to work well, except on varmits.

Sight in the rifle 2 inches high at 100 yards. This should be dead on at about 125, and a few inches low to 150ish.

With the correct bullets I don't believe you'd every have a problem on any deer or hog. I like the Beartooth 185gr. FNGC; it will shoot through anything you ought to be using a .357 on, and a lot of things that you shouldn't. The Federal CastCore load is nearly the same thing, in commercial packaging.

There is no 'minimum' amount of kinetic energy needed to take an animal (nor is there any 'maximum' amount that guarantees an instant kill). You need to hit them in the right spot, and if you do, surprisingly modest ballistics will suffice.

Hit them in the wrong spot with nearly anything and you have a problem. Study anatomy.... and you'll have no problems.

Great advice,

Go with the .357!!!

thanks guys,
so a 357 handgun cartridge will break up in midair at that speed you're saying.. or it just won' tbe stable in flight?

I want something that will kill with. I like the 30-30 marlin stainless steel. If it weren't so inexpensive I'd have already bought the 357, but the stainless steal model with side ejection unlike the winnie, would do really well in our wet florida weather we've got here.
You guys know better than I do. I didn't realize I couldn't use all teh ammo out there in the rifle. so there's really n o benefit to buying the 357 becuase I have to choose ammo wisely, where as with a 30-30 the ammo was designed for a rifle it will fire from a rifle.

thanks guys,
so a 357 handgun cartridge will break up in midair at that speed you're saying.. or it just won' tbe stable in flight?

I want something that will kill with. I like the 30-30 marlin stainless steel. If it weren't so inexpensive I'd have already bought the 357, but the stainless steal model with side ejection unlike the winnie, would do really well in our wet florida weather we've got here.
You guys know better than I do. I didn't realize I couldn't use all teh ammo out there in the rifle. so there's really n o benefit to buying the 357 becuase I have to choose ammo wisely, where as with a 30-30 the ammo was designed for a rifle it will fire from a rifle.


Well, you really could use all the 357 ammo out there, the bottom line is just that heavier weight soft points will do a much, much better job of humanely taking whitetails out to 150yds. I would reccomend Federal's Castcore 180gr load, or a 158gr generic soft point like Winchester's WhiteBox load, both can easily be found at any walmart. Its hard to argue against the 30-30, its been killing game for a looooong time and would extend your hunting range to 175 yards, maybee more depending on the shooter, and I understand the stainless gets a nod due to your hunting conditions. The 357 will be lighter, hold more rounds, and cost a lot less to practice and hunt with. The more you can afford to shoot, the better hunter you will be. And honestly as long as you take care of your gun, the humid/saltwater conditions really shouldn't be a problem with proper maintaince. Stainless steel will rust, just takes a little more abuse before it gives. My vote still goes to the .357, and I would get a marlin over a winnie, but hey, thats just how I would spend my money. Buy what you like the best, practice as much as you can and enjoy your hunting.


-Matt

We all like to try odd ideas in the hopes of simplifying our lives....but I'd have to log in here to suggest that this one ought to go south. Pick the 30-30, or even better, a .307 or .308 (Browning Lever). With the latter two and proper optics, you'd be set for the elk in a few years, and they'll kill deer just dandy. The 357's a bit light on deer, imo. And I just don't see the .357 even in a rifle doing the proper work for deer at 150 yards, assuming that you can accurately estimate that and keep temptation at bay by not shooting beyond it. You'll be forced to heavier bullets that will hold together at the rifle velocity, which then slows down your loads....and what if you're tempted to use something cheaper and lighter than the best bullets for the velocity? You're trying to make a nail punch do the job of a hammer. Buy a hammer.

We all like to try odd ideas in the hopes of simplifying our lives....but I'd have to log in here to suggest that this one ought to go south. Pick the 30-30, or even better, a .307 or .308 (Browning Lever). With the latter two and proper optics, you'd be set for the elk in a few years, and they'll kill deer just dandy. The 30-30's bit light on deer, imo. And I just don't see the .357 even in a rifle doing the proper work for deer at 150 yards, assuming that you can accurately estimate that and keep temptation at bay by not shooting beyond it. You'll be forced to heavier bullets that will hold together at the rifle velocity, which then slows down your loads....and what if you're tempted to use something cheaper and lighter than the best bullets for the velocity? You're trying to make a nail punch do the job of a hammer. Buy a hammer.


I will have to respectfully disagree with some of you statements. The 30-30 has been killing deer and much larger size animals for years, probably has taken more deer than any other cartridge for that matter. The .357 is quite up to the job when range is kept under 150yds, ask Marshal, the owner of this site, he has killed tons of deer with his, I did and was surprised by what he tought me. One thing I would agree with you on is the choice of a Browning lever in .308, this is my fav. deer rifle and will handle elk as well.

I wasn't even aware browning made deer rifles !
thanks,

My apologies, Matt, was writing and thinking at non-synched speeds. Have now edited. The 357's way light for deer, imo. Of course, more dead deer for the .30-30 than any other gun.

Yeah, I use a Browning Lever in .308, it's a clip type mag, not a tube, so you can use real bullets, like the Hornady SST's. I stuck a very lightweight scope on it with a detachable mount, so that when it's raining or I'm in the woods, the scope goes into my pocket. Perfect setup. Lightweight rifle, strong action, accurate. Quite thrilled with it. I leave my Weatherby behind now just to carry the BLR.

I too like the idea of having a pistol and rifle in the same caliber. But if you like the 30-30, then start handloading. You can shoot the 30-30 a lot cheaper than factory ammo. The same is true for the 357. And handloading is a fun hobby.

I've got both the .357 and the .30-30, if you are going for deer use the .30-30. IMO

357 is marginal at best and best left to well seasoned hunters. 30-30 a far better choice. Ever think of a lever in 44 mag.?

I have to disagree with the no 357 lever. I would take a deer at 100 yds or less with no issues. The key is shot placement. You have to practice with what you use. The 30-30 is absolutely good for deer, black bear or elk at a reasonably close range. The one you will practice with is the one that will take game. Question is do you reload? You have all kinds of performance available to you if you do.

By the way my preference is Marlin, easier to dissasemble and reassemble by far than any of the others.

Why handicap yourself by buying a 100-125 yard deer rifle. You might stretch that to 150 if you are good at range estimation and know the rifle's and your own limitations. I know that a 30-30 will kill a deer at 200 yards but you really have to know what you are doing. I will go as far as to say that with a Marlin 336 or a Winchester 94 zeroed at 100 yards, most hunters can't put a bullet into a 10" circle at 200 yards from a standing or any other unsuported shooting position.

Sure, most deer in the South are taken at 30-50 yards but, what about that 10 point buck of a lifetime standing 225 yards away at the edge of a clear-cut. It's at that time you will be bemoaning "nuts, I coulda had a .308"

IMO, the one-gun deer hunter needs a rifle that will cover all of the bases. A BLR'81 in .308 is an excellent choice, but any rifle, be it lever, bolt, pump, single shot or auto, chambered in any caliber of the .308 or 30-06 family, will get the job done, and done well.

Well sure, the 357 mag will clearly dispatch a deer. Heck, I know several hillbillys in my neck of the woods that swear that their 22 Lr and a red lens spot light are absolute poison on deer! That being said get yourself a good ole thuty-thuty and you won't never have to worry about your rifle being up to the task. Better yet, go with the Browning lever action as anouther sugested, but I'd go with it in 358 winchester. That way you'll be ready for most anything that walks, crawls, or hops in North America. Good luck with your education, I'm in the same boat, but I keep telling myself what its all for!!

Rinaldo,

It's been a year and a half since you were trying to decide on what deer rifle to buy.

What did you get, how does it shoot, and what have you shot?