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357 MAG takes elk

56K views 160 replies 67 participants last post by  DunRanull 
#1 · (Edited)


This cow was shot at about 50 feet. First shot struck the chest from broadside and broke a rib going in. Both lungs were badly damaged. The bullet was found balled up under the hide on far side side. Second bullet struck farther back. The diaphragm was torn and liver damaged. The elk galloped away as if unhurt. I waited about an hour and took up the trail. About 150 yards away, the animal was found dead as Julius Caesar.

This cow elk weighed approx 400 lbs.

357 MAG is certainly no long distance cartridge. But up close, it's up to the task.

tech info: 158 grain hollow tip factory ammo by PMC. Taurus revovler with 6 inch barrel.

TR
 
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#5 ·
If I read the South Dakota regulations correctly they require firearms used for Elk to be "factory rated" as producing a minimum of 1700 FPE at the muzzzle. Even the best .357 Magnum loads do less than half that, more like 1/3, and that is only by hand loading! I assume this animal was not shot in South Dakkota?
 
#117 ·
Exactly.

Someone managed to down an Elk with a .357. All of a sudden, a .357 Mag is an elk round.

It's a joke.

No offense to the OP, but you're part of the problem dude.

Wanna hunt elk? Use a rifle (.270 minimum) or a TC in something big.

I'd much rather have a bunch of shooters shooting elk at 50 yards w/ 357 than bunch of rifleman at 400++ yards with Boomenslager Magnums(or 500 yards) that I read about on the net quite often.
 
#7 ·
Funny. A guy successfully harvests a game animal with caliber XYZ and tells about it. Other guys jump on him for using an "inadequate" cartridge, despite full penetration of the chest cavity. Other guy suggests maybe the firearm wasn't even legal.

How 'bout a "Nice shot, congratulations!" Or even "Wow, I'm surprised that cartridge performed so well."

I know I'm probably just grouchy, but sheesh. I wonder how many people can tell me they have PERSONALLY shot an elk with caliber XYZ, and made a GOOD hit, and the elk survived. I'd guess none, because if the elk survived, you can't prove that you made a good hit.

Anyway, congrats TR.
 
#11 ·
Nice shooting! The guy got a double-lung on his first shot, yet people are saying it isn't enough gun?!!:rolleyes: Before the .44Mag came out, didn't the lil' .357 Mag kill just about everything?

Jim


Yep, that's not the first Elk to be taken with a 357 Mag..The 357 has even been used to take Grizz amoung ever types of big game.. While there are caliber choices that are higher on the food chain than the 357, none the less properly loade and properly placed the 357 will and has and will continue to take its share of game...
 
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#9 ·
I think there are a few too many FPE followers... The bullet pentrated enough and harvested the animal cleanly... Nice job, you have the proof and all talk of not enough gun, etc is arm chair quartebacking after the fact. Sure a 454 is higher on the food chain than a 357, but you obviously had enough, if you did not you would not have the Elk.


Good shoot congradulations




 
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#10 ·
congrats

Way to go! This illustrates that a guy who is hunter enough to get close and make a cool shot probably knows more about the sport (and himself) than many others. My guess is you either know your limitations from experience and have good skills, or you were just lucky. Big guns and fancy bullets rarely compensate for proper shot placement with an average bullet on a cow elk. On the other hand, I traded in all my .357s a long time ago because all other things being equal, I do like to improve my odds if longer distance and bigger animals are a possibility. I also use "fancy" bullets.
I wouldn't have any problem attempting to duplicate your success with a .357 at 50' with a cow elk. Heck, I suppose my odds would be better with a .357 at 50' than with a .44 at 50 yards!
Congrats again!
 
#138 ·
.357 Magnum for Cow Elk

Way to go! This illustrates that a guy who is hunter enough to get close and make a cool shot probably knows more about the sport (and himself) than many others. My guess is you either know your limitations from experience and have good skills, or you were just lucky. Big guns and fancy bullets rarely compensate for proper shot placement with an average bullet on a cow elk. On the other hand, I traded in all my .357s a long time ago because all other things being equal, I do like to improve my odds if longer distance and bigger animals are a possibility. I also use "fancy" bullets.
I wouldn't have any problem attempting to duplicate your success with a .357 at 50' with a cow elk. Heck, I suppose my odds would be better with a .357 at 50' than with a .44 at 50 yards!
Congrats again!
This is telling it like it is! A good hunter that got close to the animal and made a good shot should not be ridiculed. ****, Keith writes plenty about needing big pistols, but killed many elk prior to their developments - and he lived in the brush. Good shot. The bullet obviously did its job, resulting in an excellent outcome!
 
#12 ·
If you place the bullet properly it really doesn't much matter how big, how heavy, or how fast it is going, you'll make meat. And if you fail to place the bullet properly, the same still largely applies. No amount of power can substitute for woodscraft, marksmanship and patience. Still today you'll find many Canadian Indians who take all their meat with .22 rimfires.
 
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#16 ·
The hunt was planned for last weekend of firearms season in Crook County, Wyoming. I rolled into camp about 4 hours before dark. Leaving my .308 rifle in camp, I hiked to the ridge to look over the valley beyond for next morning's hunt. The Taurus was holstered at my waist; this is bear and cougar country.

A huge boulder was my seat as I glassed the big valley with my 10X field glasses. It sounded like cattle walking through the trees behind me. But when I turned to look, I saw several cow elk with their youngsters. I drew my revolver and shot into the crease behind the shoulder. Distance was close, about 50 feet or so. The animal flinched and trotted away. I shot again but it hit farther back than I'd planned. The elk galloped away.

Now you know the rest of the story.

357 MAG hits hard at archery distances. But it is not in the same power league as genuine rifle cartridges. The point of this photo and story is to share an interesting hunting event. But I'm not suggesting that 357 MAG is an IDEAL cartridge for taking elk.

Elk are large and tough but not armor-plated. Many local hunters in this state take elk every season with common 30-30 saddle guns.
TR

 
#19 ·
Heck I'm surprised the bullet didn't bounce off the elk and possibly injure you! Just kidding. I catch the same type of treatment from friends and family who think my 243 is only good for groundhogs. It has worked fine on deer for me for the last 25 years. Nice shoot'n TR! Dave
 
#130 ·
Amen to that! It's all about shot placement. The good 'ole Ruger M77 .243 Win dropped my first cow elk, a 300 lb aoudad ram, and countless mulies when I was younger. The .357 mag is PLENTY of gun for elk at reasonable distances and good shot placement. The OP's success with it is only further proof... shot placement is king! Congrats on the cow, she'll be right tasty!
 
#20 ·
congratulations

Very nice elk and a fine shot too. I shot a whitetail with my 357 and the damage you described and penetration were nearly identical. The whitetail being obviously smaller, but it was at 50yards.

Obviously your game only went 150 yards, the gun was adequate.

Congrats again.

Terry :)
 
#24 ·
This thread reminds me of an experience I had a few years ago. We had a fresh snow and I had two mtn. lion hunters with me looking for tracks. Each had a licence and both were using the same .357 mag. revolver. One hunter was green and the other seasoned. Same with their shooting skills. The greenie got the first cat in the tree and it was a mess. He emptied the revolver on the kitty and I had to finish it off with my .44. His shooting was poor and none of his shots were good though all hit the cat.
Later that day I cut more tracks and off we went. The experienced hunter/marksman (who was father to the greenie) now got his chance. One cool, swift, precise shot sealed the deal. Same .357, same ammo, same critter. Two very different outcomes.
 
#25 ·
Thanks for all the friendly responces. The first few seemed unkind which confused me at the time.

I've taken several mule deer with this 357 MAG revolver (on purpose). I have the precious priviledge of being able to hunt prairie deer and hills deer each year. Typically, I hunt with this Taurus revolver first week or so. Its fun to stalk animals in rough country to get within good shooting distance. My revolver has open sights and my middle age eyes can't focus them very well past 80 feet. But as season is nearing end, my scoped 30-30 or .308 comes out of the cabinet.

357 MAG has taken big full sized mulies for me. In my opinion, weight of the animal is not as much a factor as thickness of chest wall. The bullet has to punch through this barrier to reach the lungs. Chest wall thickness is nearly same whether buck is 150 or 250 lbs. In contrast, a California wild boar is built much sturdier than a Dakota muley although live weight is same or less!
TR
 
#27 ·
Thanks for all the friendly responces. The first few seemed unkind which confused me at the time.

357 MAG has taken big full sized mulies for me. In my opinion, weight of the animal is not as much a factor as thickness of chest wall. The bullet has to punch through this barrier to reach the lungs. Chest wall thickness is nearly same whether buck is 150 or 250 lbs. In contrast, a California wild boar is built much sturdier than a Dakota muley although live weight is same or less!
TR
My only question would be if you are using the 158 grain HP load for intentional shots. Isn't this the load the FBI was using before the massacre in Miami? There are hunting loads for the 357 with better bullets at higher velocities.
 
#28 ·
The 158 grain hollow tip is accurate and always tears a deadly wound channel. Doesn't seem necessary to switch. I'll let you know if one ever bounces off!


I do not hunt boar with this revolver. My choice is .308 with 180 grain soft tips. It has killed well for me.

TR
 
#30 ·
The 158 grain hollow tip is accurate and always tears a deadly wound channel. Doesn't seem necessary to switch. I'll let you know if one ever bounces off!


I do not hunt boar with this revolver. My choice is .308 with 180 grain soft tips. It has killed well for me.

TR

The 357 mag with 160, 180 or 200 grain flat point hard cast will take pigs such as the one above just fine, I can assure you as I have used the 357 for such with satisfactory results many years ago and I am rather certain that they have not been armor plated in the mean time...
 
#35 ·
Who loads 180 grain hard cast? I haven't seen any of this type at our local gunshop.

Thanks.
TR
Buffalo Bore loads the 180gr LBT hard and fast - runs to 1800fps out of an 18" levergun.

You can order them from Cabelas.
 
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