Shadow, Good point on barrel length. My .1892 .357 has a 20 inch Douglas barrel and back when I reloaded it I had a 140 grain load up to over 2250 fps. It did a job on any thin skinned creature. Probably not ideal for bear tho. Buffalo Bore works well in my rifle and here is their official velocity for a shorter 18.5 barrel: 18.5-inch Marlin 1894
a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1860 fps c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 2153 fps---- Can you believe this?!!! d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 2298 fps---- Or this?!!!
Item 19A - Exterior Ballistics Charts for several different Muzzle Velocities
Last edited by crshelton; 03/11/19.
CRS, NRA Benefactor Life Member, Whittington Center, TSRA, DWWC, DRSS Android Reloading Ballistics App at http://www.xplat.net/
I just got a stainless Rossi 92 in 357 magnum that I really like and I'm eager to take it deer hunting. But with our Bear season overlapping with Deer I'm normally hunting both so I'm asking a two part question. First, is it enough out to 125 yards and second, what bullet and what grain?
I don't think it is enough, no, and by a substantial margin, but if I were to do it, I'd use the 180 grain partitions ... I have 4 boxes left.
Tom
Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip.
In a revolver for deer and hogs I always felt the 357 was marginal, the 41 Mag. was a real step up and out of the marginal category and the 45 Colt and 44 Mag. was another step up that was noticeable. I used a 45 Colt and Corbon ammo on one six foot N. Mexico bear. Bear was treed and at the first shot visibly shuddered all over, it kept climbing so I kept shooting but probably unnecessary. Took maybe 10 seconds to fall out of the tree completely immobile.
Sure the 357 will kill black bear but not my first choice, but it was the first choice of my guide as she liked the lighter recoil and carry weight of the 357. The loads that equal or exceed 35 Remington ballistics will be fine at closer ranges with the right bullet.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
Shoot a hard cast lead bullet or minimally expanding jacketed bullet, keep the shots within 100 yards and don't take any marginal shots. It's not a dead right there type of rig but I am confident it would do the trick. I had a Contender in 357 mag that shot 180gr bullets at 1650fps out of an 8" barrel with MP300 - that thing was stout and I have no doubt it would do the trick.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
Folks in the know on heavy hard cast bullets understand the penetration they offer......
Others might be surprised at just how much they will dig. In the end, shot placement matters as does placement. If not confident, chose something else.
Agree w/comment above, don't expect a DRT unless you have a CNS hit, but I agree it will do the deed.
A hunter killed a 679# boar this past season with a 357 magnum handgun in PA. So I am guessing your levergun will work. The question is though, is it optimal?
I would say over bait or bayed by dogs its pretty dam close to optimal. Close range it isn't giving up much to anything. Now if it is spot and stalk where shots might be longer range I would say it is less than optimal for sure.
That would be a negative on both as PA doesn't allow baiting or hounds for bear.
Using a 180 cast flat nose (or heavier), I'd have no problems or fears using a 357 lever gun for deer, hogs, bears, elk, moose. Until you've seen it in action, you don't know what the hell you are talking about, and you should likely abstain from offering an ignorant opinion.
A hunter killed a 679# boar this past season with a 357 magnum handgun in PA. So I am guessing your levergun will work. The question is though, is it optimal?
I would say over bait or bayed by dogs its pretty dam close to optimal. Close range it isn't giving up much to anything. Now if it is spot and stalk where shots might be longer range I would say it is less than optimal for sure.
Places I hunt 100 yards would be a very long shot. I shot my last Bear at 20 yards.
I’m actually thinking I’d NOT want a hard cast bullet at 125 yards out of the levergun in question. I’d be picky on my shots and aim For vitals with any controlled expansion bullet. Getting through black bear vitals is easy if you can shoot, they aren’t made of much as far as armor goes. Save the hard cast for self defense!
A hunter killed a 679# boar this past season with a 357 magnum handgun in PA. So I am guessing your levergun will work. The question is though, is it optimal?
I would say over bait or bayed by dogs its pretty dam close to optimal. Close range it isn't giving up much to anything. Now if it is spot and stalk where shots might be longer range I would say it is less than optimal for sure.
That would be a negative on both as PA doesn't allow baiting or hounds for bear.
I never said it was. I stated that under those two circumstances I would be totally comfortable killing a bear. I also stated if it were spot and stalk then I would not be comfortable with that. I will include what I call chance hunting as well with spot and stalk.
The 357 would work. Would it be my first choice, if I had other options, nope.
I have other options. But I don't always feel like deer hunting with a bear rifle. But a lot of the time I spend deer hunting bear is also open so I always have that consideration.
I have never shot a bear with the 357. I have shot a few deer with it and they died. I was using 158gr XTP’s and was not impressed with their performance at 50 and 100 yards. That being said, I think 100 yards was to far for the 357. Keep the shot close and in the heart/lung area it will work.
I have never shot a bear with the 357. I have shot a few deer with it and they died. I was using 158gr XTP’s and was not impressed with their performance at 50 and 100 yards. That being said, I think 100 yards was to far for the 357. Keep the shot close and in the heart/lung area it will work.
Considering the trophy a pa black is I personally don’t risk it and save all marginal calibers for after bear is closed hear lots of stories of people hitting bears and not finding them or making one shot with good caliber and standing in amazement only to have bear get up and still get away
I shoot deer and hogs with 2 357 rifles with 158 gr xtp. hor.deer 10 to 80 yards hogs 10 to what ever, our stuff is not big 275 hog 140 is a big body buck no problem I would feel good at 150 yards with my guns with my handloads that is all I ever shot them for 300lb bear any thing diff no