Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General .357 magnum in Marlin Lever gun for short range deer gun?

anyone ever kill a deer with one of these guns? What distance and what bullet/load did you use?

My wife used to have one. Neither of us ever shot anything with it but....heheh

I've talked to people in person who told of killing deers with one. The heavier ammo, such as 158 softpoints, and on up, are the best. Stay away from the manstopper 125's and 110's. The deers are just enough thicker that they need the heavier stuff. My opinion, anyways.

the nice thing about it is that it matches the 38/357 pistols that we all have and the bullets/factory loads are common. I have the 44 magnumb 1894 but if this would work it would provide a more commonly available and matching cartridge. I have zero experience with shooting deer with a .357 caliber type of rifle.

I use the 180 grain Hornady and 15 grains Lil gun for 1700 fps. With this load I would not hesitate to shoot deer to 125 yards, but so far my longest shot has been about 50. The three deer shot with this load did what any deer does when hit in the heart/lung area do. Run a short distance and fall over. I have killed numerous deer with the .357 and cast bullets but these were all handgun kills so we won't go into them here.

My nine year old daughter has started to use this rifle so I may have to get me another one!

Check Buffalo Bore Ammo,they have hunting loads equal to 30-30 rounds.

thanks, I have been sorting thru a decision regarding a new brush gun and I cannot seem to make up my mind completely. The theoretical list is long.

I busted this one in August, distance was maybe 20 feet. Buck was quartering hard towards me, I put the bullet just aft of the neck/shoulder junction. Bullet came to rest on the offside hide.

Load was 15.5grs of H110 and a 158gr Hornady XTP hollow point fired from a Marlin 1894CP

Years ago, I bought a Marlin 1894 in 357 Magnum for my son. He was very recoil sensitive and a bit small. My rifles were too much for him. He shot the little Marlin very well and killed several deer with it with no problems. He used 158 grain soft points and the ranges were short- 50 yards or less. He is grown now and shoots a 6.5x55 bolt gun. He still has that Marlin and "she ain't for sale" according to him.

the 20 foot scenario is very real, yesterday I sat under a dark yopaun bush watching a trail 15 yards away, it rained the entire time I was there, no deer! I am leaning toward the .357 as I have pistols in this chambering but none in 44 magnum. I know the 44 is probably the better killer, but Steelhead's picture is self explainatory.

Shot a doe a couple of weeks ago, 75 paces, 158 RP JSP, 19/Lil Gun clocks 2000-2050mv, deer dropped in tracks.

Will be expecting many more to fall to this gun, when I hunt the woods/timber areas.

Would shoot to 150 yds w/o hesitation, would expect to kill out to 200 yds with shot placement, sights and shooter skill dependent....

Put 3 in 1.25" at 70 or so paces over the top of my car to check zero, it will get the job done w minimum fuss and has a high 'fun factor' - mine is an 1894C FWIW.

Sure, why not. Look at the volumes professing the 357 mag in a pistol to be a servicable deer round. The same round out of a rifle is MUCH improved and certainly workable provided you take appropriate, accurate shots.

Enjoy & be safe

Patty

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+1 It's a deadly deer killer at any reasonable range. I have seen them taken out to 200 yards or so (measured) with the 357.

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I guess I am going to get a chance to find out,,,my dealer found one for me..so I like Steelhead's sights on that little ported carbine, where can one find those?

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Steelhead,

I have never seen a 357 like yours, what is it? Ported and no front band, looks like a round lever and no the usual square end lever. Could that be a guide gun?

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Of course the 357 will kill a deer under the right circumstances. I have shot many deer with a 22 L.R.. I don't consider the .357 a very desirable deer rifle, as I have seen them make too many tracks when shot with the 357 pistols. But at ranges up to 50 yards and well places shots I am sure it will work..but how many folks will use one properly and not try to streatch it out..

the one I just obtained is for 25 foot shots...nothing in my rifle vocabulary was entirely suitable for the Chinese Privit thickets we hunt in some parts of GA. I have one of them, I am getting a set of the XS sights, a box of Remington 180 grain hollow point bullets, and we will see what we see! I deliberately refuse to scope this rifle for the very reason you mention, a temptation towards a 100 yard shot.

This [bleep] ain't brain surgery. Stick a good slug where it belongs and critter will die.

Atkinson, in the south where I live, and Jimmy, stuff gets REAL thick and a long shot in that stuff is not even possible, that said, my 357 dropped a doe this year at 75 yds in a narrow open area in the woods I hunt, and I was prepared to shoot 100-150 if need be, having shot alot of rifles in my life, I feel very comfortable with the power in a rifle, that a 357 produces, miniscule perhaps to larger centerfires, but in its own right, it in my opinion has power to spare for woods range whitetails.

Too many 357 carbine users have taken deer and even black bear for me to doubt the effectiveness, when used within it's capabilities. 2000-2050 mv is a FAR cry from short revolver speeds, and TC Contender hunters using 357 maximum (very close ballistically) have done well to 150 yds or so for a long time.

As Steelhead says.....good slug, good hit....good results.

My deer dropped in tracks, I was very happy.

357 carbine is a fine deer gun.
Stick to the heavy bullets, say the 158-180 grain range.

150-180gr hardcasts and enough h110 or 2400 (lean towards the max range of what your load book suggests) and you're good to go out to 100yrds+ on whitetails and pigs. I favor a williams peepsight for SE brush. Good hunting.

Ella