Are we shooting little W.V. Whitetails or big North woods Whitetails ? Little Blacktail deer or big Mule Deer ? .357 is not even in the conversation for big deer in my selection of a 'Deer Rifle'.
.357 Magnum
45 Long Colt
Are we shooting little W.V. Whitetails or big North woods Whitetails ? Little Blacktail deer or big Mule Deer ? .357 is not even in the conversation for big deer in my selection of a 'Deer Rifle'.
I have used both for decades. Handguns and rifles. I like the 45 Colt & feel 150 is a very long distance for either one!
CW
NRA Life member • REMEMBER, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE its being paid for in BLOOD.
Come visit my RUMBLE & uTube page's !!
https://www.RUMBLE.com/user/Cwlongshot
https://youtube.com/channel/UCBOIIvlk30qD5a7xVLfmyfw
I just found out my old 92in 44-40 that I killed many deer with as a youth should not have done as well as it did. Never lost one longest one went was 43 paces. But we were taught to not shoot unless we had a good shot.
Personally, I'd look not at the result on deer, as both have been used enough to verify both are effective, but rather I'd ask a series of peripheral questions.
Will it be a reloading only gun? 357 is much cheaper to buy than 45 colt. Is money an issue? 38/357 is cheaper to reload for. Is there any known issues with the gun in either chambering? Are you set to load for either caliber already? Do you just want one caliber over the other?
I use a ruger 77/357 for deer from 40-75 yards. Within that I use a Blackhawk. My load is a jacketed soft point of 158gr, or a rnfp cast boolit of the same weight. Both with a stiff charge of h110/296.
I've shot deer with both and they both worked. That being said of the two I prefer the 45 Colt for deer.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
If there is the possibility of having to use factory ammo, I would go with the .357. Most .45 Colt ammo is sedate cowboy type stuff. Not to say it couldn't work, but you would be negating much of the advantage of the larger cartridge. Of course, you can also use cheap and plentiful .38 Special for practice and small game in the .357.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
If you do your part, it won't matter which one to 100 yards. Never had either stay in a deer NOE 360-180 or the NOE 454-280 both WFN and neither a hot load.
“Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
― Mark Twain
W8SOB
I've taken deer with both using a handgun and both work well within a reasonable distance. If I owned both I'd go with the 45LC. As I have Blackhawks in both calibers and I like to carry a pistol with a rifle when hunting that wouldn't really factor in unless I was worried about bear
I Am Descended From Men Who Would Not Be Ruled
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
There is enough fat in the federal government that if you rendered it you could wash the world
Ronald Reagan.
I Am Descended From Men Who Would Not Be Ruled
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
There is enough fat in the federal government that if you rendered it you could wash the world
Ronald Reagan.
Putting up comparisons like this always lack one crucial proponent. What loads are you looking to use? Are we talking SAMMI 357 magnum vs SAMMI 45 colt? If so it's not even a competition, the 357 magnum has the 45 colt beat and then some. Standard pressure 45 colt, with a 200 grain bullet, you would be looking at 1100-1200 fps or so in a rifle. With a 357 magnum you would be able to push into 1400-1500 fps, maybe even a tiny bit more. The 45 colt does have a diameter advantage, but I'm not convinced that directly translates to bigger holes without other compromises.
Of course if we are talking about "45 colt" loaded to 30,000+ PSI, then all bets are off.
45 Colt will garner less blood shot tissue. Can't say the same about the 357. Keep in mind with such cartridges the hunter must know his shooting limits. Not knowing such limits he'd best prepare to carry a compass a roll of florescent tape and a flashlight with fresh battery's.
In this instance as far as my deer close range lever preference? 32 Special.
I'm not a fan of kinetic energy as an indicator of killing power. Let's look at some numbers for the .357. Buffalo Bore sells a load consisting of a 180 grain flat nose, gas checked bullet with a bc of .21 and muzzle velocity of 1851 fps from a Marlin with 18.5" barrel. Here it is: https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=100
I ran the numbers with an online ballistic calculator. The numbers agree with BB's published numbers. I just wanted more information with smaller steps. So here it is: http://www.shooterscalculator.com/ba...php?t=52584be6
With a starting velocity of 1851 fps, it is still doing 1388 fps at 150 yards. I also noticed that with a 150 yard zero, the point of impact is within 3.15" from the muzzle to 175 yards, with 5 yard steps. At that range it is still doing 1324 fps. A 180 grain bullet at 1300+ fps will definitely kill a deer just fine.
I used that load as an example because the actual specs are published, but there are several 170+ grain cast bullets that can provide similar results.
Here's another good one, also by Paco: http://www.leverguns.com/articles/pa...literature.htm
my personal take would be the 45 colt
long history,bigger hole whats not to like
45 colt baby!
Hit em'hard
hit em'often
The 357mg is on the minimum end of deer cartridges no matter how you slice it. I have killed deer only with 357 and 45 revolvers. Never shot one with rifle in these calibers. All under 60 yds. I could have killed them with a 22 but that doesn't make a 22 a deer gun. Out of the two the 45 has the advantage. I have shot most of my handgun deer with a 44mg at same distances. I haven't killed a deer with 44 carbine either. I have a 1894 Marlin 44 but don't carry it for deer. If I'm going to carry a long gun I want the advantage of rifle calibers.
Not a fan of kinetic energy? Then what does the higher velocity give you? When you double the velocity of a mass, the energy increases 4 times.
Ok... now be fair. You have chosen high end .357 ammo to make your point. Do the same with high end Buffalo Bore .45 colt +P Deer Granades. Or some of the other offerings they have. Like the BUFFALO-BARNES LEAD-FREE .45 Colt +P Pistol and Handgun Ammo.
Last edited by buckshotshoey; 09-18-2019 at 01:08 PM.
well, since i can't have the 44 mag, i'll go with the 45 colt.
big holes lets the blood gushes out while the air goes in.
not a fan of kinetic energy- read my signature
Ad Reipublicae his Civitatum Foederatarum Americae, ego sum fortis et libero. Ego autem non exieris ad impios communistarum socialismi. Ora imagines in vestri demented mentem, quod vos mos have misericordia, quia non.
To the Republic of these United States of America, I am strong and free. I will never surrender to godless communist socialism. Pray to images in your demented mind, that you will have mercy, because i will not.
MOLON LABE
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |