Henry .357 for deer

[Mr_Flintstone]

I have a Henry Big Boy in .357 Magnum, and I know it probably isn’t the optimal rifle for deer, but it’s such a handy rifle I’d like to make use of it. I’m in the mountain region of KY, and the average deer size is less than 150 lbs, and the maximum range will be about 100 yards. What size cast bullet would be best to use in this situation? Would 158 grain pushed to about 1700 FPS be enough, or should I try to really push it faster? Or should I go with a heavier 170 or 180 gr bullet at a lower velocity? Or should I abandon the idea and stick with a .308 that’s probably overkill around here?

[Misery-Whip]

I say go for it. I use mine on blacktail of similar size usually around 75yds with lee 158rf and a near max charge of win296. Pleanty of power

[Gray Fox]

The Ranch Dog/NOE 175 grain RNFP boolit is just about optimal in a .357 mag rifle. GF

[jcren]

A nice flat point of your prefered flavor will be more than sufficient. You are talking near original 30-30 ballistics (160 grain at around 1970) with a wider wound channel.

[Mr_Flintstone]

I didn’t realize that the original 30-30 was that close to modern .357 Magnum. That makes me feel a lot more confident in using the 357.

[725]

Check out an article in the LASC by Glenn Fryxel entitled, "A bullet for all seasons". So many good bullets for the .357 from the 160gr range up to the 220gr. Good reading and references to the 358627.

[bob208]

read the stories of handgun hunting with a .357 handgun. they were shooting to 100 yds. so you should do way better in a rifle.

[dangitgriff]

I’ve seen 180-grain jacketed perform well with 13 grains of AA9. I imagine it would push a cast at that weight admirably with a touch less of the bang-dust.
R/Griff

[cwlongshot]

I have dumped more than a dozen with a 170 GD and LilGun at 1750 FPS. Shot a few with a 140 Speer HP from a 8” Colt with H110. Recent years the 358429 170g Keith bullet and BlueDot drop deer dead inside 75 easily.

I shared your Skepticism. Until I shot a few critters and started bullet testing. No more!! Shooter where your supposed to. Be a hunter nota. Shooter and keep shots like a long range BOW HUNT! You will keep your freezer full!

CW

[boatbum101]

If you go with cast use a gaschecked bullet . Biggest problem with leverguns is coal with heavier bullets & rather or not a SWC will feed . Thats why most use RNFP or LBT style WFN . I do not have a Henry 357 but do have one in 41 mag & use the LBT 240 LFN in it . Of course there's many jacketed that'll work like the 180 XTP or 170 GD . The Rem 180 SJHP is also a good bullet if you can find them . I'm shooting a T/C Encore with a MGM barrel & am not restricted by coal & have long enough throat I can shoot 200gr bullets . I use the LBT 180 WFN which I can push to 1800fps . Like where you hunt most shots are less than 100yds in heavy cover . The heavier cast allows the ability to take a raking shot if you jump one . Also works on our big hogs . If I were you I'd try different bullets until you find accuracy & velocity you want . I think it'll make you a good little deer rifle at the ranges you hunt . I'd make load developement as simple as possible , pick a bullet & say 3 or 4 powders & 1 primer . You should be able to find something usable in a day @ the range .

[OverMax]

Small and light weight deer? 75 yrs or less. Why not give it a whirl next season. As far as a cast? 158-160 is just fine so long as its a Gas Checked cast you choose.

[dverna]

If you go with cast use a gaschecked bullet . Biggest problem with leverguns is coal with heavier bullets & rather or not a SWC will feed . Thats why most use RNFP or LBT style WFN . I do not have a Henry 357 but do have one in 41 mag & use the LBT 240 LFN in it . Of course there's many jacketed that'll work like the 180 XTP or 170 GD . The Rem 180 SJHP is also a good bullet if you can find them . I'm shooting a T/C Encore with a MGM barrel & am not restricted by coal & have long enough throat I can shoot 200gr bullets . I use the LBT 180 WFN which I can push to 1800fps . Like where you hunt most shots are less than 100yds in heavy cover . The heavier cast allows the ability to take a raking shot if you jump one . Also works on our big hogs . If I were you I'd try different bullets until you find accuracy & velocity you want . I think it'll make you a good little deer rifle at the ranges you hunt . I'd make load developement as simple as possible , pick a bullet & say 3 or 4 powders & 1 primer . You should be able to find something usable in a day @ the range .

Good post.

[SirNomad]

FortuneCookie45LC did some cool videos on working up a .357 magnum load using Lee's C358-200-RF mold. (I think I remember the mold name correctly). That's with cast rounds. :-)

[cwlongshot]

AGC is NOT a requirement if your using a properly powder coated bullet.

Good point on feeding. Mine do feed fine but I have read many times others do not. Lee’s excellent 158-358 is a WFN and a good looking bullet properly alloyed would expand & preform well! Should feed better too. It’s a slightly domed “FP”

I WISH that those Speer 170 GD & Remmy 180 SJHP’s where still around!!! If you find will only be “used market”. You know someone’s personal stock. Or possibly in the back of a dusty gun store shelf. They haven’t been offered in years.

CW

[Shawlerbrook]

You should have no problem with the 158’s at 1700fps. I shot a couple NYS whitetail with a 4” Ruger GP100 with 158’s . At 30 yards they were both one shot kills.

[BrutalAB]

I started out hunting deer with my big boy 357. Boolit was the lee/rcbs 200 rf cast from stick on wheel weights (no tin) moving at a modest 1300 to 1350 fps. I consider it a 100 yard gun. Any further and you gotta be damn good at guessing the distance cause it drops so fast.
Known distances i can hit steel at 230 yards with it.
Western Kentucky deer if that helps you on size relativity, ive never weighed a deer before.

[T-Bird]

After taking a nice doe this fall with my Marlin .357 and a 180 gr LBT, I was impressed enough that with the performance that I won't hesitate to use it any time I need a close range (<100 yds) compact rifle.

[Mr_Flintstone]

OK, after hearing from everyone, I feel confident that deer can be taken with this rifle; and thanks for all the info. Now I just have to decide on the proper bullet. I think first I’ll try 158 and 170 gr rnfp for speed and accuracy; then maybe 158 and 180 gr XTPs. After doing some more reading, I’m not going to count out 140 gr XTP either; at least not just yet. According to Hodgdon, they can be loaded to around 2000 FPS for about 1250 ft-lbs. I also have three magnum powders on hand right now that I’m going to start experimenting with: W296, IMR-4227, and 2400.

[KCSO]

The Saeco 180 RNFP and H 110 makes a near duplicate of the 38-40 and is an excellent deer load.

[boatbum101]

Mr. Flintstone just remember light & fast will destroy meat . I believe you'll find that a 180 @ 1700 will be less destructive than a 140 @ 2000 .

[Mr_Flintstone]

Mr. Flintstone just remember light & fast will destroy meat . I believe you'll find that a 180 @ 1700 will be less destructive than a 140 @ 2000 .
What powder are you using for your 180s? The fastest I have load data for is about 1500 FPS from a 18-1/2” barrel. I’d be very interested in something like what are using. I just worry about loads that I can’t find data for.

[T-Bird]

I'm using H 110, 1550-1600 fps is what I'm getting with my 180 load. Tried Lil Gun it, was a little faster I think I remember, but not as accurate. My velocity was enough that I got full penetration.

[Mr_Flintstone]

Thanks. That’s what I got in my manuals. I figure if the 1200-1300 or so FPS from a revolver is good enough to take deer, then 1500+ would be more than enough. Like with any gun, though, you got to hit em in the vitals so the don’t run far away.

[T-Bird]

Bingo on both points

[mnewcomb59]

Lil' Gun will shoot 158 cast bullets over 2000 fps in a rifle. Check out some of the Brian Pearce articles in Handloader. Hodgdon's data is 18 grains and under 26000 CUP. Brian Pearce tested 19 grains with a bunch of different 158s.

I shoot 18.6 grains with a powder coated and tumble lubed Lee 158-RF and it does under 4" at 100 yards.

The NOE 154 WFN GC powder coated and tumble lubed with the same charge of Lil' Gun and it shoots around 2" for 10 shots with trimmed brass.

I hate gas checking and I hate trimming, so I shoot far more of the 158-RF. My alloy is 1-4-95 (wheel weights with a little type metal) water dropped after powder coating. I run 2-2-96 with the NOE and get nice, controlled expansion and deep penetration.

I have killed 8 or 9 deer with the 357 rifle now.

I also Like the Ranch Dog 135 9mm bullet. I killed one deer around 1200 fps impact with WW and it broke both shoulders and exited. One was 2000 fps impact with soft alloy and that bullet did not penetrate well. Fist sized hole in first lung and tiny hole in second lung, no penetration of far side rib cage. Another two were with WW at 2000 fps impact and the wound channel was spectacular with quartering pass through and fragmentary wounding the entire length of the wound tract about 2" in diameter.

I always water jug test my lot of bullets at different velocities before hunting. I have water jug tested about 100 different bullets in various calibers. I have found a good rule of thumb for deer is 5 jugs. This amount of penetration will let you take anything but a texas heart shot on deer. At woods ranges a 180 30-06 soft point penetrates 5 jugs. A 170 30-30 penetrates 7 because it retains more weight. The deer that I had poor penetration on was a 3 jug load and mushroomed to 66 cal with good weight retention, but penetration kills. I have shot deer with loads that penetrate 8-10 jugs and the wound channel is definitely smaller with the amount of power this rifle has. All of my favored loads penetrate in the 5-7 jug range and get some expansion, mixed with plenty of penetration.

From the rifle with Lil' Gun the 158-rf with medium hard alloy and high impact speeds turns into a wadcutter or slightly larger and penetrates 7 jugs. The NOE 154 gas check (same load) with 2-2-96 penetrates 5 jugs 61 cal, 100% weight retention. The Ranch dog 135-rf from the rifle with WDWW penetrates 5 jugs, mushrooms to 53 cal and loses 10 grains

Compared to the 135 2400 combo, the 158 Lil' Gun loads are more powerful and easier on the brass.

These are all Northern Ohio deer and maybe a little bit bigger than Kentucky deer.

[smkummer]

I haven’t shot a deer yet with my 1894C 357 but am currently shooting steel plates at 100 plus with Lyman’s 195 gr. 358430 at about 1100 FPS. No doubt that bullet would cleanly kill dear. Every time when someone questions if a 357 rifle will kill dear cleanly, I think of the 32-40 with a 165 gr. bullet at 1440 FPS that killed as much deer as any other caliber over a 100 years ago.

[WinchesterM1]

Where in Ky are you from? I’m from Boyd county I have killed deer with my Rossi 92 using the lee 158rf from about 35 yards. I also killed a deer with a 38 spl lee 125-358rf over 3.5 of bullseye. That was an accident but the doe dropped in her tracks and she was about 10 feet away

Read Jrs write up on the 357 mag he did a lot of work that is amazing with a 357 I miss that man


http://castbullet.com/shooting/shooting.htm

[dverna]

Where in Ky are you from? I’m from Boyd county I have killed deer with my Rossi 92 using the lee 158rf from about 35 yards. I also killed a deer with a 38 spl lee 125-358rf over 3.5 of bullseye. That was an accident but the doe dropped in her tracks and she was about 10 feet away

Read Jrs write up on the 357 mag he did a lot of work that is amazing with a 357 I miss that man


http://castbullet.com/shooting/shooting.htm

Thanks for the link. Enjoyed the read

[Mr_Flintstone]

Where in Ky are you from? I’m from Boyd county I have killed deer with my Rossi 92 using the lee 158rf from about 35 yards. I also killed a deer with a 38 spl lee 125-358rf over 3.5 of bullseye. That was an accident but the doe dropped in her tracks and she was about 10 feet away

Read Jrs write up on the 357 mag he did a lot of work that is amazing with a 357 I miss that man


http://castbullet.com/shooting/shooting.htm

I’m about 90 miles due south of you in Letcher county. Thanks for the link.

[WinchesterM1]

I’m about 90 miles due south of you in Letcher county. Thanks for the link.

Yeah I drew for an elk in Harlan county, nice area

[Good Cheer]

Thumbs up for the LBT 180 grain flat nose.
That's a powerful slug and not too heavy.

[Mr_Flintstone]

When I was young there was very little wildlife in the hills around here. They had been hunted to death. I didn’t see a deer locally until I was 30 years old. Turkeys were only to be seen once in a great while. The only bears were on Black Mountain, and you could hunt all day and not see a squirrel.

Times have changed, and people don’t rely on hunting like they used to. I rarely hear a shot in the woods, and I have rabbits and squirrels running in my back yard. A bear ate my garbage can the other day, coyotes are running everywhere, and I usually hit a baby deer with my sickle mower every year cutting hay. This coming year I’m going to have more time for hunting, and I think I’m going to start thinning the wildlife a little.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Between my son and myself, we've shot a number of whitetails with .357 leverguns. And we've shot a ton more with roundball muzzleloaders. If a 125 grain .45 roundball is adquate for deer out to 100yards there is no reason a .357 won't do just fine.

A 158 grain going at 1700 seems light-loaded to me. I have chronographed 158s at 1900 and still was below the published max. But 1700 is certainly enough.

[Jeff Michel]

I use a 180 grain WFN from NOE, 12 grains of 2400 puts it out of my Marlin/Ruger/Winchester at just short of 1500 fps. I'm getting complete pass through at ranges up to 125 yards. In my experience, XTP's regardless of caliber and grain weight tend to fragment and or shed their jackets. A doe last year, 180 grain XTP at 75 yards. Recovered the bullet on the offside, 82 grains. That's twice in two different calibers with the same performance. Never have any problem with a WFN on a deer.

[dangitgriff]

I know opinions differ on the topic of pass-thru vs. fragmentation, but I think a bullet that dumps all its kinetic energy into the animal is pretty darn efficient vs. a pass-through shot where excess energy is wasted outside the animal, at least where southern whitetail deer are the target.
Feral swine, on the other hand? Heck yes, a WFN hard-cast at moderate to high velocities is a good idea, especially if targeting a large animal. Anything smaller than I am is fair game for those XTP’s, though!
Look up the Sierra 180 grain FPJ’s, #8370, if you want max penetration and a wicked wound channel. Here’s one I recovered out of a stack of dry parts catalogs, it was about 8” deep. Shot at 50 yards:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200309/c1ce61b4f1df374ee3c1dc4fd5be2c78.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200309/eb30e3f5416a440dec8f9fac17df48e6.jpg

[dnepr]

A link to my post about my experience with a .357 rifle taking deer

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?217224-Rossi-357-makes-meat

, It sounds like our NWO deer run a bit bigger than what the OP has in his neck of the woods but that should stack things in his favour.