On Leverguns.com there is a discussion about the suitability of the 357mag for deer hunting.  One poster, gglass, listed some velocity and muzzle energy data comparing the 38spl and 357mag with the the older calibers popular in the 1800s; namely the 25-20, 32-20, 38-40, and 44-40. No one would dispute that the 44-40 (original caliber that the '92 Winchester was built for) was perfectly adequate for hunting deer at the time.  However, these days we tend to think one needs a much more powerful round to hunt anything.  
I'm not saying that the older calibers were adequate for long range deer hunting or larger game (even though elk and bear were hunted with the 44-40) but I'm in the camp that thinks shot placement and hunting skills are what's needed instead of the ever more powerful rifle.  So, I thought I'd share part of my response showing some data I pulled together using Handloads.com demonstrating that the 357mag round is perfectly adequate for short to mid range deer hunting.  
Performance at the muzzle is one thing but it seems to me that velocity
and muzzle energy at say, 100yds would be a better comparison for field
use. Therefore, I used Handloads.coms ballistic calculator with both
your and my data and generated the following information.
Caliber ...... Grns ...... MV ...... ME ... 100yd MV . 100yd ME
25-20 ......... 79 ....... 1645 .... 475 ..... 1252 ........ 275
32-20 ........ 107 ....... 1860 .... 822 ..... 1378 ........ 451
38-40 ........ 168 ....... 1574 .... 924 ..... 1165 ........ 506
44-40 ........ 205 ....... 1375 .... 861 ..... 1078 ........ 529
38sl+P *..... 158 ....... 1421 .... 708 ..... 1122 ........ 422
38sl **....... 158 ....... 1300 .... 675 ..... 1079 ........ 465
357mag * . 158 ....... 1822 ... 1165 ..... 1397 ......... 685
357mag **.. 180 ....... 1574 .... 990 ..... 1254 ........ 629
Hypothetical 357mag 2000fps and 2100fps performance.
357mag ..... 158 ....... 2000 ... 1403 ..... 1538 ........ 830
357mag ..... 158 ....... 2100 ... 1547 ..... 1621 ........ 922
This
data clearly shows that the both the 158grn and 180grn .357mag loads
deliver significantly more energy on target at 100yds than any of the
other calibers listed. Also, if one believes that a 2000fps or 2100fps
158grn round is possible, the energy on target for the 357mag runs in
the neighborhood of 60% higher than any other caliber listed.
But,
energy on target is no use at all if you don't hit what you're aiming
at so let's also compare trajectory information for 50yds, 100yds, and
150yds assuming a 100yd zero to see which is the flatter shooting round.
Caliber ...... Grns ...... MV ..... 50yd ... 100yd . 150yd
25-20 ......... 79 ....... 1645 ... 1.90" ...... 0" .. -10.39"
32-20 ........ 107 ....... 1860 ... 1.50" ...... 0" .... -6.26"
38-40 ........ 168 ....... 1574 ... 2.18" ...... 0" .... -8.60"
44-40 ........ 205 ....... 1375 ... 2.78" ...... 0" .. -10.28"
38sl+P *..... 158 ....... 1421 ... 2.54" ...... 0" .... -9.45"
38sl **....... 158 ....... 1300 ... 3.01" ...... 0" .. -10.79"
357mag * . 158 ....... 1822 ... 1.47" ....... 0" .... -5.96"
357mag **.. 180 ....... 1574 ... 2.92" ...... 0" .. -10.39"
Hypothetical 357mag 2000fps and 2100fps performance.
357mag ..... 158 ....... 2000 ... 1.17" ...... 0" .... -4.87"
357mag ..... 158 ....... 2100 ... 1.03" ...... 0" .... -4.37"
Again,
my 158grn 357mag load demonstrates the flattest trajectory through
150yds of any other round listed (except the hypothetical 2000fps and
2100fps rounds). Therefore, I make the unabashed claim that the
.357mag. is absolutely the best performing caliber of the lot for deer
hunting at any range out to 150yds. No one should feel under gunned
when using their 357mag levergun hunting deer out to 150yds which I
believe is the practical and humane limit for an open sighted levergun
in these caliber ranges.
* My chrono data generated averaging
2ea 10rd strings under the following local conditions; Jefferson
County, CO, 9/13/09 - Sunny, 54°, 6,100ft asl
** gglass revised data.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Some of the Buffalo Bore 125gr stuff reaches upwards of 2200 fps in a carbine.  That's nipping right on the heels of 30-30 and 7.62x39.  Most 7.62x39 is 123gr and MV runs right at 2350 fps.  I don't think anyone would suggest that 7.62x39 is inadequate for medium game at 100 yards, as many white tail have been taken humanely with it for years at those ranges.  Also, from a Marlin, the Buffalo Bore stuff with 180gr hard cast lead chronos at 1851 fps.  Virtually the same velocity with 170 JHC.

I think 357 is too light for handgun hunting medium game (but is fine for varmints and small game), but from a 16 inch or longer rifle with a sealed bore, the 357 really comes alive and is a different animal than when fired from a six gun.  Regarding my above, I don't think the 125gr bullets are suitable for medium game because at those velocities they'll break up too fast and not penetrate enough.  But 158gr soft points, 180gr soft points, or 180gr cast bullets make a potent 100 yard medium game cartridge when used in a rifle.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

My Browning B92 has come home to rest for the third and final time.  I sold it twice to two different buddies of mine for their kids to deer hunt with.  Both of them made at least one, one shot kill with the gun before moving up to a larger caliber.  The low recoil and cheap practice ammo make a .357 carbine an excellent choice for a youngins first gun.

Mine travels with me almost everywhere, I've got saddle boots on the farm equipment and my 4-wheeler for stray dogs and such.  I don't expect to be making over 200yd shots and I've killed several dogs with it at that range and a little further.  If the packs start running again I'll switch to my AR, but not because of it's lack of killing power, I'll want the AR's higher mag capacity.

Rob

Outstanding, I was able to find a B92 357 last year out in Nevada. My eldest son lives there and picked it up for me.  It's in desperate need of a cosmetic overhaul, and it's already received a Steve Young action job.  I think it's going to be a keeper.

If you decide it's not let me know, I've got room for another.  I had a set of Lyman receiver, not tang, sights put on mine and have never looked back. I may have a set of tang sights installed and sight them in at 200yds.

Rob

I'm one of those who believes in the capabilites of the .357 Magnum, even out of a handgun. However, I typically use heavy LSWC bullets for hunting purposes, usually a Keith bullet driven to moderate velocities or above. My normal .357 load is a 175 grain bullet at ~1350 from my S&W revolver. I'd like to see what velocities I could reach with a 20 or 24 inch rifle, but the end result would be the same: a hole clean through whatever I shoot with it. We don't have grizzlies or elk in Florida, and I'm not too worried about either of those migrating into the Southeast any time soon.  



A point I'd like to make about shooting game over a century ago with what we would today call pistol caliber carbines and rifles: the hunting method common at the time was one that many hunters are not willing to deal with today. Modern hunters, due to personal preferences or land constraints, want their chosen animal to drop DRT. No movement. Many cannot afford to have game run off onto another hunters land. Hunters of the 1870s and later into the early 20 century (such as Elmer Keith) had very few issues regarding this, since the land was much more sparsely populated. You fired a flat-nosed lead bullet into the vitals, and let your game run off. You follow it, and if necessary shot it some more. That was the way of things.



I use the example of Elmer Keith simply because I have one of his books right on the desk right now. One of the first elk hunting stories in the book is one of his shooting 6 point with 220 grain RN slugs from a .30-06. No expansion was expected, one simply shot the bull and trailed it until he got another shot, and so on until it fell.

Using Buffalo Bores Heavy Bullet 357Mag chart HERE, a rough percentage increase from a 4" pistol to 20" carbine can be estimated.  For example, they claim an almost 700fps gain using their 158grn loads.  However, I don't believe for a minute that our reloads can generate that kind of velocity spread.

The numbers look promising for the 180gr. Buffalo Bore load. I'm scheduled to go hunting for Audad here in Texas soon, is this enough to take one?

If you bear in mind that numbers are only numbers, meaning that you may not achieve quite the same results in your particular barrel, it should be enough because aoudad only get to be about 300 pounds or so.

Be sure and have a "Plan B" however. It would really suck if the rancher says that he doesn't want you shooting at his sheep on his land with that rifle, or if you found yourself needing to make a 200 -300 yard shot.

.357 mag worked for me last year, last day of gun season took a nice freezer class doe with my S&W 686 4", @ 20 yds.

Are any of you guys using 125gr loadings in a .357 lever?

I'd be curious to see what kind of velocities you're getting out of a n 18.5/20" barrel.

Buy me a 24 inch Model 92 in .357 and I'll be happy to chrono some 125 grain loads for you.




I'm willing to bet a 125 grain Remington SJHP would be pure hell on varmints. Talk about explosive.

Barnes has 125gr and 140gr solids that would make interesting loads for hunting.

I shot a doe last year with a 24" marlin in .357 with a 158 jhp. It dropped instantley but the bullet did not come out the other side, this was at 75 yards.

KJE

HHmmm. .  .

What brand JHP?



I'm inclined to think that a 158 Gold Dot would be better suited to rifle use than something like the normal Winchester JHP. The bonded bullet would probably have much better performance against medium-sized game like deer.

A full power .357 magnum out of a carbine barrel is surprisingly powerful.

Shoot one BEFORE you you say "It's just a pistol round!".

We have several .357 carbines at our house.

I agree, but remington bulk 158 jhp is what i had on hand to load.

KJE

My dad's main deer gun is a Marlin 1894C in .357mag.  XS peep sights and a 2x28 Weaver pistol scope on a EER rail.  He uses 158gr Gold Dots.

The 9 deer he has killed aren't arguing about lethality.

the 357mag is a hell of pistol round, in 1935 it was the top of the heap powerwise until the 44mag came out in the mid 50s.

the original specs for it were 158gr lrn at 1500+fps out of a 8 3/4" barrel on a large frame S&W revolver; the manufacturers began downloading it to it's currect specs when it started getting chambered into med fame revolvers.

a quick look through hodgdon's 09' load manual shows 158gr jhp getting 1500fps out of a 10" barrel with four powders, three of those are fairly close to 1600fps and a 180gr at 1400+fps.

don't have a rifle chambered for one yet, but I've had lots of revolvers, used to use full up 158gr lswgc (actual avg weight was 165gr) loads in a 6 1/2" blackhawk I hunted with that I wouldn't shoot through any of my med frame S&W revolvers because it'd lock them up tight.

I did the same with my 6 inch Taurus. Used .44 this year as I ran into a big buck after filling my tag that I would have wanted the extra power for, ended up getting another supper sized deer at under 10 yards..357 would have worked fine for that one too.

.357 is no slouch from a carbine.

Just make sure you use good quality heavy bullets on deer size criters.

Actually, Gold Dots are a poor choice for game animals because it is designed for very thin skinned humans vice the thicker skin of say a deer.  Speer Gold Dots are a soft lead that's plated with copper designed to expand quickly in human tissue.  For deer, in 158grn, I like Zero jacketed soft point bullets while in 200grn I prefer a hardcast lead.  Both these bullet types provide superior penetration and energy transfer.




 
 

158gr. JSP Federals is what we always used.