.44 Special vs .357 Magnum on whitetail

[David LaPell]

I don't think I have ever heard the debate of the .44 Special vs the .357 Magnum on whitetail deer. The .44 Special with good handloads and the right bullet will drop a deer. But what about a good 170 grain SWC moving at 1,300 fps from the .357? So which of these two is better?

 

[contender]

Quite often it isn't the caliber, but the proper bullet placement with any caliber capable of penetrating and damaging vitals. A neck shot in most calibers will drop one instantly,,, while a broadside high velocity 300 mag can allow one to run for a LONG way before it dies,, if it does die.
I would say that a 170 grn hardcast SWC at 1300 fps would be a good deer load,,, especially if properly placed.

 

[flatgate]

Around here it's the Rules that effect the choice.......

Neither the .44 Special or the .357 Magnum are LEGAL for Deer Hunting.....

flatgate - out here in Wyomin' where "big bores" are required.

 

[pps]

Around here it's the Rules that effect the choice.......

Neither the .44 Special or the .357 Magnum are LEGAL for Deer Hunting.....

flatgate - out here in Wyomin' where "big bores" are required.

Wyoming is a great state.

 

[Boxhead]

Flatgate comments on something folks often do not realize. And some States require that the ammo meet spec as loaded by the factory. Not sure if Buffalo Bore qualifies as factory but you get the idea.

 

[tomiswho]

Just checked Georgia's rules for deer and bear. Rifle and pistol; .22 or larger centerfire with expanding bullet. That was about it.

 

[RugerSP101]

I don't think I have ever heard the debate of the .44 Special vs the .357 Magnum on whitetail deer. The .44 Special with good handloads and the right bullet will drop a deer. But what about a good 170 grain SWC moving at 1,300 fps from the .357? So which of these two is better?

12 gauge

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I don't know a whole lot about hunting but I would bet that a 357mag 158gr or 180gr XTP could reach-out and tag a deer at a pretty good range, a lot farther than a 44special. ------- 357mag / 1,300 fps / 50 yds. / 500 energy vs. 44 special / 900 fps / 50 yds / 350 energy. ------

...Jimbo

 

[volshooter]

Jimbo, nice revolver, do you sleep with it? I would.
I have taken whitetail with .44spc and .357mag at close ranges. Both are effective under 100 yds. (a yardage I consider past my personal comfort level (50 yards) with most pistol rounds and beyond 99% of true hunters)
I am comfortable using my SBH in .44 mag up to 60 yards.
Personally I would choose the .44spc simply for the heavier lead.
Here I want to say what round you choose is up to you as long as your comfortable.
8)

 

[Rainman]

Tom:
I think the GA rules were liberalized because of the overpopulation of deer everywhere. Everyday is a doe day this year except Chattahoochee National Forest.

Either cartridge will do just fine on our size whitetails in the close ranges we tend to have. Like Conterder said, it's the placement not the round. The deer won't be able to distinguish between a 170 and 240 in the heart or lungs.

Dan

 

[Dale53]

I have killed a number of deer with a .44 Magnum. 250 gr Keith at 1300 fps will shoot through a large deer lengthwise. I have also shot a deer with a 250 gr Keith at 1200 fps and the deer never knew the difference. This is within the power of a heavily loaded .44 Special (perfectly safe in an "N" frame S&W or a Ruger .44 Lipsey Special).

My choice would ALWAYS be the larger caliber, with the correct bullet and heavy loads. Elmer Keith suggested that the heavily loaded .44 Special had about twice the stopping power of a .357. I have seen nothing to dispute that "in the real world".

Here in Ohio, we are limited to a revolver with a minimum barrel length of 5" and caliber minimum of .357. I have .357's as well as .44 Specials and .44 Magnums and my choice will be a caliber that starts with a .4.

But, that's just me. As someone above pointed out, shot placement is more important than caliber.

Dale53

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

22 magnums kill a lot of deer (not legally) so I'm told. Recurves with sometimes less than 30 ft/lbs of energy kill a lot of deer. At a reasonable distance, with good shot placement and a good piece of lead, a 44 spl, a 357 magnum or even a properly loaded 38 spl is more than adequate. Although, none of the 3 are legal in Kansas. I've cut up my share of deer and they were all made out of muscle and bone. They are not hard to kill if you do it right.

 

[Bucks Owin]

flatgate - out here in Wyomin' where "big bores" are required.

Amen amigo. What I wouldn't give to own a FA .500 Wyoming Express. That belted case is just too cool and I'll bet it's a thrill to drop the hammer on one of those buffalo thumpers..... :wink:

 

[Bucks Owin]

357mag / 1,300 fps / 50 yds. / 500 energy vs. 44 special / 900 fps / 50 yds / 350 energy. ------



...Jimbo

Yeah, but I thought everyone with a .44 Spl used Elmer's load @ 1200 fps... :wink: