I've been shooting the 357 mag for years. I've taken a bunch of small game, whitetail, a black bear, and one elk with them in the past. Mostly cast bullets in the 162 to 187 grain range. The only thing that I have trouble getting over is that "supersonic" crack. I realize that I'm goin' deaf, but! To many days in the gravel pit with the '94 30-30 and Ruger 357, as kid before the days of "hearing" protection awareness I guess.