Hi all Im Chris from PA and want to go out deer hunting this year with a handgun. Is a S&W 357 going to be ok or buy a 44? What size barrel?

Thanks:Chris

If you get close enough the 357 will do. The 44 would cover you well beyond 100 yards. I'm partial to 6ish inch barrels + or -, but for a few exceptions.

Welcome to HH

Welcome aboard!!

Glad you joined us, you won't regret it! This is by far the best hobby / way of life I have ever come across. Lots of good guys on here, and they won't lead ya astray.

Fair warning though... don't mention cast or jacketed, and don't mention primers either. Stay away from those topics, and you'll enjoy this place!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!! Sorry everyone, just couldn't resist!

Since you are new, check out the "Rules for 2012 Awards" post. Would sure be glad to have you join in!!!

The right bullet in the correct location from from a 357 will get the job done

Start with the 357 and move up if you want at a latter date
I took a lot of game a my 357 before moving up

The .357 will force you to be a better hunter, much like bow hunting. The important thing is practice, practice and possibly also practice. If you will shoot a .357 more than you would a .44, learn a little about its limitations, and a lot about your limitations as a shooter, and get out there and fill your freezer! And come deer season leave your in the truck! It took me several years to make my first handgun kill because in the heat of the moment I would take what was a chip shot with the rifle rather than the shot with the handgun that required a little more focus. Good hunting, and glad to have you aboard!

First, welcome, second, hide all your money, because what you don"t spend we will spend for you. Although the 357 will get it done, I like the range and bigger hole of the 44, good luck.

Welcome! One way to look at it, is: the 44 will do anything the 357 will do, plus alot more; but the 357 will not do everything the 44 will. But, there's nothing like owning both.

Welcome aboard! Im still new to this thing they call handgun hunting but all I can say its a blast. I say if your not recoil sensative go with a 44. The 357 is good to plink/hunt with but you will get more bang for your buck with the 44.

Like KRal said!!!!!
If you do go with a 357 I would get it in a Ruger Blackhawk as they can handle some heavy handloads better then most other guns. You will notice in reloading manuals theres info for 357mag loads then theres data for 357mag loads in Rugers. I have killed several animals uising both cast and jacketed bullets in the 357. I prefer the 180 hard casts in 357. But like mentioned earlier that is just my choice and mat not be yours. Good luck and good shootin.

Welcome to handgun hunting, and welcome to the site! I prefer to ere on the larger side of .357, but that's just me.

Thank you for all the advise,Being I just started shooting this year I may start with the 357 and move up to the 44 next year,the nice thing is you can never have enough handguns and they don't take up that much room.

A wise choice, the 357 is what I started hunting with many years ago.

A 357 will get the job done as long as a proper bullet is used, as long as you can place the shot in the proper location and that also goes for the larger calibers as well

Yep, the 44 won't make you a better shot, it will only extend your effective range. If you load, in a stout gun you can lean on the 357 a good bit tho.

Throw the gun down and run while you still can. I got bit by this bug and haven't been the same since. Handgun hunting is as addictive as it gets. Its great welcome aboard.

If you can afford to buy a 44 magnum later go ahead and start with the 357 magnum. I believe after one season you will be looking to go big bore. My two cents would be to buy a 44 magnum and shoot the 44 special until you get accustomed to the recoil. These light loads will allow you to practice more without taking a beating. I guess the same could be said for the 357. You could shoot 38 specials and move up to the 357 magnum charges later. the 38 specials are lighter on the wallet too.

Good luck and welcome aboard.

The 357 is a fine handgun cartridge that is understated alot. Very flat shooting and it has an awsome amount of power for so small a round. It was the first true magnum in the world and it has been killing things since the 30s. Several early handgun hunters used that round to kill almost everything in North America. Its a time proven round. Keep your shots inside your max distance and use the right ammo and you should be good. WELCOME!!

Hi Chris. Personally, I would go with the 44 mag. I started out with s .357 mag.too, but you must be very particular with picking your shots. With a 44 mag. you are good out to 100 yds. with a good bullet and good shot placement. Weather you choose a .357 or a .44 mag. either way you do have to pick your shots anyway. As for bl. length I would go with at LEAST a 6 in. bl. A 7 1/2 bl. would be a better choice, besides it will help with recoil control. By the way, where in Pa. are you located at, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm fairly new here too. but, I'm going to beat some of these long timers to the punch here. I'ts going to be said so I get to say it this time.
Get yourself a 22 (preferably a ruger singel six) and shoot the heck out of it, try iron sites and then several other sites before you buy the gun you 'really' want spend all the money you've ever made and then go out and have a ball.

There! How'd I do? Am I getting the hang of it? LOL

You learn quickly Grasshopper, spread the gospel

you will do just fine with a 44. there's many many factory rounds that just don't recoil badly at all. much much more powerful and you'll find ya can drop deer hitting near the spine if ya shoot too high. it just does more damage and hits harder but does not become tough to shoot until ya move well up the power ladder as far as the loads go. my 15 year old 95lb daughter shoots a smith 629 performance center with barnes vortex 225 gr loads very very comfortably. moving down to a 357 wouldn't help her at all as any round able to be hunted with wouldn't recoil appreciably less. just imho.

Well here's a thought no ones mentioned yet,how about a 41mag.In my opinion it's the best of the beginning calibers.I much prefer it over the 357 or the 44.

That said a 45colt could fill the bill just as easily.To keep our time honored traditions going,buy all four.

Good luck and welcome to the site.

As is stated above, the 41 mag is a viable alternative for deer hunting. In fact it is my favorite caliber (I only have five or six of them). Shoots flat & hits hard enough for deer sized animals. Some of mine are also scary accurate. The only negative about it is the relative lack of factory loads heavier than 210. However, the 210 XTPs have worked well for me.