Ok, I have a young hunter, who wants to handgun a deer this season. She's not quite comfortable yet shooting full bore 44mags, and a little unsteady holding my full size super blackhawk hunter. She does however, hold and shoot my standard super blackhawk that was cut down to a 4 1/2" bbl pretty well. I dont have a 357 personally, but she's been offered one to borrow for the season. Either way, it will be equipped with a red dot to help her with the aim, and she will limited to whatever range she can be accurate at, whether its 30 yds or 75 yds. Anyway, on to the debate, strictly based on experienced results, which one performs better on game? I am quite new to handgun hunting myself and want to give my daughter every advantage I can with caliber choice. I know both have been used to take deer at reasonable distance, but is the slower wider 44 going to give a little more "margin for error" than the smaller faster 357? I understand, shot placement is everything, but I want her to be successful and not have to worry about "not enough gun". The 44spl and the 357 are my only 2 choices right now, due to budget restrictions from mama! Lol. Yall dont flame me too bad about the 44 being a lil girls gun, or how a single shot 223 would be what she needs to start with. So let the opinions flow! I've looked at ballistic charts till I wanna puke. I want some real world info, and will post pics of my kids first handgun deer hopefully in a couple months. Thanks in advance yall, and God bless.

Either will get the job done, but I prefer a bigger hole. The main thing is hitting the "spot" and a 240 leaving the muzzle at 1,000 fps will surely kill a deer, within a reasonable range of course.

I don't handload, so I'm limited to factory ammo. I had considered letting her use the hornady 180gr xtp in 44 special, its supposed to be around 1000fps. Would the 180gr be heavy enough in the 44?

I have not taken a deer with a .357 but have witnessed a few. I have taken them quite cleanly with the 44 special. Both will as you know..."work" for a deer.

My take is this. I think the 44 special is easier to shoot than the .357 magnum. The special has a lot less muzzle blast and seems to be easier for newer shooters to handle in my experience.

To get the .357 to work at its best for deer one usually relies on expanding bullets, thus the need for velocity (and corresponding muzzle blast). The 44 does not need to expand to work and work well. To answer what I think is your primary concern..does one allow more room for error than the the other? In my opinion a good lead bullet in the special will give better penetration from virtually any angle that a shot is taken. If a broadside shot hits the shoulder, I am not certain that the 357 will penetrate on through to the vitals. I know for a fact that the 44 special will.

A long winded way for me to say I would use the 44 Special hands down. (and do quite often).

Good luck and I can't wait to see the pictures.

Dan

Just saw your question on the 180 XTP. I hope others have more experience with that load and bullet. It would not be my first choice, but maybe someone else can answer that one. Buffalo Bore does I believe sell a factory loaded Keith type lead bullet in the 44 Special that is advertised at 1000 fps.

If you want less recoil a 250 gr. Keith bullet does not need to go that fast to completely penetrate a white tail deer. I would not hesitate to use that bullet going in the 850 range.

For jacketed ammo the only experience I have with the 44 Special is with a Speer Gold Dot (or Deep Curl..same bullet). I used the 210 grain bullet to take a deer last year at 30 yards. Had complete penetration and EXCELLENT performance.

Edit: I just saw this bullet/load available.
http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/store/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=GC44SP260

I think If I was going to use a factory load for deer in a 44 Special, THIS is the one I would go for. A 260 gr. WFN bullet going 950 fps is going to be mild on recoil and would take any deer that walks.

Dan

I have killed a pile of deer with .44 Specials. I agree with the above statements. Less muzzle blast = less intimidation. That load Muddy mentioned would be spot on. reflex264

I've only killed one deer with each of those calibers. The 357 was using Winchester 180gr Partition Golds and the 44 was a 200gr Nosler sporting bullet. The 357 did a little better job but I also attribute that to the bullet. In jacketed the 180gr 357 or 240gr 44 XTP's will work, in cast CP has a 180gr which is also loaded by Buffalo Bore I believe and I'm running a 255gr WFNPB in my 44 at about 1050 for use as a backup gun for walking in the woods or bowhunting.

I have taken several deer with the .357Mag. The gun is a 8" barrel Colt Python and the main load I have used without issue is Remington 180 JHP. I have not had a deer go farther than 40 yds with a heart lung shot. That said, you will need to follow up every shot as the deer do not react to the hit other than run off. I have yet to see one jump kick at the shot.
I have no experience with the 44SPL, but can not think with the proper bullet and shot placement that it wouldn't make a fine deer gun.

David

I like the 357 and have used it a few times on game but always limited my shots to broadside and less than 50 yards. The 44 special I think would be a better choice due to a bigger variety of acceptable loads and reduction of muzzle blast.

I'm thinkin we'll go with the 44 special as well. Where we'll be hunting, will present a 50 yd shot at the very most. Now, I've just got to decide on a factory load, and a sight!

A fellow in our club recommended a Double Tap SWC Hardcast in 44SPC, 975 FPS. What are your thoughts on that round?

that round and ammo is ok but you'd be better off with the CP WFN if you go hardcast for hunting, they have a much wider meplat.

Any thoughts on speer gold dot hp 44 mags? They say "short barrel ", but claim just over 1000 fps, and milder recoil, with less muzze blast. Out to 50 yds, I think they would be ok for broadside shots. Anybody have any experience with 'em?

These- http://www.midwayusa.com/product/649873/...m_vc=cross_sell

Are they 240's? If so, they should giterdun.

That speer gold dot is 200gr.

I would personally opt for the .357,most people can handle it pretty well and put a good expanding bullet through the lungs of a deer and they'll go down just as fast as using a bigger bore.

i would go with the 44 special. less muzzle blast to do the same thing. she will have to concentrate on enough as it is. taking one less thing like muzzle blast can only be a benefit.