[willis5]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

I would go with the .357 mag. I have shot deer with it in situations like yours because I was comfortable with my gun and I know it's limitations.

Either will do the job (considering your insight and logical thinking)

Any one else with a differing view?

Cheers,
Willis5

 

[Mikey]

357 vs 45

CK: the 357 is it. I love my 45s but if I though I might encounter a large venison burger on the hoof at those distances I would prefer the 357.

Mikey.

 

[Holiday]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

I agree with the other two. I the .45 ACP is one of my favorites, but the .357 is a great cartridge. It has a greater velocity and has more muzzel energy. At fifty yards, it should do fine.

 

[jhalcott]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

unfortunately , some states require longer than 5" barrels and more muzzle energy than the 45 can muster. I KNOW that the 45 auto can take deer out to 40 yards or so. this is with a hollow point .does it make it a deer gun ?No! I'd probably opt for the 357 if I expected to run into a deer and could take it LEGALY with a hand gun ! jh

 

[Zachary]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

You're right...I would pick neither!

Why are you limiting yourself to the .357 and .45? I would consider the .44 mag as a good compromise for shots on deer up to 50 yards. I have a .454 and .480. A better choice would be the .480 and the 454 kinda unnecessary.

Zachary

 

[oldhunter]

.357 mag vs .45 acp

Four years ago I shot a doe in NY State with my .357 mag using a 125 grain HP at about 20 yards. Shot her once in the chest on a frontal exposure. She traveled about 100 yards leaving only a very little blood trail. With snow on the ground I was able to find her but it would have been difficult on bare ground. Have since switched to a T/C Encore single shot pistol in 7mm-08 that has about 5 times the energy level and twice the speed of the .357 mag. Only shot paper so far but hope to take a deer with it in future.

 

[willis5]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

A 357 mag Will work. and i would use it over the 45. I would obviously rather have a 44 mag, but you probably don't want to go out and buy another gun for you purposes. I hope we could help. Take care and good luck!

Cheers,
Willis5

 

[PaulS]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

cknight,
The 357 gets my vote under the conditions that you speak of. I would use a 140 grain bullet as the lightest and 160 grain as the heaviest. My reasoning is that with the heavier bullets the powder space disappears faster than the weight can make up for. I use my 357 in the woods from time to time with a 140 grain bullet (Speer hp) and the bullet is great on the small game and close ranges on larger animals. (I don't hunt deer with the 357 because I prefer larger, more capable cartridges). The 45 ACP was designed to deliver a wound to a man with enough force to stop him but leave him alive - (it takes two soldiers to care for one wounded man and that means there are three that are not shooting) and with an animal you want to kill cleanly and fast.

PaulS

 

[Old Cane]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

I'd have to go with 357 also. There are 45acp loads at about the 500 fp energy with is about par for the 357. In a revolver with a hot load the 45 may be the ticket if you can push a 200+ gr bullet and reach the same energy level.

 

[propmahn]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

definatly the .357 and definaly a 180gr bullet and load it fast. i use a load of 15gr. lil'gun and a 180gr XTP. this is out of a 6"gp-100. its listed as a max load at 34000 cup i think. it gives me 1.1"groups at 25yards
took it out with me this fall because i live in indiana and it handgun or shotgun. the round did more than i could have asked. double lunged (really the only choice dont try anything else) a 160lb (field dressed that is) 8point buck, at 25 yards, i wouldnt go beyond 50 unless the animal is already wounded. the bullet hit a rib dead on going in a vaporised a hole thru it, thru both lungs and out the other side at about .5" diameter.
while the 357 is not an optimum round it will do its job provided you wait for the good shot. if you are going to buy one, get a .44, itll be all you ever need but dont discount the 357

 

[ppcrusa]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

Years ago I shot a fairly large doe with my Ruger GP-100 .357 6". One shot and she was down right where I shot her. I was using PMC Starfires. Yardage? Try 65 yards. the .357 has the punch if you use the right bullet. In my opinion the Starfire is an excellent hunting round, and you know what.. My .30-06 couldn't even knock a doe down that solid. I don't hunt deer much anymore, but every now and then I go and I don't take the rifle either. I take my .357, and I for one have seen what it can do.

 

[Gregory]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

Chris
To be legal in IL a handgun cartridge must make 500 ft-lbs energy and be available in a factory round. Cor Bon list loads for the 45ACP that make this level and so does the 357 Mag.
I've taken one small doe with a 357 Mag, it worked fine. One shot through the lungs using a 170 gr SWC bullet.
I wouldn't hesitate to use either caliber within 75 yds.

 

[Questor]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

I'd pick the 357 because you can get good hunting bullets that penetrate well.

 

[Paul H]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

Since you mentioned in a revolver, I'd take the 45 acp. Assuming you handload, using a 230-250 gr swc would make it a quite effective round for whitetails at the range you are looking at.

If you are limited to factory amunition, then I'd take the 357 mag.

 

[labsrule]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

I'd take the .357 loaded with Remington 165 grain JHP Core-Lokt.

 

[S.B.]

choices

1. Shot placement. 2. Bullet construction. Either should do well.

 

[cabin4]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

357 mag is my vote. 180 grain Nosler partition. It will kill it inside of 75 no prob.

BP

 

[Desperado357]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

i thought the 45 acp was made for its stoping power cause the 38 long colt wasnt hardley effecting the intoxicated Moro tribe in the Philipines. could be wrong tho.

 

[jkeith]

.357 Mag vs .45 ACP

Like others have said...check your state regs. In NC, to hunt big game with a handgun, it must be a minimum of .357 with a minimum barrel length of 5.5"