Anyone got any recipes on deer loads for Marlin 1894 357 cowboy lever action?

[mtscott]

Does anyone know of any good 357 loads that will kill a deer up to 75 or 100 yards? I just bought me one of them Marlin 1894 357 lever action rifle. The one with the octagon barrel.

Thanks!

[Holleta]

May not be what you want to hear but I think you are pushing it for deer @75-100 yds with a 357 mag rifle. At 100 yds a 158g 357 (out of a rifle) is down to around 1450 fps and 725 ft-lb of energy...not to impressive for quick-humane kills on deer.

[imashooter2]

The Hornady 158 grain FP-XTP (not the hollow point) is an excellent, tough .357 magnum bullet that works well at Carbine speeds. Over 18.0 grains of Lil' Gun, it gets 1,867 fps MV from my 18.5 inch 1894C. At 100 yards that will be down to 1,526 fps and 817 fpe. That is certainly enough to slay a deer if you put the bullet where it needs to be, but you should be disciplined enough to pass on less than optimal shots.

If you are going to hunt deer with a .357 rifle, stay away from hollow points. They expand way too quickly at close range, penetrate poorly and may come apart.