357 MAG takes elk

[T.R.]

This cow elk was shot with my 357 MAG revolver. I wasn't hunting at the time. It was about two hours before dusk. I'd left my .308 carbine at camp and climbed the ridge to glass the valley beyond for the next morning's elk hunt. The revolver was for protection as this is cougar and bear country. A cow elk tag was in my pocket and it was the last week of the firearms season.

A large boulder was my seat as I peered across the valley looking for elk sign. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I slowly turned my head and observed about dozen elk cows and calves about 50 feet away. I unholstered the revolver and fired when the sights lined up on the crease behind the shoulder. At the shot, the animal trotted forward and I fired again. The cow galloped away as if unharmed. I waited about an hour and took up the trail. The elk was found dead about 150 yards away.

First shot broke a rib going in and tore through both lungs. I found the bullet balled up under the hide on opposite side of entry. The second bullet struck too far back to strike the lungs but tore apart the diaphram and blew a thumb sized hole in the liver. Much blood within the body cavity was noted.

357 MAG is on the weak side compared to 30-30 and other so-called deer cartridges. But up close like this, it certainly was up to the task of clobbering this elk. That being said, I found out later that 357 MAG does not meet minimum handgun cartridge requirements for elk hunting. OOPS

ammo: PMC featuring 158 grain hollow tip bullet
revolver: Taurus featuring 6 inch stainless steel barrel

TR

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Great story, thanks for sharing.
FYI: If you didn't spend all your money on guns you could buy a better camera.
Just jokin'

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Eightball]

I've always been one to want to take my .357 out with me when hunting, just so that if darn-near ideal circumstances present themselves, I could use it instead of my rifle (loaded, of course, with some absolutely smoking rounds).

Sounds like you had those ideal circumstances.

 

[Seafarer12]

Good shot, I think very highly of the .357 and think it is under rated as a hunting round. I wouldn't use it for elk on a regular basis but I would use my .357 lever action for anything in Texas.

 

[kmrcstintn]

even though I am becoming aquainted with .44 magnum, my favorite walking around sidearm is a .357 magnum revolver; I have had one on my hip for the last several deer seasons; usually I will load some 158 gr jsps; switching to 10 gr hardcast lead flatpoints due to the confirmed presence of bears in & around the hunting camp...one got into some soda cans in the recycling bin & chewed up a Deer Cain bottle to get to the residue at the bottom

 

[researchdoc]

That is what I am talking about!

 

[MCgunner]

You'd have gotten full penetration with a SWC, I'm betting. Excellent. Good .357 medium frame revolvers make GREAT hiking and general outdoor guns even if you'd rather hunt with a bigger magnum. And, they can kill anything on the north American continent with proper shot placement even if they're not ideal for larger stuff than deer/hog.

 

[Harve Curry]

First shot broke a rib going in and tore through both lungs. I found the bullet balled up under the hide on opposite side of entry. The second bullet struck too far back to strike the lungs but tore apart the diaphram and blew a thumb sized hole in the liver. Much blood within the body cavity was noted.

Good shooting. 50' feet close in, you placed your shot well, then stayed cool enough to shoot a quick 2nd round into the moving elk. I've seen arrows work that way, the elk run off and drop when lunged like your 357 did. If you have the chance to keep shooting then you should. to many don't and the animal escapes.

 

[Moonclip]

Good shot! I don't consider the .357mag good for most deer or elk but shot placement is really the key, not so much the caliber as many spend too much time worrying about. I consider the .30/.30 not optimal for elk either but in Brokeback Mountain that was used to take a large elk but there is a lot of things in that movie besides that I won't be trying

 

[countryrebel]

I always like to hear of the 357 kills,most folks think you need a 454 or 500s&w to kill an elk.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Hunting skill and shot placement trump caliber.

 

[Swamp Rat]

Just out of curiosity, what is "minimum handgun cartrige requirment?

I find that a 180grWFN bullet moving better than 1500fps stops a whole lot and I have never lost game. Shot placement and knowing the capabilities of yourself and the tool of choice is everything.

 

[nicholst55]

Back in the day, Major D.B. Wesson used an S&W Registered Magnum to kill a polar bear. Shot placement is king; adequate penetration is queen. Anything else is just angels dancing on the head of a pin.

 

[Magnum.35744]

Nice job!

 

[sam700]

I believe that some of Buffalo Bore's .357 bullets do just barely meet CO's minimum requirement based on Ft Lbs.

 

[T.R.]

357 MAG is probably at least as effective as a modern compound bow out to about 35 yards or so. Perhaps more so, due to size of wound channel and tissue destruction. That being said, I hunt with my .308 carbine for elk hunts.

TR

 

[texagun]

Great story.