.357 Magnum / .38 spl question.

[12ring]

I posed this ? the other day on here but I'm a bow guy, not a gun guy really, lol. Just want to be sure.

Are either (or both) of these ok for a Henry Lever action .357 Mag ?

.38 spl. Monarch Semi jkt HPs and PMC Semi wadcutters.

And if so, would they be effective on swine at 40-50 yds?

I know the Hornady Lever Evolutions are devastating on em but I'm bout out of those for both the .357 AND my .30-30.

I also have fmj steel case .38 spl but wont be running those through the Henry.

Thanks for any (more) advice.

D.

[Leverhunter]

Both should be fine in your rifle. The wadcutters may be a little slow for a 50 yards pig shot. Hollow points are probably a little faster and work better.

[Kingfisher789]

Yes

[Jimbo47]

Check that the firing pin isn't piercing the primer. I had a cheap box of .38's and fired one shot in my .357 rifle, and stopped with that idea after I looked at the spent case.

[12ring]

Not just a dent ?

Check that the firing pin isn't piercing the primer. I had a cheap box of .38's and fired one shot in my .357 rifle, and stopped with that idea after I looked at the spent case.

Actually punched through ?

[mrc]

The 38 Special 158 probably won't open at those low velocities, the semi wadcutters will cut a better hole. The wadcutters may not feed good thru your gun though.

[SJP51]

The shorter 38 SPec ammo may not cycle as well as 357, but it's hard to say.

[txpitdog]

Never had a problem with 38’s cycling in my Marlin. The longer barrel will pick up a little velocity, and as long as you are careful with your shot placement, a pig at 59 should be a dead pig. It might run, but a 158gr LSWC shouldn’t have any problem getting into the vitals. At 50yds you are probably close enough to earhole them, and that will definitely drop em.


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[tvc184]

Never had a problem with 38’s cycling in my Marlin. The longer barrel will pick up a little velocity, and as long as you are careful with your shot placement, a pig at 59 should be a dead pig. It might run, but a 158gr LSWC shouldn’t have any problem getting into the vitals. At 50yds you are probably close enough to earhole them, and that will definitely drop em.


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I have had the same experience with my Marlin .357. No problem with .38Spl.

[imyomama]

those will have different point of impact at 50 .. and i'd recommend to use whatever load can print a 2" group at 50 so you can shoot them between. the eye and ear .. i wouldn't shoulder shot them unless you like tracking .. if you're shooting without a can you'll get one shot and after that it won't have much chance of dropping them , just not enough shock energy on a less than perfect shot ... with all that said , i do it with a 22lr all the time and it's definitely doable .. also note you'll have to get the distance dialed in perfect as they also drop like a rock ... good luck and post some kill shots!

nice to see some people like a challenge and don't always use bazookas!

[12ring]

Challenge

those will have different point of impact at 50 .. and i'd recommend to use whatever load can print a 2" group at 50 so you can shoot them between. the eye and ear .. i wouldn't shoulder shot them unless you like tracking .. if you're shooting without a can you'll get one shot and after that it won't have much chance of dropping them , just not enough shock energy on a less than perfect shot ... with all that said , i do it with a 22lr all the time and it's definitely doable .. also note you'll have to get the distance dialed in perfect as they also drop like a rock ... good luck and post some kill shots!

nice to see some people like a challenge and don't always use bazookas!

It's a fun gun to hunt with. No scope, iron sights.