1350 fps at the muzzle in a pistol. 1800 fps in a rifle. 158 grain bullet that only gets you 1150 ft lbs out of a rifle. Go down to a pistol, and at 50 yards, you've dropped all the way down to about 550 ft lbs. That's barely adequate for pigs and deer, right? Yea, maybe on paper. I own 2 .357 pistols and 3 .357 rifles. The first pig I ever shot was a running shot at 30 yards with the Blackhawk. Momentum carried her 15 yards. That's it. I've shot lots of deer and pigs from point blank to 100 yards. Bang, flop. Bang, flop. Bang, flop. Over and over. I don't know what it is about the little cartridge, but it punches way above it's weight class without the recoil. I was reminded again tonight when I left the .308 sitting there and took the Ruger 77/357. He didn't go more than about 3 yards.
Edit: 90 yard shot, so this wasn't close up.

Have an old Colt Python .357 I’ve busted many pigs with. A true thump n pound round

A .357 mag will absolutely do a job on pigs and deer. Good job on that pig!

A full load 158gr .357 is no joke.

I attribute it’s stellar performance on a good ballistic coefficient & high velocity.

One of my favorites.

If the shots will be inside 12 yards where I am hunting I am as comfortable on deer and pigs with the 357 as any rifle I own. Several years ago they discontinued my favorite hog bullet for the round, Nosler 180gr partition. I have had 3 different Marlins 1894s in 357 the first was a standard one, the next a cowboy action and now and the rest of my life a SSLTD one that is stainless with a 16.5 inch barrel. That is a handy little gun in the blind, truck or just walking through the woods. ''

The .357 is a great cartridge for a rifle, and one of my favorites to take to the woods.
I've got a single shot .357 mag. that I reamed the chamber to .357 maximum which makes it into a legit deer/hog rifle.
The problem is .357 maximum ammo is hard to find, and if you reload that isn't a problem.
Bullet choice is also limited, and that is unfortunate.
I can shoot .38 spl. .357 mag. and .357 maximum all from the same rifle, and .38 spl. is great little plinker.
Great little walk around gun!

Beautiful

158grs of surprise that distributes most/all its energy in a target is bad medicine.

I've had a Rossi in .357 for years. The stock is chipped and now has a crack in it, but over the years I have killed more stuff with that rifle than even the Remington Model 7, in .223, I have. The little Rossi has taken Corsicans. on the run, measured by range finder at 109 yds. Both the Rossi and the Model 7 have killed way, way more stuff than any of my bigger calibers. I shoot old, issued 125 gr. hollow points, from my Border Patrol days..

I think you missed my point. the .357 mag IS a legit deer/hog rifle as is. It is also a legit deer/hog pistol.

Yes, Sir - easily legit indeed. Rifle number from Buffalo Bore:
180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps
158gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 2153 fps

Yep. I carried a 357 as a duty gun for seven years (until they forced us to transition to Glocks) and never felt undergunned. I love handgun hunting and my two choices are 45 Colt and 357 mag. They are hard to beat for Texas deer and hogs.

Years ago I saw no need for a 357 rifle..........until I bought one. I cast a 190 gr boolit designed by RanchDog. It is powerful and accurate. I have taken only one deer with it and have no issue having to rely on it exclusively. The 357 Marlin goes with me every where I go. It is legitimate.

Papalote

357 Max is a great hunting round and I still have one and sold my Contender barrel on here several years ago. Remington did not take the 357 Max as seriously as they could have like many Remington offerings they introduce it then let it sit and either it will live, die or lead a less than stellar life than it could have. No doubt the Mad Max is the more powerful round but having hunted with both mag and max in handguns both will take hogs and deer very well.

THe Max suffered from reports of backstrap flame cutting in the early revolvers for it, I have a Ruger stretch Blackhawk that shows no sign of that and when I got it used it looked almost unfired. That gun with my 180gr loads in either Mag or Max loads shoots 6 shot groups from a bench of 2.5 inches or less at 100 yards and at that distance the main difference I see is a little large wound cannel and a little larger exit with the Max over the Mag when using 180gr partitions. Out of my handguns the Mag gets the same velocity as the mag from my rifle.

If I had a single shot rifle in 357 I would do like Jimbo and rechamber to the Max but ammo is not an issue for me as I reload

thanks Jimbo, nice article and read. I have a Dan Wesson .357 Maximum with very few rounds fired thru it. I used to carry it for close brush and killed a few doe out to the 40-50 yard range with open sites. The factory ammo is very hard to come by these days, so I carry it much less but it fires .357 Magnum and .38 specials for general target practice.

This is a great article by a guy named Skeeter Skelton. Mr. Skelton knew a thing or two about firearms. We don't have gun writers like him anymore.

My Friend the .357

I've never owned a 357 rifle, but have owned 4 pistols. I have a 6" Dan Wesson that I love stalking with, and yes it knocks the heck out of deer and pigs.

Sounds like I need to buy a holster for my 686.

Congrats, the 77/357 is one I’d like to have.

I’ve been considering a Henry .357 for a while now

I love my .357 Marlin, although I've never taken an animal with it. I probably should.