Looking at trading for a 1866 yellow boy in 38 special only rifle has a 20 inch barrel. Would this with the right load be an adequate hog and deer rifle out to say 75 yards? Thanks y’all

I think it’s gonna be a little light for a deer round personally.

Hogs if you head shoot them it don’t matter much, I kill most of mine with a .22

I wouldn't

The last deer I killed was with a 147gr 9mm FMJ one shot through the lungs so I wouldn’t be afraid to use a 38 for the same shot.

I might should also ad, this gun is primarily because I want one, but would like to be able to shoot a hog or deer with it when taken out every once in a while, not a dedicated hunting rifle

Find one in .357 and scratch both itches.

Hard cast 158gr semi wad cutter will work just fine

Ideally I would but I don’t have the cash to buy one out right and this guy might be willing to trade for a gun that I don’t use ever

If you reload, maybe you could load the 38 up to +p+. If you're shooting factory ammo, I would probably try to trade for .357. Could a .38 kill a deer? Yes. So can a .22. But it's definitely not ideal..357 in a rifle jumps up to 1700-1800 fps with a 158 gr bullet. 158 gr .38 probably wouldn't break 1100.

This...make sure it feeds through the action. If it doesn't a Round Nose Flat Point or Truncated Cone style might work better.

At +P velocities from a rifle length barrel it will take deer and hogs with good shot placement. All of the above would probably penetrate both shoulders out to 50 yards or so.

Okay so I do have reloading set up, but is there a certain type of factory ammo I could that’s loaded like this to get me started, then reload the brass?

Eventually I do plan to have a 1873 chamber for 357/38 but this will be a nice start for the meantime. Just hoping it has some practical use for it other than just looking in cool and being fun

A .38 Special usually won't gain FPS in a rifle like a magnum usually will when using OEM ammo.

You might be able to kill a deer with a sling shot but why try?

A Yellowboy is worth A LOT more to other people than to me so I would trade for it, shoot it a few times, then get something more appropriate and have money left over.

Keep looking for an 1873 in .357 or .45 colt or a 66 in .45 Colt. The 1866 in 38 isn't a great match for what you want. If it is a steal, get it and find a cowboy action shooter to sell it to or trade for what you really want.

You can do way over book 38spl loads without issue but experience will have to be your guide. I'd use the 158gr XTP going 1350 to 1400 fps and not be afraid to make 80 yard or less shots.

Little on the light end but I’ve seen a lot killed w 22 Hornet too

Like others I’d probably go 357 if you wanted it in a rifle

I have used a suppressed lever gun shooting 38spl 158gr XTP subsonics to quietly finish off paralyzed hogs and pop a couple lone boars at 50ish yds without scaring everything out of the pasture.

They blow through a 150# hog head, shoulder or neck pretty easily and don't sound like they're slowing down much as they whir and whistle through the air.

For the most part I don't consider taking them any more. Partially because the dang Marlin CST is worth so much now and partially due to the fact that they XTP ricochet pretty dramatically after passing through. My XTP rounds are acting nearly similar as a hard cast from my 16" barrel.

It's just a guess if full house 38 velocities would make them expand from a carbine or if you'd have to get to 357mag velocities to make them work as designed. At this point if I shot a close range deer I'd definitely be aiming for a solid shoulder, head or neck hit. Hogs, I don't care as long as I can immediately recover them and ricochets aren't a problem in the environment.

Get a 357 mag.

Well I appreciate all the words fellas but it was just too pretty to leave it at the gun show so it made its way home with me. I scored a box of 50 150 grain (I believe) lead round nose bullets. After all the words I have decided against trying to shoot a deer with it, but may bust a hog with it at 50 yards or less should the opportunity arise.

If nothing else this gives me an excuse to have an 1873 in a 357 as well as this one.

If it can kill a pig at 50 yards it can kill a deer at 50.

Congrats that should be a lot of fun.



Shot placement be selective for your shots. I have taken deer and hogs with my 357 Marlin out to 125 yards effectively. Keep the 38 inside 40 to 50 and be good to go, but confirm it on a few hogs if you can first. .

Buffalo bore lists one load with hard cast 158gr Keith bullet listed at 1250fps that I would expect to work at close range say 40 to 50 yards max. Expect it to run a bit though. Not much different that some I have used in handguns and killed deer in the past.

A 125 or 140 grain bullet would do fine, even a 158 grain. A 140 grain out of a 20" should be running about 1100- 1200 fps. That should do fine. A 158 JHP should be running about 1000 fps. I load my dad's 357 Mag ammo kind of mild for him for his revolver and lever gun. It's a 158 grain about 1200-1300 fps. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a pig or deer with it inside of 100 yards. It's a fun gun to shoot and hits steel plenty hard.

As others have stated, it's not ideal. But I've hunted in stands that offer 50 yd and closer shots. If you don't handload, you might consider Buffalo Bore's .38 Outdoorsman load. 158gr hard cast should penetrate well for a .38 and most likely leave an exit wound.

I've been thinking about this one. I'd bet that action could take 357 pressures...and .38 brass can take 357 pressures as long as it is in a strong action. So, could GW123 just load .38 brass up to 357 pressures? Or close to it?

You pulled the trigger on it, so here is my suggested ammo for you. Whoever said 38spl won't get over 1100 fps in a rifle hasn't tried this stuff. Rated at 1150 out of a pistol

https://www.selwayarmory.com/underw...ximum-expansion-lead-free-box-of-20.html