Henry Rifle Forums

First shot at a deer with the new .357 - Not huge but will eat just find. My actual hunting vacation starts tomorrow (first official day off) - and number one in the freezer. Mama likes to have two so the pressure is eased a bit. Ten straight days of hunting I should be able to get a second...

Sorry she's upside down. Tried everything I could - and it always came in this way.

Heck yeah, should make for some great viddles. Congrats
How far, what bullet? Some info, lol.

RP

She was 90 yards out in the field - three of them. Came out of nowhere - in the middle of a field. Guess I was focused on the woods and only giving the field a glance or two every now and then. When I saw them they were dead in my wind trying to pick me out of the tree line. I thought I was scent controlled but a deer's nose is hard to beat. Two of the three were kind of hidden by a red oak that was still holding it's leaves. I judged them to be right at 100. I took the one that was the cleanest shot. Particulars: Henry Single Shot .357. Nikon slug hunter 2X7. Hand loads - (formula supplied by Big AL) - Hornady Brass, CCI 300 small pistol primers (non-magnum). Hornady XTP 158 grains over 15 grains of 2400. The groups with this set up are better than I hoped.

After she was down, I put the range finder on her - 89.4 yards. The shot was a bit higher than I wanted, but she went down. Dropped right where she was. I'm thinking I could eke out another 35 yards out of this rig. Both my Henry Single Shots took a deer the first time I pointed them at one. Both were really new. Both are excellent shooters. Yep - really liking my two most recent adds to the hunting tool box.

Excellent recollection of events, thank you.
And a point to Al on the load recommendation.
I once took a nice 8 point at around 85-90 yds. with my long barreled Rossi 357.
A jsp of some sort, was the first deer I ever took with a handload of any kind.
Was also the first time I had taken the rifle a field.

RP

Well done. I think the single shots will become the new standard.

Love my Single shot. I wish Henry would make barrels for inter changing.

impressive shooting .... a 158 gr bullet out of a 357 is a very capable round

Very cool, good luck on the hunting vacation

Interesting that there is so much snow on her, makes for a great picture even if it’s upside down.

Enjoy the rest of your hunt and good luck.