.357 Magnum vs .44 Magnum Lever Actions

It's time for part two of our Lever Action Rifle Series! Today, we're looking at .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum when fired from lever action rifles (in this case, two identical rifles -- a pair of Henry X Models). What's the useful range of these cartridges with rifle length barrels? We tested that. What kind of performance benefit do they offer versus handguns chambered for the same calibers? We tested that, too. And some ballistic gel testing, hard barrier penetration testing, and a whole bunch of pretty charts, numbers, and spreadsheets... if you're into that kind of thing.
The intro to our lever action series for those who missed it: "Why Everyone Likes Lever Actions" • Why Everyone Likes Lev...
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[@BrockOhhhh]

I wonder how they would compare shooting through leather jacket skin, pork chop pectorals, pork ribs, a bag of oranges to simulate lung tissue, pork ribs on the back, and backed up by the new and improved high tech fleece bullet stop.

[@notaturkey2607]

"You be the judge." ~Paul Harrell

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

If only we could have someone "shoot groceries" for science!

[@MrNpc81]

You forgot the 4 layers of tshirt!

[@eddavis5938]

Bhahaha! 😂🤣😂

[@uppastdawn7627]

But would it be “enough difference to MAKE a difference?”

[@crazy4dariver]

15 years ago I went to Alaska to see an old friend that became a guide. He told me to leave my guns at home, he would take care of me. For two weeks we hunted and fished. It was a blast. One of his "back up rifles" was was a Marlin 1894 44mag / 44spl. Wow! He past from cancer last year and I got a call from my local FFL guys. "Come get your Rifles. Trapper left you the 44, the 22 and his 308"

[@Blackmist213]

Ummm do you normally bring your guns when going to visit friends out of state or am I the only one who thinks that's odd. lol

[@harryniedecken5321]

​@@Blackmist213 For visiting a friend in Alaska, especially a guide, this would be completely normal. No different than bringing along some fishing gear and a jacket.

[@elliottpeabody1287]

@@Blackmist213 You're the only one.

[@HonestOutlawReviews]

great video man!

[@ChrisB-zz8dh]

Your videos aren't so bad either!

[@borkwoof696]

@Korbyn Raiden tf is wrong with you

[@stevenkennedy4130]

@@ChrisB-zz8dh Agreed!

[@mattbrown5511]

Still saving for the Henry in .357. It will compliment my 686 nicely. Well done sir.

[@larrykoroush6995]

I love mine. It is very accurate

[@user-eo7sz8kk6x]

I have the 686 6 inch 7 shot. Love it.

[@stevenkennedy4130]

Paul Harrell would be proud.

[@chriskoort5717]

You be the judge?

[@papaswanson]

I came here looking for Paul Harrell comments. He'd be proud

[@24roughing76]

Chris is what you'd call a "professional"...

[@sebastianbrown4277]

@@24roughing76 I was looking for this haha

[@chrisjimenez1062]

Now is that enough difference to make a difference?

[@phongdo8070]

When the food network was actually good, there was a show called good eats by alton brown. You're the gun version of him.

[@LuckyGunner]

Thanks man, Alton Brown has been an important influence.

[@vitaly6312]

@@LuckyGunner maybe more camera shots with you opening the cabinet or refrigerator (or maybe gun safe?).

[@ruddyff]

Best way to describe it

[@ianmcmahon8589]

The show actually did a comeback, though that may have been partially derailed by Covid. You can find the first of the new series on KZbin.

[@mattioli13]

Wow...yeah, I've never really noticed before but he does keep a similar cadence in the dialog..... Alton is one of the few TV personalities to really indulge in the science of cooking, whereas it's fairly common in the firearms world. Bonus facts..... Alton is a gun guy.... there are photos of him shooting a SCAR floating around the web, not sure if he owns it or not....

[@LilOutdoorsmangoogleplus]

The level of quality of this video is outstanding. Surprised to find such a thorough and well thought out ballistics video on KZbin. This is quickly becoming my favorite firearms channel. Also, I went with the .44! Wish me luck this fall

[@Salieri47]

If you haven't watched already, check out Paul Harrell's channel.

[@Mrgunsngear]

solid data

[@Ace-dn3id]

As is his beard

[@starshiplazyboy475]

@@Ace-dn3id It is impressive.

[@f.b.i5639]

@@Ace-dn3id that was the first thing i noticed. Damn thick beard he got there 😂😂

*MOM SHOOTING 357 MAGNUM* kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJvPm3mDhax1n9k

[@michaelnorman9962]

Definitely! Outstanding video.

[@stonegiant4]

This guy just flexing his 10 whole boxes of ammo!

[@steverussell6642]

Show off

[@Glasshopper]

No he is showing off his ability to niggle.

[@mojoman2001]

He got a lot of mileage out of that ammo.

[@jdmsir231]

😂😂

[@pauliexcluded1]

@Aniwayas Song KZbin search "chris rock bullet control"

[@raitchison]

.357 lever gun is my next gun purchase. The choice of caliber is easy for me because we already have a .38 revolver in the household.

[@uscgsemperparatus6472]

Excellent choice. Best of both worlds. Outstanding mussle velocity.

[@slypperyfox]

I bought a Henry in 357MAG to pair up with my 357 revolvers. Sweet shooter.

[@slypperyfox]

@@Robnord1 Henry's package insert recommends 38 SPCL of minimal 158gr bullet. I haven't tried 38 in my Henry yet.

[@alfonsomunoz4424]

Been wanting to get one too.

[@JimmyEatDirt]

I cant recommend .357 enough. The ability to switch between .38sp and .357 at any time based on ammo availability is a huge selling point for me. I picked up a .357 all-weather and took a few rabbits at ranges I wouldn't trust a .22 to be reliable at (SOLID, NOT HOLLOW POINT). It is also the gun I taught a boy from California to shoot with, low recoil, fairly accurate. I also lent it to a friend to hunt with in Iowa and with a hollow point he did a clean heart shot at 120 yards. I love my henry, and it takes the number one spot on my list of preparedness guns for the likely future where "assault weapons" are banned again.

[@huntervkiller]

The quality of these videos is astounding. Thanks for all your hard work!

[@DrawntoAdventure]

Kudos! This video manages to be both (highly) entertaining and informative. I particularly liked the charts showing at what range the rifle performance matched the pistol’s muzzle energy. Then you mentioned the fact that one could economize by shooting .38 Special in the .357 or .44 Special in the .44 Magnum and that made me think a “Part 2” video - showing a performance comparison (energy and expansion) of the .38 Special and .44 Special from the rifles to the magnums from the pistols - might be an equally interesting follow-on.

[@azvoltmanphoenix446]

Damn Chris.... you raised the bar for testing. All my questions answered. Incredible amount of work went into this vid. Thank you so much .......

[@leveticus5721]

.357 gun: It’s not the size of the bullet, it’s how accurate you shoot it. .44 gun: BIG BULLET ENERGY!!!!

[@Joshua_N-A]

So what's .454 Casull gonna be?

[@mattrickard3716]

@@Joshua_N-A Whatever it is, it's probably going to be a Mandingo quote.

[@donb3525]

Excellent testing technique. But having owned both a .357 and .44 mag rifle, I have gone to my absolute favorite handgun cartridge, the .41 mag thanks to Henry bringing out a decent rifle.

[@rodglen7071]

How's the availability and price of .41 compared to the other two? (I understand this is a year later)

[@nicholaspetre1]

@@rodglen7071 oh that is a very good question!!!

[@dalekessler5003]

Great comparison!! I’m a huge fan of Henry .357 levers, all around practical

[@dirtfarmer7472]

I have a Marlin 1895 .38/.357 Magnum. Same difference

[@ElainesDomain]

@@dirtfarmer7472 You likely have a smoother action. Nice rifle.

[@dirtfarmer7472]

@@ElainesDomain I’ve had a little bit of work done to it & it works nicely.

[@dave-d-grunt]

@@dirtfarmer7472better rifle

[@leemitchum7498]

You are extremely thorough. Next level data compared to anyone on KZbin that I have seen. Great job thank you

[@bernardknolle4792]

I just want to say that it is so cool to have a gun channel with a intelligent host that understands science and speaks carefully and accurate. Thank you so much!!

[@altrujillo3566]

A very thorough and objective review - probably the best cartridge / firearm review I've ever seen. I like how you transitioned from the firing range to the room in your home to go over your findings. This made it all clear without outside distractions (ie. others shooting on the range). I'm subscribing to your channel.

[@ctubridy]

I do business data analysis and visualization for a living, and even though that’s not your main forte - the cleanliness and presentation of your charts is phenomenal. Bonus points for usage of color, highlighting key data points, and labeling.

[@joehatton729]

"Of course ammo availability is extremely limited right now and that is as true for me as for anyone else." - Presenter and Content Editor of a company that sells ammo in 2020

[@farstrider79]

I'm sure he's got all the 9mm he wants to shoot, they seem to always have something in stock. But some ammo just doesn't exist right now for anyone.

[@judgestacker9472]

Production is the problem right now so as an ammo reseller, they have to resell all they get in or there is no profits.

[@Wanderingwalker-ke6mg]

Do you reckon that corona played any part in this recent ammo issue?

[@chrisc2920]

@@Wanderingwalker-ke6mg it caused the issue

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@Wanderingwalker-ke6mg try riots and folk scared the crap out of them.💩

[@thinktwicespeakonce482]

I have been asking myself this question for a year now. Thanks for covering this.

[@R_K_S2401]

Thanks for all the testing, especially the velocities and gel tests with these lever gats.

[@davidknoke6554]

Most thorough comparison I've seen of these two rounds. Well done.

[@chlebowg]

I've got the middle magnum. Using a Marlin 1894S in .41 mag since 89' and love it.

[@billmccullough777]

Love the 41 mag, but $$$!

[@balazsbuza5610]

Man, the amount of effort you've clearly put in this single video, and the quality you made it to is just beautiful. Respect!

[@FlyForPike]

I give this installment two thumbs up. Informative and entertaining per usual, nice job Chris!

[@-kentonwilson]

Really well done. Thoughtful, thorough, succinct. Thank you for the best discussion of these two calibers in both rifle and handgun… bravo, sir!

[@rroe86]

Probably the best video you've made. This is the kind of content we need more of.

[@jeramyw]

I wonder how many ancient caliber lever actions are being put back to use during these times. 25-20, 32-20, 38-40, and 44-40 will kill ya no matter the decade or century.

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

*group of informed citizens riot at a guys house* *guy pulls out his ol 1873 in .38-40* "Alright, good news people I only have three rounds for this thing. Bad news for three of you though"

[@jeramyw]

@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz "1892 with 2 rounds... for now"

[@keithgraham9547]

@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz Get the bad guys to line up, bad news for maybe nine of them.

[@jeramyw]

@@keithgraham9547 Yeah the factory ammo doesn't wanna expand sometimes.

[@ChristofHarper]

or more to the point- 32 savage, 35 savage, and other "30-30" type calibers.

[@82lowe36id]

Outstanding video as always, Chris. A lot of information, but presented very clearly and organized. Those 44mag rifle shots in the gel made that front block jump a lot!

[@stevenstoll2016]

Absolutely love how things are explained technically with full data to support. Great job.

[@donwallace7354]

"Be sure to drink your ovaltine" - Fantastic lever gun reference, especially coming into holiday movie season! FWIW, I've split the difference, and bought my Henry Big Boy Steel in .41 magnum, and have the .41 revolver to go with it. Never got into the .44.

[@alphagt62]

I friend of mine has several 41 Mags, and he also just got the Henry Big Boy in 41. We shot it yesterday with some home loads he made, a beautiful and slick operating rifle! I know in pistols, I prefer a 41 over a 44 any day, much more manageable.

[@danielmiller2886]

"A crummy commercial?!" LOL

[@shobudski6776]

I never liked .44 actually .43 magnums either. Love my .41 mags

[@markholloway8190]

@@alphagt62 i hand load .41 and make a .41 special load for my wife and kids, i use 44 special data

[@alphagt62]

Mark Holloway that’s good to know, there’s not much data for 41. My buddy likes to load them mild, we like hitting the gongs, and not stinging our hands.

[@doebuck9708]

The amount of time put into making this vid is GREATLY appreciated.

[@pierrepretorius8023]

Excellent comparison! First video I can find that did such a thorough test in measuring the velocity and penetrating energy. Thanks for this video

[@bobvedder2451]

One gun that is often used up here in Alaska is the 45/70 lever gun. It works well against our big critters.

[@sethmullins8346]

.45-70 is way bigger than .44 and .357. I’d trust a .357 to take a deer though

[@Cyotis]

Talking about ammo price, 44 Special and Magnum are very close in price and 44 Special is tough to find. 38 Special is way cheaper than Magnum and is very common. So in terms of ammo price and the ability to shoot often, 357 wins that game.

[@ChristofHarper]

my experience in general (non panic) is that .357 is only a few cents more than .38 ...not enough to worry about as the difference between retailers or shipping charges is more than the CPR difference. .44 special, you are correct, though. both calibers really shine if you reload or handload. In "common market" times, you are better off with a 9mm revolver than a .38 special revolver! (I'm going to miss the days of 9mm at 13 cents each) But I can (noting that I stocked up on primers) relaod .32 magnum for less than the cost of CCI .22LR, and can usually reload .38 special for about the cost of CCI .22LR, but .44 is pushing that "9mm ammo" cost.

[@roentgen571]

And .38 Special is no joke, especially out these rifle-length barrels. Not like .357, but not weak sauce, either.

[@cristianespinal9917]

The .44 is definitely a reloader's game. It's not versatile at all if you rely on the factory because most factory magnum is balls-to-the-wall, and most factory special is underpowered trash for the same price or more than the magnums. I've bought 4 boxes of ammo just to get a feel for it based on factory loads. Everything else has been handloaded with the cheapest being about 24¢/round and the most expensive being about 54¢/round. And that's for full-on magnum loads. If I loaded light .44 special loads, I could get it down to about 20¢. People who cast their own bullets can do even better than that.

[@jeffumbach]

Yes, .44 special is so rare that I have to load my own. Starline sells the brass and I load with Berry's 220gr bullets. As far as as factory loads most .357 and .44 magnum factory loads I've tried are equivalent to my lighter hand loads that I'll happily shoot through my revolvers but when I assemble some full power loads I only put them in a rifle as the recoil in a pistol goes quite a bit past feeling "fun" and into "my wrist!"

[@RustyOpel]

Every time I click on LGs website and select 38 Spl. it says "nope".

[@DJ-tn9zk]

Guy speaks alot of knowledge and between him and a few others you can make knowledgeable decisions, appreciate the time and effort

[@carlkluz4777]

Another well thought out and executed video, Chris. We enjoy your work a great deal.

[@BulkMasterFlex]

This is the quality testing I subscribed for. Well done!

[@saoirse5308]

Thanks for doing this series. We are getting older and a medication my wife has to take makes her left hand shake. She has always been a vary good shot rifle or pistol. Testing we found the shake does affect her pistol shooting (Now she only shoots a tiny bit better than me instead of a lot) but not Rifle. I have been thinking about changing up her home defense Ruger SP 101 .357 for a .357 lever gun for that reason. . . . Your timing is perfect 👍

[@saoirse5308]

@@otdj3794 Thanks, it's really about her mind set. She used to put all 5 into an orange at 20 feet with that 2 1/4" barrel, now she puts them in a cantaloupe. . . . still better then I ever was, but she has lost confidence. Her Rifle shooting is still spot on, pulling back on the foregrip seems to negate the shake. She has an AR but it's not her thing. I'm also building a .300 Blackout AR pistol to see if that might work for her.

[@saoirse5308]

@Random Pickle Dude, like my wife would spend her own money on a gun 🙄 You're not married are you (Rhetorical) I hike 10 x as much as my wife, yet she owns like 20 pairs of boots and I own 3. Get married you'll understand. . . Lastly she is a better pistol shot, a natural, just a joy to watch her shoot. . . . doesn't mean she knows a 300 BLK from a 300 Weatherby Mag. or cares it just means she shoots well. Really my dude. . . . derrrrr

[@jazzman5598]

Saoirse So true.....smh

[@herbderbler1585]

Good choice. You'll never regret getting a .357 lever gun. Aside from being a good home defense tool, they're just a blast to shoot and it sounds like your wife would be a surgeon with it.

[@Jimarceo]

@@saoirse5308 dude you’re awesome 😎

[@Oshidwhaddup]

I'm so excited for this series. I've always loved the way you do your series especially the pocket gun so I'm excited to see that this one is going to be great!

[@redesert_boy8202]

Mr. Baker, very well done video with relevant detail in understanding the ballistics as well as making sure the ammunition is chosen based on the intended use. I appreciate all the stats and the frank discussion about your perspective on the two calibers on almost identical platforms. Thanks and be safe and healthy.

[@SoupyOatmeal]

You did a great job of collecting and presenting useful information on these two pistol cartridges.

[@tldnr]

Thank you for all the hard work and the tremendous effort you put into your videos. This is not only very fun to watch, but it’s great info that will help me make a purchase in the future.

[@wjbh7442]

Absolutely awesome review. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Just a great mix of scientific information wrapped in an entertaining presentation. Keep it up!

[@johnn.7806]

I love how you obtained your data and also interoperated it, you didn't see the higher numbers and immediately claim it was better, but went over other possible explanations. Great video would love to see more in this style, maybe a series? That is when ammo prices lower a bit.

[@Goolio2020]

Incredibly thorough and well presented. A+!! Thank you!

[@calebwhite1999]

Loving this series. I am really looking forward to the .30-30 episode.

[@oaksparoakspar3144]

Great information, but a flawed premise. No one wants to know whether to get the .357 or the .44 lever. They want to know which one to get first if they can't afford them both at the same time.

[@16ft2in]

Well actually... Which can we find a matching revolver and bulk ammo/ reloading components quantity for.

[@borkwoof696]

A. No, pretty sure that doesn’t apply to everybody B. That question is also answered in the video

[@Hill_Billy_Without_A_Hill]

If you reload, or cast bullets, the 357/38 will be cheapest and get the most out of your lead.

[@paulwhite9242]

Actually I kinda want to get 2 more 357 lever guns--one for each of my kids. Just...money....because I have kids....

[@chuckaddison5134]

Also 45 long colt/454 Casull/460 S&W (Don't think that one exists yet).

[@ralphbernieri3362]

Dude, this was a COMPLETE and INFORMATIVE test! Nice Job👍

[@christopherpollard7244]

Been subscribed for a while, but been on a kick lately. Thanks for the awesome videos. Really like the way you format/deliver information in a way that is relevant and entertaining!

[@atomicant4304]

Yes we need this now more than ever hahaha

[@drenk7]

A very well done and objective analysis. I am just partial to the .44 magnum. I like the energy of the cartridge. I also started reloading due to the cost. Now I reload 3 pistol calibers and 3 rifle calibers. I have two Ruger revolvers and a Browning lever action rifle in 44 magnum. I max out the rifle loads because I can tolerate the recoil. The same load in my 4” Ruger is tough. I would only soot six . But as a reloader I can adjust my pistol loads to what allows me to shoot more. I truly enjoy your work. Thank You.

[@sethmullins8346]

The main reason I am buying a .357 over a .44 or .45 lever action is because I EDC a .357 and I would like to have the ability to share ammo. Mostly for fantasy prepped kinds of reasons, it probably will never matter but it’s cool to think.

[@CorePathway]

You could see that gel block jumping with the .44

[@fredtaylor9792]

​@Seth Mullins That's exactly why I'm going with the 44mag. My dad left me his colt 44mag with thousands of rounds of reloads and I want to share ammo and not run that much throb the handgun. I also have a .357 but not that much ammo. Just goes to show both rounds are great rounds. If given the choice to be shot by either, I'm pretty sure both you and I wouldn't have a preference. Lol

[@manningjackson2723]

Great video mate, well done. The last 2 minutes were the most informative to me. Keep up the great work 👍

[@curtb.]

Thanks Chris! As always a great scientific process and comparisons, I love the charts. I've actually thought about this question that you have compared and contrasted here for a while since I'm thinking about buying one or the other. Thanks again keep up the good work, happy new year!

[@IdeaCalledFreedom]

Dude, this was A LOT of work! Holy cow, thanks for doing all that! Great video

[@Michael.R.Harding.Realtor]

For me, in my current situation, I'll go with the .357. That's only because that's what I have at the moment. I do plan on purchasing a 44 magnum, just not right now.

[@uscgsemperparatus6472]

Same here. Great round. Highly effective 👍

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

My first deer harvest was with a scoped 6" revolver at 49 yards (laser range finder confirmed distance), and this last winter my R92 lever action in 357 mag took my second deer. This year I will hunt with my 44mag Virginian Dragoon and hope to fill the freezer again! (Ohio)

[@GunFunZS]

Any auto calibers? There's no substitute for instant follow ups?

[@Michael.R.Harding.Realtor]

@@GunFunZS Yes, I have 9mm. I was commenting on the two magnum rounds.

[@GunFunZS]

@@Michael.R.Harding.Realtor just curious. If it's for fun rather than practical, which is your situation, there's no downside to getting what ever makes you smile. Casting and reloading really make auto pistol and revolver calibers fun too! You get to shoot so much more, and exactly what you like.

[@hutehund9519]

Complete, concise, and valuable information. Another great video!

[@llorentejonathan]

Love your analysis! Good work mate!

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Great stuff. In our fam, deer have been harvested by a 44 magnum most every year since the 90s. This is the first year in over a decade that we didn't use a 44 magnum to harvest a deer. We are bug proponents of the 44 magnum in a rifle as well as revolver. Thanks for the outstanding content & consideration. Appreciate the quality, character & attitude of presentation.

[@tangero3462]

Solid stuff, and I'm excited to see the rest of the series. I think the 357 wins out for me just for the commonality of ammo with my revolvers. This isn't an end-of-days sort of choice, just a consideration with ordering cases of ammo, and it's just cheaper to boot.

[@manuelruvalcaba5309]

Tangero, I believe your right. Ammo is expensive but .357 is readily available. If I can't feed my family with .357 when I have to then any heavier loads are out of the question.

[@jimmymassie8420]

Chris....Love all your videos man. Best on KZbin!! Keep up the great work LuckyGunner

[@woli6872]

What a great video! The way how testing and comparing should be. Fair and honest with the conclusions. Well done.

[@mike.thomas]

Great analysis with hard numbers and lots of interesting comparisons. Very timely since I’ve been toying with getting a Henry at some point, and have puzzled between .357/.44. Mine will strictly be a plinker, so after watching this I feel good about my prior lean toward .357.

[@mikehughesoutdoors2774]

I opted for between the two of them. Reasoning is along story but I fell in love with the.41 mag. It’s a sweet cartridge.

[@michaelnorman9962]

I want one of each of those Henrys! Thanks very much for this great instructive video and for all you do overall.

[@matthewfazi8429]

Great info. Excellent presentation! Really strong work. Thank you for doing this video!

[@theaveragewoodsman6002]

Such an awesome series!

[@forgalzz7]

10:00 Wow, you know it's bad times when a ammo shop has to save four bullets ...

[@traganfour7168]

Love the data and clear communication in your videos.

[@Mpeterson1286]

It's nice to see the handgun and rifle gel shots next to each other. Gives an idea of 100yd-ish hunting distance performance from the rifle.

[@d33b33]

Very cool to see what we suspected confirmed in measurements. I wish the .357 Maximum was a succes, but I never found a rifle chambered for it, nor the brass. Excellent video.

[@ronbarton6739]

It would be interesting to compare the Underwood/Lehigh Xtreme Defense and Penetrator bullets with measuring the above parameters. Great video!

[@johnsmith-gk4td]

Awesome and thorough video. Thank you for making it!

[@nates2526]

This took a ton of work. Great job. Thank you.

[@melancholydawg]

Great content and quality Chris, as always. Love the channel and buy from LuckyGunner whenever possible. Thanks for listening to your viewers and doing this series. I for one am trying to decide between a .357 and a .44 Magnum lever action so this is timely info. Love your presentation style and your analytical takes. Keep up the great work!

[@happyhaunter_5546]

Really love the charts in this.

[@bengarcia3063]

Your video is definitely well planned and well executed. This was really informative

[@chriskristopherson6299]

I’m blown away by your work!! Great job!!! Thank you

[@glockparaastra]

Great video. Thanks for the research. I love 357Mag. Great in a handgun, even better in a lever action. Very accurate too.

[@LeftThumbBreak]

I love the 44 mag, but 38 special is far cheaper and more available that 44 special. If it's a big game gun, for sure 44 but otherwise, you'll probably shoot the gun a lot more if you buy the 357. Best answer is to have both.

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

.357 mag would be perfect for deer at short to short/mid range, at or below 150 yards. Great brush carbine

[@TheWolfsnack]

...my best answer is 45 Colt.....

[@robfisher3790]

Wow! Great job sir. Incredibly informative. Thank you.

[@BatColonyEvictor]

Fabulous information Chris! Just what the doctor ordered today. Greatly appreciated

[@ScandiacusPrime]

Great presentation. I hunt deer in Michigan with a Marlin 1894C in 357 and have been pleased with the performance (158gr XTP/FP handloaded to 1750 FPS MV). I haven't hunted with a 44 to compare, but it's been my observation that deer hit with the 357 react similarly and run a similar distance to deer hit in the same place with a hard cast, non-expanding 12 gauge slug (which I used to hunt with). I'm NOT AT ALL suggesting that a 357 has anywhere close to the terminal performance potential of a 12 gauge, particularly the more common hollow point slugs, but that's been my observation comparing those two particular loads in their effect on actual deer.

[@David-rx2to]

I plan to do a lot of extended camping in bear country. I have a 357 handgun for the backpack when I'm hiking from my base camp but I want to get a self defense gun for in camp. I'm thinking of the Henry 357 X so I only need to get one kind of ammo, but I'm also leaning towards a shotgun. What hits with more energy, a shotgun with 00 buck or slugs, or a 357 out of the Henry? Which is a better bear defense tool? I'm not a hunter, I'm just worried about bears!

[@rickymcdaniel7971]

@@David-rx2to I absolutely LOVE my Marlin 1894c .357 mag. and wouldn't hesitate to use it for defense against black bears. That being said, from a practical standpoint, I'm sure that a properly loaded 12 gauge is more likely to stop the threat more efficiently.

[@albertgrant4750]

This was an excellent, informative video. Could you do the same thing with a .45-70 lever gun? Would love to see the same run down with that cartridge using modern ammo.

[@sarico7827]

This was something interesting you got asked alot of questions about comparing alot of different things. Thanks it was fun to watch.

[@isaacleachman1358]

Such a well put together video gotta love luckygunner

[@eg6817]

I really like this lever series. Lever guns are a bit obsolete; it can be hard to find good quality reviews and information about them. These videos provide both! Keep it up!

[@chrisc2920]

Depends on the situation honestly

[@jbqc1548]

Thanks Chris for putting the work in to make such a good video. I have the Big Boy in .44 and it's so much fun to shoot. Nice to know how affective it can really be.. keepem' coming!

[@marvinbrock960]

“Hydrostatic shock” is definitely a tricky thing to model or replicate with so many variables.. great video. 👍🏻

[@maxchalice5625]

Thank you! Closest thing to a Perfect Video on this subject you're going to come across. Liked and Subscribed.

[@douglashill3967]

Good show! What a great, in-depth, informative video. I think I’m leaning toward the .44. Hard hitting when you need it but it can be softened for smaller statured shooters with the specials.

[@QuietMikeW]

Great report, I can’t believe that 50% velocity increase!

[@tombraley3212]

Excellent and thorough presentation. Bravo!

[@TonyArjona]

I've watched your videos before, but this is my 1st time commenting. In love with levers and have a Marlin 1895 SBL. Now that they have 357 and 44 mag versions I want them too, mostly because of all the practical reasons, including use by other shooters that benefit from lower recoil, cost and versatility. Great video! THX

[@garyh1449]

My preference is to shoot about 2" high at 100 yards instead of dead on, that way I get a little more distance and still be in the kill zone when hunting.

[@arcticfox6808]

As a velocity junkie, I found all this data extremely satisfying.

[@lazaruslazuli6130]

I have a Rossi/Puma 20" barrel 1892 lever-action in .357. Its capacity is 10+1 with .357, and 12+1 with .38 Special. Its fun to shoot and an excellent companion to my S&W .357 revolver with a 6" barrel. I like having the same ammo for both. There is a definite recoil difference between 110-grain and 180-grain in both firearms. Thanks for the informative and concise video.

[@jouberttrovati]

Very nice comparison Chris! Thanks for sharing.