.357MAG vs. .44MAG against Wild Boar?

K

KEN CHAVEZ

New member
What do you think you would rather have with you if you were on a hike and came along a Wild Boar that decided to charge you!:eek: .357MAG vs. .44MAG, and what type of ammo would you have in said gun.
 
I've hunted russian boar in southern Georgia and Im here to tell you that the .44 would be the better choice. The brisket plate that them hogs have is thick.
 
You CAN do the job with .357. Usually. With the very best hardcast hunting ammo, a cool head and a bit of luck.

The .44Mag or strong .45LC+P or such is better.

In either case, you want a solid, non-expanding, HEAVY slug, moving as fast as possible. If you miss the brain shot, you want to punch deep past that into the shoulders/torso and at least slow the sucker down. Which is also exactly how you stop a bear, at least in principle.

A good boar gun and load is also a decent bear gun and load. Black bear, at least. Griz be bigger :eek:.
 
Load as per Jim March.
Plus.
Comes down to a choice, take the gun you are best with.

Situational awareness.....your brain in gear at all times will useally preclude an unwanted encounter.

Sam
 
Wild boar?

I once read an article by Major George Nonte that stated
he used a Smith & Wesson model 57, .41 magnum for
hunting wild pigs. So, I beleive that either the .41
or the .44 magnum's would make the best choice.:cool: :D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Lee Juras took a few wild boar with a 45 acp 190 gr hp but I would go for a 44 mag with an LBT or kieth type bullet depending
on what shot best in your weapon.
 
Staying near a climbable tree might be a good tip.

Around here, dogs are used, and the throats are slit with a knife. Someone usually has a 38spl or somesuch, but it is frowned on usually because it presents a danger to the dogs.

I don't have dogs (yet) so I carry a 454 and a 10mm backup.
 
Lots of friends and experts have wisely commented in this thread, but I'm with my bud Ala Dan and the .41 magnum (from a top-quality revolver, with a minimum five-inch barrel, and firing the type of load Jim and Sam endorse). My concern with the .44 mag is the second shot; I am able to reacquire the target far faster with a .357 or a .41 mag, than with a .44 magnum. Earlier posters have astutely commented that a second shot with a wild boar may be urgently required. I'd like to have it leave the muzzle before the boar decides I'm within "snack" range. An angry board certainly is nothing to trifle with.
 
I've seen South Texas hogs that are bigger than hogs are supposed to be and they can be damned mean too.

You can kill a hog with a .22 long rifle and I can recommend that to you without any concern. When the hog is in the hog trap, you pop him with the .22.

Otherwise, I pack a Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull and don't take chances with hogs.
 
My recent .S&W Mod 57 acquisition was the previous owners pig gun. Considering potential failure on the .357's part, my vote would also be for the .41 or .44 Mag. I prefer the .41 Mag with consideration to a second shot so my answer is neither.
 
I carry a S&W Mountain gun in .44 Mag when hiking. the load is a hard cast LSWC, 310 grains, over a lot of ww296. Better than 1200 fps from the 4 inch barrel. Great hog medicine.
 
Don't forget a 'handy' 5 to 6inch brl. &

A .44SPL 230SWC hardacst at 1,000 and up would also do the trick. If you check the speed of some factory 210 gr. .41MAG loads 1,100 is the norm. Good Luck....dewey
 
You must mean 1100 using Hard Cast bullets, 210 gr JHP .41 Mag runs a little hotter than 1100.

Pro-Load:
PL41G1 41 Magnum 210gr. JHP 1350 FPS w/ 6 inch barrel

Winchester:
41 Remington Magnum 175 gr. Super-X® STHP -- 1250 FPS (a good PD load)

Georgia Arms:
G41A 41 Mag 210gr JHP -- 1325 FPS
G41B 41 Mag 210gr LSWC -- 1100 FPS

My Hornady Reloading manual starts at 1100 and goes up to 1400 for 210 jacketed rounds.
 
Which Magnum revolver would you use for Wild Boar?

I guess I didn't ask the proper question. In the end I don't think the caliber of the gun that you are carrying is as important, as the type of bullet that is in the gun.
I would have to agree that a FMJ or any of that type would work much better then a HP or any of that type. The most impotant part would be a bullet that can properly penetrate the thick hide of a Wild Boar and then do enough internal damage to stop it from killing you. I do like the Idea of the .41MAG.
 
I stand corrected. My experiences were from a 3 and 4 inch .44SPL. Quite a handfull indeed. The speeds from my 6 1/2 were over 1,200fps but less than the listed loads from the manufacters who in some cases use a 8 + inch vented barrel. I met to type "240gr.SWC", not 230. The big bullets moveing at 1,000+ would still be my choice over a expanding bullet moving along faster.

Of the loads you listed I'd choose the 210SWC from Georgia Arms which clocked 1128 from my 8 3/8s " S&W M57.
best...dewey
 
Reloading is the way to go for .41 Mag.

I would think that a 210 JSP moving at ~1300FPS would make a nice hunting load.
 
RIVERDOG

I had some notes on Federal .41MAG 250gr. HardCast:

1,155 from a 4 inch M657. That'd knock the snot out of ANY hog.best...dewey
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top