Has anyone taken a broadside shoulder shot on a hog with a 357?

K

kcub

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Curious if a heavy 180 - 200 grain bullet has enough power to break through shoulder bone into the vitals.
 
I did , more than a few shot that way. 180gr hardcast at 1150fps turned out to be my standard load over the years and it can easily break one maybe both shoulders depending on size. 200lbers it should pass thru. It will at least bore throught to the far side shoulder. If you hand load step the loads up to 1400fps and bore through both side. Recovery between shots does tend to slow down with the hotter loads. I used a 8" DW revolver for 20 years as my go to hog getter. I also slowed my loads to 1150fps . Speer still has a 170gr sp that worked very well too at 1300fps. Never tried any 200gr.

heres a great page to give some insigt to hoter loads- http://handloads.com/loaddata/defau...&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
 
If hardcast and from a 6+ inch barrel, possibly. I would prefer a larger caliber. I have seen a 160gr HC fail to stop a porker.
 
I use the same thing as I used to use for deer. either 158 gr Kieth style LSWC or SJSP. Never had a through and through but never had a problem getting through the shoulder into the heart/lung and that was all I cared about. I have switched to 41 magnum now just because I have it but I would have no qualms about going back to the .357.
 
If hardcast and from a 6+ inch barrel, possibly. I would prefer a larger caliber. I have seen a 160gr HC fail to stop a porker.
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That you have seen a hog get away in a singular incident is hardly a criterion. I had a complete through and through at the shoulder of a medium-sized hog (maybe 180 lbs) that sprayed tissue and blood on the feeder leg behind the hog at the time of the shooting, and the hog ran away. That was with a .308. I have had a hog run off after being hit with a .45-70. If the bullet fails to connect with the right vitals in the right manner, the hog is going to run, even if the shoulder/leg is shattered.

With that said...
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198686

If you do a further search here for .357 and hog/pig/boar, you will find lots of examples of folks using it successfully. Remember, the hunter still has to do his/her part.
 
Never shot a hog with a 357 but I shot a buffalo head on. I use 150 grn SWCs at a bit over 1300 fps. I don't us necessary hard cast bullets either.

Busted through that thick skull which I believe is a bit heavier the the shoulder of a hog.
 
Granted, I've never hog hunted, but as I understand it they really aren't as tough as people think they are. The problem is the vitals represent a smaller aimpoint than say, a white tail deer, which may lead people to conclude that you need at least an 88 magnum to drop one :p. So shot placement becomes more critical.
 
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Yes...50 yard broadside with a 185 grain Beartooth LBT style bullet, over 15.8 grains of H-110 and Winchester Small pistol (not magnum) primer. Complete pass through .. bang/flop.

I have also hit a pig with a 300wsm that merely wounded the animal (bad angle and I didn't hit him right)...never to be found in spite of a pretty good blood trail. It all comes down to location location location.
 
I shot a hog a few months ago with a .357 using 135 gr “short barrel” Gold Dot bullets at 1420 fps. Two shots broadside and both gave full penetration and quick knockdown. It was a small hog, just 100 lbs or so.

I’m not sure heavy bullets are needed.

Hanginghog.jpg
 
The whole point of this thread was to see if you can get by with a 357 in the lower 48; it sounds like you can. However there are hogs and there are HOGS! Some are sub 100 lbs.and some are VW sized. I still think a 357 works as long as you hit the right spot.

So maybe you don't need a 44 OR a 41; unless of course you just want one.
 
I never felt a need for a 44 mag for hogs. Just match the bullet to the job. I will not carry a light bullet. If all you have is a 350lb and a front shot I don't want to wound a hog and **** him off. Yes a idel shot a 135gr will do . It may not when you are in the palmeto patch with them. 170gr , 180gr even 200gr if you work up the load will do the job from any angle.
 
I don't see why a .357 wouldn't stop a hog, if, like any other caliber used, shot placement it top priority. As I live up north, I have only shot 1 hog (in Florida), and it was with a 40+ year old Bear 50# recurve and a 2 blade 125 broadhead on a carbon arrow. Don't under underestimate any weapon if you do your part. IMHO, a .357 will be fine.
 
Shot placement is going to be important with any caliber this side of a 60 MM mortar. To tell you the truth, I'd think that a hot .38 Special shooting a 158 to 180 grain hardcast semi wadcutter from a 6" or longer barrel (I'm think of my S&W Model 14) would work pretty well. Again, I don't hog hunt, but maybe others can comment.
 
Don't know about shoulder shots but many years ago we had hogs and I'd kill them before butchering.

Well these hogs were HUGE. I had a Colt Agent .38 with LSWC handloads. No it wasn't a magnum but I found on a running hog the .38 would shoot right through and even break the spine!

So I have no doubt a good stiff .357 load is plenty hog medicine if you can shoot strait. I only use my .44 S&W cause I like the gun so much, and not because the .357 can't do the job.

Deaf
 
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