Is a .357 revolver powerfull enough for hogs?

F

Flaman

New member
A friend a I just got back from hog hunting in GA ... We saw plenty of them.
A little background... I've been an avid deer hunter for years. I've never seriously hunted hogs until now; this was my first attempt. We seemed to run accross most of the hogs by driving around tree lines early in the morning and late in the afternoon. I was toting my Winchester Coyote in a 300WSM.
Most of the hogs darted out of the tree lines within 35-75 yards of the truck. By the time I got my scope on them...THET WERE GONE!!! I think I would have a better chance with either a revolver (with open sights), or a short barreled lever action rifle.
I've been leaning a bit toward the .357 revolver. My question is this: Would a .357 Mag. be appropriate for this type of hunting? If so, would be the 4" barrel be adequate? I've been looking for an excuse to buy a S&W 686... Would this be a good decision, or should I be looking at a lever action rifle? Your thoughts please.
 
yes

i got this hog from 250 yards away i know it was a lucky shot but the 357 180 went right thru both lungs and out the other side
25.jpg
 
what power scope do you have on your rifle? I think with a low power scope or aim point or something similar you could get on target faster with a rifle than with a handgun and open sights
 
I hunt hogs regularly and the 357 pistol would not be my first choice of firearms. The larger a hog is, the thicker the gristle plates get. Add a nice coating of mud and dirt and they become fairly tough animals. I have used a Marlin 1894c in 357, but only with shots shorter than 100 yds and hog size smaller than 150 lbs.

This is only my opinion, but after you have a wounded hog running at you, you learn just how tough they can be. I prefer that they go down quickly, so I use enough gun.
 
.357 for hogs

Flaman--The "standard wisdom" is that a .357mag is a little light for hogs. Having said that, if that's what you have, use it.

Hope you handload. You want the biggest, hard-cast lead bullet your revolver can manage, pushed by a full-house load of a powder built for the job. I use 180 grain Beartooth hardcast flatnose gas-checked bullets, pushed by a bunch of 2400, using a magnum small pistol primer.

Not a fun load to shoot casually.

Carry my .357 as a sidearm. Mostly use a rifle for the hogs. (Use big honkin' heavy-for-caliber bullets there, too!)
 
With this 180 gr LFN-GC ammo here:

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357

Yes, I think it's powerful enough for hogs, with good placement.

But the question is, why handicap yourself in the practical accuracy department by using a handgun for hunting? So there you have your excuse to get a levergun in whatever rifle caliber (.45-70 or younameit) for the hogs.

That won't stop you from being able to rationalize the .357 wheelgun though - dontcha know that you need a sidearm loaded with buffalo bores to BACK UP your rifle in case a big boar or two charge you!?

Get 'em all! :)
 
Whooee$$$!!

First Freedom--The cartridges you reference come to $1.05 EACH!!! Not counting s&h! Holy H. Smoke!

And you need to practice with 'em before hunting. That doesn't mean 3-4 rounds and that's it, that means shooting enough to be accurate with 'em. Say 20-30 rounds at a minimum.

(You can' chintz there--You owe it to the game for a humane kill. You owe it to good sportsmanship. Most of all you owe it to yourself.)

Boy, if THAT won't convince a body to start handloading, I can't imagine what would.
 
.357 for boar

(Sorry. I previously posted this in a far older thread.)
Back sometime after the War Between the States when I was a shavetail, I went boar hunting in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee using my new Blackhawk .357 magnum.
I managed to put up a 150 lb boar at roughly 40 yards. The first round in the chest from the side put him down but he got up and it took a second shot in nearly the same place to finish him. A third was unnessary. :)
When the boar was dressed, one slug was found in the middle of the chest cavity and the other in the far side of the chest wall. Neither was mushroomed much but both were distorted.
The bottom line is that the .357 was certainly adequate for this particular boar. I'm not so sure that it would have been if it had been a much bigger one. Don't think I would want to repeat the process on a 300-400 lb boar with that pistol. :eek: :)
Once again, it's shot placement that does the job regardles of caliber (to a point).:D
 
First Freedom--The cartridges you reference come to $1.05 EACH!!! Not counting s&h! Holy H. Smoke!
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it's all relative; that's dirt cheap if you're comparing it to 7mm remmag ammo, f'rinstance. ;)

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=656674

Either is premium hunting ammo designed to take game.

Besides, look at the ballistics on that bad boy:

1. 3 inch S&W J frame

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1302 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC (jacketed hollow cavity) = 1299 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 1398 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 1476 fps

2. 4 inch S&W L frame Mt. Gun

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1375 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr JHC = 1411 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 1485 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 1603 fps

3. 5 inch S&W model 27

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast =1398 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1380 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 1457 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 1543 fps

4. 6 inch Ruger GP 100

a. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 1707 fps

5. 18.5 inch Marlin 1894

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps :eek:
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1860 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 2153 fps---- Can you believe this?!!!
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 2298 fps---- Or this?!!!
Click to expand...

and I agree, I'd want something bigger in any event, in case the BIG ol boy (300+ lb hog) comes along.
 
.357 will certainly kill a hog. The first piggy I hunted and killed, was with a Ruger flattop .357 Mag. I have learned during the years though, that there are better choices.
 
Could one reasonably be expected to obtain the performance above via reloading? If so I believe my next purchase is not going to be another gun, but a reloading set.
 
Flaman,
They used to shoot hogs for butchering, with a .22LR pistol, so almost any pistol will get the job done with the right shot placement.
Most of MY hunting is done from a tree stand with a .308, but I do own a Ruger .44 Mag Super Red Hawk with a Simmons Red Dot scope on top.
If you have to shoot moving hogs, this is the fastest target acquisition you can get. Works very nicely on those quick shots, that are just part of stalking.
 
THIS IS WHY I JUST BOUGHT A DILLON 650:

®

Printed Order Form



Item 2A: 420 gr. L.B.T.- L.F.N. (950 fps / M.E. 842 ft. lbs.)
(Practice load and big game up to 800 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$109.99
Order Now! Per Box of 20
$47.99
Order Now
Item 2B: 420 gr. L.B.T.- L.F.N. (1350 fps / M.E. 1700 ft. lbs.)
(Large and dangerous game up to 2000 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$109.99
Order Now! Per Box of 20
$47.99
Order Now
Item 2C: 420 gr. L.B.T.- W.F.N. (1350 fps / M.E. 1700 ft. lbs.)
(Large and dangerous game up to 1200 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$109.99
Order Now!
Item 2D: 400 gr. J.H.P. (1350 fps / M.E. 1618 ft. lbs.)
(Big game up to 800 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$109.99
Order Now! Per Box of 20
$47.99
Order Now

.500 Linebaugh

Printed Order Form



Item 1A: 435 gr. L.B.T.- L.F.N. (950 fps / M.E. 871 ft. lbs.)
(Practice load and big game up to 800 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$109.99
Order Now!
Item 1B: 435 gr. L.B.T.- L.F.N. (1300 fps / M.E. 1632 ft. lbs.)
(Large and dangerous game up to 2000 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$109.99
Order Now!
Item 1C: 440 gr. L.B.T.- W.F.N. (1275 fps / M.E. 1526 ft. lbs.)
(Large and dangerous game up to 1200 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$109.99
Order Now!
Item 1D: 400 gr. J.H.P. (1350 fps / M.E. 1618 ft.lbs.)
(Big game up to 800 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$124.99
Order Now!
Item 1E: 525 gr. LBT LFN (1100 fps ME-1480 ft. lbs.) Per Box of 20
$47.99

BOUGHT A 475 AND 510 MAXIMUM, LOOKED AT THOSE PRICES, AND BOUGHT ANOTHER PRESS.!!!!

S
 
Could one reasonably be expected to obtain the performance above via reloading?

Yes. 13 gr. of 2400 and a 180gr SSK hardcast was all I needed. I get just over 1300 fps out of it with no pressure signs in my GP100.

As always, please please please work up any heavy loads slowly and safely. Every gun has it's own preference points and what works in my gun may not be safe at all in yours.
 
Yes. 13 gr. of 2400 and a 180gr SSK hardcast was all I needed. I get just over 1300 fps out of it with no pressure signs in my GP100
Click to expand...


Amazing even at 1400fps, the 180 grain .357 magnum bullet would have less than 400 ft-lbs of energy left, and be under 1000 fps out at 250 yards. It amazes me that a hog can be dropped with that little firepower.

Does anyone hunt hogs with a .44 Special ?
 
I never thought about bustin' a hog at 250 yards with a 357 mag, not even with a 44mag. Maybe an injured hog at that range and all I have is the 44 mag I would take the shot. One thing for sure that is nice shooting. josh
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top