What's the best heavy .357 load for hunting?
- Thread starter kcub
- Start date
Archery shooters typically max out at about 40 yds with most preferring to set up stands for a 25-30 yd shot. The "archery angles" thing means hitting the vitals at an angle that avoids the shoulder so that the arrow has a better chance of a complete pass-through. Same principle would apply with using a moderately powered pistol caliber like .357.
Model12Win
Moderator
.357 revolver for hogs?
I don't think so. Don't do it. Being an ethical hunter is extremely important.
I don't think so. Don't do it. Being an ethical hunter is extremely important.
What? Why not?
I don't hunt hogs, but I have no problem hunting black bear with a .357 Mag. with the correct load. I also consider myself an extremely ethical hunter with lots of experience. I do use a .357 rifle though and not a handgun, but a handgun with the right load will still have no problem.
Do a youtube search. You will find lots of .357 Magnum hog hunts. You will even see successful .357 air rifle hunts.
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Oh, I do think so!
For the hog in this pic, I used the Speer 135 gr Gold Dot “Short Barrel” bullet at a chronographed 1420 fps. The gun’s a S&W 686SSR.
The hog was running full speed at about 40 feet and 2 quick shots through the lungs did the job. The hog flipped and never moved from where he fell.
ETA: Both shots went all the way through.
Super Sneaky Steve
New member
I like to use a 125 grain bullet. Either an XTP or a Remington soft point.
Full pass through, tremendous damage.
The #1 man stopper works just as well as a deer stopper. That is my real world experience.
Full pass through, tremendous damage.
The #1 man stopper works just as well as a deer stopper. That is my real world experience.
freedom475
New member
Don't be silly guys...the 357mag is extremely powerful and it has been killing very large animals at rifle ranges since it's introduction in 1935!!
The 158gr bullet is what it was designed around and it still works perfectly well today.
Folks of the day were said to say "Why on earth would anyone want such a powerful gun!!!" Since this was in the days before hearing protection was used much...I can see why they might have said that..
Year: 1935
Hunter: Major Douglas Wesson
Game & Ranges:
Antelope - 200 yards, 2 shots.
Elk - 130 yards, 1 shot.
Moose - 100 yards, 1 shot.
Grizzly Bear - 135 yards, 1 shot.
Antelope was first hit at 125 yards. It ran & stopped and was shot the second time at 200 yards, The second shot killed it!
Bull Elk was killed with one shot! (through the lungs).
Moose was hit in the chest near the base of the neck, It cut the second rib and passed through both lungs, shearing the 8th rib on the off side and stopped just under the hide. No follow-up shot was needed!
Animals were taken on a Fall hunt, near Yellowstone Park, in Wyoming.
The Grizzly was taken in Canada at a later date.
All game was taken using factory loads, of the day, which were a 158 grain bullet at 1515 fps. from a 8 3/4 inch (not 8-3/8 inch) barreled Smith & Wesson Large frame revolver, that produced 812 ft. lbs of muzzle energy.
Those who criticized were told by the Major, they "had not the slightest conception of what we have accomplished in ballistics". A statement that still applies today!
Good luck on your hunts kcub...please keep us posted on your handgun hunting stories!!
The 158gr bullet is what it was designed around and it still works perfectly well today.
Folks of the day were said to say "Why on earth would anyone want such a powerful gun!!!" Since this was in the days before hearing protection was used much...I can see why they might have said that..
Year: 1935
Hunter: Major Douglas Wesson
Game & Ranges:
Antelope - 200 yards, 2 shots.
Elk - 130 yards, 1 shot.
Moose - 100 yards, 1 shot.
Grizzly Bear - 135 yards, 1 shot.
Antelope was first hit at 125 yards. It ran & stopped and was shot the second time at 200 yards, The second shot killed it!
Bull Elk was killed with one shot! (through the lungs).
Moose was hit in the chest near the base of the neck, It cut the second rib and passed through both lungs, shearing the 8th rib on the off side and stopped just under the hide. No follow-up shot was needed!
Animals were taken on a Fall hunt, near Yellowstone Park, in Wyoming.
The Grizzly was taken in Canada at a later date.
All game was taken using factory loads, of the day, which were a 158 grain bullet at 1515 fps. from a 8 3/4 inch (not 8-3/8 inch) barreled Smith & Wesson Large frame revolver, that produced 812 ft. lbs of muzzle energy.
Those who criticized were told by the Major, they "had not the slightest conception of what we have accomplished in ballistics". A statement that still applies today!
Good luck on your hunts kcub...please keep us posted on your handgun hunting stories!!
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my first choice for hunting would be the Barnes 140gr all-copper HP, Buffalo Bore sells them loaded at over 2000FPS if you need a factory load. Second choice would be the Sierra's 158gr semi-jacket HP, they may go heavier if you think you need it. I know you said heavy, but if shooting from sub 6" i would rather keep some velocity, 140-158gr is not light by any means, if using a rifle or unusually long pistol barrel, then i could see the benefit of jumping into the 170's.
Regular Joe
New member
The very first time I saw a deer get killed, I was almost 4 years old.
We were on a 2 week boy scout survival jaunt. It was about the end of the first week, and we were out of food.
Dad carried me on his shoulders for the first little way, and then he told me that we were hunting, so I had to walk, very quietly. We hadn't gone far when he raised his .357 Blackhawk and fired one shot from the 4-5/8" barrel.
The 158 gr. JSP bullet entered just above a collar bone. He thought he had found a cyst on the rump, but it was the bullet, just under the hide. It had blasted the heart and lungs, then followed the back bone.
I learned then about the power of guns, and the stench of cleaning a deer.
Once we got back to camp, those 23 boy scouts took less than 3 hours to totally clean every bone in that little doe.
We were on a 2 week boy scout survival jaunt. It was about the end of the first week, and we were out of food.
Dad carried me on his shoulders for the first little way, and then he told me that we were hunting, so I had to walk, very quietly. We hadn't gone far when he raised his .357 Blackhawk and fired one shot from the 4-5/8" barrel.
The 158 gr. JSP bullet entered just above a collar bone. He thought he had found a cyst on the rump, but it was the bullet, just under the hide. It had blasted the heart and lungs, then followed the back bone.
I learned then about the power of guns, and the stench of cleaning a deer.
Once we got back to camp, those 23 boy scouts took less than 3 hours to totally clean every bone in that little doe.
98 220 swift
New member
I have used 158 gr federal hydra shock self defense loads. I shot a 120# spike at about 40 yards broadside. The shot was a little high but went clean through. He ran about 100 yards and died. The damage was hard to tell much difference from a rifle wound channel. These loads are not the hottest but they are what I use when I take my 686 6" hunting and also what I use in it for self defense. After seeing what they did to that deer a human would also be in a world of hurt.