Woods Revolver Cartridge

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When speaking of the .357, as a "woods gun", I think it's best served with 180 to 200 grain bullets. Leave the 158's and lighter for shooting people. Both my Highway Patrolman and my Rossi carbine shoot well with a 200 grain bullet. Where I live there are grizz, so when hiking, trekking, exploring, I usually carry a .44 mag or my El Patron in .45 Colt, but I'd feel plenty comfortable with the Highway Patrolman and 200 grain bullets, especially if the biggest threat was Cougar or Black Bear. Having said that, a 180 grain is probably the most/best "compromise" between weight and velocity, or perfect weight in the .357 magnum, for shooting critters up to the size of black bear.
 
film495 said:
uhh, I'm no expert - but, don't those hogs travel in sometimes pretty large groups? Just for the sake of discussion, and for maybe someone with experience with the feral hogs, would you really want to run into a team of those guys and have a six shot revolver?
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In Texas we are overrun with feral hogs and yes they run in packs, but every time I’ve put one down with my 4” Redhawk in .41mag, the rest scatter like a well done break on a pool table. There’s only been a couple of times that I have been able to make a follow up kill and that’s on the closest running hog. My .41mag is my favorite caliber for over 30 years, though I’ve hunted everything up to Texas Mule Deer with .357 mag and .44 mags ethically as well. My next hog hunting venture will be with my Springfield XDM in 10mm. My hunting buddy is devistating with his on pork.
 
I have two "woods" guns, a .357 Blackhawk and a .44 spcl Blackhawk, both 4 5/8 barrels. I load the .357 with handcasted 200 grn bullets from a lyman 358430 mould. I run them at around 1050 fps. These have proven to be highly accurate rounds in my gun and very easy to shoot. This has become one of my favorite .357 loads.

In the .44, I run a 240 grn handcasted RNFP from a Saeco mould at around 1000 fps. I got this load from a Pierce article on the .44. It is one of his tier 2 loads. This is also accurate and easy to shoot from the BH. I reckon that these loads will dispatch any critter I run across in the lower peninsula of Western MI.
 
Thomas Traddles said:
I have two "woods" guns, a .357 Blackhawk and a .44 spcl Blackhawk, both 4 5/8 barrels. I load the .357 with handcasted 200 grn bullets from a lyman 358430 mould. I run them at around 1050 fps. These have proven to be highly accurate rounds in my gun and very easy to shoot. This has become one of my favorite .357 loads.

In the .44, I run a 240 grn handcasted RNFP from a Saeco mould at around 1000 fps. I got this load from a Pierce article on the .44. It is one of his tier 2 loads. This is also accurate and easy to shoot from the BH. I reckon that these loads will dispatch any critter I run across in the lower peninsula of Western MI.
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While I have seen no evidence of hogs at my place in E. TN yet, people say they are around. That said, my GP-100 in .357 shoots really small groups with a 358429 PC bullet at around 1000 fps. Though it also shoots 148 wc very well too. That is what is usually loaded for around the farm. Will let you know what works on hogs if they show up.
 
.357 with 180 grain JHP from Federal in a 4.2" SP101. The box says 1080fps. I suppose that's optimistic. Still, I bet it's doing at least 900fps out of my gun. Frankly, I think this gun is more of a pacifier than a needed tool where I am in North Minnesota. Every bear or wolf I've seen has been more interested in running away than anything else. But still, I carry it since it makes me feel safe.

If we're being brutally honest here, I think I'd be better armed for the most likely scenarios with my G43 and a spare magazine. It's light, handy, reliable, quick to reload.....
 
Biggest threats where I live and where my little farm sits are poachers, meth cookers and the occasional feral dog or mangey coyote. I rotate among two Ruger Blakhawks, 44s or 45C, and my SP101.
 
LNK said:
While I have seen no evidence of hogs at my place in E. TN yet, people say they are around. That said, my GP-100 in .357 shoots really small groups with a 358429 PC bullet at around 1000 fps. Though it also shoots 148 wc very well too. That is what is usually loaded for around the farm. Will let you know what works on hogs if they show up.
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WCs work. My second favorite load in the .357 is a lyman 358432 162 grn DEWC run well over 900 fps. Accurate and effective. I have also had good results hotrodding DEWCs from 140 to 148 grn.
 
While walking my dog, early in the morning (5:00AM), this past spring. We just exited the woods/swamp path and started up the street about 50yards. My dog stopped and turned around. I turned to see what she was looking at. Well, it was a big bobcat. He stopped, looked at us and continued on the path. My normal carry piece is a Sig P232, 380. When I got home, I decided to upgrade my carry piece for the morning walk. My Blackhawk in 45 Colt, loaded with two snake shots, followed by Hornady XTP's.

45 Colt Plus.JPG
.
 
Its more to do with bullet construction than caliber
A 38spl would work for OP needs .. with a good hardcast bullet ..
Underwood produces alot of options , for alot of cartridges ... one that stands out to me is a
40 S&W 200gr Hardcast load @ 1000fps
since I own a
Charter 40 S&W revolver
736B2C5F-664A-4F86-A8F5-8CC52B3BBFF4.jpeg
 
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Thomas Traddles said:
I have two "woods" guns, a .357 Blackhawk and a .44 spcl Blackhawk, both 4 5/8 barrels. I load the .357 with handcasted 200 grn bullets from a lyman 358430 mould. I run them at around 1050 fps. These have proven to be highly accurate rounds in my gun and very easy to shoot. This has become one of my favorite .357 loads.

In the .44, I run a 240 grn handcasted RNFP from a Saeco mould at around 1000 fps. I got this load from a Pierce article on the .44. It is one of his tier 2 loads. This is also accurate and easy to shoot from the BH. I reckon that these loads will dispatch any critter I run across in the lower peninsula of Western MI.
Click to expand...

I've become fond of a 220 grain bullet, at around 950fps, in my .44 specials.
 
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Which 41 mag load?
I have carried 230 grain HSM Bear Load semi-wadcutters (advertised at 1233 fps/777 #s) in my pocket 41. I also have 240 grain Winchester platinum tips jhp (advertised at 1250 fps/833#s).

What load would you choose for a woods load??
 
WisBorn said:
Which 41 mag load?
I have carried 230 grain HSM Bear Load semi-wadcutters (advertised at 1233 fps/777 #s) in my pocket 41. I also have 240 grain Winchester platinum tips jhp (advertised at 1250 fps/833#s).

What load would you choose for a woods load??
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Due to wanting to be a little more versatile I would lean towards the swc load. I think it may be more forgiving to the meat should I come across a rabbit or other small edible game vs the jhp. Clearly neither load are ideal for that scenario, but I think it would leave more meat on the bone, so to speak.
 
Barbaroja said:
Due to wanting to be a little more versatile I would lean towards the swc load. I think it may be more forgiving to the meat should I come across a rabbit or other small edible game vs the jhp. Clearly neither load are ideal for that scenario, but I think it would leave more meat on the bone, so to speak.
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It's more a defense load (sorry should have been more clear).
 
Gotcha! I would probably still go for the same load for the same reasons.
I think either load would work well against most threats one would encounter. I think it would come down to what you want to prioritize Expansion or penetration. In your neck of the woods I think either bullet would pass through whatever you encountered.

edit: hard to go wrong when we’re talking 41 mag!
 
In past years a Woods gun was a 22 that was carried for fun and chance shot’s for supper like a partridge or rabbit while hunting with a rifle or Bow.
It was not the primary weapon.You had it on when working on your wood pile or picking berries.If you were fishing it was called the kit gun.
 
Speaking of .41 magnum....

I did a bunch of experimenting once, and wrote a little self-published/home made book. I tested a bunch of different revolvers, loads and bullets, in order to determine penetration, for the purpose of what would work good/best for shooting through a grizzley's skull. Kind of a back-packer's handbook.

The "interesting" thing was, the bullet that penetrated the most, and not by a lot, but more, or the most, was a round-nose, 240 grain hard cast bullet out of a .41 Magnum. It even beat out FMJ silhoulette bullets (speer) out of the .44 magnum, and similar bullets out of the .357. (the .44mag and .357 were about equal, in penetration. Of course, the .44 was penetrating with much more mass)

It was also the only round nose bullet tested, so I don't know if the .44 or .357 would have done as well or better, with a round nose. All calibers tested were with hard cast or FMJ bullets, of heavy for caliber weight. Also tested .45 Colt, and .44spl.
 
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MTNSTRYDER said:
In past years a Woods gun was a 22 that was carried for fun and chance shot’s for supper like a partridge or rabbit while hunting with a rifle or Bow.
It was not the primary weapon.You had it on when working on your wood pile or picking berries.If you were fishing it was called the kit gun.
Click to expand...

Right. When I think of a "woods gun", I like it to be capable of taking small game. The .44's and .357, and the .45 all do that well with shot loads. Automatic pistols, not so well. As long as I have a rifle, or bow, my woods guns are lighter pistols of smaller caliber, such as a .38spl, 7.62X38mm Nagant, a .22LR or .22WRF. These days, I've turned most often to my Remington Navy .36 as my woods gun. Just for fun I sometimes carry Grand-Dad's Luger, but don't really consider a 9mm as a good woods gun.
 
Thomas Traddles said:
WCs work. My second favorite load in the .357 is a lyman 358432 162 grn DEWC run well over 900 fps. Accurate and effective. I have also had good results hotrodding DEWCs from 140 to 148 grn.
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I have been using that mould since about 1960. Shoots well in every gun I've tried it in. Mine, however, is not a double end. Had a definite front and crimp groove.
 
DSC07225.JPG
Posted this pic on another thread, but this has been my "woods gun" lately, and most often when I'm hunting. My Remington Navy has taken a few grouse with light round ball loads, and she packs a good punch with slugs. This set-up can carry a lot of ammo, without too much bulk or weight. The horn-flask and cap pouch will pack at least 50 rounds. The pouch will hold more slugs than that, but I don't really know how many powder charges the flask holds. My guess would be 50.

The woods I hunt/trek/explore in have some nasty critters, so I'd not carry this as my only weapon. But along with a powerful bow I'd feel fine, or one of my spears, which I sometimes hike/trek/explore with.

Another combination I like is a .44mag, and then my Little Badger .22LR. That covers all bases, but would be "woods guns" rather than woods gun. :)
 
pp.jpg
Here's a curve-ball for ya'll. Sometimes when I'm exploring, I'll carry this as my side arm, or "woods gun" when I take a bow. I have some self-contained shot "cartridges" for it, for grouse, can load round ball over light powder charges for wabbits, and for protection she'll shoot a 240 grain .512" slug over 60-70 grains of powder, so she ain't no slouch on the power scale. Isn't she pretty?
 
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