357 for texas hogs?

I use all my guns for their intended purpose. If you really want yours to be a collector item, buy a good full-flap holster for it or use this as an excuse to get another one. I'd personally like a .45LC for hogs.

I use my GP for a hog sidearm. Choose your ammo carefully. Your super-duper-expando-rific self-defense or home defense load won't work that great on a tough-skin hog. The Hornady 180gr XTP gets good reviews. Buffalo Bore makes a stout 180gr load. Winchester makes a 180 gr "Supreme Partition Gold." Get a good penetrating load and call it good.

I'd think a 9mm would get a hog's attention but I'd rather bring the .357. I'd go with 158 grain with a good velocity if you handload. And, yes, no SD type loads.

I think this is a good excuse to get a power powerful pistol - maybe a .44 Mag, .45 Colt, 10mm, .41 Mag, or a .357SIG could work.

Sure your .357 Mag will work fine, but if you're worried about getting it dirty then I wouldn't suggest taking it into the wilderness.

If you are going to take your .357 I would suggest a good 180 gr load. Or you can use this as an excuse to buy a .41 or .44 magnum. I'm into the .41 mag as it seems everyone has a .44. I like to be different.

Bwaa Ha Ha. Thinking about a 44 or 41 and handloading eh? Come on over to the dark side.

I use a Nosler 240gr JSP and 20gr of 2400 in 44.

Nobody's offered me a $399 M-57 like was posted earlier so I haven't gone down that road........... Yet.......................

What about bullet weight/ type, soft tip, hollow point, ball, for hogs?

Click to expand...

Heavier is generally better. JSP, FMJ, LFN, DPX, XTP... they'll all work. I'd go with XTP or LFN.

Alphabet soup, huh?

The 357 magnum with the right loads will work just fine for hogs at reasonable ranges. However there are better choices.

If you choose a 357 then look into the heavier loadings like the 180 grain hunting loads. If you do your part they will work just fine.

I agree that the 41 Remington Mag and the 44 Magnum are better choices.

Where I hunt I would be hesitant to take a nice gun, so if you really like your S&W I would consider a change. I also agree that the 9mm and 45 acp are less than ideal choices. They will work with proper shot placement (that is often difficult to achieve in the field when hog hunting).

I harvested this with my Ruger SP101

I'd take my .45 Blackhawk. Yeah, it's pretty, 250 bucks worth of engraving, 250 dollar stag grips on it, but it's stainless. I can use it and enjoy it, too. I like stainless for actually USE. Bluing is pretty.....for a while. Heck, I've carried that Blackhawk on Padre Island hunting the salt flats and it still looks good.

Take care of the S&W and carry it in a good holster. The gun will be fine if it is protected. Do you plan on eating much of the pig? If so then a 357 mag will fit the bill. If you plan on any old shot and are not concerned with shooting the animal "stem to stern" then get a bigger bullet going faster. If you plan on eating most of the pig then a broad side shot through the vitals should be no sweat for most 357 mag loads with 125gr.+. If you just want to put one down regardless of the shot opportunity then by all means shoot one from any angle with a 44 mag. You probably will not be too excited about eating the thing after cleaning it out with one of those kind of shots though.

Stay away from light bullets for hunting. Nothing less than 158 grain hard cast SWC, especially if the hog is big. I doubt most 125s would even make it through the gristle plate on a 300+ lb boar.

There's a couple of bullets for the .357 that should work just fine with proper shot placement, both are cast and you need to reload to use them. They are: Lyman #358156 160g GCSWC and the #358429 170g Keith.

I load those over 15.5g of H110 and they will go through both sides of a hog.

Think of the .357 as "light tackle" for hunting large game.

Better choice would be anything that starts with a .4, like a .44, or a .45LC.

This is an opportunity to build up your armory.

I have a friend who has successfully taken Texas hogs using his Ruger GP-100 .357 with handloaded 180 grain Hornady XTP bullets.

I carry either a 45 Colt or 44 mag. for hogs.

I have personally seen both the 9mm and 45 ACP fail to stop hogs.