.357 for wild hogs

I would prefer a handloaded hard-cast lead 170, 180, or 200 grain SWC or WFP.

Unlike JHP, they will offer greatly improved straight line penetration through mud caked hide, bone, or gristle, while cutting a full diameter hole all the way in, and out.

Cor-Bon & Buffalo Bore makes such loads if you do not handload.
http://www.shopcorbon.com/CORBON-Hunter/357-Mag-200gr-CORBON-Hunter-HC/HT357200HC-20/300/Product

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100

rc

180g Hornady XTP sould be min... plus you really need to neck/head shot them with a .357

From experience, I can tell you that the Buffalo Bore hardcast lead 180-grain .357 Magnum cartridge is MEAN. Perceived recoil out of both my 4" GP100 and my 2.25" SP101 are more than any other commercial 357 load I've ever shot. In the GP100, it's still manageable and not at all uncomfortable.

I haven't put this load over my new chronograph yet, but I'm guessing it's still going at least 1,200 ft./s out of a 2.25" barrel. That's smoking for a 180-grain bullet out of a snubby. From a 4-6" barrel, it will probably easily do 1,400 ft./s. That's almost 800 lb./ft. of energy. This is the load I'd carry in any Ruger 357 revolver for tough thick critters.

For penetration on tough animals, you want a bullet that is heavy, hard, wide, and flat. The Buffalo Bore load is pretty much the best available.

180 grain, lead WFP, ~1100 fps.

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/index.htm

PLUS ONE for the 180 gr bullet...

AS a farmer I have had to kill so many I can not count them. I regularly hunt them with the 180 gr soft point bullet with my Ruger Blackhawk. Most of my shots are from 30-40 yards with open sights, especially in the Oak hammock where they come to feed on acorns in the fall. Some of the neighboring farmers come and hunt too and make good sausage meat from them.

Long time ago my family raised hogs.

I had to kill them for butchering. I used a Colt Agent .38 with 158gr LSW handloads.

The hogs weighed over 200lb. All of 'em dropped dead. One ran like the blazes and I had to shoot him as he ran by at 5 yards. My shot struck him right in the neck and broke the spine (I know that cause when we butchered it we found the spinal cord severed.)

While I do use a Ruger GP100 as my field gun (and that includes hogs) nowdays, I know with 158 gr SWCs at 1200 it will go slap through a boar. So guys don't worry about penitration, just practice on accuracy with the .357. It's plenty of gun when fully loaded.

Deaf

Does Federal still load the CastCore 180? That's what's in my 6" 28 when out and about.

Most factory ammo is pretty anemic for 357, cept Buffalo Bore and Double Tap. My handloads for my 6.5in Blackhawk and 18.5in Marlin are hot loaded 180grn XTP's and 170grn Gold Dot sp, good penetration and those XTP's never fragment even at 1650fps outa my Marlin. Go heavy!

I would go with the above mentioned Hornady XTP load. And no, you will not have to hit them in the head or neck to kill them. If you want an instant stop, yes, but a good shot behind the shoulders should do just fine.

You guys might be interested in this slightly off topic note: if you go to the GAMO airgun site, you can see a video of a man killing a 180 pound hog with BB gun! It's billed as the world's fastest air rifle - 1600+ fps - and it costs $500+. Don't know if it's .177 or .22.

He looked to be shooting from about 15 yards away.

+1 on Buffalo Bore hard cast 180 gr.
Howard

I once had a run in with a wild hog. I was with my brother in law and were checking his feeders, and plots. Prior, he told me a 22 would be sufficient. (yea right!) It had been a year since I was out and about because of illness. Still after some thought I decided on my Ruger GP 100 4" with fixed sights. Loaded with Federal 158 grn soft points.

After checking several plots there was hogzilla. BIL told me to take him. First shot was at about 40 yards. I fired and the hog just stood there. I thought I had missed. (More on that later.) 2nd shot was at 25 yards. I saw blood and brains come out above the right eye. That one bothered him and he started his charge. The third shot went in his left eye. That one dropped him though he did root around some.


That first shot...went through his left ear, through his torso, out his belly and them through his right hind foot. He didn't even squeal!

Why do I call him hogzilla? He maxed out the 300lb scale as soon as his rear haunch's were off the ground. Heck his skin and head maxed out the scale.

Yes I still carry my 357 when we check plots and fence. But if I know we are going for hogs, I cary a rifle!!!

I believe the airgunner was using one of the precharged pneumatics in either 9mm or 50- cal...they played it on "American Airgunner" last year.

As to the 357, my little brother wounded one two times with his converted Win 92 but I found out later he was using 150 grain 38 specials.

I'd second (or third) the advice to go with something lead and hard in the 180 grain range as most of the jacketed stuff is designed to open up farly easily (people as the target) and not the thick skinned, gristle plated hogs.

I'm no expert on those, only shot one and that was with a 30-06.

For hogs, you should look at Buffalo Bore's Heavy .357 Magnum ammo in 180gr HC.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100

I used a DW 357 for some years for hogs and before DT and BB there was 180gr fed hard cast and they would reliably break shoulders down on moveing hogs. Killed many hogs with that some what slow round. With the new faster rounds out there you would gain a bit of yardage if still or stand hunting. I have killed hogs up 380lbs with that old federal round with one shot. All I had time for

I have shot two wild hogs with my 357. One was about 200 lbs. the other was a horse close to 400 lbs. They both went down with 158 grain Federal jacketed soft nose without any problem.

I think the .358 bullet in a 35 Remington is good I'd have to guess the 357 in a rifle at those distances would be ample...

I killed hogs with a 22 pistol but for these wild ones I want my 30/30 and the 357 for backup!

I would prefer a handloaded hard-cast lead 170, 180, or 200 grain SWC or WFP.

Click to expand...

+1. Or a hard cast 255 grain wide flat nose in .45 Colt -- which is what I use.