357 For Wild Hog Backup?

[BullSkater]

Will be hog hunting later this year and was wondering if my
4 inch S&W mod66 would be strong enough. I like what a 41 mag does to hogs but don't have one at this moment.
I have never shot a large animal with a 357. I think a 158 ww soft tip my be go enough.
I reload and was wondering if 180gr XTP would work better. I will not be hunting with this gun just useing it for a backup. What do you think?

 

[PT1911]

nope.. .357 mag bounces right off of em... nothing but a pea shooter.

the .357 is capable of bringing down whatever it is you have a notion to try to bring down.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I carry a 4" .357 for backup when I hunt hogs.

 

[bestseller92]

With 158 grain JSPs or 180 grain JHPs, or some hard cast SWCs, it should be great.

 

[BullSkater]

Think I will load the 180's. Wish I could find a good deal on a 41 or 44.

 

[Walkalong]

I would go 158 Gr minimum, and would lean towards the 180 for tough hogs.

 

[MCgunner]

I've killed 200 lb boar with a 165 cast bullet out of a 6.5" blackhawk. I've finished quite a few with the same bullet from 4" guns in the trap and one that was wounded that I had to track in heavy cover. All in the shot placement. A hard cast 180 like the Buffalo Bore will certainly do the job on a meat hog and should be enough for hogzilla with good shot placement ON the shoulder. It has plenty of penetration. Just stick with hard cast SWCs with a wide, flat nose.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Heck, you could use a .357 as a primary hunting gun for hogs... let alone as a backup. The only full-sized .357 I have is a 4" blued Ruger GP100. It is one of my all-time favorite revolvers.

Just stick with hard cast SWCs with a wide, flat nose.

Ditto... perhaps in the 180g range. It will do the job flawlessly.

 

[Mark whiz]

Yeah, I've taken feral hog in FLA with a .357 and now others that used it almost exclusively for them. The 158gr round will do the trick 95% of the time. I did work up some loads with the hard cast 180gr bullets Federal used to market if I ever decided to use that pistol again.

For a comparison, I've also used a .44cal cap & ball revolver to take down a boar as well - and it don't have the punch a .357 does.......................so use yours with confidence.

 

[pps]

My pig round in .357 is a 185gr Beartooth bullet (LBT Hardcast) over 15.8grains of H110, WSP (non-magnum primer) to a cartridge overall length of 1.610"

The bullet had through and through penetration on a 200# sow at 50 yards. Chronographs 1250 from my 5" Model 627.

Here is what the recovered bullet looks like after penetrating 30inches of rubber mulch.

Here is what the round did to my 24" bullet traps 1/4" steel arresting plate.


With the right round (the Partition bullet you mentioned will be fantastic too), the .357 will do you just fine.

 

[kmrcstintn]

Federal 180gr hardened lead flat tip CastCore solid; downloaded a tad which should transmit less recoil to your hand as you are using a relatively light (duty sized) medium frame .357 magnum revolver; IIRC...4" barreled S&W 66's tip the scale @ 33 or 34 ounces vs let's say a 4" barreled Ruger GP100 which weighs @ 40 ounces; the lowered amount of recoil will allow you to place a rapid second shot if needed

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Think I will load the 180's. Wish I could find a good deal on a 41 or 44.

BullSkater,
If you want a really good 180gr bullet take a look at the ones made by Cast Performance. Their 180gr WFNGC bullets are great IMO. They produce very accurate ammo because they are well made and the gas checks allow you to push them fast without worrying about barrel leading. I use them and I like them a lot. (their 160gr bullets are great too) These are the same bullets used by The Grizzly Cartridge Company. (same company)

 

[StrawHat]

While not my favorite hunting cartridge, there is nothing wrong with the 357 Magnum. I prefer 158 grain cast bullets over a healthy dose of 2400 powder but I am old school.

 

[BlayGlock]

Me and a buddy of mine have had good success flooring hogs with Hornady Leverevolution 140 gr shot from a 5" tube and a 6" respectively.

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=760

 

[trex1310]

Doubletap .357 180grn hardcast makes a good load.

 

[hardluk1]

My favorate load is federal 180gr HC but it is my primary revolver for hog. That round would take both shoulders out. BB has also a 200gr hot load that might not work well in a short barrel but might be the bad boy of the bunch.

 

[Swamper]

Worked for a good friend of mine. His guide was drunk and he was checking on a ram he took down. Squeels galore, a few tusk fille charges, a few barks from the .357 and problem solved. Well, there may of been some Fruit of the Looms moment but..., he and the .357 got it done.

Swamper

 

[snooperman]

good back-up gun for hogs

I have shot several on my farm with my S&W model 19 with 158 gr hollow points and they go down quick. I almost always carry a .357 when I go in the woods as a back-up because we have black bears on my land as well.

 

[bestseller92]

Black bears are now numerous in eastern Oklahoma and are slowly migrating west.

I like it.

The hogs, though, are if any thing becoming too numerous.

 

[snooperman]

Yes, the hog population is very high now

Shot placement on them is important, more so than caliber. Two years ago my wife shot one with a .44 caliber blackpowder revolver with adjustable sights through the heart and lungs. She is very good on hunts and especially with this particular handgun. Loaded with 128 gr round ball and 35 gr of FFFg blackpowder will do them in. Now if I can get her to clean that gun ???Oh well , its good to have her on the hunts and I should not complain.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Two years ago my wife shot one with a .44 caliber blackpowder revolver with adjustable sights through the heart and lungs.

She sounds like a keeper.

 

[Artiz]

I have no doubt any .357mag bullet will effectively stop that thing running towards you. Two for luck, but IMO .357mag means business against anything smaller than a Moose or Grizzly bear.

 

[RustyHammer]

It's like the saying: Gun control is hitting what you're aiming at.

If you do you part, it will do its!

(Wild hog or whatever.)

 

[22-rimfire]

Good choice for a back up on hog hunts or wandering around the woods/meadows where there are piggies.

I have a 4" Model 57 41 mag that would likely be my backup or with a longer barrel, primary gun.

 

[Quoheleth]

180gr Hornady XTP over a good dose [consult manual] of AA#9 will get 'r' done nicely.

FWIW, I found a nice .41 Mag Blackhawk at Gunbroker for under $300. Fun

Q