I've decided I'm going to start carrying a Smith 686+ or 620 as my in the woods back up gun. I really don't plan on using it for hunting but I am trying to find what all good rounds would work for my cause in case I ran across a mean ol hog or mountain lion. I plan on getting the 4" barrel. Thanks

I hunt whitetails with PMC .357 Mag 158gr. Jacketed Soft Point. It has proven itself as far as I am concerned. It is not a light load.
Ed

I also agree on the 158g JHP load. If a typical source i.e. Winchester, Remington isn't hot enough you could look at Corbon or perhaps Buffalo Bore!

I think a 158-grain load would be fine, though I'd be more inclined to use a LSWC than a jacketed HP or SP. Tastes great/less filling.

What I carry when hiking up Bear Canyon with my 3" Model 65, however, are my 180-grain lead flat point handload that do 1230 fps from the little gun. With Lil' Gun I can get almost 1400 fps with a TVB 158-grain LSWC from the 65, but I don't think I need that much velocity and the 180-grainers give more of solid shove than a snappy kick and allow me to get the gun back on target quicker. I'm sure either would effectively penetrate any monsters I might encounter in my part of the country.

What the gents above have said. I'd not go below the 158 number, regardless of what bullet type you choose. Even a LSWC in the weight above, would serve you well. Although it'd probably go all the way through a cat, or two?

Or three?

My whitetail round is .357 Federal Power Shok 180 grain hard cast but I use a NEF Handi Rifle.
On the box it says 1250 fps but I'm guessing that's from a 4 or 6 inch test barrel.

For hunting, I like the Winchester 180 gr. Supreme Partition Gold rounds. They launch their 180 gr. Nosler Partition bullet @ 1180 fps.

The recoil is brisk, but they get the job done.

For HOG, how about one of these hard cast loads?
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.p...1_27&products_id=152

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.p...1_27&products_id=151

OR, maybe something from Buffalo Bore.

I've taken my 686+ out for whitetail and hog. I carry Buffalo Bore 180 gr LFN-GC. It comes out at strong 1400 fps. It was recommended to me by another guy who had done a considerable amount of hunting with a handgun.

quote:

Originally posted by hoser:
For HOG, how about one of these hard cast loads?
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.p...1_27&products_id=152

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.p...1_27&products_id=151

OR, maybe something from Buffalo Bore.

Those double tap WFNGC Hardcast are what I'm
thinking about getting for animal protection
using a .40 S&W. You can get a 200 grain that
does 1050 fps from a four incher..
They also sell 200 grain FMJ for a bit less.
I can't get quite the horsepower from a .40 as
you can from a .357 mag, but with those cast
slugs at 1050 fps, I'd feel fairly comfortable
they would penetrate. Also, that flat nose
really punches a hole that bleeds. They punch
clean holes in skin much like they do on paper.

I carried the keith round for years while backpacking in the Sierras. Popped a mountain lion once while I was in high school. It went through with no trouble.

I now carry a 185gr beartooth bullet (LBT style), over 16 grains of h110 in my Ruger, and it is stout.

For woods carry I use a 686-3, 4" bbl, with the Cast Performance hard cast 180 gr WFNGC bullet over 9.5 gr Blue Dot, chrono'd at 1245 fps.

IMO a heavy hard cast bullet will be the best choice for a .357 Magnum used for a woods gun.

Federal, Buffalo bore, DoubleTap, Remington, Remington and a few others all have .357 Magnum "hunting" rounds available. I personally load my own.

I carry 158 gr. JSP .357's in the woods 'cause you just never know what you'll be up against. They'll handle just about anything that I'll ever run across, in my neck of the woods. The 180 gr. bullets might be a better choice, but, I use 158's for everything. Bob