Ok, I've dicided to get one when my birthday rolls around.

I'm undecided on what bullet to load for hog hunting. I don't deer hunt. None of my shots will be over 100 yards (mostly timber). 158 grain or 180? I'm now convinced that H110 powder is the way to go. I would like a velocity around, or above, 1500 fps. For this velocity I think I will need jacketed, or partially jacketed bullets. Full expansion in the first 6-8 inches. 100 bullets will probably last me a lifetime cause I have plenty of light loads for plinking. I'm getting tired of my 30-06 kick. To old for that!

So, what is suggested, and where is a good place to get them?

From your post,you evidently shoot 38/357 in handgun.
I've shot 357 and 44M in revolvers and lever actions,the rifles recoil will surprise you. In handgun,the recoil is mainly up and being absorbed by wrist,elbow,and shoulder flex. In rifle,recoil is mainly back directly into shoulder. I shoot and enjoy 357 and 44M revolvers,the rifles not as much.
In regard to your question,158/180 not much of a difference between the two and those weights are in the same range of bullet weights used in 30-06. Bullet impulse momentum will be similar.
In 30-06,I used 110/125gr bullets with a reduced charge of IMR4198 to provide a manageable recoil load,totally different than the 150-170 full throttle loads in the aspect of recoil.

Just something you may want to take into consideration before you buy.

I recently purchased a Henry Big Boy in .357 calibre for use in Cowboy Action Shooting. I intended to shoot 100 grain lead projectiles using .38 Special cases.

On getting the gun home and reading the manual I found the disclaimer that .38 Special loads should only be used with 158 grain bullets. Any other (lighter) bullet weights needed to be loaded to .357 Magnum length.

Despite this I did try some .38 Special reloads but found that they fed poorly and often jammed.

Using some .357 cases with my two standard loads (10.5 gn AR2205 (the old Hodgdon H4227 load) and 4.2 grains of Trailboss) I found the light projectiles fed reliably, although they look strange with the lube grove in front of the case mouth crimp.

Oh, and it was the old load of 10.5 grains AR2205 that proved the most accurate.

So if you intend to shoot .357 Magnum ammo (probably as you will use it for pigs), should be no problem. But if planking with .38 Special loads be aware the rifle may not fed reliably.

I have owned a Big Boy Steel in .357 for about a year and a half. Mine will reliably feed any 158 grain bullet I have tried, as well as the several 125 and 130 grain bullets I have used. This is in both .38 and .357. Disclaimer, I don't believe I have tried the lighter bullets in .38. The only thing I have found that won't feed reliably is wadcutters. My go to target round is the Xtreme 158 grain HP. I get great accuracy from 158 grain, and the heavy plating on the HP allows velocities up to 1500 fps.

As to hunting, I was going to develop a hunting round until I chronographed an American Eagle 158 grain soft point factory round. It came in at 1800 fps from the 20" barrel. This is what I load up when I go to the woods.

The biggest problem I have is keeping enough .357 loaded up to keep my daughter happy at the range. The Henry quickly became our favorite range weapon. I prefer the steel over the brass Big Boys. Stronger receiver, lighter weight, recoil pad and better balance for me. The brass ones are awfully purdy though.

If you plan on shooting CAS, the Henry is probably not the best choice. If you are looking for a smooth, beautiful, well made gun for range and field, the Henry is a great choice IMO. Their customer service is second to none.

If you are interested in feedback from other Henry owners there is a great forum for Henrys here:

Henry Rifle Forums - Index page

I can think of no reason to load 38 Spl. for my revolver or for a 357 rifle. I have plenty of 357 brass. 3.5 grains of Trail Boss behind a 125 grain coated lead in my 686 is a very light load and is very accurate out to 10 yards. Have not tried longer distance yet in that load.

I got one for my wife a few yards back.
there really isn't any need for a light plinking load in this rifle. Full house magnums are simply a joy to shoot in it.
my primary load is H110 behind a powder coated Lyman 170 grain Kieth type hollow point. In a snub nosed J frame, this would probably cause you to describe it with interesting sentence modifiers to rival sailors. In the Henry ... it's enough to let you know you fired it.
100 yards .... your in for a pleasant surprise

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it just needs more voltage

I shoot my 686 in Service Match which has a 24 round 50 yard string of fire. Both of my loads are capable of reasonable scores at that range as long as I do my part. The heavier AR2205 load is slightly more accurate but I get only 700 or so rounds from a can of powder, hence my going to the Tightgroup load earlier this year.

Mike, I don't have the Henry, but do have a Rossi model 92SRC I bought back in the 80's, before they added the safety and stuff and basically a clone of the original Winchester 92. And like venomballistics, I've found no 357 load that is uncomfortable to shoot out of my Rossi. Even hot loads don't mistreat your shoulder. I've shot 100+ rounds at a time at the range many times with the Rossi without any bruising or other shoulder discomfort.

Now I also have a Browning B92 in 44 Mag (BC Miroku built for Browning) that is also a Win 92 clone and that one is a different story. The 44 Mag cartridge is definitely powerful enough with max loads to beat your shoulder up.

If you can live with the tube reloading, a Henry is a solid choice and a fine rifle.

I have original Marlins, not .357, but 44 & 45-70.

As to the loads, cast bullets .001 over size - .358 - can be pushed as hard as you like without leading.

In a rifle, you get extra barrel length and therefore extra velocity. I'd try the 180g bullets for accuracy. If you can stabilize them right with the right charge for accuracy, you'll have darn near a 30-30. I'd imagine with a slow burning pistol powder like W296/H110 you could easily see the north side of 1700fps. That's no joke and they won't bounce off too many hogs.

180g gives you the penetration edge.

Cast bullets would be an excellent component for hunting - two holes and with the right metplat, impart plenty of hydro static shock and disruption.

Try 180 & 160g and see which one is more accurate.

I like a Dardas 180 .358" lead bullet pushed by 12.5 grains of 2400 in my Big Boy. Will hold 1.5" at 50 yards with open sights and no leading.

you can do better than that.
I never really tried to develop an accuracy load for my specimen and easily get 2" at 150 yards.
Plenty to keep the wife busy

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it just needs more voltage

I'm sure it will but that's about as close as I can hold it with open sights. I would like to see someone who could hold 2" at 150 yards with the stock Henry sights.

Mikeinkaty, I went shooting at the range yesterday with my Rossi and ran some of my 180 grain MBC RNFP "Strikers" across the chrono. They gained close to 300 fps over my Coonan using Accurate #9 powder to around 1500 fps. And while you could feel a slight increase in felt recoil over 140 or 158 grain rounds, it still wasn't uncomfortable to shoot or beat up the shoulder. So if you decide to go with the Henry, don't worry about it beating you up.

Thanks Muddocktor! I really appreciate your doing that. Mike

I don't know if you can get your revolver to kick out a 158gr XTP bullet at 1500fps.

My 6" with a full load of IMR2400 only gets 1340 fps.

Safe loading.

In my .357 carbine for deer I like the Hornady 158gr XTP-FPs. They are deigned for proper expansion when used at velocities of 1200 to 1750 fps, while the standard 158gr XTP-HPs are designed for velocities of 700 to 1350. I get around 1700 FPS with this bullet from my Rossi Levergun with a charge of 16gr of H110/W296 under it with great accuracy. Nice thing is they print exactly the same as the HPs and thus I can practice with the HPs and save the FPs for hunting. They are also generally readily available and relatively inexpensive as compared to other .357 hunting type bullets.

Ed, he's talking about 1500+ fps out of a Henry Big Boy rifle he wants to buy soon, not a revolver. And 1500 fps is achievable even with a 180 grain bullet out of the rifle. I'm getting close to that with 10.8 grains Accurate #9 and it's not a max load. I'm going to try 11.1 grains next and see how they shoot with the MBC 180 grain RNFP coated bullets. I'm also going to try loading up 50 or so with some H110 and see how they compare out of my Rossi.

Thanks for the heads up..................

In that case with 12" more barrel,
I see no problems adding just 200fps or more.

Hope he posts a target picture with the powder that worked the best.

Later.