Trying to determine what I want to carry in the woods while hunting as a backup. I hunt in MI, worst I'll run into it a wild pig/feral dog/possible small black bear. Mainly, 2 legged and small animals. I recently picked up a couple of revolvers and want to carry one of them (my 44mag is too pretty to carry in the woods.) I picked up a 66-3 2.5" and a 625-5 5" 45acp. I'm looking at the Buffalo Bore .357 180gr hardcast and 45 auto rim 255gr hardcast. I'm leaning towards the 625 as the better choice as it almost mimics a 45 Colt but thought I would ask the experts.

If anything gets within ten feet...........
both should work.

You can always climb a tree, if more pigs than ammo.

I'd go with .357 over .45, hands down. You want the penetration when facing a bear.

My own personal opinion? Either will work. I'd choose the .45, simply because of its larger bullet diameter, which is important when using non expanding bullets. You should be able to get about 950 / 1000 fps with that bullet in your revolver. No bears, but I have shot a number of whitetails with .44 240 HC / .45 250 HC bullets at 1000 fps, and have always gotten complete penetration. They are very effective if they have a large, flat metplate.

Do you think the 180gr out the 2.5" barrel would still be potent enough? I love the way the 66 handles...

The .357 hard cast 180 grain would be a better trail round than .45acp.

.41 Magnum, or .44 Magnum would be even better.

The 180 Buffalo Bore would be a handful for me in a K frame, especially at 2.5". Why not buy a box of each and see what you like?

__________________
Some collect art; I shoot it!

If not hunting birds............

you could just carry a 12 Ga. with slugs !!

You never mentioned the game you were after.

If I had to face a black bear with either one I would choose the 255 gr
cast SWC with my own handload over any load out of a 2 1/2" 357 in
a heartbeat. You should be able to get decent velocity out of a 5"
modern revolver and there are many testimonials in the stories of
gun writers as to the efectiveness of big bore SWCs.

Someone recently re-posted on this forum an enlightening article from an Alaskan hunting guide regarding bear loads. His rig was a 44mag loaded with expanding bullets. His experience taught him that a CHARGING bear would always stop charging, temporarily, with expanding rounds and rarely stop with hardcast unless a central nervous system hit was made. Additionally, a feral hog needed hardcast to ensure penetration of the tougher body structure.
I have been tempted to augment my .357 hardcast woods walking loads with expanding rounds, since both black bears and feral hogs are native here. I may make every other round in my 686plus and expanding 180gr hunting round, like the Federal Vital-Shok, to go along with the 180gr Buffalo Bore.

My first thought when reading this is, if that guide has had to shoot that many charging brown and grizzly bears with his .44 mag handgun to establish an accurate data base, he is doing something wrong..... Didn't know there were that many wild boars in Alaska either..

Larry

I hunted with heavy loads and heavy bullet in 357 for decades but a 2.5" barrel No , Your giving up to much energy and velocity . Not for hunting or protection in the woods .

Take the 5" 45auto revolver loaded with 45 super ammo from underwood ammo . There 230gr bonded speer gold dot at 1100fps + . NOT hard cast . Simply not needed

https://www.underwoodammo.com/45-sup...-hollow-point/

That bullet will deal with a hogs sheild and a black bear just ain't that hard to kill .