.357 load for wild hog hunting?

[texasjarhead]

Hello all-
I've never hunted with a handgun before, but may start this year. We have an overabundance of wild hogs which are nuisance animals, to say the least. Will a 357 load in a M686-3 with a 4" barrel be adequate for wild pigs? I've read they are very difficult to bring down. If so, I'd like some recommendations as to bullet type, weight, and powder charges (preferably Unique or W231). Commentary as to why a recommendation is made is very welcome (ie. cast bullet vs. jacketed bullet, etc.). I want to be safe, and be an ethical hunter as well. Thanks in advance!! Texasjarhead.

 

[11e40]

you need a bigger boat. you can kill a hog with a .357 if everything is right. most people i know use rifles for a reason. hogs are tough & can be dangerous. if thats all you have use a good bullet, 180 xtp's come to mind. hth.

 

[off road]

I'm no big fan of hardcast bullets. They punch a tiny little hole, don't do much tissue damage, and the animal has to bleed out through that small hole which can take a while. Not a whole lot more effective than an arrow.

But, this is perhaps the one case where I would consider them, seeing that hogs have a thick gristle pad that you have to get through to reach some vitals. I don't see the .357 as a great 'bone breaker', but if anything will break a bone, a hardcast will. The usual for the .357 is 180 grain.

Try some other stuff too (like Hornady XTP), and let us know how it works!

 

[WR Moore]

There's several factors here: how big are the hogs, what kind of attitude do they have, what's the range and what's the realistic range that you're accurate (4-6 inch groups)with your pistol and the loads-from a realistic shooting position? Your ability to shoot groups from a bench don't matter unless you cart said bench into the field and shoot from it.

I don't think you're going to get satisfactory hunting loads with either Unique or 231, but the edge would have to go to Unique. 100 odd pound Javalinas are an entirely different matter from 200+ pound feral hogs. If I just had to give this a try, I think I'd be looking at bullets from 170-200 grains. Elmer Keith designed 173 grain.357 bullets for a reason. And practice, practice, practice and more practice.

 

[Paul5388]

Sometimes I wonder about how many hogs have been killed to form some opinions. Most of the hogs in Texas are just feral hogs and aren't any harder to kill than what was killed for eating purposes on the farm. Most of them were dispatched with a .22 short.

A cast bullet in a .30-30 is sufficient to do the job and so is 00 buckshot. I think I've killed the last three with 00 buck around midnight, when visibility was less than optimal. This hog was killed by three 00 pellets in the area behind the ribs to the hams (aft of where the 870 is).

He ran about 40 yards and was found as in the picture.

BTW, to answer your question about a .357 load, a Keith 170 LSWC should be more than enough to do the job, but you could always just use a knife, like they do in Mississippi!

 

[texasjarhead]

Good feedback from all. Paul-I'm only a few counties away from you, and your comments and picture were very timely.

Thanks to all!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO using a short barrel .357 Magnum revolver on wild hogs is ill advised. (and I really like the .357 Magnum for most jobs) BUT, if you were to use one I would suggest a 180gr WFNGC Cast Performance bullet over a stiff charge of W296 or Lil'Gun. That bullet will punch through a hog fairly well...

 

[off road]

Pig Hunting from a Helicopter [[[ Music by JAG Camp ]]] - YouTube

I presume this is buckshot. Seems very effective, but the hogs don't seem huge. Probably more effective when fired from above? You don't have a helicopter, do you?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That's not as easy as it looks. I've seen that video before but it's still fun to watch again...

 

[kennyb]

i too hunt boars...and would not even consider a 357...i use a 500 and 44 mag.a hotly loaded 41 mag.would be my minimum...

 

[Paul5388]

These were done in with a 12 gauge and bird shot.

And another buckshot pig.

And another buckshot pig.

All of these buckshot pigs were killed in my front yard.

These were killed with either cast in .30-30 at about 1500 fps or reduced loads in .243.

A cast .30-30 150 gr at 1500 fps doesn't have as much energy as a 170 gr Keith at 1420 fps.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Okay, we are possibly talking about two different animals here folks so, let us clarify.

Feral pigs are not the same as wild boar. The wild boar hunting that goes on is usually on a ranch of some kind and you are shooting at, well, most of the time, Russian hogs. Russian hogs are not that hard to kill either BUT, large, mature boars can have a tough "plate" around the neck to front leg area. It is there to protect them from deep cuts during fights with other boar.

Feral pigs may not have that same "plate" and hey, there are girls that crawl up on them and stick them with knives. How hard can it be?

I have been on two hog hunts. On either hunt, my 44Mag Marlin worked just fine. The first one was shot on the run, at 40 yards, going from my right to left. Kind of natural, really. Dropped right there. 250lb sow. Son #2 took one with a 30/06 and so did the wife. They too, DRT.

Second hunt, same type of rifle, Hornady 240gr XTP @ 1800fps. Shot long ways through a 150lb wild pig from in front of left shoulder through to right rear leg. Oh, it was about 50 yards or so, but it completely destroyed the rear quarter of the animal.

So, not too hard to kill. If you are going for ones over 200lbs and you aren't sure what kind of shot you are going to get, take a rifle. A good handgun cartridge carbine, like Paul uses in 357Mag or one like my Marlin or Ruger in 44Mag will work just fine. Kills the animal dead, while some may not care because they are pest, I do. I want a clean kill. No sense in anything suffering even if you don't eat it.

We are planning on another trip soon, maybe early next year. If we do, I will post pictures and relay the story so we all can enjoy it. Do a search of this section of the forum too, I have other threads about my previous hunts.

Lots of fun, stalking them is a rush. Wife went on the second hunt with me too. She is my best friend and hunting "buddy".

 

[Paul5388]

As far as I know, you can tell what it has been mixed with by the color. Some degree of Russian will tend to make a dark, almost black pig. The lighter colors are just feral hogs. Of course, I believe the OP was talking about Texas pigs, not some other part of the world. So, I believe there's some validity to what I have experienced with less than powerful loads.

#1 son said today that there are some rootings in the upper end of the pond, where the water isn't anymore. The lack of rain has dried things up pretty severely, so most sightings will probably be closer to a water source.

I'm pretty sure a 170 gr Keith will shoot from stem to stern on most hogs encountered around here, but it'll probably need to be a little hotter than what most people are shooting for .357 Mag, i.e above 1300 fps.

 

[jhvaughan2]

I do not know about russian. But I can testify that in Florida a 180gr JSP from a 686 will put down a feral pig if shot in the breadbasket. I have seen 158gr HPs flatten and fail to effectively penetrate when striking the shoulder blade or skull at an angle.

However I'm sure they grow 'em bigger in Texas

 

[Paul5388]

I don't suppose anyone said anything about Texas hogs being bigger, but they sure must be more plentiful.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Texas is an oddity as far as hogs go. Seems to be a two edged sword with their problem. It is a BIG industry and a BIG pain in the neck, from what I have heard. I have followed it some on the net. Some want them gone, some want them there for the sport and money it brings in.

Paul, what I was talking about wasn't necessarily the feral hogs of Texas. There are lots of folks that go to ranches, even in Texas, where they raise Russian boar for sport. Some folks are talking about what they need to take those and they are much different than the normal feral pig.

A domestic pig can become completely feral in a very short time, months if I remember correctly. Then, with litters upwards of 6 to 8, can propagate pretty quickly. Like I said earlier though, being humane is a big point with me. I want enough gun to take one cleanly. This really depends on your skill level, hunting abilities and basic competency with your firearm.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

If your intent is to kill them because they are a nuisance or to eat (yumm) rather than handgun hunt them for the sport, and a 357 Mag is what you want to use, I think a Marlin lever action in 357 Mag would be ideal. A good heavy for caliber (170gr+) hardcast WFNGC bullet loaded with a full charge of Lil'Gun or WW296 would be just dandy. Plenty of penetration and wound channel power there, with lots of velocity gain over the 4" revolver. Plus greater hit potential in the right area. No doubt a 4" 686 will work with the right load, circumstances and skill on the part of the hunter, but the other is likely more effective. Besides, if you are going to use a handgun against wild hogs, it should be a single action! It is Texas afterall, so if it ain't a levergun, a single action gets there in style.

(e/t/a -- I would add though that if you do try a Marlin 1894, or a Win 94 or Browning 92 for that matter, be mindful of cartridge OAL if using 357 Mag with heavy for caliber bullets in it. Some will not feed well. No such trouble with a 686, or even better a Model 27!)

 

[Skip Sackett]

Oh yeah, baby!

Besides, if you are going to use a handgun against wild hogs, it should be a single action! It is Texas afterall, so if it ain't a levergun, a single action gets there in style.

Ahhhhh, how refreshing to have a like minded fellow come along!

 

[texasjarhead]

Thanks again to all. This has been a most interesting as well as informative discussion. I'm not positive, but I believe my part of Texas has the feral, escaped domestic pigs AND some Russian boars which were introduced in the 1950's. Since it's better to be safe than sorry, and an ethical hunter, I believe my best bet based on all the comments is to use my Model 94 Winchester as my primary, and my Smith 686 as my backup. Better to have too much than not enough.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Texas, if you need any help, let me know. I will gather up the platoon, (the wife and I) and be right down!

Well, after about a 20 hour drive that is!

Semper Fi!