357 or 45 long colt for Protection - Wild Boar

[S&W360Talo357]

What round do you think is more effective against wild boar? Getting my concealed weapon permit in the mail in a couple weeks, thank goodness because i've been close to being charged a couple times while fishing from shore in the lagoon by me...... oh and alligators too but I think I'd have to hit them behind the eyes no matter what round?

 

[Broker50]

45 Colt, it's not even close..............

 

[redlevel]

.45 Colt. Especially if you handload. Even if you don't, there are plenty of good ammo selections out there. They are just pricey.

 

[Dennis The B]

It really depends...

...on the type revolver you plan to carry.

If you carry a S&W N frame, I wouldn't load it up with anything hotter than factory loads. However, if you're carrying a Ruger SA or Redhawk, you can load it up pretty hot.

With a .357 Magnum, any L or N frame will handle even the hottest loads.

If you want a hotter .4x round, then buy a .44 magnum, .454 Casull, 460 S&W, etc.

 

[Stu454]

.45 Colt.

The Smith .45 Colts can be loaded up pretty good. There's an article by John Linebaugh where he discusses it.

 

[mkk41]

.45 Colt.

The Smith .45 Colts can be loaded up pretty good. There's an article by John Linebaugh where he discusses it.

S&W , (as well as most loading data) limits .45 Colt ammo for their guns to fairly tame levels.
Though a good hardcast .45cal 250gr SWC at 900fps should work on hogs very nicely.

 

[mg357]

.357 Magnum

 

[625smith]

45 Colt. I loaded the cartridges in the picture below. 200 grain Speer #4477 jacketed hollow points (flying ashtrays) over 10.6 grains of W231. These loads were used on hogs with devastating results. The bad news is that Speer discontinued the 4477 bullet. The new Speer 4478 Gold Dot bullet would be a good replacement for the 4477. These loads are for use in modern strong firearms like the Ruger Super Blackhawk, T/C Contender, Marlin lever action rifle, Winchester Trapper.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Either will work. Unless you load your own, .357 will be easier, and cheaper to find good ammo for. Also .357 will have more choice in the size of the gun.
that said, I like .45 Colt better.

 

[Harrison]

Neither one, is a good one shot stopper, especailly if you let the critter get into effective pistol range. Get a Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 carbine in 30-30. It is more accurate at a greater range and probably has more punch and stopping power than both put together. Also, one of these little carbines is not that heavy and with a sling is as easy to carry as a heavy pistol. It is awful easy to miss a charging/running hog or gator with a pistol at anything greater than muzzle blast range.

 

[Pisgah]

Hmmm... I usually wave my arms and yell, "Get lost, hogs!" Then, all I can see is hog a**** and elbows.

 

[senecaap]

.45 Colt, its not even close. Hard cast bullets if available. Hogs, like black bears, are tough knit.

 

[kennyb]

for a 3-400 pound boar....neither would be my choice....i have shot a number of them with a 500 magnum from the performance center however

 

[Will Carry]

How can a 45LC beat out a .357 magnum? I'm looking at ballistics data and the .357 magnum seems have more muzzle energy than a 45 LC. My Black Hills ammo delivers 626 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. Buffloe Bore has some 45LC ammo the will deliver 566 ft/lbs. How do you figure the 45LC has the edge in stopping power? I'm not trying to be smart, just trying to learn.........

 

[cupp260]

Dead Pigs Don't Care

I don't think a dead pig will much care what you shoot them with. I have shot them with arrows, round lead balls, 44s and 357s and one killed them as quick as others.

I suggest you use the gun you can shoot the best, quickly.
CC

 

[Snapping Twig]

You have .357 and .45 Colt to choose from, so my choice would be .45 Colt with 255g cast SWC @ 900fps.

Plenty of horsepower for the job, penetrate like nobody's business, big slugs, large holes (one in, one out).

On paper the .357 is more, but in the real world the .45 is better for the task you outlined.

Hope this helps.

 

[kbm6893]

Neither one, is a good one shot stopper, especailly if you let the critter get into effective pistol range. Get a Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 carbine in 30-30. It is more accurate at a greater range and probably has more punch and stopping power than both put together. Also, one of these little carbines is not that heavy and with a sling is as easy to carry as a heavy pistol. It is awful easy to miss a charging/running hog or gator with a pistol at anything greater than muzzle blast range.

How's he gonna unsling the rifle and fire? And how's he gonna work the lever if (likely) his first shot misses? A revolver gives you 6 fast shots. No doubt the .30-.30 is a better stopper, but it's not as handy.

 

[NiklasP]

Whatever revolver you pick, get it in DA. Heavily loaded 45 Colt or 44 Mag SAs are basically going to be single shots on close-in, charging critters. That is, unless you are someone with great hand strength and demonstrated ability to fire SAs really fast and accurately on moving targets, which really means two-handed shooting.

My current carry is a 357 Mag with heavily loaded 180 grain Nosler Partition bullets at about 1100 fps. These bullets have rep of expanding to 0,4+ inches and penetrating deeply. Plus, I can draw and shoot that DA revolver quickly with these loads, especially with two handed hold.

I agree with concern about long guns. Unless you already have them in hand, they are likely to be useless on a close-in, charging critter. Also, shooter needs demonstrated ability to work lever really fast, no short stroking -- otherwise, that rifle is just a club or single shot.

Niklas

 

[Jeb21]

My vote would be a 180 grain bullet in a stout DA revolver like a 686 or my personal magnum favorite the gp100.

 

[one eye joe]

I agree with the overwhelming majority of responders. The .45 Colt is the way to go. I hunted and shot a 300 lb boar with my 8'' Colt Python. It ate 4 well placed rounds of .357 JSWCHP (the only ammo available) and eviscerated a dog before succumbing to it's wounds.