681 Hog Gun

[tippit]

I'm new here this week...and what a week it has been. I'm a traditional bowhunter never using a gun to hunt (even for Black Bears) in the past 30 years just my longbow. But my adventures with Wild Boars near our farm in Aiken, SC has made me aware of my need for a back up side arm. I originally posted on S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 asking for help with a hunting holster for my 27-2. At the beginning of the week, my friend in South Carolina found the me a Nichol 27-2 with 5 inch barrel in mint condition for $350!

After reading the advise for a holster and realizing how nice a deal I got on my 27-2, I stumbled upon a 681 no dash in near new condition for $450. It came with a Bianchi shadow holster and an extra set of Pachmyar grips. With fixed sights that wouldn't hang up in the brush following a blood ail, I think I've found my Hog Insurance.

Can anyone date this 681 for me? Serial # AAK2XXX and inside the grips (if they are original) is stamped Oct 1985

These boys are Big & Ornery...but I'm feeling much better knowing the 681 will be along for blood trailing at night!

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

Hello the camp and welcome to the forum from central Oklahoma. Looks like you've found a good back-up for your sticks! Good hunting, be careful and enjoy the forum. By the way... that's quite a HOG!

 

[ladder13]

Don't have my book but Mr Jinks relayed this:

Model 681 serial number AAD1363 was shipped in December 1981

Yours should be early to mid '82.

 

[UDR2]

Nice gun... nice hog!

 

[Nico Testosteros]

I love my 681! Very accurate and beautiful. As is yours, no doubt.

 

[Smee78]

Great deal, excellent gun.

 

[TAKJR]

Do you trust a .357 will stop the hog if you had to? I don't hunt, but would a .41 or .44 be better?

A .357 is better than a stick, but I have heard that those hogs are mean sons-of-.........(you know what)!

The one time I went to a relative's farm in Wisconsin years ago, I brought a 4" .44 magnum with Cor-Bon's hard cast, flat head, 300 (something) grain bullet (I can't remember the exact weight) because of bears "frequenting" the property. Although I was told when they see humans they tend to stay away, my "gut" instinct was to have "bear insurance" just in case.

Forgive this "city" boy who never hunted. I do not doub't your hunting abilities in any way.

TAKJR

 

[tippit]

TAKJR,
I trust my long stick I won't use a handgun except as a back up for night tracking a large hog. I help run a Traditional Bowhunting camp for Black Bears in Quebec every spring where we have had 100% success in at least seeing a bear for the past 20 years (a lot of bears). You Can Not take a handgun into Canada for any reason. You can take a rifle or shotgun but we don't. I have a healthy respect for bears but they are very fearful of people. We've had some climb our tree stands or false charge but once they smell you they tend to run off. Plus we don't track at night on a wounded bear. I shot this 300#+ black bear at 5 yards. I don't have a problem with just my longbow in black bear country...Grizzly Bears are a another story!

Big Hogs are different. They will charge right into to you if they are cornered and their teeth stick out to the side like razor blades. I have no doubt that a .357 will knock them off their feet and if not ending the fight give you time to look for a tree. You just have to be 3 feet off the ground or be faster than whoever else is tracking with you Long answer to your question...Jeff

 

[tippit]

PS: I believe Dan Wesson had a pretty good record on large game hunting in America. I think he mainly used a .357...maybe a .44 on Grizzly.

 

[Dick Hertz]

I've hunted hogs and used a S&W Model 65 with a Federal 357 Mag 125gr JHP. One shot, one kill.

The 681 is an excellent revolver and you got a good deal on it. Remember one thing dealing with hogs at close range "front sight front sight front sight"

 

[tippit]

Dick,
I haven't shot a handgun in nearly 30 years so I need to do some range practice at 5, 10, and 15 yards. The only problem if I need to use the 681 is the shot will probably be a frontal one. Thanks for the tip.

 

[LOBO]

When using a .357 mag against hogs, I would advise you to use a 180 gr - 200 gr hardcast bullet. These would work splendidly,

Vital-Shok Hunting Ammo 357 Mag 180 Grain CastCore Flat Point Box of 20

357 Mag 180 Grain Lead Flat Nose Gas Check Box of 20

Doubletap Ammo 357 Mag 200 Grain Wide Flat Nose Gas Check Box of 50

Ammunition To Go : 20rds - 357 Mag Corbon 200gr. Hard Cast Ammo [HT357200HC/20] - $23.95

 

[chud333]

Just a little friendly advice from a member who hunted wild hogs
in Tennessee for 10 years "handgun exclusively". The wild boars
we hunted we're killed with everything from a .357 mag "light side"
up to .454 casull. Alot of .44 mags, .357 maximum, .45 acp and long,
.35 rem. etc... All killed hogs just fine. You have to remember when hunting hogs that they have a "grissle plate" located just under the front quarter hide, encompassing the rib cage area. This "can" be difficult to penetrate with light bullets/loads. I've seen hot .45 acp loads stopped inside this "grissle plate area" never to make it to the vitals. Since you will most likely be shooting an oncoming Hog with more than likely a frontal shot i would recommend a heavy and well constructed bullet to penetrate the skull. Saying a .357 mag will take one off its feet is kinda' iffy IMHO. Of course with the proper shot placement and bullet this is indeed possible. But with a wounded and angry Boar coming fast, a .357 mag would not be my personal choice. Not doubting your abilities or anything but this has been my observation
from hunting these things for years. Good Luck and nice weapon.


chuck

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the Forum! VERY NICE 681! I don't have 1, but have a 586 no dash, 4". Even with me shooting it, can hit steel plates at 30 yards. I don't know why, but I have wanted to shoot a wild hog myself. Enjoy your adventures, and your 681! By the way, Nice wood grips! Bob

 

[brucev]

I've never hunted with a bow and arrows. But I've used them on target ranges in my youth. Fun. For hogs, etc. wanting to get close I would suggest you seek the heaviest load available for your .357 Mag. Try Buffalo Bore. Good Stuff. JMHO. brucev.

 

[tippit]

I really appreciate all the help especially the info on what loads to purchase for hunting as I'm totally ignorant in that department. I don't hand load and will probably not be shooting many rounds of hunting 357 magnums cause my primary weapon is still my longbow. All your advise cuts my learning curve considerably. Off to the range to get to know my 681. Thanks...Jeff

 

[SWP357]

That 681 is a Great Gun, you'll have a lot of fun with it!

 

[holo]

great pics of you hunts and a nice 681 also

 

[one eye joe]

Just a little friendly advice from a member who hunted wild hogs
in Tennessee for 10 years "handgun exclusively". The wild boars
we hunted we're killed with everything from a .357 mag "light side"
up to .454 casull. Alot of .44 mags, .357 maximum, .45 acp and long,
.35 rem. etc... All killed hogs just fine. You have to remember when hunting hogs that they have a "grissle plate" located just under the front quarter hide, encompassing the rib cage area. This "can" be difficult to penetrate with light bullets/loads. I've seen hot .45 acp loads stopped inside this "grissle plate area" never to make it to the vitals. Since you will most likely be shooting an oncoming Hog with more than likely a frontal shot i would recommend a heavy and well constructed bullet to penetrate the skull. Saying a .357 mag will take one off its feet is kinda' iffy IMHO. Of course with the proper shot placement and bullet this is indeed possible. But with a wounded and angry Boar coming fast, a .357 mag would not be my personal choice. Not doubting your abilities or anything but this has been my observation
from hunting these things for years. Good Luck and nice weapon.


chuck

IMHO, the .357 is NOT the best choice for hogs. (don't ask me how I know that) A caliber beginning with a .4 and propelling a large hardcast bullet is preferable to penetrate the gristle plate and smash bones and blow out vitals. In my experience, hogs in a group may either take a defensive stance, or run off as a herd BUT a large lone hog, approached, WILL charge a hunter. You must stop that rapid charge, or suffer dire consequences. The OP's 681 was a great deal on a beautiful revolver. Coupled with some appropriate ammo--like something from Buffalo Bore or Double Tap--you'll have some hog protection, but shot placement will be critical........

 

[kbm6893]

There have been many threads regarding the sound of a .357 being fired without hearing protection, and I'm not a hunter so I wouldn't know, but what is the report like of firing a .357 while hunting, and did you suffer any loss of hearing afterwards? Some guys have fired them once and have ringing ears years later. I know if I'm being charged that I'm not gonna worry about my ears, but I'm just curious.

By the way, I have a 686 and love it. I'm sure quite a few hogs have fallen to them.

 

[captainjohnsofd]

Leave the Pachmyers on and store those nice target stocks. The wood will get beaten up badly during a hunt in the brush. The advice about a designated hunting .357 Magnum load is good advice. Some heavy solid SWC would penetrate very well. Nice gun/good luck!

 

[tippit]

As to ringing, I haven't shot my 357 but I hear out of only one ear (left). I lost my hearing to an auto-immune condition as a result of picking up Tularemia (rabbit fever) and the ototoxic antibiotic Streptomycin. I'm a veterinarian and picked it up from a baby bunny that kids brought into our clinic 20 years ago. As a result I gave up shooting. If I'm around and loud noise, I immediately cover my Left ear. I will do that with the 681 if I need to shoot a a hog while tracking.

Hunting with a bow is much different than with a gun. A bow kills by blood loss not shock wave. On a bow hit animal, you wait at least an hour before tracking unless you hear them expire. Also with a traditional bow (ie. no sights), you see where your arrow hit as apposed to a compound bow with sights where you never really see your arrow in flight.

Furthermore, I'll only be using the 681 to follow up a bow hit...not hunt with it. My longbow is my primary weapon.

PS: Being a bowhunter means you have to do everything possible to recover a wounded animal. I'm a good tracker...but nowhere near as good as my tracking Dachshunds Tilly & Cash.

I'm also a blacksmith/bladesmith by passion not profession. This is one of my Hog Skinners that will accompany my 681.

I not sure if I'm allowed to post all these other pictures so if the moderators need to pull this I understand as I'm a moderator on a knife forum.

 

[Redleg2814]

I'm glad to see more 681 threads pop up. I have been searching/debating for a 357 Smith and was looking at 686s and 66s. I wanted a 357mag exactly for the same reasons as the OP...Hog Hunt Sidearm.

I stumbled on a 681 and am pretty happy for my first SW Revolver. The trigger isn't as light/crisp as my buddy's late model 686, but I hope it will eventually break in a bit.

This SN is ACC0780. Can anybody give me a estimate on date of mfg?

 

[Rapidray]

lol...

.357 magnum, .41 magnum, .44 magnum, etc, etc. So have you seen the AIR rifles taking hogs, and other big game animals? It is and always be about shot placement! The .357 magnum was taking animals long before the .44 magnum came along. The .357 magnum was introduced in 1935 and the .44 magnum was introduced in 1956.
I have no problem with the .357 magnum that tippit has. Enjoy.

 

[ladder13]

.357 magnum, .41 magnum, .44 magnum, etc, etc. So have you seen the AIR rifles taking hogs, and other big game animals? It is and always be about shot placement! The .357 magnum was taking animals long before the .44 magnum came along. The .357 magnum was introduced in 1935 and the .44 magnum was introduced in 1956.
I have no problem with the .357 magnum that tippit has. Enjoy.

Yep.
While the 357 may not be the BEST caliber for hogs, it's adequate with correct shot placement. Some people can't handle the .44 mags nor even own one, so it shouldn't be a deterrent to them enjoying hog hunting. YMMV

 

[Rapidray]

serials...

Ladder is right on you year of 1982. The grips you have were added on later of you noted the year of 1985. The 681 came with Magna stocks, which are smaller than the Target stocks you have on it now. The Magna stocks fit to the frame and do not go past it.

Redleg your 681 is from middle of 1983. Enjoy them.

 

[ladder13]

Ray is correct, they came with magna's, and I believe PC magna's specifically. They have rounded off bottoms like the one below. Correct style stocks are easy to find, expect to pay 30-40 for them in exc condition. Someone put some kind of epoxy on the front sight of mine. The serial number is AADxxxx, very close to the OP's.

 

[TAKJR]

Tippit:

You started a very informative thread and my still being a "city" boy, I commend you on your choice. I myself would still use a .44 and I would be wearing a fresh pair of "DEPENDS" if I went along with you on "ANY" boar hunt.

Stay safe and good hunting!

TAKJR

 

[tippit]

My grips off my old K .22 mod 18 that I picked up while still in vet school back around 1967 fit the 681 nicely. But I'd think you'd get more hand shock with those grips. I will use the Pachmyar rubber grips for bushwhacking.

I want to thank ya'll again for being so nice & informative to an "old" rookie.

 

[tippit]

TAKJR,
Get a Box of Depends and come along with me anytime. The Big boars didn't get that way by being stupid. They tend to be a lot more seclusive and harder to find. You will to see a lot more smaller pigs which happen to be soooo much better on the Bar BQ. Some of the piglets you can even catch by hand if you're so inclined