The 6” should give more velocity and will have a longer sight radius that should help maximize accuracy, but accuracy can vary from gun to gun. Your 4” might shoot better than your 6”. I’d go with whichever one you shoot better.
686-4 vs. 686-6 for hog hunting at 30 yards max
- Thread starter topranchhand
- Start date
Wild boar? I’d be hiding behind a big fat tree while shooting a 357. 
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
- Messages
- 27,660
- Reaction score
- 21,325
This is true depending on the specific load. However, a well-placed round at (for example) 1200 vs. 1400 fps may not be significant at the far end.
Yendor357
Member
Cool link Murph!
I saved it in my bookmarks.
I saved it in my bookmarks.
Doug M.
Member
From what I have read or otherwise know, I would prefer something else for hogs. The .357 can be adequate with a good shot who knows where to target, but I'd prefer something in the .4 range (41, either 44, 45 Colt; 10 mm would be good in a full sized Glock.) Bullet construction would matter a lot too - I am inclined to hard SWCs in more revolver calibers and would certainly prefer that configuration for hogs.
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
- Messages
- 27,660
- Reaction score
- 21,325
Hey, it was from Pointblank2U. The site has done lots of barrel cutting ballistics testing.
BTW - I noticed the title of your post says "686-4 vs. 686-6". The -4 and the -6 have nothing to do with barrel length. The dash number is the engineering change. You can find both barrel lengths (4" and 6") on a 686-4 or a 686-6. I have a 6" barrel on a 686-3.
Last edited:
Note that the dash number (-X) is about engineering change series and has nothing to do with barrel length. A -4 is an earlier version of teh 686 than a -6.
If I understand it correctly, you don't own either the 4" or 6" yet, which means you can't compare the two with a chronograph, or see if you shoot one better than the other. Every barrel is different. Cylinder throats may be different. Barrel-cylinder gap can add another wrinkle. The load you shoot can add another variable.
For example, I have a 3" King Cobra that runs step for step with my 5" 686 until I load something over 140 gr and use a slower powder like 2400. The 5" should run circles around the 3" with every load, but it doesn't.
For example, I have a 3" King Cobra that runs step for step with my 5" 686 until I load something over 140 gr and use a slower powder like 2400. The 5" should run circles around the 3" with every load, but it doesn't.
fatbaldguy
Member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2024
- Messages
- 8
- Reaction score
- 11
For wild hog/boar ammo in .357, Buffalo Bore makes a 180gr hard cast that moves about 1350fps from a 4" barrel. (this is all from memory)
I wouldn't hesitate to carry/use it. I'd even carry that in brown bear country,. The penetration and energy transfer from the above should be enough.
Would I prefer something larger? Of course. A 5" 1911 with the Buffalo Bore 255gr hard cast at around 1100fps sounds good.
I wouldn't hesitate to carry/use it. I'd even carry that in brown bear country,. The penetration and energy transfer from the above should be enough.
Would I prefer something larger? Of course. A 5" 1911 with the Buffalo Bore 255gr hard cast at around 1100fps sounds good.
Fishinfool
Member
OP - I have to go with the members who err on the side of caution, and recommend the .44 mag. I have taken enough whitetails with both calibers with handguns to clearly see the .44 mag just drops them quicker, with less fuss.
I have only taken one wild boar with a handgun, in .44 mag with a 300 grain XTP bullet, and it preformed fine. Same load / gun took a nice bull moose a couple years later. I have also seen a .44 mag fail rather badly when video taping a boar hunt with a friend. He was using then new to the market Winchester Black Talons. They literally exploded on the boar's chest after about 2 inches of penetration. Took 6 shots to kill it. A bad scene all around.
So a heavily constructed expanding bullet, or hard solid with a flat nose is best in either caliber.
Might want to take a look at the S&W 69 with the 4.2" barrel. Same frame size as the 686, with .44 mag power. Just be ready for slightly more recoil than an N frame when using stiff loads. With a little practice, you should have no problem keeping 5 shots on a paper dinner plate at 30 yards.
Larry
I have only taken one wild boar with a handgun, in .44 mag with a 300 grain XTP bullet, and it preformed fine. Same load / gun took a nice bull moose a couple years later. I have also seen a .44 mag fail rather badly when video taping a boar hunt with a friend. He was using then new to the market Winchester Black Talons. They literally exploded on the boar's chest after about 2 inches of penetration. Took 6 shots to kill it. A bad scene all around.
So a heavily constructed expanding bullet, or hard solid with a flat nose is best in either caliber.
Might want to take a look at the S&W 69 with the 4.2" barrel. Same frame size as the 686, with .44 mag power. Just be ready for slightly more recoil than an N frame when using stiff loads. With a little practice, you should have no problem keeping 5 shots on a paper dinner plate at 30 yards.
Larry
MY choice would be a 4" 45 colt, more bullet and less recoil than a 44 mag. A 255gr hard cast slug traveling at 1000fps will make a big deep holes. One going in and another going out
panamajack310
Member
No offense I would not hunt hogs with a .357 magnum. You might want to go with something a little more powerful. I hog hunt with a 6” 29 with 240gr. Ammo I prefer federal fusion hollow points or black hills.
Yendor357
Member
How big is the hog?
If it’s 200 pounds, not spooked, and you’re in a tree stand, a 357 will absolutely be enough gun if you can hit it in the heart/lung area.
If the hog is one of those mythical thousand pounders that I heard about when I was in the gun shop the other day, and you’re on the ground, you need more gun.
If it’s 200 pounds, not spooked, and you’re in a tree stand, a 357 will absolutely be enough gun if you can hit it in the heart/lung area.
If the hog is one of those mythical thousand pounders that I heard about when I was in the gun shop the other day, and you’re on the ground, you need more gun.
Last edited:
OP
topranchhand
Member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2024
- Messages
- 8
- Reaction score
- 14
After researching, I'm deciding to look into acquiring a .41 mag revolver for the hogs. Thanks everyone, for your 2 cents worth of insight on this matter!
OP
topranchhand
Member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2024
- Messages
- 8
- Reaction score
- 14
How much you think this one weighs? Not sure how to include a photo, but try this:
Good choice, I think you will be pleased with the 41 Magnum. It is an under rated, under appreciated cartridge, but plenty adequate for most big game in North America.
Maybe it’s my progressive glasses prescription, but for me the additional 50% of sighting radius makes a very big difference.
I would suggest renting and shooting both the validate on paper what the difference may be for you.
Haycock
“An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.”
That animal up in Post #36 looks like an 800# bull! I'm hoping it's just an optical illusion. Like standds said, you'll like a .41 Magnum; especially if you reload (which I don't unfortunately). The .44 Magnum also shoots the .44 Specials, which you probably already know. After shooting a few cylinders of magnums, the specials feel like a furry little kitten! (This reminds me that I'd like to shoot all 3 in one range session to compare.) If you haven't bought a gun yet, I doubt the .41 Mag won't let you down. If there are more as big as that one in your picture, I'd go with the .44! Good luck. I do like my .41, though. I'm sure it'll be plenty enough power from what I hear.
Is there really much weight difference between the 6" and 4" barrels?
Is there really much weight difference between the 6" and 4" barrels?
Chrisj357
Member
I agree the 41 will be better. I just decided to go all the way. Doesn’t matter how big the pig is with the 500 lol
