.357 Max bullet selection for wild pig

[baranjhn]

Hello,

I'm going on a wild pig hunt in a few months and wanted some recomendations for bullet selection. I'll be using my 10" .357 max T/C Contender. I'd like something around 180 grs, and I'll probably use H4227, but may opt for 296.

Thanks

John

[swampthing]

That is a nice caliber and choice.
                In that gun I would opt for the LBT, 180 FN harcast @1600fps, with a gas check. That should be more than enough for even an Elk. You probably won't even need to H4227 to get that velocity, let alone H110. I like AA#9, but use what you got. Speeds should hit 1600fps with no problem. If you check beartoothbullets web site he has them for $13. bucks or so for a hundred and maybe montanabulletworks as well. I would bet bullets sized to .360 would be just about right for your throats. Marshall @ beartooth will help if you need it.
 I use them for all handgun hunting, one load does it all.

[baranjhn]

Thanks for the info. I was actually looking for a jacketed bullet. The barrel is ported, and I had heard that lead bullets don't work so well with the porting. I've yet to shoot the barrel yet, as I just picked it up in trade, and wanted to get a good all around load for it.

[swampthing]

 Not working well with ported barrels?, don't believe any of the hype about "lousy" anything with hardcasts. A properly fitted hardcast with a gas check, sized right, and, good lube will not be a problem.
   My .444marlin guide gun, has lots of ports, shoots 290g hardcast lead at +2300 fps, all that is in the ports is dust, a q-tip takes it out quite simply. 

[Mikey]

If you would like to go for something even heavier in the 357 Max, try a 200 gn hardcast swc.  I find them at Colorado Cast Bullets and at Mt. Baldy Bullets, but whatever cast slug you choose should properly fit your barrel.  I would suggest slugging your bopre to determine actual bore diameter and then go 1/1000 over.  If you don't want to go with a 200 gn slug and prefer a 180 gn cast from Beartooth, who makes absolutely excellent bullets, you will find the recommendaation from Marshall Stanton (Beartooth) to slug your barrel so he can provide you with properly sized slugs to maximize your accuracy.

Swampthing is absolutely correct about all the 'hype' and nonsense about cast bulllets with ported barrels.  I also use a ported 444 (Winchester Timber Carbine) and Marshall Stanton's Beartooth cast bullets and have never had a problem with lead shaving in the ports or lead particles and the like exiting the posts.  Please understand that when using cast bullets, even gas-checked, they need to be properly sized to your bore to maximize the accuracy of your barrel.  The rest is up to you.

Don't believe hype.  What you can believe is that if you are anywhere near those ports when the pistol goes off - and common sense says that you and others should be behind the ports (as in your buddy spotting for you or someone else who wants to be helpful by standing next to the muzzle) because the gases that exit those ports can be very dangerous.  If you want to see what effect the ports have with discharged gases, then wrap them with electrical tape when you touch off a round - it ain't pretty.  Mikey.

[S.S.]

Mikey is absolutely correct about those ports.
The last competition I went to, The Guy next to me had a
10 mm Glock with an extended and ported barrel.
When we had to fire prone, He was blowing pea gravel all over me
and the fella on the other side of him too. It was very irritating and
distracting during the match.