357 FOR HUNTING

[EDELWEISS]

Its been a long time since Ive hunted with a handgun, and that was with a long since traded Contender.  Now Im starting to think about it again.  The most likely choice will be a 6inch DA revolver with iron sights.  So Im seeking your thoughts on limits of game size/type and factory loads. 

Im realistic enough to limit my shoots to 50 yards and I plan on using a rest, (Im a big fan of African style crossed sticks).  So my questions are more about larger game like whitetail and more aggressive game like wild boar.  What should I consider a 6inch 357mag capable of hunting?  I dont reload, so what factory loads do you suggest?

I made a huge mistake using the old "Black Talons" in my 44mag Contender on my last handgun hunt for Boar.  I foolishly feel for all the hype about "Black Talon's" being soooo deadly.  My mistake, the rounds did just what they were designed to do, they quickly expanded causing serious but not deep penetration.  Given that same situation again, Id use solids before the "Talons".  On the other hand "Talons" any day for two legged predators.   

[HEAD0001]

Federal makes a good hard cast load.  Tom.

[Jerry Lester]

 A 357 revolver loaded with just about any factory 158g SP load will definitely work great on a whitetail(any whitetail) up to 50 yards. This is of course if you hit him in the vitals.

I can't comment on hogs.

[terry]

   I have used a 357mag mostly for the last year and a half. I have owned and hunted with a 357 pistol for over 15 years off and on moving up to a 41mag/44mag and so on. I have killed more wild hogs than I can count over the years and somewhere around a dozen boars in the last 10 months. I hunt alot and in fact have been going out aleast 2-3 times a week all spring since I live on a farm it's easy to get out and go whenever I feel the need. When shooting large hogs with a 357mag you need to go with a cast 180gr bullet You can buy this load from double tap ammo for around $30 a box of 50 which is very cheap on the retail end for such ammo. Federal also loads it in a less hot/ less recoil load which still gets the job done.158gr bullets Sp or HP will take smal to medium size hogs and deer no problem at normall pistol hunting ranges say 75 yards and under. I love hunting with my 357mags and don't feel under gunned using the right load and a well placed shot on deer or hogs, but I still think My 41mag is my best all around hunting pistol even though I don't use it much anymore.The 41mag recoil isn't bad and it hits like a tank. My main complaint about it is ammo is alot more and not near as many factory loads to choose from if you don't reload. Here is a picture of a 250lb wild boar I killed with a 187gr cast performance reload in 357mag. It's the bigest one I have taken with a 357mag pistol. My friend and I could barely load it into the truck.The bullet did not exit but I did hit the shoulder which is very solid on a hog of this size. He ran about 60 yards and piled up.Beleive it or not this boar was not that old in age very small cutters and we ate him and it was the best hog I have ever eaten. Most of the time those 175lb+ big boars aren't very tastey. oad                                                                                                                                                             

[warrior1]

 i am tempted to give the 357 a try,especially since reading this thread and talking to fellow hun ters at the range.
one guy claims he has taken 9 deer in 9 years with his 357.

[Jerry Lester]

i am tempted to give the 357 a try,especially since reading this thread and talking to fellow hun ters at the range.
one guy claims he has taken 9 deer in 9 years with his 357.

Give it a try. I've killed(cleanly/quickly) 11 with my 357 Blackhawk, and honestly, at this point I couldn't even start to count how many with a 357 rifle.

[warrior1]

jerry you know the one he who hestitates- ii just arrived at a gun showand this guy has a marlin 357mag with scope 16" or so barrel and he wants 350.00. i told him i just got there let me look around.long story short he sold it to a dealer and the dealer put it for sale at $650.00. icussed myself pretty hard.

[OLDHandgunner]

I've used a 357 Mag for whitetails for many years. I've killed several with my Old Blackhawk with 6 1/2" & my S&W 586 with a 6". My load for these has always been 17.0 grs of H-110 under a 140 JHP. I like the 140 JHP for the shorter barrels but use 158 gr JHP in the contender barrels. Have always had one shot clean kills with this load.