Ok i might have a friend coming on hog hunt that might borrow my 357 trooper to hunt with.I need loads for this hunt what you recommend as i'm about to reload 100 rounds currently for bullits i have 158 jhp's but i have time to get the proper bullit and powder so

what load should i use

Buffalo Bore has a 180 grain LFN load that runs 1,400 fps that should prove lethal assuming good shot placement.

got to work on shooting with him bnut i have 100 rounds of nice shiny brass.So was figuring on getting good bullits and load them

I understand you want to handload, but something like either of the two 357 loads shown here sounds good - http://www.dakotaammo.net/CORBON-Hunter/300/300/dept

I don't know which of those two would be best for hogs - the hard cast or the soft point. The printed material on that link talks like either would do.

160 to 180 grain LFN or WLFN hard cast with a healthy dose of H-110/296

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
160 to 180 grain LFN or WLFN hard cast with a healthy dose of H-110/296

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

The 158 JHP is way too soft for porkers. At the least, use 158 JSP bullets. If you expect big pigs, then load 180 gr. hard cast bullets with a wider meplat. I cull pigs by the hundreds each summer and often used a Marlin 1894 carbine in 357 mag. We use 158 gr. JSP exclusively, mostly factory so it cycles well. You do not have that problem with a wheel gun.

Geoff

Without a doubt 180 gr. hard cast WFN bullets.

The BB 180gr Whitworth speaks of are damned accurate as well. I shoot them in my GP100 and like them alot. I too would stick with the 180gr hard cast, which you can get from Cast Performance to handload.

I don't think that you should just load up 100 rounds based on someone else's recommendation, unless the gun is very similar. I would do some load development starting with 160 grain bullets. Accuracy can vary significantly. Just my 2 cents!
Peter.

What the others have said about the 180 non HP bullets,,,, I've killed a couple hogs with my 10mm and its pushing a 175 grain silvertip HP at 1250fps with a 6 inch barrel,,, I only got full penitration with one round and I believe that was a fluke as it missed ribs on both sides,,, of 3 hogs shot I used 5 rounds and 3 only penitrated 8-10 inches, and one did not exit the skull from 8 feet on a smallish hog,,,, now they all died pretty quick but a harder bullet would have been better

Not sure the time you have to work a load but I would steer to the 180 cast slug as suggested above or just buy the Federal CastCore 357 load that uses the CPBC 180 gr slug.

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
Not sure the time you have to work a load but I would steer to the 180 cast slug as suggested above or just buy the Federal CastCore 357 load that uses the CPBC 180 gr slug.

That's good advice!

well if he goes i will pick up some bb 180's.Ireloaded today for the first time i just loaded 158 jhp's with 12gr of 2400 all stuff we had i descovered while he is very acomplished hunter he hasn't done much with handguns

quote:

Originally posted by TBEAR99:
well if he goes i will pick up some bb 180's.Ireloaded today for the first time i just loaded 158 jhp's with 12gr of 2400 all stuff we had i descovered while he is very acomplished hunter he hasn't done much with handguns

I recommend H-110/296 if you can get some about 14.5 grains with the 180 hard cast

Here is a target (50 yards) shot with 180 Gr. JHP bullets and a S&W 686 with red dot sight (after load development). Work up WITH CAUTION!



Peter.

The advice given on the heavy JSP or cast bullets is right on the money for the power levels of the .357. Your mostly limited by the amount of powder you can fit into the case.

I have been shooting the Oregon Trail 158gr flat nosed bullets for hunting hogs with mine, and they have performed admirably. They can be run up to enough velocity to get the penetration you want on a good sized hog with out recoil being much of an issue at all. While I do have and shoot the Cast Performance in a couple of my revolvers, I just had to go with more bang for the buck on the Oregon Trail.

We don't have hogs in the Mid-South so I've never killed one (they may however be on the way here). I have taken deer with 41 and 44 in jhp. For whitetails the jhp in factory Hornady and C-B were perfectly adequate. In fact, real killers. I have also tried h/c on deer and can't see that gets it done better.

So, hog/deer questions - I've heard about the tough physical characteristics of a hog. Is that the whole reason why the consensus here for hard cast?

And if it's side rib shots on hogs is there still reason to avoid the jhp bullets?

One other thing, if it's not a 357 but something starting with a 4, do the opinions change any for needing hard cast to manage consistent quick kills on hogs? By hogs I mean average feral pigs. They're what's likely to turn up here in the future and I'll want to hunt them with handguns.

Hogs are much tougher than deer, hide is 4 times thicker and tougher all over especially around the shoulders

i've never been hog hunting but from i see about it i would use a 6" md 27 smith and reloads with 15.2 grs of 2400 under a hard cast 150 gr swc bullet....... that load should get you at least 1300 fps........... there are guys on here that know more about than i but that's just my .02.....................

Anyone who cares to do a little bit of research and can get their hands on some Hercules 2400, can beat the above load like a drum. I can get a much more effective load using the Lyman 358429 and a .38 Special case. I'm not even close to running out of Herc 2400, so I can't say as to how the Alliant 2400 performs. I understand it is faster than the Herc.

quote:

Originally posted by Shack:

So, hog/deer questions - I've heard about the tough physical characteristics of a hog. Is that the whole reason why the consensus here for hard cast?

And if it's side rib shots on hogs is there still reason to avoid the jhp bullets?

One other thing, if it's not a 357 but something starting with a 4, do the opinions change any for needing hard cast to manage consistent quick kills on hogs? By hogs I mean average feral pigs. They're what's likely to turn up here in the future and I'll want to hunt them with handguns.

Shack, when comparatively sized to a whitetail deer, hogs are a lot denser. A bullet that may easily exit a deer may not on a similarly sized hog. They are not bullet-proof by any stretch, but sometimes they can absorb an incredible amount of lead. Last summer it took me 7 or 8 shots to put one down (granted, I was chasing him through a swamp and we were both pumped up on adrenalin). Hardcast bullets, where penetration is at a premium, are a good choice for hogs.

How do jacketed soft points rate for hogs? Those haven't been discussed as much here as jhp bullets.

As for hard cast, and not being a handloader, I guess this is what I'll use on hogs, if given the chance - http://www.dakotaammo.net/CORB...250HC-20/300/Product. I've already tried it on deer.

the orginal Elmer Keith load in .357 Mag will handel those Hogs. it is std primer, 14 gr of Hercules 2400 powder and a 173 gr hard cast semi wadcutter from a H&G mold. B&K bullet casting in peru indiana (1-765-473-2881) has these bullets for sale 500 box. i have two confirmed kills on large dogs running deer @ 153yds & 207yds with exit from a python.

steven,

You need to be very careful when posting load data on the forum. It is my understanding the burn rates between the Hercules and Alliant 2400 powders is different enough to preclude interchanging them.

It would not be a good thing for someone who is new to the game to damage their firearm from a load they pulled of a forum; especially this one.

thanx hitman i learned earlier in this thread about herc and alliant being different and as a newb to reloading i also realize start in a respected range and work the the loads up.Another point i will fire any of my reloads in one of my rugers first being they can handle more then the trooper

MS Hitman:
you are so wright, i will do better in the future; and thankyou for stating the two are not interchangeabble, i had every intention of writing Herules 2400 and did not.

I'm a H-110/296 convert and use those powders from to 357 Mag to 475 Linebaugh for my full tilt loads

WW296 is a favorite powder of mine; I just happen to have a good bit of Herc 2400 that is paid for. Besides, it's ginning well when used to load .38-44 ammo.

Have used 2400 for many years in the .357 until I tried 'Lil gun ' powder. Now it's 16 grains of 'lil gun behind a 180 gr. LBT WLN GC. Better accuracy and a little more velocity.
(In my gun).

For pigs I would use as already suggested a 180gr WFN bullet pushed hard.

or

An original style Keith Semi wadcutter around 170 to 180 grs or so. (My mold drops them at 177grs) This was the original bullet for the 38-44 HD and led to the development of the .357. It is an excellent bullet as well. It likes to be driven hard.

Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
I'm a H-110/296 convert and use those powders from to 357 Mag to 475 Linebaugh for my full tilt loads

Me too, I prefer the H110 and W296 over 2400