357 mag for hogs

[fish4dinner]

so I'm going hunting in southern california this coming february on a private ranch for feral pigs with an old buddy. I was going to use a 54. cal hawkins but my uncle borrowed it and forgot to bring it back to me for thanksgiving so I probably wont get it back by february for my hunt. this leaves me with an interesting delima as I really don't want to go hunting on a pig ranch with a scoped dear riffle. (to easy)
so my options are a 91-30 mosin nagant, my buddies sks, a shotgun with a slug or a black hawk 357 mag.
at this point I'm leaning towards the 357 mag. it's got a 8 inch barrel and I'm able to consistently shoot 10'' groups or less off hand at 50 yards with open sights. I'm planning on using buffalo bore 200 grain cast bullets that are loaded at 1250 fps out of a 4'' barrel so I should be getting close to 1400 fps out of my Ruger longer barrel.

what are your thoughts on this. the ranch owner said the average size hog being taken on the ranch are between 150 to 200 lbs

 

[Backcountry]

1) a lot of people hunt on "pig ranches" with deer rifles and find that it is not "easy"

2) none of the weapons you mention are ideal for pigs, especially since it sounds like you haven't been practicing a lot... all can do it, but none can do it well, repeatedly, under pressure, etc...

3) of the weapons you mention, the 7.62x54R cartridge is most appropriate for pigs, provided you use a quality hunting bullet and you do your part

4) if you can only shoot a 10-inch group with the .357, be preared to ruin a lot of meat, or wound the pig, unless you take a controlled shot from a much closer range

Personally, I think you would be best served by using a scoped deer rifle.

 

[hntboar]

which ever you choose, you will need to make sure you are shooting non lead bullets
here in cali. so your buffalo 200 grain will not work if they are lead if
you choose to use your .357 (personally i think you will be under
gunned, but just my opinion).

just wanted you to make sure you knew the new rules.

 

[Flatbroke]

Hntboar,

Not all areas of the state require Copper. Depending on where in So CA the OP is going he may be able to use lead. Here is a map from the Dept of FG. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/con...ervationAct.pdf

I would not use the 357. either.

 

[hatchet1]

what flatbroke said,and another no for the .357

 

[upper]

I say get a bayonet for that Nagant and be a man

Upper

 

[Rancho Loco]

Hell, bring the pistol, and make it sporting by only taking a shot at 10 yards or closer.

Or just bring the rifle and have a good time.

Welcome to jesse's.

 

[hntboar]

Good point Flatbroke. I forgot that the condor's have range
today, but who knows, maybe at some point they will have all of
cali as their range....................

 

[Use_Enough_Gun]

Like the nickname sez: Use enough gun!

.357 is a total crap shoot--pun intended. The likelihood of gut shooting an animal with a revolver is pretty high--unless you PRACTICE--and are proficient with a scoped pistol.

My vote of all your choices would be a RIFLED slug gun. You can buy copper sabots and a cheap scope and you've got a pretty good setup for central CA (lead/brenneke slugs if you're outside Condor country). Smooth bore shotguns/slugs aren't much better (IMHO) than a pistol beyond about 50 yards-probably LESS accurate in fact. But with a good rifled slug barrel I'm confident out to 150 yards. I also practice shooting at that range.

Don't know what kind of shotgun you have, but wal-mart used to sell a slug barrel/scope combo. I added a hogue overmolded stock and had about $150 TOTAL into the "custom" mods. Made 'em for the Mossberg 500 and Remingon 870 receivers if I recall...probably a few others as well. Turned my beater 500 into a pretty bad-ass deer/pig stick.

Price has gone up a bit since then but here's a reference: Link to Mossberg rifled shotgun barrel/scope combo

 

[Jagermeister]

Any of you guys killed a pig before with a .357 handgun. Have you killed any large game animal with a .357 handgun?

I have killed a bear with my .357. Died just fine.
I have killed a pig with my longbow. Died too, but charged me first.
Next time I kill a pig with my longbow, I'll bring the .357

Of course, bigger is always better. But if you know your guns and your shooting's limitations (25 yards will give you 5" groups from what you say, and I'd keep it that) a .357 will get the job done. The longer barrel will help as well.

Good Luck,

Jagermeister

 

[hntboar]

Jagermeister
I cannot say that I have hunted with or shot anything with a .357. But I can
say that I have shot a few hogs with a .44 mag in the chest at 10 yards and have them run off
for a long time. I do understand shot plalcement plays a role, but shoot a 200 lb boar
in the chest and it may take a bit more of a punch than a .357. (opinion only)
Again, not knocking the .357, just not my choice of hunting hogs at close range.
After that hunt with the .44 mag, I personally moved up from that to a .454 Casull.

Hntboar

 

[Speckmisser]

Not a ton to add here, except the .357 is going to put some pretty serious limitations on your shot opportunities. It'll work, but it isn't your best bet.

You said a "pig ranch". Is this a fenced operation? If so, maybe you can be picky enough to use the .357. But if it's open land, take the deer rifle. You'll be much better off. Next choice would be the slug gun.

 

[fish4dinner]

it's a fenced ranch.

 

[Rancho Loco]

If it's Bighorn Canyon, you could probably just use a rock.

 

[Cold1nhand]

Do you have a bow? I think in a fenced operation that would be your best and most sporting option. Just my two cents.

 

[fish4dinner]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what they know about the big horn canyon ranch because I believe that's the name of the place where going and I've heard that a lot of these private ranches are like a petting zoo.

I'm an expierenced hunter but this will be my first pig hunt

 

[Speckmisser]

Mikey, if you're hunting in the fence then the .357 could be a fun choice. You'll still need to be close and precise (no 50 yard shots), but that will up the challenge a bit.

 

[Use_Enough_Gun]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jagermeister @ Dec 21 2008, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Any of you guys killed a pig before with a .357 handgun. Have you killed any large game animal with a .357 handgun?

I have killed a bear with my .357. Died just fine.
I have killed a pig with my longbow. Died too, but charged me first.
Next time I kill a pig with my longbow, I'll bring the .357

Of course, bigger is always better. But if you know your guns and your shooting's limitations (25 yards will give you 5" groups from what you say, and I'd keep it that) a .357 will get the job done. The longer barrel will help as well.

Good Luck,

Jagermeister[/b]

Jagermeister! Good to hear from guys who are really into method of take.

I think it's part of the evolution of a hunter...more about how than what. Didn't hunt with a pistol but did use it to "finish" one...

The great news is that "Mikey1979" is wise enough to ask about the experience of others who've done likewise. I wish him success--and I think we all consider that "success" to fall under the phrase "fairly chased--well taken". That would be my only reservation about pistol hunting for the first time. Just my opinion but I don't think that hunting live game is the place to start field use of ANY weapon...but then again some folks are naturals (I'm not lucky enough to be considered one of them). Heck, for all I know Mikey could be the next Bob Munden...

Don't want to stray off topic--but I've been considering the bow and my next "method". Probably won't start with a long-bow though!

My question is--for bow hunting of any type--how do you plan for the unfortunate "bad shot"--or if you do pin them down--do you use something like a revolver to finish the job?

I once hunted with a guy--mule deer--and he took one through the neck. It piled up at about 100 yards but took about 10 minutes to die. Didn't bug him. Personally...I never want to do/see that again.

Glad to hear from hunters of all backgrounds and levels of experience.

Happy holidays to all (and yes that means MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO!)

 

[sancho]

i think if you can creep into bow range, a .357, shot in a steady position will drop a pig.

i have poorly "poked" a pig once, and i wished for a .357 to finish the job. i had to run the thing down, and put a second arrow into it. good thing the pig didnt have use of all four legs. i am more careful with my shots now.

as for a scoped deer rifle being too easy.? that depends. the hardest thing about pig hunting is simply finding the buggers. i know a man that missed a small herd at 250 yards because he got too excited to turn his scope up. personally, i think any pig in a rifle scope looks huge.

 

[hatchet1]

i recant my post above about not using the .357,if you are indeed hunting the bighorn,
i think you could probably use a .380auto and be just fine,shot placement is the key,
but if you get a bad shot ,just stay on um,you'll find um

be sure to post up the money shots when the deal is sealed