I have a hog hunt coming up in a few weeks with a buddy on his lease land a few miles away. We will be hunting your average feral hogs. While my 44 is down I will use my 357 maggie. I know that its an unpopular caliber for hogs but its what I have and I know the gun. I have used it on deer and coyotes in the past. My shots will be under 50 yards. Im looking for a good bullet and load to use with Unique or 2400. Any ideas out there?

Try the 170 Speer DCSP over 2400 I would try around 14.0 of the 2400 and a mag primer. Start low and work up-- the data goes as high as 14.5 but that is pretty stoked up. Might want to also try the 180 XTP seated out for the Ruger with 14-15 Gr of the 2400. only go over 14 if you seat out--again work up to the max load

If you are looking at shooting cast, the Beartooth 185gr FNGC looks like a great hog bullet for the .357

I would look at the 180 XTP, it may not be “fast” but it will hit like a hammer. If you are going to cast for it a couple of molds come to mind… … …

FWIW

The 180 XTP looks like a very probably candidate for a jacketed bullet. But Midway is out of stock on them so casting for right now may be my best option. I cast 158gr SWC as it is so casting for the 357 isnt a problem. What molds do you guys suggest?

“I” really like the RCBS 180 SIL and 175 RanchDog molds, but that is just me and they are not the only ones that work…

Ill check these out. Any other recommendations? Options are always a good thing.

The RCBS is out of stock at Midway for an undetermined time frame and the Ranch Dog mold is out of stock until November of 2012. Any more ideas or suggestions?

Why not just use the 158gr SWC's and heat treat the lead?

I've been running with this method and getting good results. http://www.lasc.us/heattreat.htm

if you deide not to use cast,I would personally use the 180gr.X.T.P.,it is a deep penetrating bullet for tougher game

bladesmith- I will probably have to go the rout of heat treating some 158s and taking my chances.

john- I was trying to get some 180XTPs but Midway is out.

I had good luck with the 180 XTP's out of a 10" 357 Max Contender.
Not so good out of a 6.5" Blackhawk. No pass thru's on hogs over 125 or so pounds resulting in poor blood trails. Made for some difficult tracking in our coastal swamps.
If you're planning on shooting a big hog I'd go with a wide nosed hard cast.

A couple great hunting bullets that come to mind for the .357s are the Lyman 358429 and the Lee 158gr RF. If you have more than a couple weeks between casting time and hunting time, the bullets will harden up to their intended bhn. Generally takes about 10 days or so.

I'd also stick with either 2400, H-110, or 296 for the magnum velocities you will want shooting hogs with a .357 Unique is a great powder but is limited in the upper end of power. Makes a great mid-power load though.

Howdy and Welcome Aboard Stick!!!

I can honestly tell you after trying some 180s out of the blackhawk that it doesnt like them very much. Bought some factory loads in that weight and couldnt get them to group very good. If I remember correctly I tried them in the past with the same result. I have some 158s cast right now. I have a load for it with 2400 that I have used in the past. Im thinking its in the 1300 fps range. On average the hogs we have here are between 80 and 225 pounds and of the black feral hog persuasion. Regardless of what people say about Arkansas I have never seen anything that even looked like it had russian blood in it. The biggest hog I have killed here was just over 200. Do we think a 158 hard cast will be enough to stop a 200 pound feral hog?