Good day Shooters:

Are there any S&W 657 shooters out there? I have a stock S & W stainless 657 with a 7 1/2" bbl. The scope is a 2 1/2 x 6 Bushnell Elite mounted to a picatiney rail which replaced the rear sight.

Has anyone had any experience with hunting deer and hogs with this weapon? If so, what loads have you used. Sierra has a 230 grain "hollow cavity" bullet that appears to be a good stopper.

I will appreciate any advice.

Thanks and everyone have a great day !!

lawdog

do you reload or use factory ammo?

Don't shoot a 41 but welcome to the forum Lawdog!

My preference for hogs would probably be a heavy hardcast bullet (penetration through heavy muscle & bone), while the Sierra sounds like a good choice for deer (thin skinned & light muscle).

Lawdog,
I also own a 7 1/2" S&W 657 thats topped with a Simmons 2.5-7X in an old S&W two ring mount. I was using Remington`s
210 JSP ammo as it was pretty accurate at the range and also carried a 4" S&W m58 with adjustable sights that was loaded with Win. 175gr Silvertip ammo that was also very accurate in the m58
At 65yds I made a nice lung shot on a Corsican type ram which showed no reaction to the hit. I hit him again at which he finally went down. The Rem. 210gr JSP showed no expansion and just penciled through the ram. I then took a 150lb boar at about 30 yds or so with the 210gr JSP ammo and again the bullet did not cause the damage that a good hollow point ,at the same speed, would have caused. I finished the boar with the 4" m58 using the 175gr Silvertips that really put him down. The next time I use my 41`s I will be shooting handloads using the 210gr
XTP`s over some Blue Dot or Federals 210gr Fusion factory ammo.
My feeling is that if you push a good 210gr JHP at top speed from your 657...it will take deer or boar cleanly out to 75 yards or more. Good hunting, James [img]http://300 dpi 34[/img]

There is no substitute for 1st hand experience!!!

I shoot a 657-3. Ive killed a few deer and hogs with it. I shot 3 one evening last summer that ranged from about 70 lbs to 150. 210 XTP's over 22 grains of H110 was the load I was shooting. On the two smaller hogs I got complete penetration. On the bigger hog I did not. XTP's have been fine on the deer and smaller pigs Ive shot with them. On the bigger hogs the results have been mixed. Penetration has been so-so with sparse blood trails. Its thick and wet where I hunt and even a mortally hit hog that travels very far can be lost without some blood to follow. I shot a big boar hog two summers ago with an XTP out of a 6.5" Blackhawk at about 15 yds. He went down as if hit by lightning but regained his feet and made it into a big canal ditch full of water. He was hurt bad enough he couldnt get out and it was so thick, to get another shot I had to go in to get him. I was standing in waist deep water and put second between the blinkers that took the fight out of him. My favorite 41 bullet is the Speer 210 gr JSP. It has performed well on everything Ive shot with it. I've gotten better penetration and blood trails than with the XTP. I just started shooting the Cast Performance 250 grainers. Accuracy is excellent, and hopefully I can test it out on pig flesh soon. The best factory load Ive used was the 240 gr Winchester Supreme.

Welcome aboard Lawdog.

WELCOME LAWDOG!!!

Thanks for the reply ....

I have used factory ammo - Corbon, Federal, PMC ... just trying to get used to the gun. I would love to reload.

Lawdog

Thank you for the reply and advice ...

After I posted I saw an ad for Grizzly ammo which utilizes 250 - 265 gr slugs @ 1300 + fps of the hard cast variety ... that sounded interesting.

By the way ... I loved visting Alaska ... just wish I could afford to hunt there.

Lawdog

Thank you for the reply and advice ...

After I posted I saw an ad for Grizzly 41 mag cartidges. They advertise 250-265 gr slugs @ approx 1300 + fps of the hard cast variety. It sounds impressive. What do you think.

Judgeing from the lack of "one shot, one kill" performance of the 210 gr hollow point slugs, they sound a little light. The Fusion performance you described sounds very promising. Thanks for the good hunting wishes ... and I wish you the same.

Lawdog

Thank you for the reply and advice ...

After I posted I saw an ad for Grizzly 41 mag cartidges. They advertise 250-265 gr slugs @ approx 1300 + fps of the hard cast variety. It sounds impressive. What do you think.

Judgeing from the lack of "one shot, one kill" performance of the 210 gr hollow point slugs, they sound a little light. The Fusion performance you described sounds very promising. Thanks for the good hunting wishes ... and I wish you the same.

Lawdog

Thank you for the reply and advice ...

After I posted I saw an ad for Grizzly 41 mag cartidges. They advertise 250-265 gr slugs @ approx 1300 + fps of the hard cast variety. It sounds impressive. What do you think.

Judgeing from the lack of "one shot, one kill" performance of the 210 gr hollow point slugs, they sound a little light. The Fusion performance you described sounds very promising. Thanks for the good hunting wishes ... and I wish you the same.

Lawdog

Thanks you for the reply and advice ...

I believe I have to agree with you that the 210 gr slugs are a little light for big hogs ... I saw an ad for Grizzly cartridges in the 250-265 gr, hard cast variety ... about 1300 + fps out of a 7 1/2 inch bbl. I am leaning more toward this kind of bullet and I believe I am going to order some to try.

If you try some, would you kindly let me know what kind of "kill" performance you get ...? Thanks very much ...

Thanks again very much and good hunting.

Lawdog

Thanks Rupe ... I hope to learn alot here. I have bow hunted plenty and I wanted to get into handgun hunting because it's kinda like bowhunting where I have to get in close ... but not too close ...

By the way ... I love your logging signature ... <grin>

Lawdog

Thanks for the fine welcome ...

I hope to learn alot here ...

Good hunting ...

Lawdog

I guess you can tell I live in a logging state and that the tree huggers and the spotted owl kissers, really have screwed up alot of peoples lives around here. They have taken food out of so many families mouths and put so many people out of work. I could rant for along time on this one. So I will quit now.