whats the minimum handgun round for boar hunting?

Question

any specific type of ammo for the .357 option? thanks.

Answer 1

A 357 is going to be a little light against a big boar, but fine for sows or shoats, which are better eating and won't stink you out of the house when you cook them. For boars, you'll want a bit more. One answer mentioned the 10 mm, and it would probably be OK with a 200 grain bullet, but my minimum is a 41 magnum with a 215 grain hard cast bullet. A 44 magnum or a hot-loaded 44 Special (not quite to magnum pressures, but some that would make Elmer Kieth proud) will do very nicely with cast bullets of at least 240 grains' weight. This is yet another example of watching your load. Too many people try to go for extra velocity with lighter bullets, and that's a real mistake. You need the sectional density of fairly heavy-for-caliber bullets and shouldn't be enamored of energy tables.

Answer 2

I am sure there is some one who has done it with much less.
But when I evaluate a hunting calibers I look what can give a clean humane 1 shot kill.

The 357 Magnum is in fact a very capable weapon in the hands of an experienced shooter.
I reload and due to this fact do not keep up on the factory ammo but I would not advise anything below, Speer Gold Dot 158gr GDHP, Remington Core-Lokt High Performance 165gr JHP.
When I reload for hog I use the Barnes 140gr XPB and that is a Copper X-Bullet and retains 98% of bullet weight, the 140gr copper X-Bullet is equal to 160 grain Jacked lead core bullet.

I am very confident in using a 357 Magnum, but again I shoot around 2000 rounds a year through my 357 magnum.

But the 41 magnum and 44 magnum would be better for those who don’t shoot their weapon very much, the bigger bullet helps nock him down.

The wild hog is not classified as dangerous game, but a big wild hog has tusk and knows how to use them if you just wound him and make him grumpy, watch out.

Only you know how well you shoot, and only you can make this call.
Bit of advice if you are new to wild hogs, use at least a 6 inch barrel and if he is still standing after the first shot, keep slamming them in to his vitals, do not walk up on a wounded hog.

Good luck on you hunt.

D58

Answer 3

.357 hollow points will do it but a .44 Magnum does it better and more surely. In the case or boars, bigger is better. There is not much that is more dangerous than a wounded hog.
Once met Elmer Keith. Grizzled short little man, but MAN! What a shot! Helped convince Smith & Wesson to make the .44 Magnum revolvers. He did a shooting exhibition during Sat. Matinees in the '50s. So did Bill Jordan, another fantastic shooter. Jordan had GIANT hands, Biggest I have ever seen.

Answer 4

You might get the job done with a .357 but it might take several shots, even if you make good hits. Hogs are tough to kill. I would suggest that you move up to a .44 Magnum. I used a 300 grain jacketd softpoint to hunt them in my .44 and I was quite pleased with the performance. On the other hand I once watched a guy empty a .357 and then reload and shoot it one more time before it went down. We watched him field dress the hog and recovered 4 of the slugs in the chest cavity. The hog was dead, but wouldn't admit it.

Good luck

Answer 5

Your first two answers are correct, emphasis on 'be good with it' for the .357 Magnum. The only other 'minimum' caliber I can suggest is the .10mm in the Glock Model 20 preferably with the option 6" barrel.

Good luck.

H

Answer 6

Fiocchi 147gr. FMJ .357 magnum (trucated nose design) or some old Remington 158gr FMJ-SWC .357 would work. But I think the most common and easily available round would be .44 Magnum. It's apparent that you want a penetrator. Actually, a 7.62mm pistol round, .357Sig (125gr @ 1375FPS/4" Bbl.) or NATO/miltary pressure 9mm (124gr @ 1250FPS/5" Bbl) round would actually penetrate, but these are hardly rounds that would be considered proper in this case and you would have to do a straight-into-the-brain shot. Go with a .44 Magnum.

Answer 7

I think the .357 is a bit light for boar that could damage you severely if not KO'd. I go for a .44 magnum or my .500 Magnum Linebaugh "Bisley". I've owned 3 S &W M-29 .44's with 6", 6.5" and 8.4" barrels. Forget the 4" tube!

Answer 8

The .357 loaded with 180 gr Noslers.

Answer 9

The .357 is the minimum. However, don't chose defense loads designed for humans. These won't pentrate.

Someone recommended this site, which was helpful

http://www.texasboars.com/hunting/huntingtips.html#BULLETS

Answer 10

.38 special. I have taken 2 boars with .38 special hollow points. Both died instantly. To say that .44 magnum is the minimum is just plain absurd. Why don't we use rocket launchers to hunt them?