Ruger GP100 for hogs

[pistolero41]

Hello All, I am fairy new to the forum but I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts. I have had the urge to begin handgun hunting I have gone once before on my grandmother's place a few years ago and had a successful hunt and killed a nice 60-70lbs sow with my ruger SBH .44mag, sadly I no longer have that revolver as my revolver was stolen during a break in a couple of years ago so until I can replace that pistol I can another pistol that I own which is a ruger 6" GP100 In stainless. I would like to try out the GP100 and do a little hog hunting with it, I know it can be debated whether or not the .357 is sufficient enough to kill hogs but I know with the right ammo but more importantly the right shot placement it can be done....My question to you guys is which ammo will work for hogs....And I'm talking 70-200lbs or more. I thought of the hornady leverevolution ammo but I am not that familiar with that ammo I have also considered some heavy .357 from ammo makers such as grizzly or buffalo bore, I hear they have a heavy 180gr ammo that I feel will do a number on hogs, SO my question is do you think my ruger GP100 will handle the stout heavy loads from either the grizzly or buffalo bore ammo? Plus if any of you have any experience using with the .357 for hog hunting please share your stories and experiences with me....Thanks

[Aggie01]

The Ruger GP100 will handle any published load or commercially available .357 magnum ammo with no problems.

While I like bigger bores, our neighbor borrowed my dad's Security Six loaded wiith 173 grain keiths over 13.5 grains of 2400 and put down a bull with a broken leg. It can get the job done on a hog if you put the bullet in the right spot.

[boxhead]

I'd take a look at the 180 gr Federal CastCore load. Great bullet and cheaper than the others.

[oldschool]

A couple of my buddies took their .357s hog hunting back in the late '70s. One was loaded with the Speer 140 grain HP ahead of a max load of H110. The other was shooting S&W factory-loaded 158 gr jacketed SPs. One brother took a 300+ boar through the shoulders with his 8-3/8 S&W M27 & the hot-loaded 140 HPs. None of the guides had ever seen a handgun punch through the gristle plate in both shoulders. Hog ran about 30 yards and dropped like a rock. His brother shot a 125 lb boar between the eyes with his 4" Dan Wesson using the 158 gr factory loads. Bullet didn't penetrate the skull, but made the hog really angry! He double-actioned a shot through the shoulders as he jumped out of the way of the charging hog. That shot took the hog down immediately.

So yes, the .357 is perfectly adequate. Just pick your shot carefully and choose a good bullet!

[texashoosier]

I don't know that I'd recommend the LEVERevolution 140gr for hogs. It's really not a high-performance round with the same velocities (approx. 1400 fps from a 6" barrel) as standard ammo. It's advantage is a flatter trajectory at longer range; something you likely won't use for hog hunting. You'd be far better off with either the Double Tap 180 or 200gr loads, the Buffalo Bore 180gr load or a full-power 173gr Keith #358429 SWC handload. See www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357%20Magnum&Weight=173&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
I don't have experience with the Federal or CorBon loads so I can't comment on them.
Don't worry about the GP-100; it'll handle them all.

[pistolero41]

texashoosier, I will look into the double tap 180gr ammo as an option as well, I have heard some great things about this ammo from other sites as so far s it may be worth a look. If money permits I would like to buy some ammo from Buffalo Bore, the Double Tap ammo you suggested as well as the federal castcore that boxhead had suggested, all in 180 gr and see which one shoots better in my revolver and go from there. Thanks to all who posted and gave your feedback I value your suggestions and experience to the highest degree, again thanks.