Which bullet for hogs and deer?

Wayward_Son · February 21, 2008, 07:52 PM

My long gun is a Marlin 1894 Cowboy, .357 magnum. I'm looking at 150 lb and smaller feral hogs and decent-sized Texas whitetails. My eyesight is limited to about 75 yard shots with iron sights, so I don't plan on taking any shots outside of that range.

I'm looking pretty heavily at the American Eagle (Federal) 158grn JSP. Federal gives the following ballistics from a four-inch revolver:

MV: 1240 FPS (1187 @ 25 yards, 1139 @ 50, 423 @ 75)
ME: 539 ft-lbs (494 @ 25 yards, 455 @ 50, 423 @ 75)

What kind of ballistics am I looking at through a 20" barrel?

I'm thinking the JSP should both expand enough and penetrate deeply for game, particularly for the heavy shield on the hogs.

My other accurate alternative is Remington's 158grn LSWC. I'm thinking this would expand too much in the larger animals and might not penetrate as well as I'd like.

What are your thoughts?

And on a side note, if I were to go with the complete "Cowboy" mentality of "one bullet" or "one loading" to fulfill both my rifle and revolver duties, which bullet would be a good choice for personal or home defense out of my four-inch S&W 686P? I know neither would expand as well as a quality JHP, but would the JSP in particular simply under-expand and over-penetrate? Is either bullet a good choice for defense againt two-legged predators?

45Marlin carbine · February 21, 2008, 08:41 PM

based on my observations of a shooting buddys Marlin lever .357 I'd say you are A-OK.

hogdogs · February 21, 2008, 08:45 PM

I am not well enough educated on the efficacy of the .357 mag... I don't doubt it due to diameter rather bullet weight+powder charge compared to rifle rounds. As I said I would consider .30-30 they minimum. So how does a .357 compare to that? I also consider a deep penetrating sharply pointed rifle bullet offers benefit. The only thing better or equal to a genuine rifle bullet IMHO, YMMV is a shotgun slug either 20 12 gauge but only due to the blunt force trauma they inflict...
The more technical guys will surely chime in on this too...
Brent

Doyle · February 22, 2008, 08:56 AM

If you absolutely insist on using a .357, checkout Hornady's new stuff. They have adapted the same pointed tip bullet in the LeverEvolution line to .44 and .357. In a pistol, it won't make any difference. In a rifle, it should give you a little extra velocity on the downrange side.

9mm1033 · February 22, 2008, 10:15 AM

I have a 1894C and a 686 in .357 so I have researched a good round for deer hunting. I found an article on .357 load selections and this is what it states:

For mid-range: Winchester 145 grain SilverTip, 1,290 fps; Hornady 140 grain XTP/JHP, 1,350 fps; Federal Premium 140 grain (Barnes Expander bullet) 1,280fps.

For the heavyweight range - deer and hogs: Remington 165 grain Core-Lok, 1,290 fps; Winchester Supreme Partition Gold, 180 grain, 1,180 fps; and for penetration the Federal 180 grain CastCore, 1,060 fps.

hogdogs · February 22, 2008, 11:05 AM

One thing to remember when shooting a hog is the "shield" which is akin to calous skin but can be 2 inches thick. The other thing to keep in mind is that a good shot to the shoulder will heavily damage a picnic ham. The vital shot is different from deer. for a broad side shot you want to aim a bit lower and just behind the bulge of the front shoulder. I would prefer a quartering away shot placed in the same spot but putting exit hole in front of opposite front shoulder. The other shot is a front on just to either side of the sternum which will also devastate vitals.
Brent

Wayward_Son · February 24, 2008, 03:24 PM

Alright, fine, you guys finally convinced me to forgo my desire of one bullet for all purposes from two guns.

So for Texas hogs and deer, how's this?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...487&t=11082005

Buffalo Bore advertises it as 1851 fps out of a Marlin 1894C with 18.5" barrel, so I'm guessing about 1900 fps with my 1894 CB with 20" barrel.

Should have plenty of punch and penetration, but probably not much expansion. Will it work?

ActivShootr · February 24, 2008, 03:32 PM

I would suggest a solid lead bullet or as Doyle suggested the LeverEvolution. IMO penetration not expansion is the key for shots on big game.

Dr. A · February 24, 2008, 09:38 PM

Member

Join Date: 01-05-2008
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 67 Alright, fine, you guys finally convinced me to forgo my desire of one bullet for all purposes from two guns.

So for Texas hogs and deer, how's this?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...487&t=11082005

Buffalo Bore advertises it as 1851 fps out of a Marlin 1894C with 18.5" barrel, so I'm guessing about 1900 fps with my 1894 CB with 20" barrel.

Should have plenty of punch and penetration, but probably not much expansion. Will it work?

I made a very similar load for my son's first deer hunt. It worked very well, and no doubt would work on hogs with good shot placement. Its not a great round for over 100 yards, but was every bit as effective as any 30-30 I've ever seen. He hit the shoulder, and all I could see was hooves.

February 21, 2008, 07:52 PM	#1
Wayward_Son Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2008 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 406	Which bullet for hogs and deer? My long gun is a Marlin 1894 Cowboy, .357 magnum. I'm looking at 150 lb and smaller feral hogs and decent-sized Texas whitetails. My eyesight is limited to about 75 yard shots with iron sights, so I don't plan on taking any shots outside of that range. I'm looking pretty heavily at the American Eagle (Federal) 158grn JSP. Federal gives the following ballistics from a four-inch revolver: MV: 1240 FPS (1187 @ 25 yards, 1139 @ 50, 423 @ 75) ME: 539 ft-lbs (494 @ 25 yards, 455 @ 50, 423 @ 75) What kind of ballistics am I looking at through a 20" barrel? I'm thinking the JSP should both expand enough and penetrate deeply for game, particularly for the heavy shield on the hogs. My other accurate alternative is Remington's 158grn LSWC. I'm thinking this would expand too much in the larger animals and might not penetrate as well as I'd like. What are your thoughts? And on a side note, if I were to go with the complete "Cowboy" mentality of "one bullet" or "one loading" to fulfill both my rifle and revolver duties, which bullet would be a good choice for personal or home defense out of my four-inch S&W 686P? I know neither would expand as well as a quality JHP, but would the JSP in particular simply under-expand and over-penetrate? Is either bullet a good choice for defense againt two-legged predators?

February 22, 2008, 10:15 AM	#5
9mm1033 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2005 Location: A big city with far too many cars and people. Posts: 932	I have a 1894C and a 686 in .357 so I have researched a good round for deer hunting. I found an article on .357 load selections and this is what it states: For mid-range: Winchester 145 grain SilverTip, 1,290 fps; Hornady 140 grain XTP/JHP, 1,350 fps; Federal Premium 140 grain (Barnes Expander bullet) 1,280fps. For the heavyweight range - deer and hogs: Remington 165 grain Core-Lok, 1,290 fps; Winchester Supreme Partition Gold, 180 grain, 1,180 fps; and for penetration the Federal 180 grain CastCore, 1,060 fps. __________________ No one reads or cares what is written in ones signature box. So I'm not writing anything worth reading or remembering.

February 21, 2008, 08:41 PM	#2
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	based on my observations of a shooting buddys Marlin lever .357 I'd say you are A-OK.

February 21, 2008, 08:45 PM	#3
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	I am not well enough educated on the efficacy of the .357 mag... I don't doubt it due to diameter rather bullet weight+powder charge compared to rifle rounds. As I said I would consider .30-30 they minimum. So how does a .357 compare to that? I also consider a deep penetrating sharply pointed rifle bullet offers benefit. The only thing better or equal to a genuine rifle bullet IMHO, YMMV is a shotgun slug either 20 12 gauge but only due to the blunt force trauma they inflict... The more technical guys will surely chime in on this too... Brent

February 22, 2008, 08:56 AM	#4
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	If you absolutely insist on using a .357, checkout Hornady's new stuff. They have adapted the same pointed tip bullet in the LeverEvolution line to .44 and .357. In a pistol, it won't make any difference. In a rifle, it should give you a little extra velocity on the downrange side.

February 22, 2008, 11:05 AM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	One thing to remember when shooting a hog is the "shield" which is akin to calous skin but can be 2 inches thick. The other thing to keep in mind is that a good shot to the shoulder will heavily damage a picnic ham. The vital shot is different from deer. for a broad side shot you want to aim a bit lower and just behind the bulge of the front shoulder. I would prefer a quartering away shot placed in the same spot but putting exit hole in front of opposite front shoulder. The other shot is a front on just to either side of the sternum which will also devastate vitals. Brent

February 24, 2008, 03:24 PM	#7
Wayward_Son Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2008 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 406	Alright, fine, you guys finally convinced me to forgo my desire of one bullet for all purposes from two guns. So for Texas hogs and deer, how's this? http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...487&t=11082005 Buffalo Bore advertises it as 1851 fps out of a Marlin 1894C with 18.5" barrel, so I'm guessing about 1900 fps with my 1894 CB with 20" barrel. Should have plenty of punch and penetration, but probably not much expansion. Will it work?

February 24, 2008, 03:32 PM	#8
ActivShootr Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2007 Posts: 1,040	I would suggest a solid lead bullet or as Doyle suggested the LeverEvolution. IMO penetration not expansion is the key for shots on big game.

February 24, 2008, 09:38 PM	#9
Dr. A Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2007 Location: Salina, KS. Posts: 215	Member Join Date: 01-05-2008 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 67 Alright, fine, you guys finally convinced me to forgo my desire of one bullet for all purposes from two guns. So for Texas hogs and deer, how's this? http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...487&t=11082005 Buffalo Bore advertises it as 1851 fps out of a Marlin 1894C with 18.5" barrel, so I'm guessing about 1900 fps with my 1894 CB with 20" barrel. Should have plenty of punch and penetration, but probably not much expansion. Will it work? I made a very similar load for my son's first deer hunt. It worked very well, and no doubt would work on hogs with good shot placement. Its not a great round for over 100 yards, but was every bit as effective as any 30-30 I've ever seen. He hit the shoulder, and all I could see was hooves.