.357 & .30-30 Too Light for Hogs??

Wolf.

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My neighbor and I are discussing a wild hog hunting trip here on the California Central Coast.

He tells me that he thinks both the .357mag and the .30-30wcf, both fired from lever guns, are too light for hogs. (I'm not sure if California Fish & Game will allow the .357mag cartridge anyway.)

I'm pretty surprised that he's so adament about these cartridges being too light, unless in his mind he sees the hog as too dangerous to use these cartridges on. I know some of these big old boars out there are intimidating, but I think either the .357 or .30-30 cartridge should stop them in their tracks if I hit them in the right place. I wasn't planning to take a more powerful bolt gun or my .45-70 lever gun.

What do you think?

MrGunz22

30-30 will knock a hog on his *. Wait for a good shot, shouldn't have any problems

ruger41

I'm from that area originally and I can tell you there are many guys who have killed hogs over there with .357 handguns with a good hard cast bullet. The .30/30 will take care of them as well. The problem you run into though is distance--those hogs are wiley and sometimes you do not get a close shot. If you are going to use a .357 check out loads from Buffalo Bore & Corbon for the .30/30 check out the new ammo from Hornady. The Leveroution ammo in a .30/30 will give you a 200 to 250 yard gun. CA does allow a.357 in handguns as long as the barrel length is sufficient so in a carbine it would be no problem. The .357 can handle any of the 80lb to 150lb meat hogs but if you come across anything bigger than that use the .30/30. Hopefully you have acess to a ranch that is having a pig problem as hunting public lands on the central coast isn't that productive---the ranches and guides know where the pigs are--alot of the public land has such difficult terrain to hike with the brush it's almost not worth it.

reddnek

The 30-30 will be fine ,the 357 could get you hurt.I presently use a 30-30 until I can turn up a 35 remington.

dcs shooters

The 357 with a good 180gr bullet should be all you need. The 30-30 with any bullet will do the job. I knew a fellow in Fla. that only used a old 351 Win.

mbsams

I'd take that 45-70 lever gun for sure with a 405gr bullet.

allen griggs

I killed a 140 pound wild boar with a .45 acp
One shot at 30 yards dropped him in his tracks.
I was using military hardball ammo.

bpost

quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
I killed a 140 pound wild boar with a .45 acp
One shot at 30 yards dropped him in his tracks.
I was using military hardball ammo.


Oddly enough the internal make up of a hog and human of equal weight is similar. The experience you had proves the 45ACP is a great one shot stopper.

Nice shooting!

Winston Bode

I have shot pigs with both. The one I shot with the .357 was a small pig and I had to shoot him several times to finally put him down.

The one I shot with the 30-30 went down in it's tracks.

I'd say a 30-30 is a good choice and a .357 is a little smallish.

I'm a big .41 mag. fan but I'm not convinced yet it is enough gun, from a handgun that is. From a rifle it may very well be, I have just never shot one with my Marlin .41 mag. rifle.

Bode

5mmgunguy

The 30-30 is fine! The 357 might be a little light. I would probably move up to a 44 mag if it were me.

savage170

I've shot 4 with 357 out of marlin 1894 shot placement has to be dead on I use Fedral Hardcast only one needed second shot first shot was a little bit low bigger rifle probably would of been same results