BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

thearmenian53 · Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 36 Location: Woodland Hills, CA

hi all,
i'm looking to buy a revolver for a backup for boar hunting. i've pretty much zeroed in on the .357 mag because of the fact that i can buy 38 spl so cheap and have fun target shooting with em and i can put in 180 grain .357 loads and use it as backup. i wanna know a few things. 1) would the .357 be a sufficient backup for boar at close range? 2) if so, which makes and models are RELIABLE and accurate at the same time? i know of the ruger gp100 (my brother has it and loves it) but the smith wesson 686 is smoother for my liking. i wanna know any suggestions that you guys may have for primarily reliability and secondly accuracy as well. thanks alot guys.
Armond

Abaco · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 16

I'm a relative newby but I am a mechanical engineer and somewhat obsessed with quality and price (generally, mechanical engineers could be called "anal"). Anyway, I shopped for a .357 mag for quite a while and looked over a few different ones. Based on feel and general fit of the parts I went with the Taurus Tracker and am very pleased with it. I've let my more experienced cop buddy shoot it when we broke out his full arsenal and this gun was the best revolver we shot that day, in terms of comfort and accuracy. I didn't, and don't really like the S&W.

thearmenian53 · Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 36 Location: Woodland Hills, CA

thanks for the reply....may i ask why the smith 686 wasnt your choice. was it just the feel of the gun or was there something mechanically wrong with it? the gun feels great in my hand and i shoot quite well with it also. i'm just worried about anything that may be wrong with them mechanically that'll prevent me from buying a reliable gun. thanks.

RRIES · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 66 Location: WI/MT

I 2nd the tracker as a great choice and this is coming from a guy who carried nothing but colt pythons's which are selling for a little over a grand.
As a gunsmith the way the wheel locks up compared to the SW is stronger 2 vs 1. The pull is allways heavy but 50bucks at the gunsmith and you have a very nice trigger not the best but very close. Every Smith I have owned there is always one cylinder that does not line up very well with the barrel and needs work, I have not had this problem with any of the trackers. Also I take every gun apart and see what is dif. This is a very easy gun to work on. Oh but wait that for ever warranty is real nice. I sent one pistol (model92) to Florida on a Tue and it was returned on Friday. I do not think Smith or Colt would even begin to look at it. Ported barrel is realy nice with hot 180 grainers so is that grip wish I coould put it on my python. I also own an indestructable Ruger gp100 and 101 and I like the tracker more. I own 2 titanium trackers, 41 and 357 and another 357 tracker that is not.
This is a company that wants your buisness. When I was looking for a light revolver, Smith was not able to tell me where I could go look at one of their mountain guns. I called Taurus and they sent a pistol to the nearest gun store for me to look at. I can not say enough good things about these pistols. I have shot 20 deer with these pistols and even more pigs. I like em!!!!
Oh by the way good choice on bullet selection very hard to beat the 357 :thumbsup1:

Abaco · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 16

thearmenian53 wrote: thanks for the reply....may i ask why the smith 686 wasnt your choice. was it just the feel of the gun or was there something mechanically wrong with it? the gun feels great in my hand and i shoot quite well with it also. i'm just worried about anything that may be wrong with them mechanically that'll prevent me from buying a reliable gun. thanks. Well for me it came down to how it felt in my hand and just looking the gun over for general fit and finish. The Taurus won both of those tests for me. I lookd at a couple of S&Ws and they looked like they were hammered together by a hung-over drunk on a monday morning. But, who knows? I'm no expert. I am pleased with my Taurus and my more experienced shooter friends really like it too.

thearmenian53 · Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 36 Location: Woodland Hills, CA

i see. i've heard that about the 686 that it needs some tightening out of the box. thanks for your input. any 686 owners that might have a different perspective? if you know a little info about reliable revolver please share any suggestions with me. also, the aftermarket grips, i havent seen one yet that has a square butt where your pinky is when u grip the gun. is there such a thing as a square grip for your pinky on the 686. thanks.

jakk280rem · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Salem, OR

ruger gp-100. designed for high volume shooting. they discontinued them a couple years ago, but as long as the forcing cone is in good shape, you would be hard pressed to wear it out or find a finer pistola.

mw243 · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 45

Take a look at the gp-100 ruger. They are accurate and very stout revolvers. Transfer bar makes you feel safe carrying a round under the hammer for hunting.

denverd0n · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 166 Location: Colorado

Call me old-fashioned, but for this kind of use I'm a sucker for single actions.

caveman · Joined: 08 Apr 2002 Posts: 96 Location: Arizona

I like my 686. I had a Python which was great but I sold it :](*,)

trappermike · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:02 am Post subject:

I purchased a Ruger GP-101 and like it,good solid reputation,no faults that I know of. I chose it over the S&W because it had a nicer finish in stainless,but mainly because the grip fit my medium size hand better,the S&W grip seemed too large for my hand.
I think a .357 mag. should be adequate backup with the right load.

haiku_rodney · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 100 Location: Maui, Hawaii

I have a friend who has hunted hogs with a handgun. His opinion is that the 357 is not enough gun. He uses 44 mags. Take into consideration that you are using it as a backup. If you are talking about shooting at a charging boar, unless you brain it, you will have to go through the shoulder plate. If you just plan on hunting hogs with a pistol where you can be selective of your shots then the 357 will be sufficient.

trappermike · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject:

What about a .357 maximum for hunting hogs? More muzzle energy than a .44 mag although the bullets are still lighter. Some handloads I've seen listed are much hotter yet. Loaded with a tough,heavy bullet it should be ok,although I know many people believe(rightfully so) there is no substitute for a heavy slug for stopping tough game. I know barrel wear is a problem with the .357 Maximum,and I believe this may be why this hand gun is offered with an extra barrel.
Actually,this is the next handgun I want,made by Dan Wesson with a 10" barrel.(Shrouded and ported barrel options available) I must admit it is an extremely heavy hand gun...but I'm partial to the .357's. :yes: Certainly a formiddable looking hand gun. :o
Now we don't have hogs to hunt here,so what can you experienced guys have to say about this?? ::-k

Old Professor · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

I also have a Ruger GP 100 that I carry as a back-up or just general protection in the woods. The key to effectiveness with the 357 is cartridge selection. I have found that the Buffalo Bore Bullet Company offers heavy for caliber hard cast bullets that really penetrate! I used these bullets in a 45 Long Colt on a hog hunt. The guide was sceptical because another hunter hat shot a hog nine times with a 45 Long Colt with out bringing it down. One short in the chest with the Buffalo Bore Bullet and it light up the Barbe time. In the 357 that load is a 180 gr. L.F.N.-G.C. at 1,400 fps