Foolin' around...

[Digital Dan]

...with the 77/44 today and some, uh, low vel hog whackin' loads. I guess they group OK at 50 yards? I like the Blue Dot load best so far. Mebbe I'll swap out the red dot for a real scope just to see...

I'm deeply concerned the might over penetrate on small hogs.

[Jack Stanley]

That looks very good to me , my pal uses Blue Dot for deer loads and it works well at the task

Jack

[Wayne Smith]

Are those your velocity figures? More danger of bouncing off a big one!

[Digital Dan]

They are the velocities. I screwed up a little in transcribing the data and copied the lower two with the same numbers. In truth the average for theWW231 load was ballpark 690 fps.

I do not share your thoughts about bouncing off the big one.







If you look closely at the ammo box in the 3d pic you will see it is CCI brand, CB shorts. I do feral swine eradication for the state and have been at it since 2005 on a small island on the Gulf coast. That particular combination has taken over 100 hogs in that time, only one requiring a second shot. This is not a byproduct of trapping, but rather still hunting on a designated 1,200 acre parcel of state preserve.

The MV advertised by CCI for that round is 710 fps. They go just a wee bit faster from the Contender, about 760 on average.

The bullet from the boar above, recovered about 6" behind the skull in neck muscle....



What a fella gets from higher velocity and soft lead is expansion and less penetration. Roll it back a little, place the bullet where it needs to go and the case is closed. FYI, I have killed more than a few with the LR using subs and HVHP shorts. Their performance is consistently inferior in regards to penetration, staying on track thru the tissue/bones and generally ending affairs on the spot.

For the record, I have a dry sense of humor and it is doubtful I'll use the loads above if for no other reason than they are the first attempt with the powders listed and there be scant load data for such things. If the precision indicated above is maintained as I bump it up, well, I'd be perfectly comfortable with 750-850 fps.

[dverna]

That is great performance sir.

I always wanted one of those Rugers in .357 but their prices went nuts by the time I was ready to purchase one.

[Digital Dan]

They have a good reputation and it is well deserved.

[Vinne]

Well done D Dan. Doing your part to keep things balanced.

[Vinne]

Well done D Dan. Doing your part to keep things balanced.

[mdi]

What bullet do you use in your Hog Whackin' loads?

[Digital Dan]

It springs from a Brooks mould custom ordered for the express purpose of use with suppressors and has taken 5 hogs to date, none of which took a second step. One sat down on his backside for about 30 seconds then fell over.

30:1 alloy and it shoots fine with Alox, weighs 320 grains.




A five shot group w/average velocity of 1052 fps:



The group below was fired from a friend's 77/44 w/can at 25 yards and uses the 12.5 gr. 2400 load also.

[Jack Stanley]

Impressive stuff there Dan . Hunting hogs sounds like a pile of fun but I do hope they never get loose in this state .

Jack

[Wayne Smith]

That was my attempt at dry humor, Dan. I'm fully aware they will kill with authority.