Rethinking my 357 Mag as a hog rifle?

[Maximumbob54]

I just cast some of those Lee 358-158-RF, got them coated, and will be loading some tomorrow. I very much dislike the fact that they are bevel based (really wish I had noticed that before I bought it) but I bought it a while back because I wanted something easier to load that didn't have the SWC's edge. I have a few pounds of unknown but harder alloy that I figured I would try several different magnum loadings and see if there is any accuracy involved. They will all be through my 16" R92 so that should give plenty of velocity. I know I want that NOE RD mold but jeeze have I dumped a lot of money into this hobby lately.

[Ranch Dog]

I hear you, real easy to dump a lot of money into this and do it real quick. I'm at the point that I'm very settle so my expenses have just about halted. I would like a subsonic bullet for my Mini-30 so maybe NOE will kick in if I continue my load work for them.

I think all the Lee plain base bullets are bevel based now.

[Ranch Dog]

I'm sitting here just finishing up some more work on the forum and realize that my R92 357 Mag would best serve me as a round ball shooter to control the glut of raccoons that plague me. Just like feral hogs, raccoons are epidemic and right now is the time that is ripe for these critters as the pecans are just prior to dropping.

I have a very large pecan than covers almost my entire house and I know that the raccoons are up in it because of what is hitting the roof. I also have the remains of a orchard throughout my yard and when I took the dog out earlier, I could see at least 25 to 30 raccoons busy in their harvest. I would prefer that the whitetails get the crop. The R92 in this role can do more of a service than all my other R92s combined can on feral hogs. This is just as big a problem and the rifle is going to be put to it.

[akuser47]

Nice get those bandits

[ethang]

Mike you live in a target rich environment. 25-30 just poking your head out in the yard. I would think a suppressor on the end of that 357 would make a dandy raccoon shooter.

[Ranch Dog]

Mike you live in a target rich environment. 25-30 just poking your head out in the yard. I would think a suppressor on the end of that 357 would make a dandy raccoon shooter.

Yeah it would but the rifle would be a bit cumbersome. Better to spread it all out over a few nights!

[NavyDoc76-80]

Sounds like you could go into the Davey Crocket raccoon hat business

[Maximumbob54]

What kind of accuracy do you get from those round ball loads? I've seen where guys have loaded all sorts of things with the .36 balls usually lubed with alox. I've even seen where a guy tried to do the old Remington double ball load in magnum brass. Not sure why but I've just never tried it.

[Ranch Dog]

This is my sight in target. The group low and to the right is actually four holes. I made an scope adjustment and the fifth shot was centered and 1/2" high so I called it good enough.

I switched to Trail Boss and it kept them centered but dropped them in the bull at 25-yards.

[Ranch Dog]

[emoji38] Sounds like you could go into the Davey Crocket raccoon hat business

If my grandson was still here, we would!