I'm going on my first pig hunt in a couple weeks. Everyone I've talked to about it has told me to carry a sidarm for backup in case I get charged by an angry pig. :rolleyes: I'm planning on carrying my glock 30 (.45) anyway, as I never go anywhere without it. I'm not really concerned about getting charged by a pig and even if I was I'll probably be hunting most of the time with an AR-15.

Even so, everyone's comments made me wonder a little. What is the best defense round for a pig? With their tough skin is a FMJ preferable? I normally carry +P JHP's.

This is a question I have contemplated a lot. Truth is the best defense round for wild hogs doesn't have ACP in the name. The "best" pistol rounds for hogs start somewhere around .357 or 10mm and go up from there. However, I am better/faster up close with a 1911 than I am with any wheel gun, so that's what I carry most of the time. Now when it comes to penetration vs. expansion, I sometimes stagger ball with HP's when I'm going out specifically for hogs. It sounds silly, I know, but with a charging hog I'm going to be staring down a small, fast moving, hard target and I want to make sure I don't choose the wrong ammo. So, I choose both.

Do it right... 454 Casull. That way if you get in a tug of war over the carcuss with a bear, you get the meat. :D

When I go I have my 1911 with hydro shocks or whatever the new equivalent is in a blackhawk serpa holster. Fortunately I haven't needed it so I cant say how effective they are. When we are on foot someone usually carries a 12guage with 00buckshot for close encounters.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PTGPOD/360559~Hand-Grenade-Posters.jpg

Why are you hunting pigs with an AR? You're either not planning on keeping them for the meat, or you really like to track wounded things. :laughing: I had a similar conversation with an "expert" pig hunter a few weeks ago, and was informed that .223 was the perfect pig round because it's fast and he can shoot them from hundreds of yards away. :laughing: Anyway, when it comes to rifles, I prefer a .308 or 30-06 shooting a 210 grain or larger round. This is because our lease is heavily wooded, so I prefer a round that can hit a few sticks and twigs and still get to the target. If I had to choose a pistol, I'd pick the biggest available caliber I could get my hands on, with the heaviest bullet I could find. In your case, I think it's 230 or 250 grains. In a true "pig defense" situation, I'd be relying on sheer energy transfer to take it down instead of relying on shot placement, because a pissed off pig doesn't fawk around, it gets right to the point. :laughing: There won't be lots of time to aim. :D

...I'm planning on carrying my glock 30 (.45) anyway, as I never go anywhere without it.

my 30 (185+p's) and 21(230) are loaded up with cor bon jhp's for that very same duty. i have never dispatched an angry pig on the attack put they clean up the shot up ones real well. i would carry without fear.



if you do get eat up by one let me know that they do not work tho :flipoff2:

I'll be hunting with either a Marlin 30-30 with leverevolution ammo or an AR-15because that's what I own. I guess I could take my SKS but it's too heavy to lug around. If I had a more powerful rifle I'd be taking it. That's the same reason why I'm carrying a .45. I can't afford a .454 revolver or a .300WSM rifle right now, as much as I'd like both.

It'll be a hunt for "trophy boars" and hopefully something for meat too.

Have any of you ever heard of anyone actually being chased by a hog? In the videos I've watched I've never seen it and I've never met anyone who has actually hunted hogs who has been chased or attacked. Personally I think its people over-dramaticizing it.

Have any of you ever heard of anyone actually being chased by a hog? In the videos I've watched I've never seen it and I've never met anyone who has actually hunted hogs who has been chased or attacked. Personally I think its people over-dramaticizing it.

I work with a guy who goes boar hunting each year in Georgia and he's seen them get pretty ugly when wounded. The outfit he goes with uses tracking dogs and all of the dogs are now fitted with body armor to keep them from being gored by the pigs. On his hunt last year, he saw 2 dogs get killed because they cornered a wounded pig.

Also my grandpa is friend's with a guy that got mauled pretty bad by a pig up in Michigan a few years ago. I'd say they're not something to fuck with.

Have any of you ever heard of anyone actually being chased by a hog? In the videos I've watched I've never seen it and I've never met anyone who has actually hunted hogs who has been chased or attacked. Personally I think its people over-dramaticizing it.

Some over dramatizing but it does happen, best to not be cavalier/overly confident that it'll never happen. Hunting bud in CA has his attacker mounted on the wall over the fire place, nice head with 2-3" tusks... ;)

D.

Why are you hunting pigs with an AR? You're either not planning on keeping them for the meat, or you really like to track wounded things. :laughing: I had a similar conversation with an "expert" pig hunter a few weeks ago, and was informed that .223 was the perfect pig round because it's fast and he can shoot them from hundreds of yards away. :laughing: Anyway, when it comes to rifles, I prefer a .308 or 30-06 shooting a 210 grain or larger round. This is because our lease is heavily wooded, so I prefer a round that can hit a few sticks and twigs and still get to the target. If I had to choose a pistol, I'd pick the biggest available caliber I could get my hands on, with the heaviest bullet I could find. In your case, I think it's 230 or 250 grains. In a true "pig defense" situation, I'd be relying on sheer energy transfer to take it down instead of relying on shot placement, because a pissed off pig doesn't fawk around, it gets right to the point. :laughing: There won't be lots of time to aim. :D


.223 Has killed more pigs than you can shake a stick at. Shot placement shot placement shot placement. :flipoff2:

shot placement is where it is at... but if they are running wide ass open shot placement is kinda tricky.

they are an incredibly strong wild animal so predicting there actions is scarry. i know they will not back down from 5 head of dogs so if they decide to come at you you can bet that you yourself will not persuide them otherwise. i have personally never been attacked but i have seen the vids and i can see where you could get into a shitty situation. i plain for the worst and hope for the better.

dont even bring a 9mm. they dont do shit.
my 40 doesnt really do shit to them.
my 45 with hollow points fucks with them, but doesnt drop them or slow them down.
i havent brought my .357, but its going next trip.
i want a 44 mag, but no funds for guns right now due to recent safe purchase.

.223 hollow points just aint it when they are running and its night time. you need some POWER to drop them.

no hits with the 30-30 to tell you whats going on, but my deer dropped without a step with it :smokin:

i have pelted the shit out of them with my AK47, and only with decent shot placement with lead tipped boolits does it do anything, other than piss them off.

the one that tried to get in the jeep after bring shot with the SKS really put it into perspective when i emptied my SIG P6 with FMJ's into its face at the passenger door, and all it did was fall down and try to climb up the tire carrier :laughing:

dont even bring a 9mm. they dont do shit.
my 40 doesnt really do shit to them.
my 45 with hollow points fucks with them, but doesnt drop them or slow them down.
i havent brought my .357, but its going next trip.
i want a 44 mag, but no funds for guns right now due to recent safe purchase.

.223 hollow points just aint it when they are running and its night time. you need some POWER to drop them.

no hits with the 30-30 to tell you whats going on, but my deer dropped without a step with it :smokin:

i have pelted the shit out of them with my AK47, and only with decent shot placement with lead tipped boolits does it do anything, other than piss them off.

the one that tried to get in the jeep after bring shot with the SKS really put it into perspective when i emptied my SIG P6 with FMJ's into its face at the passenger door, and all it did was fall down and try to climb up the tire carrier :laughing:

if you are actully hunting them anything you can shoot well will do the trick... if you are runnin and gunnin similer to the halo style pursuit hunting than you want knock down so you can kill them with less than steller shots. the 2308 has done a supurb job. if i get to do as much pig patrolin as i have plained on the ar10 will catch up to the 7mag in no time in the bacon on the ground tonnage.

With a 45ACP I would opt for some stout 180gr FMJ's, penetration is what you want in close quarters. I would think a shoulder blade or bone would stop a hollow point. I used to hunt with a guy that a close call with a Russian bore he wounded with a bow, he killed it a 10 feet with a second shot to head while it was charging him. He said the kill shot was shithouse luck, but he didn't really have any other options at the time :laughing:

well i guess i should explain that, yes im shooting and running in a jeep after them.


that doesnt mean that when it charges the jeep and trys to ride shotgun with me, doesnt mean that i dont have real experience with having them want to nuzzle behind my ear and whisper sweet nothings cause i shot them :laughing:

the 2308 has done a supurb job.

Do you mean .308 win? Or are you talking about some rifle model?

With a 45ACP I would opt for some stout 180gr FMJ's, penetration is what you want in close quarters. I would think a shoulder blade or bone would stop a hollow point. I used to hunt with a guy that a close call with a Russian bore he wounded with a bow, he killed it a 10 feet with a second shot to head while it was charging him. He said the kill shot was shithouse luck, but he didn't really have any other options at the time :laughing:

How about a 230 gr FMJ? Seems like it would penetrate better than a 180 gr FMJ, unless you're talking about .40S&W or 10mm. 180 gr isn't that common of a bullet weight in .45 ACP.

I vote you carry extreme shock, now with rabid badger additive :smokin:

Not a hog, but a charge story

Guys is hunting bear with his 44 (by the way I helped carry the large human out of the woods) and shoots a small black bear (pitifully small). The guys goes in after the bear (not dead) The bear charges and attacks the fat man by chewing on his ankle. Fat mans rolls around shooting at the bear. Fat man shoots himself in the OTHER foot, before killing the bear. Fat man now can't walk... The bear was small enough to be carried out on his buddy's back ...:(

Do you mean .308 win? Or are you talking about some rifle model?


yes... 308... typing>me

Glock 20 +15 of these (http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=105).

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PTGPOD/360559~Hand-Grenade-Posters.jpg

So what you're saying is bring a glock, right?


Honestly, if you want to lay down some bacon, bring a 45-70 or a 444. :smokin:

Honestly, if you want to lay down some bacon, bring a 45-70 or a 444. :smokin:

We're talking backup, not primary. Unless you're talking mare's leg.

We're talking backup, not primary. Unless you're talking mare's leg.

Sweet! A 3 shot lever action riflepistol! :flipoff2: :p

Have any of you ever heard of anyone actually being chased by a hog? In the videos I've watched I've never seen it and I've never met anyone who has actually hunted hogs who has been chased or attacked. Personally I think its people over-dramaticizing it.

Here ya go.

YouTube - Smashed by Big Boar! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WwK_1SFE_8)

YouTube - Wild Boar Poker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxcJWvs4YE)

FF to 2:20
YouTube - Wild Boar Poker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxcJWvs4YE)

YouTube - Up close wild boar hunt Attack of pigs! Hunter himself defense!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mizAHTt-iBk)

Good luck......:flipoff2:

In the videos I've watched I've never seen it and I've never met anyone who has actually hunted hogs who has been chased or attacked. Personally I think its people over-dramaticizing it.

Attacked, no. Charged, yes. If wounded or cornered, they won't hesitate to charge your ass. Even the small ones will charge you and try to chew off your boots. :laughing: 99.99% of the time, they're trying to get away, but if one has no other place to go, it has no problem going over, around, or through you to escape, and will likely take a few bites out of you on the way. :D

.223 Has killed more pigs than you can shake a stick at. Shot placement shot placement shot placement. :flipoff2:

So have cars, but I don't consider them the "perfect" hog hunting weapon either. :flipoff2: There's a big difference between something that will get the job done when used properly and something that is perfect for the job. I could drive nails with a tire tool if I wanted, but I'd rather use a hammer. :laughing:

I have killed a fair number of hogs and javelina. I have killed them with everything from a .380 pistol to my .300WSM. A good friend of mine uses a 22-250 almost exclusively.

My AR-15 will lay waste to hogs though I usually don't shoot past 150 yards (usually shooting from a deer stand).

Like someone already said, shot placement.

In the videos I've watched I've never seen it and I've never met anyone who has actually hunted hogs who has been chased or attacked. Personally I think its people over-dramaticizing it.

First, I know nothing of hog hunting. I've never even seen a wild hog. I have watched hunting videos and seen them chase. I watched one the other night were they would catch the hogs (with dogs), castrate them, and release. They had several chase them. Those guys were generally snorting and laughing as they grabbed a tree and swung around, or jumped up in the tree.

I do know that if you are carrying a long gun. Your instinct will not let you drop the long gun out of the way to go to a sidearm. Why carry the extra weight? Especially when it is less powerful, harder to get to, and requires more attention to shoot accurately? I might see it if you were hunting with bow and arrow, spear, knives, or even a muzzleloader. I know I wouldn't, just too much crap to carry.

I know people that carry sidearms and long guns. They are typically city slickers that are scared, or at least feeling more confident because they have another 6# of weight strapped to their side.

Seeing hogs chase in videos, I would be more inclined to climb or jump than to pull a pistol. I've have cows and horses try to run over me, I side stepped, jumped, and never got touched. I believe if I had been pawing for a pistol I would have been run over.

The outfit he goes with uses tracking dogs and all of the dogs are now fitted with body armor to keep them from being gored by the pigs. On his hunt last year, he saw 2 dogs get killed because they cornered a wounded pig.


Those are likely for catch dogs.
Many guys have dogs run and bay the hog. Once the bay starts, the hogs will back into the brush, or into a circle if there are more than one and make a stand. Jaws popping and grunting.

If the hogs have been run very much, as soon as they hear, smell, or see the hunters come in they will run again.

So many guys you use pit bulls and bull crosses for catch dogs. Those dogs are usually suited up with a cut vest, and almost always heavy collars to protect their neck. They turn the catch dog loose and it hits the hog in a dead run. Once it locks on, the other dogs baying will usually get courageous and start holding. You can then walk into the hog and either shoot it, stab it, hobble it, or castrate it and turn it loose.

I know dogs get killed hog hunting, but talking with the guys that hog hunt their attitude is usually "Those were young dogs - too courageous. They'll either learn or die".

I do know a guy that had his two best black mouth curs killed by the same hog. It was a local "hogzilla" in his area (Florida) around the local landfill. One dog was dead when they got there, and the other got cut across the flank and didn't make it out of the woods. It happens. He quit hunting with dogs after that.

I don't have youtube, but I'm sure their are plenty of "catch dog" videos out there. I love watching a game dog do what it was bred to do. Some times it sounds like a football hit when the catch dog hits the hog. It is an awesome display of power. If you can't handle losing a dog - don't ever turn yours lose in the wild. I know I've cried a lot of tears over dead dogs, but you get over it, get another dog, and keep going.

I know people that carry sidearms and long guns. They are typically city slickers that are scared, or at least feeling more confident because they have another 6# of weight strapped to their side.


I like to carry my .357 with me when rifle hunting for deer out of a stand. I'm right handed with my back to a tree. If they sneak up on my right side, the .357 is much easier to draw and aim than the movements required to shoulder my rifle. I should really learn how to shoot left handed rifle but I enjoy taking them with a pistol too much.

How about a 230 gr FMJ? Seems like it would penetrate better than a 180 gr FMJ, unless you're talking about .40S&W or 10mm. 180 gr isn't that common of a bullet weight in .45 ACP.

I vote you carry extreme shock, now with rabid badger additive :smokin:
230gr is about 850FPS , 180gr gets you to 1150FPS, IMO the 180gr would be better. At those velocities I would opt for a FMJ, I don't think your going to get decent penetration with a hollow point. Most of the hollow points made for semi-auto's are going to be designed to expand all their energy quickly in a human sized target, not penetrate the skin, skull or shoulder of a hog.

If you look at the construction of a hunting hollow-point for .357/.44 they are much heavier and will mushroom slower for better penetration. The 9mm/45ACP type hollow-points have a thin cup and will mushroom very quickly transferring the bullets energy much faster, good for knocking down a human, not so good for killing thick skinned game animals.

About what it takes to kill a hog. I watched a video friday evening where I saw most of the hogs killed with a 22 mag shot to the head. However shotplacement and angle is the key.

If a hog's nose is up, you are not going to get through the skull between the eyes.
If its nose is down, you can drill right through the skull. The best nead shot on any animal (that I have seen) is about and inch below the ear to about an inch from the eye. Plus or minus an inch up or down.

Killing hogs to slaughter, most are done with a 22 LR. As you look down on the hog, you imagine an X from the left ear to the right eye, and from the right ear to the left eye. Shoot at that intersection. Most will drop instantly. Some you may have to shoot again because they will be staggered.

The 9mm/45ACP type hollow-points have a thin cup and will mushroom very quickly transferring the bullets energy much faster, good for knocking down a human, not so good for killing thick skinned game animals.

The big thing with the 9mm, 45, and other non-magnum cartridges is that there is no energy. The energy of the 9mm and 45 are essentially the same.
They are generally non-lethal in humans too.

Have any of you ever heard of anyone actually being chased by a hog? In the videos I've watched I've never seen it and I've never met anyone who has actually hunted hogs who has been chased or attacked. Personally I think its people over-dramaticizing it.

Yep, local HS kid bow hunting was chased up a tree for near an hour by a pack of hogs - these had younguns' though and kept right on rooting away...

Jay, this was local to you, east side of Ft. Gibson Lake in an area that sees hardly any human pressure and they are pretty bold. I've been warned numerous times by the locals to always carry there...

Yep, local HS kid bow hunting was chased up a tree for near an hour by a pack of hogs - these had younguns' though and kept right on rooting away...

Jay, this was local to you, east side of Ft. Gibson Lake in an area that sees hardly any human pressure and they are pretty bold. I've been warned numerous times by the locals to always carry there...

Whoah, Hunting on the East side of Ft. Gibson Lake? I definitely need to look into that. I'm originally from Muskogee. Most of the people I talk to say that you have to go south of I-40 to see any hogs. Nothing surprises me anymore, though, because a few years back two black bears were killed in Muskogee, well inside the city limits.

So I guess my next question is should I hunt with my expensive AR-15 or my ultra-cheap (to me) 30-30? I will probably use my AR anyway as I'll probably loan my 30-30 to a buddy that's going that is not as accustomed to shooting as I am.

Whoah, Hunting on the East side of Ft. Gibson Lake? I definitely need to look into that. I'm originally from Muskogee. Most of the people I talk to say that you have to go south of I-40 to see any hogs. Nothing surprises me anymore, though, because a few years back two black bears were killed in Muskogee, well inside the city limits.

So I guess my next question is should I hunt with my expensive AR-15 or my ultra-cheap (to me) 30-30? I will probably use my AR anyway as I'll probably loan my 30-30 to a buddy that's going that is not as accustomed to shooting as I am.

Yeah, they've made it here alright. Couple of the kids actually started a "Hog Removal" business using dogs - pretty busy if they want to be. Speaking of black bears, yeah a pretty good size one was hit a year ago outside Peggs. Amazing how common most "rare" animals are when you talk to the locals. Many swear up and down to resident black panthers and Bigfoot too:eek:

PS - Ever catch that (Nat. Geo I think?) show called "Pig Bomb" detailing the explosion in pig population - damn, good thing I love bacon:homer:

AR15 if you want to feel like you wanna be tatic-cool.

30-30 if your a man :mr-t: :flipoff2:

AR15 if you want to feel like you wanna be tatic-cool.

30-30 if your a man :mr-t: :flipoff2:

Does using a .50 cal Hawken count? :D :D

D.

Does using a .50 cal Hawken count? :D :D

D.

I believe that it gives you the right to emboss "bad Motherfucker" on your wallet:flipoff2:

I usually just take a 357 loaded with 158 grain XTP's or SWC's and that is all, I have been in the middle of a bunch of them and never felt undergunned. If you are going to be hunting them in the brush I would suggest 00 or 000 buck in a 12 gauge if you don't like pistols.

Oh an hogs are everywhere in OK, well above I40. Hell 10 years ago we used to hunt the Camp Gruber WMA, dad and several others that hunted with us stuck a bunch up there.

I believe that it gives you the right to emboss "bad Motherfucker" on your wallet:flipoff2:

Either that or "Here's yer sign" iffen things don't go exactly according to plan... ;) :D

Iffen ya want an adrenalin/testosterone rush that IS the way to get it, next level up would be sharp pointy stick or knife... :laughing:

D.

I got hit HARD by a little one, maybe 150 pounds. Hit me right below the knee and flipped me up in the air. Hit me with his front teeth, not his cutters. Cut through my jeans and left a big gash that took forever to heal. that scar is now mostly covered by a much bigger one. If he had got me with his cutters, I would have been in bad shape. I ended up stabbing it to death with a knife after the dogs caught it...

I got hit HARD by a little one, maybe 150 pounds. Hit me right below the knee and flipped me up in the air. Hit me with his front teeth, not his cutters. Cut through my jeans and left a big gash that took forever to heal. that scar is now mostly covered by a much bigger one. If he had got me with his cutters, I would have been in bad shape. I ended up stabbing it to death with a knife after the dogs caught it...

You either didn't jump high enough or jumped too late :laughing::flipoff2:

I remember watching a video where a guy shot one with a bow. The hog was bedded and soon as the arrow hit it charged.

The guy with the bow was doing the "juke dance" and all you could see was his back on the video. At the last second the guy with the bow juked and swung around a tree. You saw a black flash, heard a crash and a groan as the camera was knocked down and spun toward the sky. The next scene, they were chasing the injured hog and the camera had a noticeable limp :laughing: After they killed it, they filmed the gash on the guy's leg and then carted him to the hospital for a bunch of stitches. :laughing:

You either didn't jump high enough or jumped too late :laughing::flipoff2:



Yeah, :flipoff2:

I was already up in the air before I thought about jumping out of the way. Did I mention they can flat out move through the brush, especially when being chased by a half dozen cur dogs?:laughing:

I was already up in the air before I thought about jumping out of the way. Did I mention they can flat out move through the brush, especially when being chased by a half dozen cur dogs?:laughing:

Seen that along with the shoats flying...

Was on one hunt at Ft. Hunter-Liggett with a group when we stumbled on a mom and about a dozen younguns, 1st and only time Ive seen "pigs fly". The amusing aspect was that one of the gents in the party was using shotgun slugs, he literally got one in the air as it jumped/bounded for cover and got hit with the rifle slugs he was using.

D.

A lot of guys here in New Zealand use bailers to find the pig then holders to hold it before sticking it with a knife. A few years ago my cousin and his mates who hunted pigs for the pot most weekends gave up sticking pigs after between four of them they had over $2,000 in vet bills in a month. They now just use bailers to hold them in an area and then shot them. They use 30-30s and .303s (British). Personally I've never stuck a pig but I've shot a few with 150gr .303 and 150gr (ish) 7x57. Handguns, except in very restrictive circumstances (eg pistol target clubs), are illegal here so no one carries a back up weapon. I've seen a group of three or four guys going out to stick pigs and only one of them will be carrying an old 30-30, cut down .303 or 12 gauge with 00 buck as a back up.

YouTube - Wild Boar Poker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxcJWvs4YE)



no doubt... i am 110% sure that was made up in florida... idiots :shaking:

I'd go with a +P load topped with a 230gr. FMJ or hard cast. I wouldn't trust any type of expanding round with a hog.

.17 hmr works like a champ if you get them up the noise or in the ear. but 7 mag will drop there ass running wide ass open in the ass. the big ass ones that have the armor skin around there shoulders are tough as shit. good luck knockin them down with a little rifle once they start moving. if you really wanted a close range shtf gun an 18" shoty with an extension might fit the bill. if the pigs are think or if they are known to be where i am hunting and i carry my mag and the ar10 i would not even hesitate to start gunning them down with the ar. if it is a normal hunt or the pigs were not in the area i have the 7mag bolt gun. if there were an incident i would go for the side arm just for the convince of not having to wield a 26" bolt action.

no doubt... i am 110% sure that was made up in florida... idiots :shaking:

I thought it looked quite entertaining. I am not sure that I would do it but to each their own.

Catching them with dogs alive is a lot more fun than shooting them.

i imagin so but i am more geared toward eradication than fun. if you could stalk hunt them and get up in the den of the pig that would be fun i imagine. it is too thick for that here.

I believe that it gives you the right to emboss "bad Motherfucker" on your wallet:flipoff2:

I watched a craxy australian crawl into a thicket after a wounded hog with a knife in his teeth. Was worried about the hog killin his dog. Recieved 12 stiches in his crouch, he definatly earned the title "bad motherfucker"

Well, I can respond to this thread now with real information, as Crawlin120:1 and I just got back from a pig hunt and saw some effects of various ammo.

Grant (Crawlin120:1) shot a pig with a .357 FMJ twice and went down but was still alive. The pig also took a .223 to the face which helped knock it down a little. It took a heart shot with the .357 to finish it. All three were from ~10 yds and all penetrated aboud 4-6".

Another guy shot a large hog with a .40. FMJ and got no (as in less than 1") penetration to the head.

The good kill shots were all either to the back of the head or through the heart with a heavy caliber.

I'm convinced that with any handgun you would have to completely unload it before it would have much effect on a charging pig. The moral to this story is that I'm using my AR-15 with a full magazine anytime I hunt pigs from now on.

Glock 20 +15 of these (http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=105).
Pure, unadulterated bs. 1300 FPS in a lead bullet in that round. Bull. Bull, Bull. I don't care what that Mike guy says.


I'm convinced that with any handgun you would have to completely unload it before it would have much effect on a charging pig.
I can think of a few handguns that would do it. :D None of them would be comfortable to haul around for a while. That said, I sure want a .454. :(

About what it takes to kill a hog. I watched a video friday evening where I saw most of the hogs killed with a 22 mag shot to the head. However shotplacement and angle is the key.

If a hog's nose is up, you are not going to get through the skull between the eyes.
If its nose is down, you can drill right through the skull. The best nead shot on any animal (that I have seen) is about and inch below the ear to about an inch from the eye. Plus or minus an inch up or down.

Killing hogs to slaughter, most are done with a 22 LR. As you look down on the hog, you imagine an X from the left ear to the right eye, and from the right ear to the left eye. Shoot at that intersection. Most will drop instantly. Some you may have to shoot again because they will be staggered.
my old man has killed alot of hogs both wild and farmed. i used to go out and help him with meat cuttin. he normally used a 22LR bolt action. just like you said about the "X". every once in awhile he'd run on to an older one and have to shoot it twice, he said the first one was for breakin the skull and the next to drive it home. most of them dropped. he used the same technique for beef cattle too. sometimes the cow would give a lil death run but usually dropped. he used .223 for wild boars mostly, he would say that a federal .223 would go in and rattle around in the inside of it's skull just scrambling everything. now days since he has went collector in weaponry, he usually takes a couple different out so he can test their worth.

Well, I can respond to this thread now with real information, as Crawlin120:1 and I just got back from a pig hunt and saw some effects of various ammo.

Grant (Crawlin120:1) shot a pig with a .357 FMJ twice and went down but was still alive. The pig also took a .223 to the face which helped knock it down a little. It took a heart shot with the .357 to finish it. All three were from ~10 yds and all penetrated aboud 4-6".

Another guy shot a large hog with a .40. FMJ and got no (as in less than 1") penetration to the head.

The good kill shots were all either to the back of the head or through the heart with a heavy caliber.

I'm convinced that with any handgun you would have to completely unload it before it would have much effect on a charging pig. The moral to this story is that I'm using my AR-15 with a full magazine anytime I hunt pigs from now on.

I killed a 247 lb boar in my trap yesterday. The first 230 gr. Golden Saber to the head pissed him off. One of the three rapid follow up shots put him DRT. I think I recovered all of the bullets. I also recovered a 165 gr. Corbon from a 230 lb sow tuesday. DRT'd her with one shot. Killed another 2 or 3 <100 lbers. with a .22 to the head.