Boar handgun ballistics

[jjhack]

What is your proven load in a handgun for hogs.

Lets have the bullet Caliber, type(brand) weight and velocity. If it's a factory load and you don't know velocity just say so. I'm curious about the average handgun ballistics guys are using for wild hogs. Thanks in advance. As an Example mine is: .44, Hornady XTP, 300 grain, 1350fps.
My daughter uses .44, Hornady XTP, 180 grain, 1750fps. (from a contender)

 

[Speckmisser]

JJ,

I haven't had a chance to really use the .44 on hogs.  The Tejon hunt will be the first time out with it, and it'll probably only be my backup (unless it shoots really well at the range).  I'm going on some advice I got earlier on this topic, and I've ordered a box of Winchester Gold Partition, 250gr.  Not sure of the velocity.  

I did kill my sow last year with a 9mm Winchester Silvertip JHP.  Don't recall the bullet weight or velocity, but since the muzzle was at her ear, I doubt it really matters.  

 

[Bishop]

I've only shot one small sow with a handgun.  Was probably using more gun than I needed for that particular size of pig. 454 Casull, 300 gr. Sierra Sportsmaster JSP, 33.5 grs, H-110, @ 1707fps.  I also use the new Hornady 300 gr. XTP Mag. @ 1700fps.  Haven't been able to try it on a pig yet.  

 

[Wheelchair Bandit]

Hi there Jim,

Heck,with all those warthogs running around your work area in Africa,why are you interested in our little short toothed ones here in the states?

Haven't shot one with it yet,but my favorite hog handgun is a T/C Contender 12 inch Hunter in 45/70 Govt.,with a 405 grain Remington FN over a moderate charge of RE7 for about 1150 FPS.These Remington splat right out down to 850 FPS or so,so they ought to pop a good sized hole through a hawgeux.

WB.

 

[jjhack]

WB, I'm only working in South Africa for about 2-3 months per year. I still need some action when I'm in the states! I was working in Alaska as a Bear and goat guide during Sept and Oct but the outfitter I worked for sold his business to another guy with two sons who took over my guiding duties. I did work for them a couple seasons getting them up to speed but They have enough "family" to staff the operation now. I will likely still be on call should they over book or have a problem but Now My fall season is open and I'm thinking california hogs this year. I have been working as a hunting guide for over 20 years now and for the first time this fall I can hunt for myself, Wow is that a weird feeling!

Warthogs are not as big or as well built as a wild boar. Warthogs have a tough skin but no gristle plate. They are also about 140-200 pounds. Big Wild boars will easily be bigger then that with much tougher hide and that nasty Gristle plate to go through. Now African Bush Pigs are as big and tough as the Wild boar. They also charge without any reason, or no reason a human would understand. They are like a grizly bear in that respect. They are typically hunted over bait at night with a full moon. We use the guts from the other game will shoot. They are often in small sounders of 10-15 hogs . Have you ever seen them? they have big lumps on their face sorta like a warthog but not as big. with huge shoulders and a ridge of long light colored hair down the back. On some it's almost blond and can be 10" long! The exposed tooth length is about 2-5" on a good boar.

(Edited by jjhack at 8:04 am on April 28, 2002)

 

[Wheelchair Bandit]

Hi there Jim,

Unless you plan on hunting private ranches (which are VERY expensive),there isn't much hog hunting
in California.Even if you go to a private ranch,the biggest hog you will most likely encounter will
be around 250 pounds.

If you want BIG hogs at reasonable prices,go over to GrayBeardOutdoors.com Hog Hunting forum and suss out ole Coug2Wolfs.He knows of a place in Canada (of all places)that has BIG (350 pounds on up to 600+)hogs at VERY reasonable prices (exchange rate).

If I was hunting hogs up there in Canada,I'd be packing that pet 375 H&H of yours,loaded with a premium bullet.Those big hogs are tough SOBs and meaner than sin.

WB.

 

[Speckmisser]

This just in, courtesy of Tejon Ranch Pig-o-rama...

My brother and I carried Ruger Super Blackhawks on the hunt.  

He was using regular Remington JSP in 240 gr.  He shot a sow (dressed weight 110 lbs) quartering away at about 30 yards.  It was a perfectly placed shot, entering near the last rib and passing through everything vital.  The bullet made a serious entry wound (angled across a rib), then pulverized a lung, the top of the heart, and exited cleanly on the opposite side.  He said she spouted blood like a geyser, ran a few yards, and dropped dead.  

I used the Winchester Gold Partitions in 250gr.  I chose to kill my hog with the 30-06, but used a close range finisher between the boar's ears.  I didn't find an exit wound, but when I skinned him I found the shot had almost completely severed the spine.  Internal damage was extensive, but a shot at that range may not really be indicative of the bullet's potential.  Take it for what it's worth.  

For my part, I may very well just stick with the plain old Remington bullets from here out.  For the price and the performance (based on a single experience), I'm sold.  

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

I use a 270 Grain ProLoad SoftTip 1350FPS "Game Stopper", seems to due the trick on every hog I have shot with them...