Wild Boar/Pig hunting... which sidearm to carry?

Is a model 1911 .45 ACP or another semi auto 9mm enough to stop a charging pig? Should I pickup a .357 or .44 revolver?
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I've been researching this myself. The problem is that if you get caught hunting in in the PRK with any FMJ ammo in that pistol - even as a backup, then you're in trouble. I picked up some Buffalo Bore 180gr flat nose lead for my 357. That should have the penetration needed. I'd rather have a 44mag but that's out of my budget right now. But if you really want an autoloader consider a 10mm loaded with DoubleTap's full power 230gr flat nose lead.
 
Dusty, Bait works well. I buy corn and soak it in water with yeat fir a week or 3 until it has a strong sour mash odor. Then pace the corn mostly in a pile with trhe rest scattered around that area. I use a strainer so to save the liquid. The liquid is slung with a cup up onto tree trunks and foilage as it will get the scent farther out. Once in the area they will home in on the corn. Game cam and/or motion light will cathc them in the act.
Brent
 
If you can't make a killing shot with a .308, you should re-think hunting anything. A handgun isn't going to help. In any case, neither a .45 nor 9mm are suitable for hunting anything but varmints.
 
I hunt Central California for pigs, also. I use either my Rem 700 in .308 or my Win model 70 in .270. I carry a Ruger Stainless Security Six in .357 Mag. for my side arm. I haven't ever been charged but my hunting buddy shot a pig, breaking its back. When he went to cut its throat, it jumped up using its front legs only and chased him for 60-70 yards until it bled out.
 
I have been on hundreds of hog hunts over the last 30 years and have only seen unwounded hogs charge on 3 occassions. A wounded boar, however, if approached will usually charge. I use to carry a sidearm for hog hunting and used the 38 Super in 1911 with great success. I also owned a S&W 44 magnum- but prefered the semi-auto for hogs. While a 9mm would be ok on smaller pigs, I think it would be on the light side when it comes to stopping a large boar thats charging. I no longer bother to carry a sidearm if I'm hunting with a rifle as I have never had a rifle fail on me, & the added weight of carrying a handgun & ammo is not worth it, especially if you do a lot of walking.
 
If I take a shot on a hog, I'm pretty sure I'll take it down. I'm a pretty good shot. I'm not worried as much about wounding the hog and getting charged. I'm just saying I know of friends that have been charged by unwounded hogs.

Now that I'm really thinking about it, I'm also going to be hunting other game in areas with mountain lions. I could even come across bears if I take a trip to northern California. I don't plan on killing lions or bears, just want to be prepared to defend myself if necessary. You know the old boy scout "be prepared" tag line.

I'm leaning more and more to the .357 Ruger. Plus 38 specials are cheap for some range fun. I'm still torn though. I'd really like a semi auto like the 1911. I mean 8-10 consecutive rounds of 45 ACP should stop a boar, bear or mountain lion.... right?

Jeez, I'm probably going to end up with both of them before I know it.
 
.44 mag! Been carrying one for 35 yrs. Also good for pesky gators, snakes and a handy backup for deer and hogs. I can go pistol if the shot's too close for a rifle, it also shares cartridges with a 1894 Marlin.
 
ZJEEP, If'n you haven't put down hogs yet... don't think it is like a deer. Bullet placement is much different on hogs than deer. The heart lays lower in the chest, and IIRC the gut room is further forward leaving a smaller target. The shoulder shield on a "warrior" boar is up to and possibly beyond 2 1/2 inches thick. I have found broadheads and FMJ bullets in the shield of hogs that were fully healed and fighting off my dogs just fine. Some of the meanest fighters I have seen were "tri-pod" hogs with a bum front leg from previous gun shots. One of the nicest mounts I have seen was a hog that had abscess all over his face from a full load count of 00 buck so distance was not excessive and he not only survived the shooting but healed up enough to live on and when he got bayed by dogs, was able to kill one and cut up the rest. They are not un-stoppable but they are much hardier than many shooters give them credit.
Brent
 
I use to hunt hogs on the Great Pee Dee River in S.C. before I moved here a couple of years back and I always carried my Ruger NM 30 Carbine w/me..It stops them in their tracks..Don't get to hunt them here;well because I haven't seen any wild hogs in Va.;Think the ol' farmers around here would get upset if I shot their lose pigs..LOL!!!But think of getting rid of it;if ur interested in it let me know..(see pics.)She might be a little worse for wear; but bad to the bone!!!;)
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hogdogs, I'll be hunting with other friends that have taken many a hog. I also took the time to learn the anatomy of a properly placed hog shot. I found a sweet website that showed pictures of a pig layer by layer down to the vitals.

Thanks for the offer on the .30 carbine, Geronimo. It's just not quite as versatile as my other choices.
 
Z, was it the "texasboars" site? they have tons of info too! Ya'll keep in mind i have never shot a hog on a hunt... Just point blank .22 or pellet gun to the head in a pen. I started trapping just to get "trainer pigs" to start the hog doggin' thing. But I was amazed at how much they deviate from deer anatomy. I have butchered with a guy beside me who had shot one hog and never found it and his jaw dropped when we opened 'er up. He said that thing is so lazy the heart is resting on the floor...:eek:
Brent
 
HOGDOGS, me and you would get along famously. I was in SC for 4 years. While the pigs don't get the tusks yall have down there, they can grow em big. A buddy and I took his 80 pound black lab down to the state forrest one night. It was 2 weeks before deployment and we were looking for some action before we left. Anyway, we went down to the swamp, drove the roads with the dog in the back, looking for hogs with the Q-beams. Well we saw a pack and stopped the truck. That dog played bay and catch. Seperated a 150 lb sow from the herd, and bayed. Long story short, went to the dog and hog, 200yds with knives and surefires. Got to them, they took back off back towards the road. Went back and Champ (dog) had that sow by the tail going round and round. Flew and stuck her thru the shoulder blades then behind the shoulder.

That was by far the hugest adrenaline rush ever, ever. When we got to the hog my buddy didn't have but a 4 inch lock blade, I had the Rambo first blood knife. She grabbed him by the pant leg and shook her head like a pitbull. Then I closed her down.

Backstraps were 30 minutes from field to the grill. We killed another before we left.

Killed pleanty more with the bow. I love to shoot hogs with a bow. The squeal they make after an arrow goes thru the shoulder is priceless.

zjeepgozweeln :
As far as a side arm, Don't worry about the extra weight. Put the .308 where it needs to be and call it a day.
 
WP, I bet that lab was givin' that hog heck! For a real deal seal the deal do or die you gotta see a solo bay dog bayed up in a meadow and send in one 54 pound bulldog to catch on the ear of a 200 pound hog. When that white dog is being shook it looks like the pig is waving a surrender flag but you never know which shake is gonna ruin that dog or worse.
Cutters are as genetic as antlers... One spot we hunt has a gob of pure black hogs that get real big (200+ is common) but they have little teeth and not terrible fighters... Then a mile or 2 away we get on Duroc (red hogs) or spotted pigs that will be 125-145 with 2 full inches and a mean-ness for fight... just dog wrecking slobs! It is weird hor much variation we get in little distance.
Brent
 
zjeep,

i hunt wart-hogs about twice a week. i often carry a side arm and a knive and hope i never have to use them. any of the hand guns you mentioned will do the job. just remember the best option(when charged) is still your hunting rifle the handgun is a distant second option and i dont even want to talk about the knive.remember the old rule when charged is go down on one knee so that you are the same hight as the hog. this will improve your chances for a chest/head shot.

i am glad so many hunters here see hogs as dangerous animals. the hogs over here tend to charge when they have piglets and i have no doubt that such a charge will be a fight to the death.

let us know what you bougt in the end.
 
Dan, I do not doubt your remarks at all but it takes a certain mindset (not sure I have it) to get on a knee when they are charging but I rarely have any firearm... just a 3.75 inch Buck 110 lock blade in my hip pocket...:eek: My first thought is SIDE STEP SIDE STEP SIDE STEP.... Second thought is "Where the heck is a tree when you need one....:D
Brent
 
first hog i ever shot was from a ground blind over bait at 20m . the boar (150#) came at the bait head on to me and started munching. i shot dead in the head with a .357 mag. he went down for about 5 seconds and was up and running. which of course was right tword me. i got 3 more rushed shots before i finaly dropped him for good at 15'.
 
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