.44 Special for hog hunting?

IMO: A .44 Spl 240 Keith SWC at 950 - 1,000 in the right place is enough for anything that slithers, hops, walks, jumps, grunts, snarls, whistles, drools, or dumps in the woods in the lower 48.
Probably the other 2 states two, but especially for sure Hawaii.

If you put it through the boiler room, it will die.

But thats just me & my belief in the .44 Special Skeeter load.

rc

As long as you have the proper bullet for the job, as RC so eloquently put it, it would be fine and dandy for even a 300 pounder. As long as you respect it's range limitations.

I believe it was John Taffin who wrote about cleanly taking two 500# hogs with 255gr Keith style bullets.

You are well equipped. Fear not.

Thats what I use. Winny M94 with scope. Out to about 75-80 yards. 240gr SWC ahead of max charge of 4227 or 2400. POP them inna the ear and grab your knife.

Also use my Marlin 44-40 also, same way.

Long as you do your job.

I have a gen 1 charter bulldog in .44 spec. I would not hesitate to use it on a 300 lb 6' 5" drugged up perp.

If you don't reload the .44 specials will cost ya plenty.

You will need at least a 4" barrel for hunting. Six inches is better.



Weren't you just here asking about a 45 colt? If I were looking for a hunting pistol, I would get a old contender, or encore. I have both. I have a 9" 10mm barrel on the contender. It will take out a hog. All you need is one shot.

Suggestion, just open up a topic and ask what is the best pistol to shoot hogs with. You will get lots of answers.

Of course, you may need to calculate how much shooting a pig is gonna cost you. One can find pork all ready processed and wrapped pretty at the local butcher for far less. Ever field dress a hog? They don't smell good. I worked a summer in a pork factory. Good for some, not for me.

rcmodel said:

IMO: A .44 Spl 240 Keith SWC at 950 - 1,000 in the right place is enough for anything that slithers, hops, walks, jumps, grunts, snarls, whistles, drools, or dumps in the woods in the lower 48.
Probably the other 2 states two, but especially for sure Hawaii.

If you put it through the boiler room, it will die.

But thats just me & my belief in the .44 Special Skeeter load.

rc

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^ +1 the name of the game is getting through their thick scar tissue on their flanks, a heavy Keith SWC would do that with ease. While not my first pick for hog there is little doubt that the 44 Special would to the trick on all but the largest of hogs (they reach over half a ton around here) Skip the HPs because they will "dump" too much energy going through the hide IMHO.

Yes it will do fine as long as you put the bullet where it needs to go. I think you should also check this out as well, it contains the best info I've seen yet on this topic (cartridges and bullets for hogs). It dispells a lot of myths out there about what works well on wild hogs. However you will have to draw your own conclusions in the end.
http://www.texasboars.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16920

I would never feel undergunned with a .44 spl on hogs. Shot placement is key !

The only way I learn what will and wont work reasonably well is field research. Its a hog so if you mess up either you miss, wound and loose the animal or get worked over by an angry hog. Yes it will work but there are better guns and better calibers. If you are looking for a one time challenge have at it. I hunt hogs all the time and my closest encounter with a gun has been 29 yards and that is pushing it for a revolver shot. If you have never hunted hogs before I would go out with a better gun if you own one.

I shoot a lot of hogs in my trap. I haven't been real impressed with a .45 caliber 255 grain flat point at 950 fps vs a 165 grain .357 magnum at 1470 fps. I haven't shot one with a 300 grain .45 XTP at 1120, yet. THAT should work well. In this case, the .44 for hog hunting, I'd want the magnum version of the .44 for more zap AND more range.

JMHO Choice is yours. The .44 special at close enough range should work, just I'd wanna be in an elevated blind.

44 special is fine in any load is fine for pigs at 200 or under pounds. The massive ones might need certain precautions (bigger gun / rifle / etc), but those are relatively rare. Most pigs I see are under 150 on the hoof.

I've wallopped many porcupines at night within pine country to thin out the beggars. Porcupines are very destructive. 44 Special is SUPER deadly on these little beasts but I'd likely pass up a hog with my 44.

Perhaps you should test penetration with plywood and phone books to get a fair test of actual penetration.

TR

Archangel...I read your post on the 41mag and this one.You said your recoil shy with a 44mag.You can take away a little recoil with some good Pac grips.Pratice with the 44Specials till you get really used to that and after awhile upgrade into the 44Mag rounds.Then you can use either round out of the pistol.The 41 is a 41 only deal.You won't find it just anywhere if you need a box of ammo,the 44 is common anywhere ammo is sold,plus if you ever deside you you want a rifle to match your ammo,they make those also.

Personally, I've killed hogs with the .357 and I would trust it to take large hogs quicker than .44 special with less recoil than .44 mag. .357 out of my 6.5" blackhawk with 780 ft lbs on tap with a 180 grain XTP lays down the bacon.....so to speak. Recoil is not an issue for ME, but then, neither is .44 mag recoil in a super blackhawk.

ive shot a few hogs with 44 specials, 44 mags and 45 colts loaded with 250 cast at 900 fps. It gets the job done and does it well. Id much rather have that combo then any load in a 357. If i was going to do it with a 357 it would be only with a 180 cast bullet. Ive personaly witnessed 357s and even 41 mags fail using to light of a jacketed bullet. the 44 specail loaded to those levels kills as well as any 357 and it does it with less recoil and muzzle blast then full power 357 loads and if a guy wants and has a ruger 44 special he can crank that velocity up to near 1200 fps and thats 44 mag teritory.

Id much rather have that combo then any load in a 357.

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Me too Lloyd!