What's the best hog PISTOL?

I voted .44, but you dont specify, my favorite is the .45 colt, followed by .44 mag. autos are not made for hunting, use em for what they were made for, self defense. revolvers and their calibers are made for hunting, even the "puny" .357 mag is marginal.

The bigger in diameter and weight the better.

How big are the hogs?

.357 Mag up to 200 lbs. (easily) and .44 Mag up to 300 lbs. (easily).

If I had a .44, I wouldn't leave it at home in favor of a .357.

Like anything else no "best". For anything much larger than piglets I don't use the 357. The 44 has much more umph but still light to the 500. For distance shots an XP 100 or contender are hard to beat.

I voted for all of them. Anything you CAN shoot a hog with, it's good.

My personal choice is .44/45 though.

Lots of things to factor in here before I vote. You answered one "average size where you hunt". Another is average range of shot. Another would be open area or swampy overgrown.

The size range you stated, in pretty much either open or overgrown I would have to say the .44mag. The .357 is fine medicine for up close and personal, but you will get more range from the .44mag. For the big hogs or out to 100 yards, I would break out my .500 S&W.

Pistol hunting hogs is great fun. Been doing it for a lot of years and it is damn near as fun as archery for hogs. Load up some 300gr hard casts in that .44mag and get to dropping some bacon!

My vote is for the .41 mageven though it's not a choice.

I like the .30WCF. I shoot it from a 12" contender. Other than that, I voted for .45 as in COLT, most definitely NOT ACP. I've taken 'em with .357, though. Shooting a hot 180, it works fine 50 yards and in. 9mm is the only one on the list I wouldn't consider using. I've killed a few in the trap with 9mm, 200 lbs at most. It worked, but it was point blank in the shoulder and he kicked a bit longer than the ones I've shot with .357 and .45 Colt.

My vote would be for the 44 magnum from your list, but I prefer a 41 magnum.

.45 Long Colt

I like jmorris`s way of thinking, I use one of my Rem. XP`s

.454 Casull. Can also shoot .45 Colt.

I use .357 but it's not far, I use it for back up. A 30-30 or a mosin is my first choice.

I guess I am old school and pefer the Peacemaker type, open sights is the only way. kinda like bow hunting, you got to get close, I am a good shot with open sights and am not afraid to shoot 60-100 yards with my .45 colt with 300 grain cast flat nose. I just cant see putting a scope on a revolver like this. dont have to mess with the eye relief, my target is right in immediate sight.

In revolvers I have used everything from my 30 Carbine up through my 454, in autos both my 45ACP and my 10mm.

In most cases the shot ranges were easier measured in feet over yards. While I freely admit that the Carbine, is terribly light, it did what was needed when the time came. With the .357's I have used both JHP's and cast boolits in the 140 - 180gr range. Of them all I feel the 150'ish grain weights in a good controlled expansion bullet like the Gold Dots or XTP's are best but the same could easily be said for the same weight cast WFN's as well.

We hunt using a variety of tactics ranging form dogs, spot and stalk, to simply still hunting or doing drives. Around the areas I hunt them they are pretty savvy to having the heat brought down upon them so if you only stick to one method your not going to do as well. When we're still hunting the shots could be anywhere from 10' to 100yds depending on just where we come up on them, or cross paths. In every situation there are different variables, but usually at the initial shot they are headed the other direction at warp speed. Sometimes however, you get the odd one that heads right too you and thats when it gets fun. Other times we are in brush so thick you can't see more than a few yards ahead of you and when someone else jumps them all you can see is the brush shaking as they come to you. At these times, is when you really appreciate something with a bit of stopping power as you never can tell if they are 20# or 200# till they get there.

All this said my most carried revolver has been my Redhawk in 41 magnum. Loaded with the Remington 200gr SJHP it has put plenty on the ground. When I can roll one at 100yds in with it, I feel little need for anything else. Lately I have however been leaving it at home and hauling my 454 around, which I got a nice 80'ish pound sow with a couple of weeks back at 87yards, using some 300gr home cast boolits. I am now working on loads for my newly acquired Redhawk in 45 Colt. Preliminary results from what limited testing I have been able to carry out are showing some great promise. I shot a 3" group with it yesterday, at 100yds from a rest, so I feel that the hogs, just lost another rung on the ladder, when it comes time to get after them.

Overall I would suggest one of the following, if you handload the 41mag, if not then the 44 mag or 45 Colt. Any of these will be recoil friendly, for the most part, which will allow you to practice more. Ammo can be easily found that will easily take even the biggest feral hog to it's knees with a proper shot. Lastly, no matter which brand or caliber you choose get something with adjustable sights. This way you can accurately sight in for which ever bullet weight you decide to use. Pick a load that you can comfortably and accurately shoot well at 25yds off hand, and go have fun.

my pick would be a 454 casull in a Encore
but out of your list 45 LC or 44 mag
in a single shot pistol

I use a revolver (iron sights) in .44 or .45 Colt, with 250 gr.+ cast bullets (WFNGC) in the 1100-1200 fps range.
Largest hog to date was over 450 lbs.
No problems with this combination.

I have such high hopes for my FA in .454 in the future. I 'think it will work'~!

I have taken several with a .44 Mag in a Ruger Blackhawk Hunter-Bisley frame. Handload with 240JHP over a generous dose of H110. It worked to perfection.

autos are not made for hunting, use em for what they were made for, self defense. revolvers and their calibers are made for hunting,

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Amen I'd amend that to say MAGNUM calibers with barrel lengths 4" or longer. .45 Colt is a magnum caliber when properly loaded in a Blackhawk. But, I wouldn't use my .38 snub any quicker than my 9x19s or .45 ACP.

Freedom covered it well. It does depend on how you will hunt. if your chaseing dogs and comeing up close being able to carry a gun for a long distance that can be handled quickly is a plus. I used a 357 with 180gr HC loads for 20 years. I had no issues with how it worked.
The 44 revolvers work better if your standing off at a distance by offering more power and range. The .500?? At the weight and cost of those revolvers a rifle might make more sence. Unless your stand hunting for hogs the hunts typicaly involves covering alot of ground and doing that with a 4 to 5 lb revolver can wear on a person.

my magnum research bfr 45/70