Handgun for defense from wild boar

It is not a waste of energy- "entry" and "exit" wounds are the desired effect/perfromance in hunting (and especially big/dangerous game) ammunition.

I agree.

But we aren't talking about hunting. We are talking about stopping an aggressive animal. Hunters like the entry and exit wound becuase of the increased possibility of a good blood trail so that they may locate shot game that doesn't immediately drop. Problem is, shot game often runs quite far and can have considerable power left before dying, even when mortally wounded. As with self defense against humans, the real goal isn't to kill the aggressor, but to stop the aggressor as fast as possible.

And IMHO that theory is a bunch of hogwash.

Double Naught Spy said:

But we aren't talking about hunting. We are talking about stopping an aggressive animal.

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Hunting, stopping an agressive animal- where's the distinction? Either way, we are talking about stopping an animal in both cases.

Both acts involve shooting an animal- if a hunter shoots a charging Cape Buffalo/wild boar/mountain lion/black bear- at what point does it become 'not hunting'? Does hunting only involve shooting sedate, relaxed animals? I think not.

As DNS said there is a different purpose between shooting at a hunted animal and one that is menacing you. The hunted animal should be dispatched quickly with as little post-shot movement so it can be recovered quickly. The goal of shooting at a belligerant animal is to scare or wound it so its attack is stopped quickly. What happens to the animal is irrelevant.

best wishes- oldandslow

Hunting, stopping an agressive animal- where's the distinction? Either way, we are talking about stopping an animal in both cases.

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If the animal is broadside 100 yards away it won't matter iff he runs 50 yards before he stops. If he's 20 yards and running at you, 50 yards gives him 30 yards worth of dancing on your butt.

481 said:

Hunting, stopping an agressive animal- where's the distinction?

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mavracer said:

If the animal is broadside 100 yards away it won't matter iff he runs 50 yards before he stops. If he's 20 yards and running at you, 50 yards gives him 30 yards worth of dancing on your butt.

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You missed the point. As I said in the second sentence of my post- either way, we are talking about stopping an animal in both cases.

You missed the point. As I said in the second sentence of my post- either way, we are talking about stopping an animal in both cases.

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Hey I gave it a shot if you still don't understand the distinction I can't help you. Hopefully it doesn't hurt too bad if you ever have to figure it out for yourself.

Smokey,

I live in your neck-of-the-woods and, so far, haven't been bothered by hogs or bear.

But, you're right about being prepared. What is unlikely can turn into likely in a flash.

I carry a Ruger GP-100 loaded with Buffalo Bore 180gr. Hard Cast. Don't bother getting a short barreled .357 for the woods. Your G17, with the right ammo, is just as good. Buy a 4" or 6".

Have fun with the family.

You missed the point. As I said in the second sentence of my post- either way, we are talking about stopping an animal in both cases.

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mavracer is sort of right, but I will try to re-explain. It isn't about whether or not the animal is stopped, but when. That is a HUGE point in self defense with firearms. Too many bad guys and bad animals get stopped by a shot, but still manage to harm or kill the hunter/good guy.

Also, hunting isn't about stopping an animal from doing something. It is about KILLING an animal. You would not butch a live animal that was simply "stopped" would you? I think not. Self defense doesn't care if the person/animal is alive or dead so long as they have stopped their aggressive activities.

Hunters have the luxury of picking and choosing their shots at will and opting not to shoot if they don't like the target being presented to them. In self defense, that isn't always an option.

Hunting, stopping an agressive animal- where's the distinction? Either way, we are talking about stopping an animal in both cases.

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LOL, most of the time, hunters are not shooting aggressive animals. Most of the time, huntings are shooting animals that are just going about their normal activities. Usually when hunters shoot aggressive animals, it is because they have done something to make the animal turn aggressive such as by releasing chase and catch dogs against it or have already wounded it or one of its brethren.
http://healdsburg.patch.com/articles/hunter-attacked-by-boar-at-lake-sonoma
http://www.gon.com/article.php?id=2081&cid=84

These two examples are great. The hunters hunted and the animals, which previously posed no immediate threat, did so after being shot. In the second case, it sounds like a mortal shot, but the hunter didn't let the animal bleed out before trying to find it and the animal simply defended itself.

A 4" 357mag GP100 Ruger. Or better yet, a 10mm G20 Glock. Loaded with some Hard Cast Buffalo Bore

The Judge with buck would be an absolutely idiotic choice for large pigs.
The velocity is greatly reduced from a .410 shotgun (which nobody would recommend in itself as a first choice on a sizable hog) and the pattern spreads too rapidly from a rifled barrel.
You'd lose penetration, and you'd have to be way too close to get the full charge of buck into the critter.

A need to defend against a wild hog is rare, but we're talking about the possibility, and in that event you want a much more realistic & effective defensive tool than the Judge.
Denis

Hey smokey,

I know where you are. When I was a little younger I dated a gal from Calhoun.

I'm East of you now in Union County.

Take care.

twinny said:

thru the critter? If he's charging you, you are shooting at his front, guys! I don't WANT more than 10" of penetration, ever, in a handgun load, cause if I can get more penetration than that, it means that I got little or no expansion of the bullet. Nothing that is adquately controlable in rapidfire has enough energy to give you both good expansion and lots of penetration.

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twinny said:

after you pierce the chest,..

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"Ever"? Even without hitting bone? Very often, to get 10" into the chest, you have to break bones.. often very heavy bones.
I'll take a SWC that'll break bones, penetrate through the vitals and still make a big hole every single time.
Heck, a good performer/stopper would be one that broke the near shoulder, went through the vitals and then destroyed the off-side/far pelvis, all while creating a permanent full caliber size hole or bigger.

mavracer said:

Hey I gave it a shot if you still don't understand the distinction I can't help you. Hopefully it doesn't hurt too bad if you ever have to figure it out for yourself.

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You can parse it however you want- you still missed the point.

If you get it, no explanation is necessary. If you don't get it no explanation is possible. Try not to let it ruin your day.

Double Naught Spy said:

mavracer is sort of right...

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What a creative way of saying that he is wrong. Have to remember that one.

Double Naught Spy said:

It isn't about whether or not the animal is stopped, but when.

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Both examples (hunting an animal and stopping an animal) demand this. A quick "stop" is desired in both pursuits.

Double Naught Spy said:

Also, hunting isn't about stopping an animal from doing something.

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Yes, it is. It is about brininging the animal down as quickly (which is the most humane way to do it) as possible.

Double Naught Spy said:

You would not butch a live animal that was simply "stopped" would you?

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No idea what to make of this- how do you butch an animal? Is that some sort of haircut?

Double Naught Spy said:

LOL, most of the time, hunters are not shooting aggressive animals.

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And sometimes they do. And it is all part of hunting. Better have a bullet that goes all the way through.

Stopping a hunted animal instantly is a goal, stopping an attacking animal instantly is an imperative.
The two situations are quite different.

Yes, the humane thing to do in hunting an animal at a distance is to prevent its suffering.
In a defensive case with a charged-up & angry animal quite capable of causing you severe injury at close proximity, the humane thing to do is your absolute utmost in ensuring the critter doesn't cause YOU suffering.

A deer or elk standing there on a hill 75 yards away has no adrenaline rush, no urge to attack, and will only run away if your shot is a wounding hit. You can track it at leisure and finish the job if it's still alive when you find it again.

A charging boar does have an adrenaline rush, it's close enough to pose a very real threat (IF IT DOES OCCUR), it's equipped with the ability to cause injury or death, and if it's charging that's most likely what it has on its mind.
If your first shot only wounds it, the thing most likely won't run away, it'll most likely continue on if it can, and it'll be even closer by the time you get your second shot off. If you even have time for a second shot.

I don't consider a 9mm with ANY load to be sufficient for the purposes of this discussion, but it's deteriorating into a name-calling derivative of a caliber war, and it's gotten unproductive.
Make your own choices.
Denis

Pig are NASTY! If pig and bear are going to be the major threat, then you should carry something better suited to deal with them. I would reccomend .44mag and up. If you have something else, .357 mag, 41mag/spec, 44spec, you can probably make due, but ask youself this, if a pig came by and I had to shoot it, what hand gun would I want in my hand...then get that! (and for all you who say rifle/ shotgun...get real. Obviously the long arms are always the best way to go, but who goes grocery shopping with and AR-15 on their back? No sense going to the woods if you can't enjoy it doing what you want, which sometimes precludes a long gun.) Also, a good 10mm auto with Buffalo Bore 220gr Hardcast flat nosed rounds should do just fine. I know many people who carry G20 with that for bear defense...should work well on pigs.

Glock 20, 10mm.
Buffalo Bore, 220 grain hard cast bullets.

'nuff said.

The javelina I've run into on my hikes have tended to be pretty shy about humans. That doesn't mean a boar might be having a "bad hair" day and while my in town EDC is a 1911, I carry a 4" GP100 in the field with 158gr hard cast lead flat pointed slugs on the trails.

The javelina I've run into on my hikes have tended to be pretty shy about humans.

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While interesting, the closest non-zoo javelina to where the OP will be spending time are some 850 miles away. Javelina, while called pigs, hogs, boars, etc., are not actually in the same family as the pigs the OP is discussing.

^ I'd say a rabid possum going for your giblets is "dangerous". Matter of fact I've seen grown men scream like little girls under such situations.. quite understandable but nevertheless funny as heck.

^ I'd say a rabid possum going for your giblets is "dangerous".

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LOL, you likely won't ever find a rabid opossum though any mammal may carry rabies. Rabies in opossums is almost non-existent because of their low body temperatures.