.44 AutoMag vs Hog

[Japle]

I decided to use my .44 AutoMag for hogs today, just for something different. For those who care, the load was the 240 gr Norma JHP over 24.0 gr of WW296 with Win primers in Starline brass. Velocity is only 1307 fps, but it’s 100% reliable and (hopefully) won’t break the gun.
This was the quickest hog hunt I’ve been on. Two hours on a stand with no hogs, but lots of other wildlife to see. Raccoons, deer, various birds and, about 20 minutes after sunrise, a squirrel started going crazy across the clearing. Then, a huge bobcat strolled out of the brush and into the tall grass. I could have shot it, but what would I do with a dead bobcat?
So it was on to the big buggy, following the dogs as they sniffed out hogs. Almost immediately, they chased two hogs into some thick brush. Hogs almost always evade the dogs and get away, but these two tried to hide. They’re so well camouflaged that it’s nearly impossible to see them, but my hunting buddy David spotted one and fired. The other one dithered around for a bit too long and I popped it with the pistol. Turned out my hog weighed about 100 lbs less than David’s and wasn’t much bigger than my pistol. Seriously, his weighed in at 175 and mine was maybe 70.
Should be good eatin’.

 

[FL-NC]

Some automag love! That's a rare bird you got there, and it looks like it did a fine job on that critter. A man I know has 5 automags- under glass. Always thought it was a cool gun.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

240 gr Norma JHP over 24.0 gr of WW296 with Win primers in Starline brass. Velocity is only 1307 fps

There aint much in the lower 48 that that load won't take care of.

Those will be nice eating there.

 

[dekibg]

are you really sure about that "good eatin' " part ?
I heard when you bite into a vein ( while eating a piece of meat), it is like chewing a garden hose

 

[Japle]

are you really sure about that "good eatin' " part ?
I heard when you bite into a vein ( while eating a piece of meat), it is like chewing a garden hose

Cooking makes all the difference. I don't plan to eat my pig raw.

 

[FL-NC]

dekibg- clearly you've never been to a Carolina pig picking, or a Hawaiian luau. Do it like this an even a gnarly old feral hog tastes good.

 

[jerkface11]

That little guy would fit in the smoker whole.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Good use of an Automag. Neat to see one in the field.

 

[gotboostvr]

Not much a good 240gr .430 @ 1300 fps won't do.
Shame that round didn't catch on more.

 

[444]

Yeah, the AutoMag angle makes the whole story.

Congrats. Very cool.

 

[dekibg]

dekibg- clearly you've never been to a Carolina pig picking, or a Hawaiian luau. Do it like this an even a gnarly old feral hog tastes good.

I would like to, pork is my favorite meat !

To OP:
very nice gun, nice trophy

 

[OilyPablo]

Most people don't hardly shoot their .44 Automags, even at the range. Just sit on them.

What kind of rifle does your friend have?

Nice hunting. Sounds like great stress relief!

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

Poor little piggie

 

[Drail]

I love your "buggy". Really nice camouflage on that "small" hog. I always thought they were pretty much one color. That would be tough to pick out.

 

[LeonCarr]

Great to see an AutoMag being used instead of being just a conversation piece.

Great job on the hogs, now go shoot another 7,000,000 of them .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Japle]

Not my buggy. I was hunting with these guys:
http://www.okeechobee-hunting-fishing.com/index.html

I've hunted there several times and the variety of natural camo those hogs carry is amazing. Spotting one in the thick brush is hard as hell. Telling one end from the other is even harder.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

are you really sure about that "good eatin' " part ?

Wild hog is better than any store bought pork if prepared correctly.

Take a backstrap and marinate it overnight in some soy sauce, olive oil and minced garlic. Pat dry the next day and season with salt, pepper and Cavenders seasoning and grill them whole. Let em rest about 15 minutes and then slice them about 1" thick.

Man you ain't ever had pork until you've had it that way.

 

[gotboostvr]

I'm gonna be down very close to Okeechobee come July. Me and a friend down there are planning a baccon makin' excursion. I might look into that outfit.

Paul, to be fair ANY backstrap prepared like that should be real tasty not just pig.
And a +1 for Cavenders, goes on everything.

 

[Japle]

I'm gonna be down very close to Okeechobee come July. Me and a friend down there are planning a baccon makin' excursion.

Every time I've hunted there, I and all the other hunters always get hogs.
Chappy's describes it as a "half day" hunt, but they keep going until everyone has scored.
If you can hunt on a weekday, it'll be much better. They can take 8 hunters and on weekends that's what you often get. My friend and I hunted on Thursday and we were the only hunters there. It makes for a much less stressful day.

 

[gotboostvr]

Japle, he's got some land we're free to use and plenty of time to use it while I'm down there. It's a nice looking outfit for sure though.

 

[CDW4ME]

240 gr. 44 caliber bullet going "only" 1,300 fps

Not sure the word "only" is being used appropriately.

 

[Tallball]

Great post!

You made my SHB jealous!

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

It's funny to hear how pig or even chicken actually tastes good. Pork is only palatable if it is roasted in its own fat and many push all the flavorings or caramelization from grilling to sell its 'yumminess'. Chicken is FAR worse. Try BOILED lean pig or chicken and you'll never eat that again!

 

[gotboostvr]

Alfons, that's why we invented Barbecue sauce!

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

@gotboost.....thought that was for bbq tater chips which are REALLY yum!!!