.44 or 45-70 for hogs in CA??

[SIGarmed]

Well I'm looking for an excuse to buy a new rifle.

I'm entertaining the idea of buying myself a Marlin lever gun this year.
I'd like to try my luck with the California feral hogs.
If it were up to you would you go with a lever gun in .44 magnum or the Guide gun in 45-70? I'm also going to try my luck with still hunting in the brush hence a big bore lever gun.

It would be neat to have a companion for my Redhawk, but I want to be able drop my prey with one shot. I'm concerned about meat loss, is a 45-70 too much for California hogs? I've read that the only big ones are mostly raised on ranches were they're vaccinated and castrated hence they're bigger. The feral ones on public land maybe smaller.

Your thoughts and experiences are welcome.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Sig,
There are plenty off big ferral hogs in the wilds of CA. For all around hunting the .45-70 is far more usefull. And I've personally seen a .44 fail on a large hog. The .44 is really to light for general hog hunting. That's not to say a hog can't be killed with one and I've done it but it is not my first choice.

A .45-70 will handle any hog on earth in just about any situation.

 

[cratz2]

While I would like to think that a stout 44 Magnum from a rifle would stop most hogs, I think if you want a better chance of a one shot stop, I'd go with the 45-70. With solid bullets, you shouldn't have much meat loss.

 

[SIGarmed]

Thanks folks,

I'm leaning toward the Guide gun.

Nice photo album cratz2.