.45 on wild pig

[Diggler]

If I can find a place to hunt, I would like to take my son (10 years old) on a wild pig hunt this spring in Florida. I plan on him using a heavy load (105 gr) in a .243 while I back him up. If I do hunt along with him instead of just accompany him, I'd rather take a bow but I'd still like to have backup.

Has anyone used a .45 to stop a pig? I know they can get ornery especially if you don't shoot them dead enough. I would like to carry my .45 auto for backup, but won't bother if it won't do any good on them. Has anyone tried this? Will I have to leave my bow at home and take a 12 ga. with slugs or my 7mm mag?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I went on a hunt in PA.

Shot a 300lb boar with a Glock 10mm, extended barrel. It didn't go more than 10 feet. However, it was a good shot and took it's front shoulder out.

They have had guys shoot them with arrows 5-6 times and the boar keep going.

They thought we were crazy to hunt on the ground with pistols. And I almost agree.

Are you going to be on the ground or in a tree?

If on the ground I would want a bit more than a .45
At times the 10mm didn't seem like a good idea

It very much depends on what your plan is and how big the pigs are down there.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I know a guy that killed a Russian wild boar with a 4 inch Ruger Blackhawk .45LC with hot rod loads.

Took him all six shots to do it. He's no slouch when it comes to shooting either. Boar can be tough to kill.

 

[lawboy]

if it were me and my 10-year-old son on the ground witha boar (which, by the way, it would NEVER be), I would not have a bow or a.45. I'd have a hot loaded 45-70. Honestly, I thought your post was a joke at first just because I found it hard to believe anyone would push the envelop that much with a child along for the ride. Boar can be killed with a bow, or a .45 or a rock, but the margin of error is large with any of them and the room for disaster too great. Now, for a group of grown men who do it for sport and the added challenge, and who can run, or climb a tree or whatever, fine. But for a young boy to be along ... if you were alone you could just run or climb or fight or whatever suited to, but with your son along, you have only one choice if things go wrong; protect him. That makes it much more difficult to manage the situation (like being home alone during a break in vs. being home with your wife and kids, can't just go out the back, you have to fight). What if your son and you get separated and the board goes after him and not you. There you stand with a bow and a .45. Show some common sense. Take the boy DEER hunting. If you must hunt boar, get yourself enough gun. Good lord.

 

[Stand_Watie]

But for a young boy to be along ... if you were alone you could just run or climb or fight or whatever suited to, but with your son along, you have only one choice if things go wrong; protect him

You could get one of those rodeo clown barrels for him to shoot from

 

[JohnKSa]

I have a friend who killed a hog by emptying his .357 magnum into it.

...that was after he climbed a tree.

...and after he had shot it 5 times with a 30-06 rifle.

I have another friend who shot a small (he estimated 40-50lbs) hog a few times at very close range with a Ruger .45 Auto. It got away.

 

[Diggler]

I guess I should have been more specific with my plans. We were considering a guided hunt with Ron's Guide Service, with their guides providing primary backup and their dogs baying a lone pig, or find some private land and just hunt out of treestands. The average size of the pigs seems to be about 125 lbs. I wouldn't have taken a bow with us if it was just me and him. With the guides accompanying us, I would possibly consider having a bow with me, and a backup gun that would stop the pig JUST IN CASE.

I have not hunted pig before and was just asking if a .45 is suitable... it is one helluva manstopper, and I was wondering if it was effective on pig, I didn't know. I guess it isn't, so my question is answered. I didn't want to get in there and have to use the .45, empty a clip into him and find out that it might as well have been a rock.

I don't have a 45-70, the biggest guns I have are a 7mm mag loaded with Barnes X bullets that I use for bear, and a 12 gauge that I can load with slugs. Enough gun? And obviously even when taking these guns I should leave the .45 at home, it would just be extra weight.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Diggler,
We had a blast on the hunt we went on in PA.

Think it was Big Mike's Hunting preserve or something like that.
Very well run, a real hunt, not a canned deal.

You may want to look into his place. Save you the drive to FL.

Also, the boar are bigger.

I never got to post the pics and am gone again. However, if you do a search I posted last year with more info on the place.

Good luck with it.

 

[Diggler]

Ohen,

Thanks for the info... but my in-laws live near Orlando and we go down there at least twice a year! The smaller pigs don't bother me since we will have a free hunt if we can find some private land, and it sure beats going to Disney or Universal AGAIN.

Somehow I just can't bring myself to hunt ANY preserve with fences, no matter how big the area. We have been wanting to move to the central FL area for some time now and I'd like to get a feel for some of the wilderness areas down there and the differences in hunting opportunities compared to Pennsylvania.

Anybody need a web developer/computer progammer down there?

 

[Smoke]

I've shot pigs with a .45acp

3 Smallish pigs, 40-45#, 230gr FMJ went through and through, took 3 rounds to stop. All were well placed.

1 larger pig, 150#, 230gr JHP, took two to stop.

2 good sized pigs, 200#+, took multiple rounds of ball ammo and ran off. Had to hunt and finish with 30-30.

Pistol calibers will do it if placed very well. Rifle is better.

Incidents of pigs chasing people or "treeing" them are rare. Sows more likely to confront if they have young ones about. Never seen a boar make a stand.

Smoke

 

[AKAMac]

First post but I had to join to chime in.
I worked on an Island where the pigs were more than a nuisance they were down right destructive. The cover that was available to them made long shots iffy at best. I bought a 45 super that is legal here in Ca. to use for game. The seven pigs that I took were at 40 yards or less and only one required further attention. I have had ones run farther after being hit with a 308 spbt from my BLR. The frontal area on the 45 makes for excellent
energy dissipation.
A standard 45 will work but be sure to be ready to dispence rounds.
Have fun in Flordia and try to get out to Red fish pass for black tip sharks, they are such a hoot to catch.
Mike

 

[Greybeard]

AKAMac - Welcome to THR.

 

[patentnonsense]

I tried to do coup de grace on one pig my friend had dropped with a 30-30 - using a 45ACP with hunting loads (not +P, but not ball either), I shot it in the head four times, point blank, and it still was trying to run. I finally gave up and just let it wind down.

I think .44 is more the ticket for backup - I usually carry a 629 or Desert Eagle as sidearm.

 

[twoblink]

My friend does his boars with 8mm mausers..

His "backup" is the .44Mag.. His buddies backup was 9mm.. and let me just say, for the record, 10 rounds of 9mm will NOT stop a boar... and so I'd question .45 as a backup.

 

[AKAMac]

I posted with data from a 45 super. I qualified this with the "be ready to dispense rounds" statement for the ACP. My Springfield 45 long slide chambers both rounds and I can't hunt legally in Ca. with the ACP round. There is a conversion that is available to use this 1200 fps 230 grain jhp in modern 1911 style auto loaders. I was just giving my own experience with 45 auto hunting.
I agree with the 9mm failure just ask the FBI.
Read here http://www.real-guns.com/archives/020.htm

 

[H&Hhunter]

I saw Ashley of AO sights brain a good sized sow with his .45acp. But I'd be worried about them stopping one with a boddy shot.

 

[AKAMac]

I'm rather proud of being a hunter, I do not appologize for the fact.

Sorry H&H I couldn't resist

 

[Art Eatman]

"Apologize" doesn't pee twice.

, Art

 

[AKAMac]

I just assumed H&H was PEED off.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Are you boys funnin me??? If so you'd better watch it. I do have a 7 years of learnin. An I'll use it on you if'n forced.....

 

[Tactical]

one shot 45+P Speer = Dead pig, this past summer.

 

[Greybeard]

I carried Glock .45ACP loaded with FMJs on weak side hip for 2 solid days while hog hunting last month. As a tree-climbin' gun if I had to drop the 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk!

 

[AKAMac]

I'm not sure about posting with company names but I buy from this co. and am showing data from there.

H&H I would never fun around with a gunney.

45 ACP. For those who prefer the old standby, Texas Ammunition offers two standard 45 ACP loads, the Hornady 185 Grain XTP-JHP (975 fps and 390 ft. lbs muzzle energy), and the Hornady 230 Grain XTP-JHP bullets ( 850 fps and 369 ft. lbs muzzle energy).

45 ACP Tactical. For those wanting more power out of their 45 ACP and have a 45 ACP rated for +P ammunition, Texas Ammunition Company offers our 45 ACP Tactical loads with Hornady XTP-JHP bullets in 185 Grain at 1200 fps (591 ft. lbs muzzle energy), 200 Grain at 1080 fps (518 ft. lbs of energy), and 230 Grain XTP-JHP and FMH-FP at 985 fps (495 ft. lbs of muzzle energy). These loads are more powerful than any 45 ACP +P load on the market, These loads are NOT 45 Super® loads, but are loaded using 45 Super® cases to provide sufficient safety for the increased pressures, and can be fired in any 45 ACP handgun rated for 45 ACP +P loads.

45 Super®. Texas Ammunition Company offers more 45 Super® loads than any other ammunition manufacturer. Utilizing quality Hornady bullets and Starline Brass, the 45 Super® delivers more energy on target than any other practical automatic handgun cartridge. To find out more about the 45 Super®, see our page ABOUT THE 45 SUPER®!!! Texas Ammunition Company offers 4 different powerful 45 Super® loads: the Hornady 185 Grain XTP-JHP at 1300 fps (694 ft. lbs of muzzle energy); 200 Grain XTP-JHP at 1200 fps (639 ft. lbs of muzzle energy); and 230 Grain XTP-JHP and 230 FMJ-FP at 1100 fps (618 ft. lbs of muzzle energy).

45 Super® (Express). Last year Texas Ammunition Company introduced its 45 Super® Express loads to allow the handgun hunter to take advantage of the added potential of a 6" longslide handgun. The additional mass of a 6" slide allows for increased performance with the same recoil and operation of our standard 45 Super® loads; but with a significant increase in velocity and energy. Our 45 Super® Express loads utilize the same bullet weights as the standard 45 Super®: The Hornady 185 Grain XTP-JHP loaded to 1400 fps (805 ft. lbs of muzzle energy); 200 Grain XTP-JHP at 1300 fps (750 ft. lbs of muzzle energy; and the 230 Grain XTP-JHP and FMJ-FP loaded to 1200 fps (735 ft. lbs of muzzle energy).

The 45 Super® Express loads are specifically designed to meet the requirements of those states that require minimum s energy requirements for handgun hunting. The 230 grain XTP-JHP and FMJ-FP 45 Super® Express deliver a stout 735 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle and a whopping 529 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards.

 

[MLC]

Ohen Cepel,
I read in a local PA paper that Big Mike was in a bit of trouble because his pigs weren't staying on his property. Neighbors have complained of their gardens and flowerbeds being destroyed as well as numerous car vs hog accidents. I think they estimated about 15K in damages so far.
Big Mike denied that they were his although I believeone of the accidents involved a hog with his tags.
I read the article a few months back so I'm not 100% on the details.

 

[Diggler]

What do you think would be a better choice of gun for the boy to hunt wild pig (with appropriate backup of course)... .243 bolt action or 7.62x39 semi-auto? I think that both would work with a good shot behind the shoulder, but that the .30 caliber bullet and the additional weight would maybe do a slightly better job on hogs.