Handgun for defense from wild boar

[smokey30725]

Hello all. My son and I have begun to camp and do a little hiking together on a mountian near where we live. I typically carry a glock 17 or my little Smith and Wesson 422 22lr pistol to deal with coyotes and wild dogs and venomous snakes if necessary. Over the last several years the feral hog population has exploded around my part of north Georgia. We also have a decent amount of blackbears in the area we frequent. It has me wondering if the glock 17 is enough. I typically load 124 gr winchester pdx in it with a spare mag handy. I was wondering what you guys would recommend. Just looking for a "just in case gun" that I can keep handy while fishing, hiking , etc.

 

[oldandslow]

smokey, 10/10/12

I've put a few hogs down with rifles and shotgun slugs and they can be really tough to drop. One two hundred pounder took a 270 Winchester through both lungs and the heart and still ran full bore 40 yards into the jungle. For my backup pistol I carry either a 44 special SW 329 revolver with 250 grain lead bullets at 900 ft/second or a HK-USPcompact .45 with 230 grain FMJ's so I can get some penetration to the vitals. The good news is that most pigs are nocturnal so unless you're hiking at dusk or dawn or at night you probably won't see them. They are also pretty skittish of humans and will usually hear or smell you and then leave before you see them. So while your risk with hogs is probably minimal it's still nice to have some form of persuasion and I'm not sure the G-17 is enough, especially with HP bullets.

We don't have bears around here so I can't give a valid opinion. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow

 

[snakeman]

I would probably go for a 357 for that purpose. Load it with 158 grain hard cast lead and it will do the trick. A 45 acp with a mix of fmj's and hollow points would also do well. Another one is the taurus judge loaded with 3" 000 buckshot. This load is devastating and delivers several hits on target with each shot.

 

[mdauben]

Another one is the taurus judge loaded with 3" 000 buckshot. This load is devastating and delivers several hits on target with each shot.

Have you tried this load on hogs? I'm curious becuase I have read a lot of critisism of .410 buckshot loads out of the Judge for lack of penetration, which would seem especially critical with trying to stop a charging porker.

 

[scaatylobo]

000,really buck

PLEASE talk to those that shoot and kill wild boar/hogs.

They are VERY hard to kill and DANGEROUS,even moreso when wounded.

The very least I would carry [ and do ] in such country is a .357 loaded with Buffalo Bore 158 grain .

I generally carry a Ruger super blk hawk with Buffalo Bore 305 grain HARD cast lead.

And have taken boar,I have to admit I am not happy without a long gun if there is really a good chance of taking them .

Saw one take 6 rounds of .44 mag from a 6" revolver - then finally stopped.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Shot placement is critical. Probably most hog are in the 200 pound range. Some are bigger.. kinda like humans. I normally carry a heavyish bonded +P or better in a full-size 9 on the street and often, in the woods, for most things, I use pretty heavy hardcast by me SWC's driven about as hot as possible in the same gun.
If I was hunting them (well, I've hunted them with that rig with great results) a .357 or better might be the call.. it's all about where you hit anything.

 

[481]

Hello all. My son and I have begun to camp and do a little hiking together on a mountian near where we live. I typically carry a glock 17 or my little Smith and Wesson 422 22lr pistol to deal with coyotes and wild dogs and venomous snakes if necessary. Over the last several years the feral hog population has exploded around my part of north Georgia. We also have a decent amount of blackbears in the area we frequent. It has me wondering if the glock 17 is enough. I typically load 124 gr winchester pdx in it with a spare mag handy. I was wondering what you guys would recommend. Just looking for a "just in case gun" that I can keep handy while fishing, hiking , etc.

It's probably not, but if you are "stuck" with a Glock 17 'cause it's all that you have, I'd say go with the Federal AE 147 gr. FMJFN @ 1000 fps- it oughtta be good for about 32.10" of soft tissue penetration- plus the bullet's meplat (~0.25") will increase its ability to damage soft tissue over that of the typical FMJRN.

If you can swing it, I'd recommend a .44 300 gr. HCSWC @ 1200-1250 fps which will provide greater tissue damage due to its greater width while still being capable of 48.10" to 49.20" of soft tissue penetration.

 

[hardluk1]

You are not likely going to stumble up on a hog but would probably could defend your self well enought with a load like this- https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=225

Just remember you need to stay on your game. Bears ?? get a can of bear spray and take with you. I sed a 357for about 20 years on hogs and never found that I was under guns but did not use HP ammo. Speer 170gr flat point sp or 180gr hardcast will punch through both shoulders or head to tail when loaded fairly hot. I have shoot them at 5feet as they go by looking to hook you. I had little fear back then. Today if I here hogs grunting i would tend to stop , look and try to stirt around them. Bears unless hurt or with younguns they will work to avoid you . Even then if paying attention a sow will woof at you as a warning. bear spray first , bullets if needed. Just pay attention in the woods today for critters or nut jobs out there.

 

[threefortyduster]

I'd put the heaviest bullet you have in your gun. Hogs can be taken with most, personally, I carry a .357 with either 158 gr soft points or 140 gr LeverEvolutions.

I don't feel undergunned with those, and didn't feel undergunned when my semi auto .40 was go to woods sidearm (because it was my only handgun).

 

[critter]

I've shot some hogs with my 4" GP100 using reloads with 180 gr XTP's. Got plenty of penetration and good expansion (short distances). I think that would do me.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Feral hog attacks outside of people hunting them, trapping them, or pestering them in some manner are exceptionally rare. Given the other wildlife in your area, I would carry for protection against something more apt to be a problem than hogs and if you carry for a threat more dangerous than hogs, then hogs will be covered by your weapon decision.

Think about it. How many news accounts in the US do you know about where feral hogs have attacked people for no reason versus how may people and Youtube vids there are for people being "attacked" by feral hogs that the are trying to manhandle after their hog dogs got them, are working them in trapped, where the hog is in a snare, or where the hog is being pestered first. In short, if you don't do any of those things, you'll probably need to worry more about the sky falling on you than being attacked by a hog.

 

[Certaindeaf]

You could go all muay thai on them.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=409071

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I would move to 147 grain softpoints in the Glock and not worry ! With hogs it is all about shot placement a 9mm in the right place will kill them just as dead as anything else . I shot one of about 150 lbs a couple years ago . He was quartering away and I was 10 ft up a tree stand . At 30 yards with a 300 grain jhp from a 454 casull . I shot and he ran off like I had cleanly missed , I found him dead about 50 yards away in the palmettos. When butchered we found his heart destroyed along with both lungs and a broken front leg on the exit side . If yo want them to drop right now it has to be brain or spine shot . They are tough and resilient, but not bullet proof !Seen one shot kills with 9mm , 40 cal , 45 cal , .357 mag and 22mag . The right spot is the right spot . Kevin

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

There is nothing wrong with being prepared, but I've never heard of unprovoked attacks on humans by wild swine. I worry a lot more about two-legged creatures.

 

[Texan Scott]

Ah, Georgia... I've actually pulled a gun twice in deadly earnest there- surprisingly, never in the ATL. Drugs do odd things to people. That would be my worry- banjo playing meth addicts. Pigs are tougher, but probably less dangerous.
Consider trading your g17 for a g22. Use the hottest 180gr JHP you can find. You'll be better armed and not even have to trade holsters.

 

[scaatylobo]

@Twinny

I have to ask if you have ever shot pig or better yet boar.

You dont have to worry about shooting through them as they are almost as tough as rhino,for their size.

Getting a bullet into them is tough enough,and I have seen rounds to the head that did NOTHING as they did not penetrate.

 

[ritepath]

My BIL killed one a few years back with his service G23. He said the first two shots it didn't really pay much attention to, then on the third it turned and run about 40 yards before expiring.

It was standing at the base of his front steps and his dog was at the top of the steps in a mexican standoff. He shot it at about 6 yards distance from just to the side of the steps.

 

[Ak.Hiker]

You could keep your Glock 17 and upgrade the loads for deeper penetration than your JHP carry loads. The Buffalo Bore 124 grain +P+ FP as well as the Double Tap 147 grain FMJFP would be possible options.

 

[Greg528iT]

why do people "think" that the bullet has to go end to end

when thinking about a wild boar, I would want a load that would go thru if hit in the chest and came out the butt, cause I'll be aiming center mass as it charges.. and if I hit it's skull I would want it to penetrate not glance off if it was not perfectly centered.

 

[mavracer]

Wild boar are about as stealthy as a Harley. Just pay a little attention and they're easily avoided.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Around here, we have what I affectionately call "stealth hogs." As a sounder, they make a lot of noise, USUALLY, especially if they are eating. However, boars can appear out of nowhere and have done so many times during my limited number of hunting episodes. On more that one occaion, I have been looking one way and when I turned back to look the other way, a hog had appeared at the feeder that was not there only seconds before. On another occasion, I was under a feeder in the middle of the night, checking for sign before getting a stand when I heard some leaves crunch. A small sounder of about 20 had walked to within 15 yards of me without making noise and continued to remain fairly quiet as I retreated and they continued to advance, until I shot the biggest sow and then all hell broke loose as hogs ran in every direction through the woods.

Hogs can be plenty silent when they want to be.

 

[BSA1]

Well in regards to Post #6 I have actually hunted wild hogs.

I have had only one hog ever charge me. Some friends and myself where bored and decided it would be fun to try to catch some piglets in the pasture. Well we finally caught one by it's rear legs and it started squealing loudly. Mama, who was previously hidden in the bush took exception to us messin with her babies and came charging out of the bushes with her jaws popping. That was all it took for us to let go of the piglet and clear out of the pasture in record time.

What I have seen is wounded hogs run towards hunter looking for a escape route. There is a big difference in trying to get away from someone shooting you vs. trying to attack the s.o.b.

I agree that hogs can absorb a lot of poorly placed bullets and run away rapidly. They have a layer of fat that swells out plugging the bullet hole and not leaving a blood trail.
I like lots of penetration especially for a less than perfect shot on a moving hog.

This reminds I going to spend next week in hog country so I had better throw a magnum in the warbag.

 

[BSA1]

What about about the wasted energy of rifle rounds? They punch all the way though.

 

[481]

What about about the wasted energy of rifle rounds? They punch all the way though.

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

 

[Double Naught Spy]

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.

Hogs just aint that fast or dangerous, guys. It's a myth, intended to make the gullible "think" that a hog hunter is Tarzan, very bad man.

Since you have been working with domestic hogs, maybe they are not that fast. They are bred for weight and are sluggish. Feral hogs have been clocked at 30 mph. That is still pretty fast.