Wild boar in Florida: Sidearm in .45ACP + Ammo

[H&Hhunter]

I've killed something over 500 hogs over the years. I've had two situations that might be considered a "charge". I've had multiple occasions where I've had hogs blindly rush my direction that inexperienced hunters might consider a "charge". I've never had a hog aggressively come at me unprovoked. They just aren't wired that way.

 

[Zebraranger]

I use to hunt hog with a handgun and I'd never use anything smaller than a 44 mag. Hogs are very tough and anything less might not penetrate well enough, especially in a semi auto round. Here's some interesting reading on handguns for hog hunting on the Hog Blog. http://hog-blog.com/handguns-for-hogs/

 

[Stony]

I find it kinda strange that folks think they need awesome power in a handgun to kill a hog. I guess if you hit one in a strange place, some rounds might not penetrate real well, but most of them will reach the vitals. I often use a 9mm with fmj's to dispatch hogs in a trap, and shooting them in the noggin usually leaves an exit wound through the chest area.
I think a lot of the speculation comes from folks with not a lot of experience in this type of hunting...or just some that might be overthinking the whole situation.
We're not talking rhinos here....these are just pigs!

 

[Zebraranger]

some rounds might not penetrate real well

That's the issue.

I often use a 9mm with fmj's to dispatch hogs in a trap, and shooting them in the noggin usually leaves an exit wound through the chest area.

At point blank range, sure. At 75 yds, not so much.

 

[Stony]

Sorry, I just assumed the op was concerned with close range hogs, not hunting them at 75 yds.....in which case a 9mm would be probably not be an ideal caliber.

 

[FL-NC]

My dad killed one in Fl with a charter arms 38 he was carrying in his vest while dove hunting. These things aren't that hard to put down- its all about shot placement, in my experience. Shoot it in the lungs- just like you do with pretty much everything else. Repeat if necessary- that's why modern guns hold more than 1 round.

 

[Ziro]

I wouldn't say I'm inexperienced or over-thinking it per-say...

What's making me ask, if you read my original post, was that we were charged once and in that particular scenario I fired 4 rounds into the hog's head before he stopped.

Just different experiences. Nothing novice about that nor is there any paranoia. I think that hog might have been related to Bruce Willis (Die Hard). That's why I had new concern about this hunting trip that's coming up.

I already got some good responses to the original post before it became watered down into best case scenarios.

Thank you!

 

[Hookeye]

What about going to 10mm?

 

[Ziro]

Hookeye, I would have to buy a gun today to make sure it's here before the 7th and test it to make sure it works in that time frame. Not to mention, I'm not looking to buy a new gun.

 

[AKElroy]

I've killed something over 500 hogs over the years. I've had two situations that might be considered a "charge". I've had multiple occasions where I've had hogs blindly rush my direction that inexperienced hunters might consider a "charge". I've never had a hog aggressively come at me unprovoked. They just aren't wired that way.

My experience exactly. Any pigs that have run in my general direction ran right by. Maybe I'm naive, but Ive never felt any reall danger from pigs. The only exception was when I was hunting alone, wading through a thicket with a sow looking for the easiest way out. I became aware that I was standing on her best escape route, and felt like an idiot for cornering her, especially while isolated and solo. I backed out without being presented a shot. After that I decided walking-up pigs is a team deal, solo hunts are now in the stand or from the truck.

The only time I'm really wary is when they are shot and down; I wait until they are clearly expired before approaching. Of course, that's true of any large game.

 

[murf]

food for thought:

www.americanhunter.org/articles/201...ishermen-from-raging-grizzly-with-9mm-pistol/

found this on the singleaction.com website.

murf

 

[Choctaw]

I've had multiple occasions where I've had hogs blindly rush my direction that inexperienced hunters might consider a "charge".

This. But it sure makes for a good story.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Especially when the hog makes multiple course corrections and ends up dead where you were standing.