Wild boar in Florida: Sidearm in .45ACP + Ammo
- Thread starter Ziro
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My 7" tanto blade knife penetrates any size hog's chest 7", and does some great damage to the lung once I move it back and forth a couple times. I'm certain one or more 45 ACP hollow points from short range will do at least as well in the same area.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
If I anticipated using a .45 acp on a hog I'd buy a box of Buffalo Bore's 255 gr. Hard flat nose ammo, assuming it'd feed reliably. Now if I had 45acp revolver, which I do 
, I'd buy a box of 45 supers.
, I'd buy a box of 45 supers.
Ibmikey
Member
Ziro, You tookmall the fun out of the post by bringing the topic back to your real concerns, what bullet will stop the critters. Unlike those who carry the newest $27 a shot ultra slick ammo....I use FMJ in my pistols for most every purpose. A .45 ball round to a upset hog's head will normally put a hog on his belly in a flash ( well there was one recent event where I shot the boar through the head, we threw him in the pick up and closed the gate....a few minutes later Mr. Boar got up and a bit wobbly jumped out of the truck and into the woods). So I suggest a .45 ball to the head should stop one just fine......or maybe not!
A wide meplat is your friend as is a bit of mass. I'd recommend either a FMJ or hard cast bullet weighing 230 grns or more. That will go nose to tail through an adult hog. It's done with near pure lead 240-255 grn bullets in percussion black powder revolvers (Civil War style guns).
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
Where do people get this stuff?
+1 on what Stony said.
It was a big boar. lol..
I mean, maybe the tone was harsh but it's not completely wrong either. More like, they actual defend themselves aggressively and we can't blame them for it. It doesn't take a lot for them to be threatened either. So maybe that's where the misconception is.
That sounds really awesome. Going to look into that. 240 - 255 grains? Wow.
Don't you just hate when the train gets back on track? (sarcasm lol)
That's what I'm talking about right there. Sometimes you just don't know. I usually always dispatch with my pistol regardless, but I've been charged one time too many.
If dogs have him (assuming you're hunting with dogs) I'd probably use a knife too. But I'm not about to chase or square up with a wild hog just to stick it with a knife. Especially if it sees me first. I'll react the same way with a boar as I would with a 2 legged critter (human).
I'm a huge fan of Buffalo Bore Penetrators. They're great in my 9mms, I can imagine how great they must be in a .45.
Like he said:
I think I'm going to have to go with these rounds.
Four to the head?
Good shooting.
Switch to a 230 grain bullet or get a bigger gun.
Good shooting.
Switch to a 230 grain bullet or get a bigger gun.
FL-NC
Member
Ziro- I wouldn't try to tarzan-kill a hog with a knife without the help of a dog either. Especially after I've had to help sew up a dog or 2 (the dogs don't mind it- they are like Ranger privates lol). My point was that if a sharp metal thing to the chest put them down so well, 1 or more chunks of fast moving 200+ grain lead with hollow points in the same area will work better. Its a nice knife, but its just a knife.
Sav .250
Member
First off you better keep an eye out for ............snakes. We do have some
biggins.
biggins.
AKElroy
Member
Snakes are the bigger concern. I've walked up dozens of hogs, and have yet to have one run towards me. The ones running away have never given me enough time to empty the rifle I'm holding before disappearing in cover, much less enough time to switch to a handgun. you may have had your only Jason Bourne moment. That said, my 1911 is loaded with Hornady Critical Duty 220gr Flexlock. This is a polymer tipped HP geared toward better penetration. Can't say how it works on pigs; maybe 80 or so kills, never needed it.
grampajack
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I don't think you can do better than Federal HST unless you start looking into super duper high tech CNC copper bullets, like lehigh defense. Their extreme penetrator in .45 might be a good option. But I don't think that's going to give you too much more bang for your buck, and penetration doesn't sound like it was a problem. If it was, the logical next step is to go to a big bore revolver and practice with it till you're dead nuts accurate against a running target.
FL-NC
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The swamps in SC are full of snakes in warm weather- which is why we hunt pigs when its cold.
grampajack
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Has anyone said spear yet? Go medieval on their $%#$T...
Yeah, PDX1's are about $27 a box. And I've only had one hog that needed more that one to the body to drop it in its tracks. I will not deny that hardcasts will out penetrate just about any other bullet made. They will. And they will break every bone they come in contact with. But we're talking up close in swamps and or palmettos. And quality bonded HP will simply do more damage inside than a hardcast. And they'll break bone too. If we were talking about pigs in a trap, give them FMJ's and be done. But I have COMPLETE faith in my choice. It's proven itself over and over for me. As I'm sure those who shootout hardcast, or FMJ's have faith in their choice also. For the same reasons. OP said he had some PDX1's at home. Maybe he can stagger them in his mag with BB hardcasts and FMJ's and see what happens.
If they made them as a reloading component in .45 and .44 they would probably be all I'd take in the woods in my XD45, 1894, 444S and Redhawk. I have that much faith in their expansion and penetration.
If they made them as a reloading component in .45 and .44 they would probably be all I'd take in the woods in my XD45, 1894, 444S and Redhawk. I have that much faith in their expansion and penetration.
Thank you, but it wasn't that far away. Maybe 7 feet away and closing in while I was stepping back.
Oh, okay. Sorry I misread what you intended.
Yup! My S&W 360PD is going to be loaded with Snake Shot and carried appendix. Since those rounds don't cycle too well in semi-autos.
Haha, my friend pulled the "Jason Bourne" moves that time, not me. My rifle was on the ATV for whatever reason.
I've heard good stuff about Hornady on animals. I'm not a fan of them for self defense though. I'd have to test the rounds before I carry them cause I'm so hesitant to carry Hornady.
I remember seeing that!
The "mouse fart" bullets aren't something I trust in any way shape or form. Especially on a thick hide. I appreciate the recommendation though. As for the HST? I've never seen anything bad on those. I may consider those and the Buffalo Bore Penetrators.
I'd rather a semi-automatic side arm that's magazine fed. But the thought of .44 is nice. Not this time nor any time soon though.
I actually do have a spear. But it's for fishing and poking things. I definitely cannot throw that thing for the life of me. haha.
I think they have PDX rounds at my local Wal-Mart.
I have an ample amount of Winchester Ranger T-Series 127gr +p+ in 9mm and Corbon DPX in 9mm and .45ACP.
To all: Curious as why no one recommended the Corbon DPX 185gr +P round. I have a good amount of those, thought it'd have more support. I'm ordering the ammo today.
So far Buffalo Bore Penetrators ad HSTs are the ones on my list.
grampajack
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I'm not sure what you're calling mouse fart bullets, but if you're referring to lehigh defense, then you need to do some homework. If you're worried about thick hides, then all copper is exactly what you're looking for.
All copper is what I have in 115gr for 9mm and 185gr for .45ACP.
"Mouse Fart" bullets are the ones that I have seen in 50gr.
I had the names mixed up. It's not Lehigh Defense I had in mind, it was "Liberty Defense" with the mouse fart bullets.
http://libertyammunition.com/product/civil-defense-9mm
I would never opt for a 50gr 9mm.
grampajack
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It just depends on the bullet's construction. If it can survive the velocity and stay together then it will generally penetrate. I don't know about 50 gr in a .45, but I wouldn't necessarily discount it. It's the ones designed to break apart that I would consider mouse fart bullets, like the G2 research stuff. They're just fluff in my opinion. But lehigh defense is the real deal. Very intelligent designs that work well in testing. Honestly, their extreme penetrator loaded in a +P would be the best solution possible without moving up to a larger caliber.All copper is what I have in 115gr for 9mm and 185gr for .45ACP.
"Mouse Fart" bullets are the ones that I have seen in 50gr.
I had the names mixed up. It's not Lehigh Defense I had in mind, it was "Liberty Defense" with the mouse fart bullets.
http://libertyammunition.com/product/civil-defense-9mm
I would never opt for a 50gr 9mm.
In 2002 I saw a guy on the ambulance who shot himself in the thigh accidentally with a Ruger P90 .45 loaded with Remington +P Golden Sabre 185 gr while trying to unload it while drunk in his truck and except for rifles and shotguns that's the largest exit wound I've ever seen out of almost 40 examples.
I'm also a hog hunter and I've used a S&W 22-4 revolver as a back-up for a long time and that's what I always loaded that gun with. I've used it for nothing but finishing shots (haven't had a hog charge me yet ... *knock on wood*), but the wound track on those has always been impressive.
I'm also a hog hunter and I've used a S&W 22-4 revolver as a back-up for a long time and that's what I always loaded that gun with. I've used it for nothing but finishing shots (haven't had a hog charge me yet ... *knock on wood*), but the wound track on those has always been impressive.
Patocazador
Member
On this "charging" the hunter scenario, I have had 2 hogs run toward me after breaking away from dog(s). In both cases they identified me at ~ 20 yards. One veered off to his right presenting me with a broadside shot with a .44 AutoMag. The other continued towards me until I stepped to the side and gave it a load of 00 buckshot in the head at a distance of 3 feet.
I have no idea if the last one was charging or not but I assumed it wasn't as the dog was 8 or 10 feet behind it.
I also had one run the dog between my legs and had to kill it at 5 feet but it was chasing the dog, not me.
Will they charge? I think so but I don't believe it is very common.
I have no idea if the last one was charging or not but I assumed it wasn't as the dog was 8 or 10 feet behind it.
I also had one run the dog between my legs and had to kill it at 5 feet but it was chasing the dog, not me.
Will they charge? I think so but I don't believe it is very common.
david58
Member
Does your pucker string work anymore? Sheesh!
Patocazador
Member
Yes, it works well since a sow put me in the emergency room about 20 yrs. ago when I blundered between her and her pigs while turkey hunting. I'm much more aware now than I used to be.
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