Will a 45 Cal. stop a wild hog?

[deerefan]

Deerefan, I don't clean them either and also give them away - there is always someone wanting to take them - they will rush over as soon as we call. I have not shot that many though, perhaps a dozen or so. One guy that took one of the pigs said it almost cost him his marriage as he apparently caused a real mess and stink in their kitchen.

I fully understand-when I talk about them, my wife leaves the room!! The last pig I cleaned was full of worms, turned me away from wanting to clean them anymore.

 

[Soundguy]

Yup, lung shots will drop them well. Stay out of the shoulder and almost no lost meat.

 

[teejk]

Be sure to polish up on the hog anatomy too. Shot placement is crucial. Hogs have thick skulls, think of a football player-helmet and pads. They are most vulnerable behind/in the ear, eyes and snout. Also, mid-upper back-lung/spine shot. I have avidly hunted hogs since 2005, killing roughly 2100. In tight fields/cut overs, I carry a Browning Auto 5 12ga, loaded with slugs and 000. Over open fields, I use a choice of 3- 100 yards in, my .17 Savage bolt action or Henry .22mag lever action do the trick fine. I also use a Marlin .45/70 lever action, 450gr. compressed load, non-hollow point. Depends on the size pigs I have seen in a particular area. Over 100, my Mini 14 or .270. I am very careful with my weaponry as a thru shot can easily travel and hit other non-targeted livestock. Keep in mind, they do not see or hear well but there sense of smell is extremely keen. Most times they are not charging you, just running wild, you happen to be in the way. The only time I have had pigs defend themselves is either trapped, wounded or protecting piglets. As for the meat, I do not care to clean it and have enough to spare. I donate it to local folks who can use it more than me. I kill the pig, make a couple calls and it is gone.

That part about anatomy rang a bell...several years ago we volunteered to "dispatch" two domestic bison that decided they wanted to roam...the owner explained the brain area of a bison that essentially came down to a baseball size area between and bit above the eyes in that huge head.

 

[carlhwv]

I'm late to the party....but I love gun threads. I lived in AK bush for 5 years around a lot of bears and moose. Carried a 44mag but figured out that to shoot if enough to feel good about it I'd always bruise my wrist and I'm a big guy. I ended up carrying a custom marlin 1895 45/70 loaded with hot 405grain. Ended up taking 2 moose with it both standing still at around 50 yards. I would have hoped to have this in hand if I was ever threatened. Going back to the OP and his question about a 45 stopping a hog. I hunted them a couple times, taking them with the 45/70, 357, and yes the 45, the final being close range with 230g ball. If you want a 45 I'd get it. I love mine. As for hitting a moving target, well other than a lot of practice and some luck you might be served best with a Judge loaded with 000 buck and a 45 long colt at the end. In reality if you are truly trying to drop a charging animal...while others my stop it eventually...anything less than 3000 foot pound of energy is going to take a lot of luck to hit a dang small target on the move.

 

[Thall303]

Stx,
Thanks for the information. We live on 90 acres in the Sierra Nevada Foothills in Central California - with a national forest behind us and a 3000+ acre ranch on one side. We have our share of wild pigs and are very familiar with the damage they can do. I am glad you mention that I don't need to carry a cannon with me when I hike back there - I carry a .357 magnum but have never had to use it on a pig. I have shot a few - those who found their way into our yard (5 acre yard) and used a Russian made army rifle - when they are hit by that they drop like a sack of potatoes - but I don't hit all of them.

I agree they will avoid you if they can. They don't run away in a panic but will trot off to cover when they see you.

We have seen as many as 15-20 in a pasel, but most often they come down in groups of 5-8 or so.

I have seen a few pigs with a legit weight of 300 lbs or so - I base that estimate on pigs I have seen at the state fair where I have learned the weights - even saw a 900 pounder there once. But I agree, most are in the 100- 150 pound range.

I will post a picture of one I shot but forgot how to do that. . .

900 lb. ??

 

[MossRoad]

FIFY.

Seems like claiming sow pigs are as dangerous as real predators like bears, lions, and wolves might be an exaggeration.

I saw some videos showing these "attacks". I'll let you guys draw your own conclusions.

My conclusion is in several of those videos, its a miracle a human didn't get shot.

 

[roadhunter]

My conclusion is in several of those videos, its a miracle a human didn't get shot.

Or a dog. I agree 100%.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Sooie!

Sui. It's Latin for pig. Bos is Latin for cow. Farmers are conservative people, calling their animals with the same words their ancestors used 1500 years ago.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Carried a 44mag but figured out that to shoot if enough to feel good about it I'd always bruise my wrist and I'm a big guy.

You're doing it wrong. I've capped 100 rounds of 7.62 NATO ball ammo in the space of a couple of hours, from a single shot bolt action pistol, and never felt a twinge. I only stopped because I ran out of ammo. I was still hitting the gong just as well at the end as at the beginning.

I'm not a big guy.

I ended up carrying a custom marlin 1895 45/70 loaded with hot 405grain.

Yeah, I've shot that, too. From a handgun. (T/C Contender with after-market barrel.) No bruised wrist. No problem at all.

I can shoot .454 Casull all day. Not a problem.


You're just doing it wrong.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I'm late to the party....but I love gun threads. I lived in AK bush for 5 years around a lot of bears and moose. Carried a 44mag but figured out that to shoot if enough to feel good about it I'd always bruise my wrist and I'm a big guy. I ended up carrying a custom marlin 1895 45/70 loaded with hot 405grain. Ended up taking 2 moose with it both standing still at around 50 yards. I would have hoped to have this in hand if I was ever threatened. Going back to the OP and his question about a 45 stopping a hog. I hunted them a couple times, taking them with the 45/70, 357, and yes the 45, the final being close range with 230g ball. If you want a 45 I'd get it. I love mine. As for hitting a moving target, well other than a lot of practice and some luck you might be served best with a Judge loaded with 000 buck and a 45 long colt at the end. In reality if you are truly trying to drop a charging animal...while others my stop it eventually...anything less than 3000 foot pound of energy is going to take a lot of luck to hit a dang small target on the move.

A .45 over 70 shooting a 1 oz. slug loaded to modern pressures will core a 1/2" hole through anything, breaking bones on its way. I have a Marlin like yours, and it's a real shoulder beater. My .44 magnum is nowhere near as painful to shoot.