A dozen years ago, or so, I was out hog hunting with a buddy of mine. He was up higher on a ridge, while I was on the other side of a bowl, down lower. He saw a hog and shot it in the neck with his 30-06 that didn't kill it. At the shot, I heard it coming my way. It was going to be close, so I pulled out my Ruger 357 with 6 inch barrel. It's similar to what I trained with in the Marine Corps, and I'm fairly comptent with it. Four of my six shots were in the head as it ran past me at 20 feet. The other two were hail marries as it ran off into the woods.
I chased it down and found it in a canyon. It was standing still, and probably mortaly hurt, but still on all four feet. I droped it with my 30-06 at 50 yards.
After that, I retired the .357 and got a .44 mag with a 12 inch barrel. I've shot five or six hogs with this pistol, and it's very effective. I only shoot them up close, and I'm sure of the shot when I take it. I like it because I can carry it in a padded case on the tractor or four wheeler and it's not in the way.
For personal protection and a pistol to carry, I'm a HUGE fan of the .380 Stopping power is for big game, for humans, just making noise is 99% of what's important. I have no intention or expectation of winning a shootout in my lifetime. Cops and miltary personal with years of training rarely hit who they are aiming at in gunfights. The reality is that it's very dificult to do.
What is effective is firing off a round. It really doesn't matter what direction you are pointing the weapon, just the noise of it will send the bad guys on their way.
Good luck,
Eddie
