Will a 45 Cal. stop a wild hog?

Larry Caldwell · Nov 28, 2016

Second the suggestion to carry a 10mm, if you are into those rattle-clank autoloaders. A .44 magnum would be good too. I carry a .357 loaded with hot 180 grain loads when I see bear sign on my place. If I were in your situation, I think I would do a little pacification hunting and give the hogs reason to go elsewhere.

tcartwri · Nov 28, 2016

Snobdds said:
Yes it will, but don't use anything hollow point. Bear loads have a large blunt face to the rounds that hit hard and break bones. I would find a hot load, with a lead bullet and a blunt face. Like shown below...

Curious about the hollow point statement.... why not?

RSKY · Nov 28, 2016

Back in the late eighties/early nineties there was a gun magazine that donated several hogs to the Mexican Federalis on the condition that they be allowed to test different handgun rounds on the hogs. The writers sent a small arsenal to a ranch in Mexico owned by one of the Mexican cops. The hogs were half starved and turned into a pen one at a time with corn scattered on the ground. The writers tried everything from a 22LR to a 38 Special, 357 magnum, 45ACP, 44 Magnum to a 25ACP. The only round that really got the starving pigs attention was the 44 magnum. Even a 357 would stagger the hog but then it would go back to eating. After shooting them several times all the hogs were given the final dispatch with a 25 auto in the brain.

What I'm trying to say is that a 22LR in the brain would stop a charging sow quicker than a full mag of 45ACP hitting elsewhere. The problem is putting that bullet in the right place while in panic mode.

Personally, I would go for a 10mm. Much more penetration than 45ACP and more capacity for a panic situation. My son-in-law has a Glock 10mm that is not too hefty and has much less kick than I expected. But, a high capacity 9mm with the right ammo would probably do the job.

Running shoes, a nearby tree, and clean underwear would also be handy.

Snobdds · Nov 28, 2016

tcartwri said:
Curious about the hollow point statement.... why not?

No penetration to break bone. It would give a good flesh wound, but not stop him on impact.

dodge man · Nov 28, 2016

Well there is the old saying, what ever gun you have on you, in this case a 45, is better than a 44 magnum sitting on the dresser. Not my first choice but if you have it on you, its not a bad choice. Its kind of harsh to say, but hollow points are designed for thin skinned animals (people). That Buffalo Bore load would be good.

jeff9366 · Nov 28, 2016

I actually shot a 160 pound boar in Kentucky with a 45 Colt Gov't Model loaded with CCI 'Lawman' 200 grain Hollow Points, when "Lawman' was new stuff. Five of the hollow points opened on the hide of the boar, penetrating 2" at most. My sixth shot, at 10 - 12 feet, broke the boar's neck/spine, killing him. It was exciting. Too exciting.

I should have used 240 grain ball ammo for penetration. Two hits with FMJ probably would have ended the show.

I recommend a ten round 45 ACP magazine for boar hunting.

The other 10 - 12 boar I have taken have been with .44 Magnum in an assortment of S&W and Ruger revolvers plus a Ruger .44 Magnum carbine. Velocity goes way up, shooting .44 Magnum in a carbine length barrel.

CCWKen · Nov 28, 2016

Thall303 said:
Sounds like with a lot of hogs available, try it several times as an expierment and let us know.... it I think it will definitely work for you.

Yeah, right. You're maybe a little over 100 miles away. How about you come down and try it. I'll stay close enough to call 911 and try to get to you before the fire ants do..

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't think this would get to two pages. I posted on a shooting forum too and a good idea was proposed that might help. Before I go out and sink Christmas money into another gun, I'll probably get to tractoring and cut down some of the heavy brush and high grass. I've let some areas go for quite a while and diesel is a lot cheaper than a new gun. A hunter said they won't stay if there's no place for them to hide. Turns out this post is tractor related after all.

Darn, I sure wanted a .45 though.

Ford850 · Nov 28, 2016

CCWKen said:
Yeah, right. You're maybe a little over 100 miles away. How about you come down and try it. I'll stay close enough to call 911 and try to get to you before the fire ants do..

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't think this would get to two pages. I posted on a shooting forum too and a good idea was proposed that might help. Before I go out and sink Christmas money into another gun, I'll probably get to tractoring and cut down some of the heavy brush and high grass. I've let some areas go for quite a while and diesel is a lot cheaper than a new gun. A hunter said they won't stay if there's no place for them to hide. Turns out this post is tractor related after all.

Darn, I sure wanted a .45 though.

So... the Shooting site guys told suggested using a tractor to clear up brush rather than buying another gun, and the Tractor site guys gave all sorts of new gun and ammo suggestions, and none of us thought of using a tractor to solve your problem.

k0ua · Nov 28, 2016

the old grind said:
10mm is making a comeback, and with full power loads for hunting coming out. If you're a 1911 guy, that's doable on your platform. (there are 10mm Glocks, too )

BIG +1 on Snobdds' suggestion to avoid HPs in .45 ACP, (Hunting loads vs PD loads.) TCFMJ vs FMJRN if you stick with the .45. (also Bufalo Bore if you don't 'roll your own' ammo)

btw, OT but practice for charging ___s: Tie each end of 50'-75' of rope to a milk crate and the golf cart or quad. Stand behind the tow vehicle facing the MC. At the word 'go' set your driver in motion and see what you can do. Keep score.

That little test might just separate the sheep and goats. The only thing is you don't have that "fear factor" of getting slashed by the tusks, but still a good way to practice for something coming at you. I had a rabid skunk coming for me one fine windy day when I was 14 years old. I had a .357 magnum Herters revolver. It rolled up Mr. Skunk on the 6th and last shot. I will tell you I was plenty skeered.