I have shot a 150 pound pig at 50 yards with a .338 Mag with 225 grain Barnes X bullets. Actually, it was only one shot, and it was right behind the shoulder. The bullet fully penetrated (not necessarily surprising given that it didn't hit any significant amount of bone - like the gristle plate). In any event, the hog ran about 40 yards, got dizzy, and dropped. I'm sure that if I hit his plate that it would have likely penetrated as well.
Now, on a larger hog, or even the same size hog, a .375 is going to make a bigger hole - meaning, in part, that a larger exit wound will allow more blood to come out and thus cause the animal to die quicker. Yes, most of the "energy" will not be expended, but I want to make sure that, if it DOES hit that armor plate, then it will put him down for the count.
A friend of mine once had a hog charge him while he had a .44Mag. Well, he emptied six rounds and the monster pig kept on charging. A shot from another friend's .375 stopped the pig in its tracks. If the pig would have continued to charge, God only knows what would have happened. So is the .375 too much gun? I don't think so. Is there such a thing as a pig being too dead? :grin:
Zachary