Author Topic: Hog Bullets (Read 3247 times)

powhs · « **on:** October 05, 2007, 01:54:09 PM »

I have been getting my rifles ready for hog hunting season this year and decided to take my Lightweight Commander as backup. I have killed small hogs with it using Hornady FMJ-FP ammo. I am considering Buffalo Bore's 45+p FMJ-FP ammo in case I have to use it on a larger hog. The company says it is low pressure. Has anyone had any experience with it? I have never used +p in this gun before and am a little concerned about the lightweight frame.

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2007, 01:22:07 AM »

I wouldn't be concerned about the frame. I have the same lightweight Commander, except that mine is almost 40 years old and has seen a bunch of high pressure stuff. If Buffalo Bore says their loads are low pressure (and you can always call them to find out) then they are, or should be safe in your Commander.

Those aluminum frames are a lot tougher than most people think. Too many think that lightweight means weak but it does not. I have over 10k rounds through mine, mostly ball and hot reloads, and it doesn't have any problems. My favorite load uses the Mag-Tech 230 gn fmj-swc over 6.5 of Unique and I'm going to wring out 7 grains just to see how they shoot. HTH. Mikey.

powhs · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2007, 02:48:52 AM »

I bought mine back in the late 1970's. I have not shot it much in the last 20 years. Just moved out in the country and set up a 50 yard range with backstop. Thanks for the info.

Castaway · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2007, 07:55:55 AM »

I'm confused, if it's low pressure it isn't +P. Unless they quantify what the pressure is, it means nothing. Personally, if I were to take a 1911 on my hip while hog hunting, I'd rather feed it with a cast, 185 or 200 grain SWC loaded to the max pressure allowed for the pistol. If your jacketed bullet does expand, you end up pushing a parachute through the pig. The hard cast bullet will penetrate much deeper into the boiler room.

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2007, 04:02:17 PM »

Any hard semi-wadcutter bullet of about 240 grains at 1300 fps should be fine. Kind of hard to find a 1911 that will do that, unless you convert to 460 Rowland.

I found that the 45acp has too little penetration to trust on hogs that are considered big.

Mikey · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2007, 01:25:11 AM »

Castaway: you are correct - if it is a +P load it is not lower pressured. I am sure, since Buffalo Bore is a reputable firm, that the pressures of their +P 45 acp ammo is within tolerances for the 1911A1 action.

And Questor - you're right about most 45 acp loads not having the penetration to deal with large hogs, possibly even the hardcast for fmj +P loads but, if the animal has already been put down and this is only the coup de grace it may work fine.

powhs: although your Commander is a lightweight it is certainly strong enough to handle the occasional magazine or two of +P loads - mine has eatten a lot of that and still keeps on tickin'. Mikey.

44 Man · « **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2007, 05:13:01 AM »

Again, a 1911 would not be my first choice for pigs, but if it is what you have, why not use it! Just be sure you use a hard cast (prefered) or fmj flat point bullet driven as fast as is reasonable in a 1911. I would not hesitate to use such a combo if necessary. A lightwt Commander carries well and is handy. It would be especially useful if you met any 2 legged vermin. 44 Man

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2007, 06:38:21 AM »

http://stevespages.com/page8f45acp.html
THIS LINK MAY HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT BOOLET

petepaaz · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2007, 08:33:23 PM »

I recently shot the 230gr FMJ-FP Buffalo Bore load out of my S.A. Mil- Spec.....before doing so I installed a Wolf 20lb recoil spring. I was most pleased that every round shot perfectly from my standard pressure Speer 230gr GD, to the +P Buffalo Bore load, and even the CCI Shotshells. Everything cycled perfectly w/o battering the frame; and shot accurately. Now if only I could also test it in the field on a hog.....am guessing that certain angled shots will work better to get the vitals. I first was interested in this +P cartridge when looking for a load in Black Bear Country here in AZ. A bit light but doable I think.

44 Man · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2007, 05:47:25 AM »

I think that load would work fine for Black bears and Az hogs. Not so sure for some of the big Tennesee hogs though. As I said before, if I only had the 1911, I would carry it and not worry about it. I fully intend to carry mine deer hunting here in Michigan. It will not be my primary gun, but if presented with an opportunity, I would take the shot. 44 Man

(these flat nose bullets are an LBT design)

powhs · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2007, 02:01:25 PM »

I don't hunt with a 45acp just carry it as back up in case I drop my rifle while eluding a mad old sow.
My scoped Contender is my choice for a hunting handgun.
Hornady Double Tap 230 grain FP will be the round for me since CCI stop selling that load.

saddlebum · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2010, 10:01:50 AM »

44 MAN; I applaud your choice of bullets. I just got a LBT mold for a .45acp 225gr LFN. I have looked around and you can't buy these. Montana Bullet Works should since they carry alot of true LBTs. Unlike that piece of crap Cast Performance outfit that sells bad copies of LBTs, but I digress. I think this will be a good bullet, pushed to about 1000fps, for hogs. Unless you expect to see HOGZILLA down in the south country. And even then at close self defense range head and shoulder shots I think would be stoppers. The thought of gettin eaten by one of those critters would cause me to carry my .41mag with 300gr LBT WLN bullets at 1500fps. I'm not real brave but I'm not real stupid either. Carry the hottest load you can in a .45acp to keep from being hog food and kill the bastard with the first shot from your huntin gun. God Bless!

Mikey · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2010, 12:49:23 AM »

powhs: someone very recently ran a comparison test of new bullets, on hogs, but although giving the impression the hogs had been hunted with handguns in those calibers using those particular bullets (new products), the article admitted the bullets/shots were used as 'finishers' to the skull. Although the lsugs used appeared to have expanded nicely, I sort of got the impression there were a bunch of penned hogs that got capped one at a time, in the head, to test the expansion of these slugs. Regardless of caliber I prefer a hardcast flatnosed slug for hunting and penetration.

Realistically you are not going to get 1k'/sec from a 4.25" 45 acp with a 225-230 gn cast slug. You might be able to push it to about 950 but none the less, as a hardcast slug it should function well as a 'finishing shot' for larger hog.

As for that mad sow - if you have to drop your rifle and climb up a tree real quick to get away from one then it sounds like you're on a good hunt, (Gar!) and from the safety of a tree branch a hardcast 45 slug to the brainpan should be adquate for bacon makin'....... just a thought.....

Oldshooter · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2010, 01:21:21 AM »

I'm all in favor of a hard cast bullet as a hunting load(due to expansion) but I still will have to be shown that a hard cast bullet will penetrate better than a FMJ before I believe that. Or am I missunderstanding something here?

saddlebum · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:40:05 AM »

When using flatnose bullets a person should have enough power to drive the slug all the way through. The problem with FMJ, if you mean round nose "ball" bullets is lack of tissue damage. I witnessed a friend shoot a large porcupine more than one time with a 1911 in .45 and ball ammo. The critter got mad and turned on him. It came running toward him and he said he almost took of running before he got a shot on it that stopped it. Very embarassing. Mr. Porcupine was still breathing and moving a little so I stood over him and let him have it with my .41mag. There was an explosion of quills. Not a good idea. My friend is a very good shot with this gun, but because of the way the porcupine reacted he wasn't sure he was hitting it. I had a simular experience with a skunk that I shot multiple times with a .22LR revolver. When I realized I was shooting solids I loaded up with hollow points and nailed him to the ground with one shot. Stick a pin in your arm. It smarts and bleeds a little. Turn it over and stick the head of the pin in your arm. Hurts more and bleeds more. Veral Smith at LBT has proven that FN bullets at proper velocity create better wound channels than hollow points and penatrate better making for quicker kills. He has a book on that and more subjects concerning ballistics and casting, good stuff. In a race between a FMJ RN and a FN,(at the same speed) the FMJ might beat the FN to the finish line but how much damage did it do along the way?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2010, 12:29:42 PM »

Maybe I misunderstood what I was reading, It seemed that the implication was that the hard cast would penetrate better on the hogs. so I was confused since penetration was what "ball" ammunition was famous for. No doubt in my mind what wood make the better hunting round, but if a fellow needed penetration I would think the FMJ would do the trick.

Mike in Virginia · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2010, 09:05:14 AM »

Penetration alone won't do it. A heavy flatnose at a reasonable velocity is much better for stopping/killing than the same weight/velocity FMJ. We ain't talkin' expansion here. A hardcast flatnose doesn't need to deform to do it's job. It slaps the critter hard and then tears through tissue opening a bigger channel than the FMJ, doing more damage than a hollowpoint. That's just how it is.

gun junky · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2010, 10:22:05 AM »

Hey 44 man, What grain bullets are those flat nose. Also how well do they feed in that colt. Thats a nice looking rig. Gun Junky

cwlongshot · « **Reply #18 on:** February 26, 2010, 01:03:06 PM »

Quote from: 44 Man on October 25, 2007, 05:47:25 AM

I think that load would work fine for Black bears and Az hogs. Not so sure for some of the big Tennesee hogs though. As I said before, if I only had the 1911, I would carry it and not worry about it. I fully intend to carry mine deer hunting here in Michigan. It will not be my primary gun, but if presented with an opportunity, I would take the shot. 44 Man

(these flat nose bullets are an LBT design)

I just gotta say.. for a 44Man, you sure have a few 45's!! LOL

Nice commander!! I have a first run Colt Commander slide that I built into my own commander carry gun. Mine is matte hard chromed. I have shot one deer with it using Federal 230 Hydra shok ammo.

My first choice with be a hard cast, just as 45 Man

suggested.

S.S. · « **Reply #19 on:** February 26, 2010, 03:29:55 PM »

all depends on the range of the shots.
Never had one walk away from a Hydra-Shok
but I've never popped a 300 pounder with a .45 ACP
either.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #20 on:** February 26, 2010, 03:41:22 PM »

A 44 spl, or a 45 lc loaded with a 240 grain hard cast flat point at about 900 fps is a good performing load on deer / hog size game. I don't see why a 45 acp loaded with a 230 grain hard cast FP at about 900 fps would not work just as well. The real issue might be reliable feeding, as some guns only like RN.

I remember back in the late 70's, Skeeter did an article about aluminum 1911 frame durability. He fired two Colt LW Commanders until he had problems. If I remember right, each went about 10,000 rounds of hard ball before frame cracks were found. Both guns were still fully functional as the cracks were in non vital areas. I'd like to think 1911 aluminum frame metallurgy has improved a little since then. Limited +P use in aluminum frame guns should be fine.

Larry

bubbinator · « **Reply #21 on:** March 10, 2010, 06:36:27 PM »

I don't claim to have shot as many hogs as the "Pigman" on the Sportsman Channel, but the last two 150+ Lbs pigs I shot were DRT w/ 165gr. Corbon .45 JHPs, and one smaller running pig dropped in the width of a 2-track trial from a 230 gr. Hyro-shok. I have also put down 2 cows and a horse w/ the 165grs. Corbons out of the 3" Detonics! FWIW.