Got my first hog,{with the .444m}, last week. I use the 18.5" "guide gun" and 280g LBT hardcast bullets @1235fps. 185lb hog was running by me at 30yds when I shot. Pig started to stumble after making it 15yds and was down inside 20. Boar never got up. Blood everywhere. Boar died from one shot through the upper portion of it's heart and a thumb sized entry and exit hole. Just about zero bloodshot. I will definitely keep using this load. My .44mag pistol will do the same velocity, but in this marlin it has half the kick of a 30-30 and is also very quiet, in comparison.