Author Topic: What .44 bullet for hogs (Read 1648 times)

Brian T · « **on:** January 09, 2005, 12:51:01 PM »

I am heading to GA in March on a hog hunt. I plan to use my marlin 44 mag with a holo sight. I am currently planning to use 240 grain SPs over a good dose of 296 powder. I killed one a few years ago with the 240 XTP HP. It made a good kill but did not shoot all the way through. I like a exit wound and figure the SP will blow through the other side while still give the benefits of a expanding bullet. What do you all think? :lol:

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2005, 01:39:44 PM »

How about a Nosler Partition HG? They make a 44 cal in a 250gr. Partitions have a really good rep for penetration. I've never tried them. http://www.nosler.com/chartpartitionhg.html

Good luck,
Ian

Whodaheck99 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2005, 03:30:00 PM »

I have shot hogs with Horady 240 GR. XTP, and Hornady 300 GR. XTP. I shot three of them with the 44 Mag. All of them over 300 pounds. No exit wound. I rather have the bullet use all of it`s energy, on the inside, rather then exiting. I use Reloader-7. And I will not change a thing. I shot a Red Deer Cow last year, with my 44 Mag. I Shot her in the neck, with a 300 GR. XTP. Big Exit wound, but retree the bullet. It put two piese of spine out the back of her neck. Just my 2 cent. Hope I help you out.

JJHACK · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2005, 04:35:54 PM »

You may be expecting a bit too much from a handgun on wild boar. Especially older males with a strong european ancestory. These bigger genetically improved versions have extremely thick rubber like hide that will easly stop low velocity large mushroomed bullets like a fast ball in a catchers mit.

It's not easy to blow out the off side with a handgun unless you use a hard cast bullet. Always an option. I tend to prefer the significant stunning effect on hogs a softer bullet provides. That is until they have run off and the blood trail is poor. Hogs are a hella tough big animal. They are without a doubt the toughtest to penetrate clean through of anything in North America. Only Moose and Bison are close and they are 5-7 times the size on average. Even then they do not have skin like this covering their vitals!

halfbreed · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2005, 05:31:53 PM »

JJ, is that just skin and fat? or is there a gristle plate in there somewhere? I have never hunted wild boar, but sure would like to try sometime. I probably would use a 458 WM with hard cast. not because i think it is needed, but because I like the rifle so much and enjoy shooting it. ALOT. But I am not able to walk far, so it will have to be from a stand I guess. Thanks for the time, Halfbreed

JJHACK · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2005, 06:12:17 PM »

That 1.5" shown is hard gristle plate not fat. I would not be able to stab a knife through it with my own hand and arm power. Its an amazing natural substance

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2005, 09:53:27 AM »

I use a 300 gr. Cast performance bullet with 17.5 gr. of 2400. One shot and the bullet went through both sides of the hog. It was out of my Ruger Super Redhawk 44 MAG from 25 yards.

daddywpb · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2005, 10:55:02 AM »

I also use the Cast Performance 300 grain LFNGC bullet, but in a 45 Colt Ruger Bisley. I load it over 15.5 grains of 2400 - that's my recoil limit. It's an impressive bullet.

S.S. · « **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2005, 06:20:02 AM »

.44 Mag. Hard cast 300 gr. SWC-gc at a bit over 1100 fps.
Out of my Blackhawk it packs a decent Punch without punishing me too much.
I always have a Neat LITTLE .12 ga Slug Gun with me too. I load My own "Slugs" though. I use a Pure lead round ball.
Basically a .69 Caliber rifle. I hunt in very heavy cover and
that little slug gun is ideal.

Walker · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2005, 05:22:12 AM »

I've killed a ton of hogs with the 265gr. Hornady Flat Nose.

Sheila · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2005, 07:16:14 AM »

Quote from: Brian T

I am heading to GA in March on a hog hunt. I plan to use my marlin 44 mag with a holo sight. I am currently planning to use 240 grain SPs over a good dose of 296 powder. I killed one a few years ago with the 240 XTP HP. It made a good kill but did not shoot all the way through. I like a exit wound and figure the SP will blow through the other side while still give the benefits of a expanding bullet. What do you all think? :lol:

I will be using a Marlin 30/30 rifle, and a 38 caliber handgun.

Steve 48 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2005, 03:04:36 AM »

I used to use Cast Performance but changed to Leadheads. I use their 250 Keith bullet with 23 grs of W296 and it gooes right through their shoulders without destoying the meat. Best thing is that these bullets don't lead my barrel. Steve 48

daddywpb · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2005, 07:30:20 AM »

I have never had leading problems with any Cast Performance bullet.

My 44 Mag hunting load is a Speer 270 grain Gold Dot soft point over 19.8 grains of Win 296 for about 1500 fps. I use it in a Marlin 1894P rifle. Accuracy is superb out to 50 yards with a Williams peep.

drdougrx · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2005, 03:19:26 PM »

Hi,

For what it's worth. I use a 6" RSBH re-built by MagNaPort and 300gr Hornady XTPs. I'm really happy with them.

Doug

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2005, 11:28:45 PM »

any hardcast .44 or .45 bullet 250 or bigger at 1000 fps will shoot through a pig at any angle Id like to say every time but im sure theres an exception. Ive seen jacketed bullets fail miserably on pigs. My buddy has over 90 stitches in his leg from a pig a hunter he was guiding was shot by a .41 mag with a xtp right behind the shoulder. It never made it through the grizzle sheild. It was finished off by my buddy with his .500 linebaugh but not until it wreaked havock with his leg. I can tell another story about a black bear and .44 jacketed bullets but not this time. Jacketed bullets work fine on deer and other thin skinned game but when push comes to shove and the animal is big boned or has a heavy hide or a good layer of fat id take a cast bullet anyday.

drdougrx · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2005, 02:33:42 PM »

Hmmmmm........based on Lloyd's experience......me thinks I should rethink XTP's.

Though I do have a question. LLoyd...what weight did your friend use? I like heavy for caliber bullets on hogs.

Doug

Uncle Ji · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2005, 07:42:56 PM »

Over the last 29 years I've used a handload similar to your own consisting of 240 grain Speer Jacketed Soft Point, and 24 grains of H110. I have never had complete penetration but I have never needed it all my pigs dropping to one shot with no real tracking even needed. The bullets are usually recovered under their "shoulder pad" on far side (I always prefer boilerroom heart/lung shots). I just don't like hollowpoints on pigs, they expand much too quickly without adequate penetration. I think your load, and reasoning is very sound, give it a try, have fun. :grin: