Hogs with hardcast

[swampthing]

Curious if any one has any experience with mid to heavy weight WFN style hardcast bullets in .41-.45 cal on larger russian boar. I have seen 300 WFNs at 1250fps sail through 200 pounders. My penetration tests of my 280g WFNGC at 1180fps look promising inside 75 yds. Would like to take a 300 pound Russian Hog cleanly from any angle, anybody try anything like this? I would rather to stay away from 1300-1400 fps if it is not needed.
Thanks

[Redhawk1]

I used 300 gr. Cast Performance bullets in my 44 Mag for hog. The work great and one shot kills. The velocity is around 1200 fps.

[riddleofsteel]

Somewhat limited experience here but I do know a .45 hardcast 270 grain Keith style SWC will blow completely thru a 250 LB boar and it was only going about 1050 FPS out of my 4 5/8" .45 Colt Blackhawk. It did not contact any major bones but the entrance and exit holes remained open and the blood trail was generous and very short.

[Mikey]

Swampthing:  I used a 295 gn hardcast swc for my 44 magnum from Colorado Cast Bullets over a healthy charge of H110 to make mush of a 400 lb Russian Boar's skull.  From a rifle, both 300 gn and 330 gn wide nosed hardcast completely blew through others, knocking them right over.  And these guys were rolling in at around 330-350 lb.  

What you would like to do is perfectly feasible.  The load for the 300 gn wfn slug is capable of what you want to do.  You really don't need to hotrod a 300 gn 43 (44 mag) caliber hardcast flatnosed slug  to make it penetrate, bust bone and git 'r' done.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Varmint Hunter]

I watched another hunter shoot a 325lb boar 3 times with a 44mag using the Federal factory ammo with the 300gr hardcast bullet which I believe is the Cast Performance bullet.

When we inspected the boar it was apparent that all 3 shots entered and exited regardless shot placement or angle.

I took mine with a 300gr Swift A-Frame. For all I know that bullet is still going and going and going.    :-D  

[BrianU]

I have shot one hog with my Ruger Bisley .45 Colt, using a heavy dose of H110 and a Beartooth 300 grain WFNGC.  My experience mirrored yours, complete penetration.  That was with the bullet entering the jaw, traveling the entire length of the body and exiting the rear quarter.   I was actually cleaning a boar I had shot with my rifle, when I looked up to see this sow coming straight at me about 40 yards out.  While my buddy was scrambling for his rifle in the truck, I took care of business with the Bisley.

 Brian

[swampthing]

I can't wait. 280g WFN at 1250 going for the plate. My back up is 5 more.
thank you very much for the input.
swampthing

[Dusty Miller]

Redhawk has the formula.  If a 300 gr. flatnosed hard cast at 1200 fps doesen't do the job you need a 458 Win. mag!

[Maine Woods]

I am going on a hog hunt ( meat hogs 100 lbs ? ) My gun is a 44 SBH 7.5 inch barrel. I have yet to decide on ammo, I just started looking at hard cast bullets. I have no experience will non jacketed bullets? Are gas checks nessasary? barrel leading I would not worry about. Any advice would be much appreciated

[Dusty Miller]

Main Woods, a 100# porker shouldn't take anything special under the way of bullets, just place it in the right spot and you'll get the job done.  Gas checks are not necessary unless you are shooting screamers or really soft lead.

[swampthing]

I would still consider the "hardcast" even though they "are just meat hogs"
My SBH and SRH both shoot beartooth bullets .432" 280g WFNGC's into one ragged hole at 50 yds with velocities rangeing from 1185-1360fps with "no" leading, loads can be pleasent and loads can be stiff.
Federal has a hard cast load that is worth seeing, if there accurate in your gun, 300g hardcast at 1250fps or so, if you reload you can equal these loads with a lot less recoil, ie 280's at 1200 I have seen these loads go clean through the cape of a 200 pound hog. My last hunt my buddy used a DW .44 mag with remington 240g JHP's for backup, bad idea, at 30 yds the load went about 3.5" into the sholder and disintigrated! boar walked away. This boar was 200lbs on the hoof, maybe.
              I was a firm believer that proper shot placement is 1st. Now, for me, it's proper the "load" placed right, not shots in the neck or brain with a gun/load that can't penetrate the sholders.
               I would stay away from the hollow points, and bullet weights less than 270g, just to be on the safe side when your dressing a 100 LBer and a 250 LBer smells the blood and wants to pay the 2 of you a visit, not good if your toting some 200g self defense hollow point.

[Maine Woods]

Thanks swampthing I will give the Bear tooth 280s are try. Where do I find load data for this bullet?

[Mikey]

Maine Woods:  The Beartooth site will have all the load data you want for any of their offerings.  HTH.  Mikey.

[swampthing]

I started with the minimum load out the Hornady manual for thier 265g flatpoint. I have found no pressure signs with loads up to .5g- 1.g from the max listed loads, lead is sliprier than copper and thus reduces pressure and increases velocity, just don't get too crazy. I started at the minimum and worked up 2'tenths a grain until I got absolute accuracy and chrony readings were starting to get uniform then I held right there. H 4227 is a good powder when you want some extra oomf and AA#9 is good for a little less recoil.
       I like my 12.5g of AA#5 and a WLP primer in Remington, Hornady, or Starline brass. The load gives 1185 fps, it is very easy shooting, groups about an 1" at 50yds out of my firelapped Ruger, penetrates nearly the same as a 17.g 1250fps AA#9 load, and is relatively quiet... so to speak. I have gone as high as 13.5g with the #5 with no signs of pressure on a 85 degree day, accuracy did taper off though, slightly.
        I think you would like that 12.5g AA#5 load, unless you feel the need for speed, then a 320gWLN @ 1500fps burning Vhitavouri N110 polar bear load should satisfy.

Good luck and have a good one
swampthing