My weekend Pig Hunt. 45acp vs OINKER

[Jared D]

This was our first attempt at a total spot and stalk hunt.

Maybe you already can tell me, but I would love to know what your handgun would do on a 300 lb. boar shoulder/plate.

We do pretty much 100% spot and stalk, however, the last two trips, I have begun pushing through the thick stuff to try to figure them out more, and we are seeing more pigs from it. Brad mainly spot and stalks with his Bow. I can actually post a bunch more stories of our hunting trips if yall want. I have another two write ups already done in the computer now. I do the write ups for my friends/family up north (Maine) and over seas (either Iraq or in Navy). Most show what we did/do wrong, and have lessons learned.

As to the plate. Brad has shot three pigs THIS YEAR that absorbed arrows to the plate and not get more than 6-8" penetration. I have seen pigs absorb .243 to the plate and keep on moving, though a solid enough bonded bullet should penetrate. I have heard (as I am sure anyone who pig hunts) that the plate stopped an 06 bullet or something similar, but I have yet to see that first hand. The plates are tough, but not that tough. Pigs on the other hand are. I cant tell you how many single lung shot pigs we have tracked for HOURS and not recovered. Covering distances of 300-400 yards. They just absorb punishment. Thats why we try to shoot them until they are on the ground, whether it be arrow or bullet. I think most people nail a pig well (albeit most shoot a pig like its a deer, which is too far back) and then the pig runs off never to be found again, so the hunter chalks it up to the plate stopping this bullet or that. If your getting 10 inches penetration through a plate, your deep enough to cut vital stuff up!

I guess I am trying to say, I would think a .45 would make it through a plate on a boar (I would almost guarentee it) but there are enough stories saying otherwise that I wont make that leap of faith. I personally think people just see how tough they are (escaping capture after a solid hit, or charging after 1 or two hits) and so they get a legend like status.

[weekender]

the black and white hog in my post is the one that I only got 10" of penatration. There was little to no blood on the ground. The hog ran 200 yds straight line then made a 90 under a barb wire fence then on another 100 yds in a TX size thicket. 45 minutes after the shot, I was scanning with my binos and seen a hog standing in the thicket swaying side to side. The sways got bigger over 5 minutes until it just fell over. The "autopsy" showed both lungs were penetrated. I could not beleive how tuff this hog was. I was just curious as to whether the pistol bullet would go through one. I have found broad heads, .22 bullets, lots of buck shot, one 30 cal. bullet in the plates of hogs we have killed.

[austin ensor]

THIS IS THE ONE I SHOT LAST YEAR! 350LB RUSSIN BOAR!!

[Jared D]

the black and white hog in my post is the one that I only got 10" of penatration. There was little to no blood on the ground. The hog ran 200 yds straight line then made a 90 under a barb wire fence then on another 100 yds in a TX size thicket. 45 minutes after the shot, I was scanning with my binos and seen a hog standing in the thicket swaying side to side. The sways got bigger over 5 minutes until it just fell over. The "autopsy" showed both lungs were penetrated. I could not beleive how tuff this hog was. I was just curious as to whether the pistol bullet would go through one. I have found broad heads, .22 bullets, lots of buck shot, one 30 cal. bullet in the plates of hogs we have killed.

I havent had that experience with finding stuff in the shield, but I have seen them take a bunch of abuse in it, and get away seemingly unscathed. The biggest problem with high shots/ non pass throughs is the lack of blood. Honestly, we usually pass on monster pigs (expecially boars) as they arent much in the way of eating if you dont castrate em quickly. Brad shoots them, but he wants a trophy. I will take a 140#er any day! The one I shot this weekend was pretty tender, but if she was a bit smaller she would have been really delicious.

Austin, nice tusker. Any story to go with it???