I had a guy the other day tell me that he'd carry something bigger than a 44 magpistol for hunting hogs. I've never hunted them so I don't know if he's full of crap or not, but I'm going to Texas on a whitetail/hog hunt this fall and I was planning on carrying my Ruger S.B. 44 mag as a sidearm and would like to take a hog if possible with it.
I reaload my 44's and I was wonderingwhat load would y'all use?

Thanks for your time and advise!
Scottie

I like to pistol hunt often. I have taken hogs with 38 specials, 44 mags, 454 casulls, 45 acp, and 357s. Id suggest not going any lighter than a 357, but as you can see I have taken them with no problem with lighter guns. All in shot placement.

As for your loads, Ill have to look mine up. I have not loaded 44 mags in a while. What powder are you using? I have been loading H 100, with a soft, half jacket. Ill have to check to see what grain of powder im throwing. The size of the bullet is 200 speer and 240 magtech. I have stuck with the magtech and shoot it the most.

Well, whatpowder type and how much was part of what I'm asking, along with what bullet. I'm glad to hear about your success with this load and even smaller.

Im throwing h 100, and ill look up how much when I get home.

I lied to you. Im using H110, not H100. Im throwing 24 grains for my 240 grain bullets.

The guy has'nt hunted hogs for to long or he never has!
Ruger .44mag or .357mag is what I carry as a side arm when hunting with dogs and I am over gunned!

With no dogs, even a Rem. 17cal, .22-250,.243,.257 or .260 will kill a hog!

i have used a 44 for back up and for huntin alone with it never had one problem .

I have used from .22lr to .44-40.
I have recently moved into .35 Whelen and .45-70 rifles and am anxiously awaiting a test of both on feral hogs.
What you need is dependent on where you shoot them.

That guy is probably a rookie hunter or he's one of those that believe that hogs are somehow near bullet proof and that you need massive firepower to take them down. The .44mag is plenty. Bullet placement, Bullet placement, Bullet placement.

I have hunted them with a .45 Ruger, and the knockdown power is amazing.