RE: Some rookie questions
 

I always carried a .357mag....

RE: Some rookie questions
 

I carry a bow.. that's it. An extra arrow for back up.

RE: Some rookie questions
 

As said shot placement is key, BUT, to me, not as much as ammunition. One night me and my dad were riding around fields my cousin had said some hogs had moved into and were goin through. We would ride and everynow and then shine the light into the field. We came across a big 'ole boar wandering on his own heading to the creek as they had been. With my 7mmMag and a 150gr boat-tail hollow point, I put the cross hairs just behind the shoulder and put him down. He was broadside facing left. When I shot he spun to his right and fell on his right side, did a 180. At 134 yards there lay a 428 pound boar.
If you've got the right stuff, you can hit'em just like any other big game.

Good Luck

RE: Some rookie questions
 

any of those calibers are fine for hogs i usually use a marlin 30-30 my bow and i hav put a 100 pounder down with my .40 pistol

RE: Some rookie questions
 

I have used my 12ga and my 30-06 and they all work. I have had to shoot more the once with the 12ga to stop them though. I always carry a sidearm and it has come in handy. A 45 is definitely enough for a side arm I have used my 380 to the head once when my rifle did not fire and it was enough to put him down.