.44 Mag for hog?
 

Buy a 45-70 rifle if you are only allowed straight wall cartridges, it is good pretty much for all North American big game. I have killed many hogs with it and several deer.

You can do better than 44mag for a similar price. As mentioned the 45/70 and 444 Marlin might be better choices. Probably 450 Marlin also if this list has been updated since 2014

These specific straight-walled cartridge rifles are legal for Ohio deer hunting: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson. Shotguns and straight-walled cartridge rifles may have no more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined while deer hunting.

The current reg in the 2018 book just says So a 450 Marlin should also be legal.

Ohio simplified the regulations last year, and the .450 is good to go.

Somewhere along the line the .44 Magnum went from being the most powerful revolver ever made to barely capable.

But, I can assure you.... If you want a .44 mag, it will work just fine for deer and hogs.

There are better options out there, some of those were listed above.... But that doesn't mean the .44 mag won't work.

My uncle took this hog earlier this week in Florida with a .44.



-Jake

44 Mag in a rifle gets a reasonable performance gain vs a pistol and ammo is pretty much all over the place. Its fine within reasonable shooting distances but there are legal calibers that will greatly extend that range. Some being very easy to find also.

http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=41 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source =
44 mag....430 diam.....310 grain projectile at 1300 fps 1160 ft lbs
I used a 21 grain charge of H110 under a LEE 310 grain hard cast 44 cal. bullet seated out to the lower crimp groove
use a 95% WW alloy and 5% tin, size to .430 youll have zero issues killing hogs, with proper shot placement.
yes the ammo so loaded works in both my S&W revolver and marlin lever action carbine,
Id point out most hogs are shot in rather dense cover ranges seldom exceed 70-80 yards.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/5...cf-430-diameter-310-grain-flat-nose-gas-check
MOLD DC C 430-310-RF


http://garage.grumpysperformance.com...oad-info.3409/

Unless you're shooting high volume, it's not going to make much difference. In my area .45-70 can be found relatively cheap. I saw Winchester super x 300 grain today for $28.

-Jake

I've got a marlin 44 mag and 45-70. Both are nice rifles. 44 mag holds 10, is light. While I have not shot a hog with 44 mag, I believe lots of people have. The henry's are very nice. But for me I didn't like the balance. But that is personal preference.

If you decide to shoot 45-70, I would start reloading. It is not cheap.

The truth of the matter is, how many times do you shoot your 45-70 except for making sure it is on target and when you kill game with it. I shoot Hornady Lever evolution ammo, it cost more than Winchester or Remington, but I do not think it is expensive because I do not shoot a box a year and neither do most people. It would cost a lot more to get set up in reloading for it than t costs me to buy factory and the factory is more than sufficient.

I like to practice. I enjoy shooting, and I try to be a better shot. I have already fired 20 45-70 this year. Not unusual to fire 100 or more 30-06 in a fall. Not the type to put it in the pie plate and call it good.

I do realize many people don't practice and kill deer. They wear dirty clothes in the woods and kill deer. I realize it happens. They may be breathing through there nose, I dunno.


As for leverlotion, I prefer big metplates. But I have never been shot so I can't say for sure.

You don't need head shots. I haven't but many people have shot hogs with 44 mag. Hard lead. I load XTP which some people say are hard enough for hog.

Not saying I don't like 45-70. I choose to hunt with that over my 44, since I hunt in heavy bush and hope it runs 10 yards less. I did buy the 44 mag for walking, but haven't used it alot for that.

I have skinner sights on my 44 mag and 2x7 on 45-70. 1-5 with firedot would be nice. Next bear season I may do that. Since I walk in day, peeps are ok. But for hunting low light, I want a scope. My preference

One thing that is fun, you can load 44 mag with unique and in a rifle if is a powder puff. Even H110 at max, not a big deal. Fun to shoot. Granted you are buying it for hunting not plinking.

I personnally don't find 45-70 a big deal, but I grew up on old remintgons with plastic but plates, and that is what I am still using. So put a rubber pad on 45-70, and doesn't seem any worse than 30-06 or shotgun.

I do like to go big. While I carried the 44 mag on a couple walks, the 45-70 killed last years buck. Some may say overkill. Like I said both have merits. 44 mag lighter fun plinking. 45-70 more power.

Either way. I would look into reloading if you don't Allows you to shoot premium for cost of cheap.

one of my neighbors I hand load for, "Allen" got a Hog this weekend with his
500 S&W revolver,it looks similar to this picture I found posted else ware

using the LEE nominal 440 grain weight, hard cast,
gas check bullet, loaded over the,
20 grain load of blue dot powder,
Allens been practicing and hes gotten to the point where 2" 25 yard 3 shot groups are reasonably common if hes got a rest like a sitting position or a tree to lean against
the hog, this time, was about 160 lbs live weight,
it was facing him at about 18-20 yards, when he fired.
the single 500 mag slug entered center upper chest and exited the inner lower ham on the left side near the anus.
the 500 mag with hard cast ,gas check bullets is proving to be devastating on hogs

http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=500 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source


https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...ld-c501-440-rf


just a bit of info on these lee "440 grain" 500 S&W bullet molds ,
with the gas check and lube on these cast bullets,
at least using my 95% WW alloy and 5% tin, mix,
the projectiles actually weigh about 470 grains
they are quite accurate (WITH THE GAS CHECKS)
http://www.sagesoutdoors.com/500-s-w...or-gas-checks/
and penetrate extremely well and consistently and can easily be pushed to 1300 -plus fps.

IN my 44 mag revolver,Ive had almost identical results on a rather similar size hog about 4 years ago.
Allens thrilled with his revolver , and it certainly works, but I can,t say its proven any more effective than my 10 5/8" S&W 44 mag revolver

I've used a 20 grain charge of H110 under a LEE 310 grain hard cast 44 cal. bullet seated out to the lower crimp groove

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/5...cf-430-diameter-310-grain-flat-nose-gas-check
MOLD DC C 430-310-RF

hardcast, while performance on a normal sized hog at 18-20 yards would be around the same between the .44mag and the .500sw, you can bet your bottom dollar the .500 has tons more power and effective range. I know since I have several .44's and a couple .500's. They are like night and day.
I've taken whitetale, hogs, and elk with both in handgun configurations. The old man had a .44mag marlin that I took a couple hogs and 1 whitetail with. It was adequate for both. As was said earlier, there are several other straight walled cartridges that would be better but with your range expectations a light little .44mag marlin would be just fine as long as you stay within it's limitations. Hogs can be and are a very tough animal but they aren't bullet proof. A good old heavy boar will have that cartilage shield built up and that thing does absorb a ton of energy from bullets so I would target them quartering away and trying to hit a bit behind the shoulder. Head shots on broadside boars are fairly easy but don't take those on whitetail. Much smaller target area and much more likely to maim a whitetail. Straight on headshots on hogs can be tricky. Their skull has a very steep slope to it and that can cause a bullet skip rather than penetration. Some are under the false impression that their skulls are really thick and tough but in reality they are far from it. Just that angle can cause problems.

theres no question that a 500 mag hits almost twice as hard and delivers massive impact energy,
one has to respect that, and you can,t deny or ignore the physics.
if your confronting something at longer range or an animal that can be violent, theres zero question the 500 mag has serious advantages ,
if the person using the handgun can use it accurately with its weight and significant recoil.


http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/?Caliber=500+SqqqW+Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun& Order=Powder&Source=
I doubt anyone's questioning that or would try to pretend its not a great deal more powerful than the 44 mag.
I'm simply pointing out that for almost 5 decades I've rarely had a bullet from any of my 44 mag or 445 DWSM revolvers,
fail to exit a deer or hog, I've shot regardless of the range or impact point

my 44 mag revolver is the longer barrel version

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44%20Magnum&Weight=All&type=Ha ndgun&Order=Powder&Source=


Ive also used and own a 10" dan wesson 445 super mag, this is a serious step up and very accurate,
but both the 44 mag and 445 mag are very lethal and both leave exit wounds

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=445%20Supermag&Weight=All&type =Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

that being stated , once you can with your revolver and cartridge of choice,
consistently punch through the intended game at any reasonable range and angle and have consistent bullet exits.
like can be done with a hard cast 300-310 grain, 44 mag on deer and most hogs I don,t see having more power as a big advantage.
now if you step up to Elk, the 445 DWSM has a noticeable range advantage as you gained about 300 fps with the identical bullets.
if I was contemplating going up against something like lion, or large bear, than the S&W 460 or S&W 500 mag, if the correct projectile is used,
is simply a better choice without ANY question

heres a rather interesting video, where a guy filmed his hunts using a ruger 44 mag handgun with 300 grain bullets
it certainly seems to work rather consistently, and while a 500 S&W surely hits harder ,and has twice the power,
I doubt its twice as effective, as with most hunts knowing your games anatomy and being a good consistent shot maters more than power alone

I've shot a lot of hogs with a .357 mag & 44 mag handgun, mostly head shots, hunting with dogs...it's plenty of OOMPH to do the job.

I don't know much about .44 mag rifles, but I'd have to think they are just as effective, but I wouldn't know about knock-down at ranges greater than 50 yards?

A .22WRM will do the job on Ohio hogs.

Thanks for sharing the video.

your more than welcome.(video)
many guys don,t fully appreciate how lethal a larger bore revolver can be,when its pushing a serious chunk of lead at ranges under about 120 yards or so,
in well practiced hands of a competent shot. a 44 mag with a 310 grain hard cast bullet has rarely in my experienced failed to drop game with a well placed shot.
now a 300 grain hollow point jacketed bullet in a 44 mag seems to expand better and produce more shock,
and thats what the guy in the video stated he used, but for 4 decades Ive used the hard cast gas check 300-310 grain bullets
with excellent very predictable results, you may not get quite as impressive knock downs, with hard cast and a few deer and hogs will make a short run,
but the majority , if you place shots well, drop very rapidly after bullet impact. and you almost always get exit wounds with hard cast bullets

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/68...ks-box-of-1000

https://www.sagesoutdoors.com/44-cal...er-gas-checks/

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/51...nose-gas-check

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/12...tter-gas-check
BTW if you own a 500 S&W these guys have gas checks
mid south and mid way don,t always carry 500 gas checks
https://www.sagesoutdoors.com/500-s-...or-gas-checks/

I spent a few hours at a local indoor handgun range last weekend, I was there basically to practice with my concealed carry pistol,
but I brought several handguns , 25 yard 4"-6" groups shot fairly rapid fire with all of them was possible even the 10" 44 mag,
thats certainly adequate, but there was a difference, if I took my time aiming the big revolver, it was far and away the more accurate hand gun.
I had to wonder how several of the participants, at the range would fair in a life or death confrontation ,
or if they were to go hunting with the handguns they were practicing with.
you can certainly kill hogs and deer with a 45 acp or 10 mm or 357 mag revolver.
now admittedly, you seldom hunt with the same pistol or revolver you might carry for conceal carry use,
but there were a good many guys that seemed incapable of punching a hole anywhere in a full body silhouette , at 5-7 yards.
hunting would require a significantly longer range but would not generally require ease of concealment.
do any of you gentlemen hunt with your concealed carry pistol?
Ive used most of my handguns on hunts just to see how they worked on larger game like hogs and deer.
now given a choice I don,t think most of us would hunt with a concealed carry pistol/revolver the expected ranges and performance required obviously are vastly different.
but, I think most would agree , if your carrying concealed your life might depend on both hitting the target, fluid & flawless access, rapid and dependable operation,
and the projectile impact having a pronounced and rapid effect on your potential antagonist.
I,ve used a 686 S&W, (357 mag)
a 1006 S&W (10 mm)
a glock 20 ,(10 mm)
and a EAA whitness (45 acp)
yes Id have no problem carrying any of those for personal defense use.
in fact Ive carried all of those over the years.( and hunted with all of them)
and yes a longer barrel length, 44 mag has proven the superior choice for hunting.