.45acp for hogs and cougars

Cougars are not that tough. A .22 mag is fine (if you are hunting THEM). A .45 should be adequate if they are hunting YOU.

Hogs on the other hand ARE tough. A .45 will kill one, but only with a well placed shot and some luck. 10mm or .460 Rowland for an auto loading pistol.

 

The 45 ACP is a poor choice for shooting hogs. I have seen a few hogs shot with them,and very few even slow down or go down after being shot with that caliber.
Hollow points don't penetrate enough,FMJ's just make a small hole through them and unless it's a very good shot,it will just wound them. Lead bullets are the best choice,but most are too slow to do the damage needed to down the animal.
A 40 S&W will do a much better job than the 45 ACP. If I use a pistol,it is almost always my 44 Magnum.It always works on them!

 

I would not choose to use a .45 for hogs.

If i had to, I'd use ball ammo for increased penetration.

BTW if you kill a cougar, they're far better tasting than venison.

 

Just my opinion, but I think you'd be better off spending the money on a good used .357 magnum.

 

Funny, thought this might be one for the Tail Trail...

 

If I were hunting hogs from a stand, I'd use that .30-06 and take the scope off of it. Use it like it was intended. I sure as hell would not want to have to track down a hog wounded with a .45.

 

A rancher friend shot a lion this week at very close range. He had dismounted his horse when a rather large Mtn. Lion advanced from a stand of Juniper. He engaged the cat with the first round from a .40 Caliber auto the lion contnued to advance. The lion fell stone dead at his feet with 5 rounds in his body. It is one thing to kill a treed cat quite another to take one in attack mode.

 

Hogs are tough, and when injured can be mean. .45 is not a good idea. If you are going to hunt, hunt with something that can provide a clean kill, or don't hunt.

 

If you are determined to hunt with a .45, then use a real .45, such as my Smith 25-5 in .45 Colt. It carries enough energy to get the job done. The ACP with only 400 or so foot pounds of energy is just not the critter to stop either a hog or a mountain cat if it has determination on its mind.

 

i carry a 45 xdm as my hunting backup and feel safe enough in hog land with it. i use fmj loaded to max safe loads similar to buffalo bore. when shooting animals expansion isnt that important its always shot placement regardless of caliber. shoot a big cat off center with a 44 and he will keep coming just as much as an off center with a 45. hit him in the vitals with either and he will stop, hopefully before doing a lot of damage.

critters intent on eating you seldom stop in one shot regardless. 45acp is adequate for anything in north america backup wise short of a moose elk bear intent on stomping you flat.

there are 460 rowland conversions for xd/xdm which would be ideal for a defensive anti-animal gun. http://460rowland.com/springfield-armory-xd-45/

but just like self defense anywhere else, rule 1 is: have a gun. if all you got is less than ideal its better than a stick...

 

If that is all you have use it, but as stated by many already it is not the 'weapon of choice' when it comes to hogs. Make the 06 do the job for you!
Have a good hunt!

 

If you are going to go with the hot and heavy loads, then get an appropriate rated spring to absorb that recoil. You might want to go 18 or 19 pounds. I would just take the scope off the rifle and use the iron sights. BTW, where are you going to find both feral hogs and mountain kitties at the same time?