EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

What is  the best caliber to carry and why? I know this is kinda like asking what is the best hog dog. At first I wanted a 45acp, but if their is not much difference between a 9mm, 40sw and a 45acp and it is cheaper to go with the 9mm I may go with it. What do yall think....

357 sig.  Get longer range than 45 with some great knockdown to boot.

9mm is garbage unless  you want to kill paper.

357 sig is what the dps around here carry most if the sheriff's also.  I went with a 40.   

X2, ur better throwing a 9 at some1, but it boils down to what ur primary purpose will it b used for. I carry a 45, easy to find ammo, tons of knockdown, slow moving, less of a chance of over penetration for hm defense, slower moving n can be completely silenced compaired to the other cal listed unless u buy sub-sonic ammo, but then u take away from their already punny knockdown.

Hunting or just concealed carry/home defense?

If it was concealed carry/home defense I'd carry what your comfortable/accurate with.

My sidearm in the army was the Colt Berretta 9mm. Qualified expert every time and that's with 2 shots at 40 yards. Not bragging...just saying...SO EASY to shoot. I'll eventually pick one up...just haven't found one in my price range.

ANYONE can double tap with that pistol...even at distance. Say what you want but 2 rounds center mass and you ain't got nothing to worry about.

I am a fan of the .357 for hunting and im looking into purchasing the right revolver, like kevin i just havent found the right one yet. I currently use my cc pistol while hunting, STI spartan 45 acp. I like the little ruger semiauto .380 and plan on picking one up as a cc soon, pretty sweet little gun.

I have been looking at pistols for a while now, I will get a Glock or Springfield armory XD. I will also check out the 357

I tote a 357 revolver hunting. I know guys that carry a 44. The 357 is lighter and effective.


Shotgun
Arkansas

Spring field xdms just had a huge recall. Workig at gander mountain I've noticed a lot of smith & Wesson body guard 380s going out. As well as the ruger lcp 380s. And a lot of compact 9s. I have become a fan of sigs & kimbers.

I love me a micro compact 1911 .45

Just be sure you dont confuse the 357 Sig with 357 Mag.

Big difference. 

45 ACP!

.357 mag I use it for hunting and home defences. I've got a 40 also but i just can't put the .357 down and one of the big reasons is for the fact of when  you don't want to spend the money on the .357 ammo .38spl works just as good and it's a little cheaper

I'm looking into the 327 fed myself. Heard good reviews and rugers new blackhawk is a 8 shot also looking at the ruger .gp100.

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The 10mm will be the best for hogs. Hits like a 41mag without the recoil.  If you are wondering about which is better between the 9mm, 40 S&W, or the 45acp, go with the 45acp!! There is a big difference between what police are carrying for protection work against people and shooting a wild hog!!

Iam a 45 guy killed hogs deer all that walks in the woods.bullets can be bought everywere for it.

9mm,40 and 45 are useless against bigger hogs and that's when you will put in a tight spot and have to use one. I have tried and own all of these guns. Hands down the 357 mag is the lightest and most effective of the other pistols that I would use. 44 mag / 45 long colt / There is one that is very hard to find that shoots a 30 carbine and is highly effective also.

I'm gonna disagree...as strictly a HUNTING caliber...sure...you want something big. Something capable of deep penetration at a distance. As a side arm...an oh number 2e moment back up pistol....the 9mm, 40 and 45 are MORE than capable of dropping a Large a Boar in his tracks.

Most of your shots are going to be from point blank...usually head or spine. Any of those calibers will do the job.

You have to look at what you want to do with it.  I personally don't like a 9mm for anything other than shooting paper.  The round is not very forgiving in meat.  What I mean by that is its a small bullet traveling very fast so there is not much kinetic energy, so your shot placement needs to be better or the round will burn through.

A 40 is still a fast moving round but a slightly larger round so there is more kinetic energy, but there is more recoil than a 9mm.

a 45 is bigger than the other two and a slow moving round at 850 FPS (unless your loading your own rounds) so it has ALOT of kinetic energy and recoil is very manageable.

My department will issue either 40 or 45 if you choose.  I personally like carrying my 40 glock for a couple reasons.  1 the gun fits my hand better than a double stack glock 45, 2 the recoil is not an issue for me and I shoot the gun VERY fast, 3 I have been in a gun fight and no first hand regardless of shot placement people can and will keep coming, and I want the extra rounds that my glock 22 carries over the double stack glock 45.

^^^and if you can't make that shot when it counts...a hand cannon ain't gonna help you much  ;D

Coach ive killed hundreds of hogs lil ones big boars,with a 45 one to the ear and they drop,i have a 9 mm and done the same.45 is better to me,i have the same one my grandad had 50 yrs ago,i dont c ur point.

Point is that is what he prefers!! Guy wanted opinions so he gave his! Thats the point! I carry a ruger 357 vaquero single action and i like it very much. I have 40, 9mm and 357 sig my dad gave me that he carried when he was a dps trooper. I still like the 357 revolver the best but thats me. Its personal prefrence in the end and if you havent shot all the rounds find a buddy who has them and try them out.

honestly ive killed more hogs with my 9mm then any other weapon but would like a 357mag

I have shot many weapons rifle machine guns sniper rifle deer rifle hand guns  it all boils down to the shooter if you can't hit the target it won't matter any way get what you want or like and get trained up and be safe

^^^like it Jason

I don't know if its the best or not but a 40 caliber has no problem with a decent shot. I like a Glock cause they are very tough and reasonably priced.

I am not looking for a pistol to carry hunting, I want it to carry for personal protection.

now your opening a whole other can of worms.. lol  Need to look at conceal ability, how many rounds it holds etc.. My personal opinion is if your not totally proficient with a semi auto get a wheel gun.  Wont jamb, mis feed etc.  I cant tell you how much time I spend training with my glock, if that thing doesn't go bang its second nature to fix the problem,  just my 02

My point is a 45 can do all of the above,it is not useless against big boars.and i gave my opinion!handle it are does my opinion count.

Just answering ur question you didnt see his point. Your opinion is your opinion just like the next person!!

Oh yea i would try out some 40 calibers for personal protection!

 even with a bp vest, I wouldn't wont to get shot with a 45acp. we had some extra plates when I was in Iraq my sec tour and we did our own lil tests. every cal was stopped, but the 45 and the 357sig knocked the 200lb test dummy over, and fractured the back of the plate. me personally, I don't much over penetration so anything running faster than 1000fps will punch n keep going into an unwanted area ie: bistandards or adjacent houses. I agree with kevin too that if u cant hit the person with a 9,40,10,45, then them cannons wont make a difference. iv nvr shot a 40, but if its recoil is like a 9, you can bang away n keep sight control, but if ur not used to heavy recoil and rapid firing, the 45 aint the gun for ya.   

Well this is my personal opinion   rolleyes

I don't need a gun and I don't want a gun. I got 2knifes on me. Little pocket knife that I done killed everything with and then big ole knife that I go runnin in there with like a crazy man and I'll tackle that big ole pig or person for self defense and take care of my business. But hey that's just me. I like too love on the wild side  >:D ;D

***Live hahahah  ;D

Them pig stickers work good if the person lets u get that close. Some1 intent on doing harm n wrong doing, aint gonna stand there n let u walk up to them n stab them. Like the saying goes, "bring a knife to a gun fight n ull leave horizontal" but again, like u said, its ur own personal prefrence but what really does ur no need of a gun have to do with him asking the best cal for personal protection? I dont a knife is a cal of a pistol  ???

Handle it your right it is my preference, and opinion.  Like I said they are worthless in a tight spot!! I've probably shot more hogs with a 22 or 22 mag but I wouldn't advise it to everyone. With a well place shot I've seen hogs killed with pellet guns, so what's your point? Too many people get their chon chons in a wad to quick. Just sit back and read and enjoy, and when you want just give your opinion cause it's probably just as good as the next persons.

Personal protection I carry a 40! May not kill him the 1st shot but will pump 5 or 6 more behind the 1st one rather quickly and the recoil is lighter and can get back on your target faster! Before someone get their feelings hurt its just a personal preference. I know everyone has done this longer and their daddy's and granddad's showed them or told them otherwise. IT'S JUST AND OPINION GUYS!!!!! :D

Lol you right! Guess I'll have too get my Kung fu skills out and go ninja mode on em hahah preferably though. I like the weapon that gives me the best chance of winning a fight lol everyone always wants too argue about something. On here. Not saying you. Just above posts. Let people post there opinions of preferred gun choice and that be it. No need too argue with someone about what they think

Well one thing for sure, I will not buy a 9mm.

our local pd allows officers to carry 9, 40 or 45 and i know some who carry all of em. some really prefer the 9mm capacity and some love the 45 knockdown. one officer i know carries 9mm as a duty weapon and carries 45 acp off duty. a deputy i know in santa clara county/ here in calif, says their issue weapon is a glock 22/ 40 cal but as of next year they will all be issued 9mms and only allowed to use 9 mm plus p ammo. its all choices, heck i have a 22 in the kitchen and  9mm in my nightstand and a 357 mag in wifes night stand. although im thinkin of switchin my nightstand to another of my 357s

You can kill any one or thing with a 22 they taught me one shot one kill but I understand every ones point. And if you think you can just kill some one that is trying to kill you with a pocket knife well good luck with that

My point is some one said it was useless against big boars,that just isnt true.i will set bk and read,and say my opioion.

Don't matter if its for hunting, conceal carry, home protection, .22 LR to .454 casuall, if you can't hit with it comfortably, it ain't no good. Preference is not always the best option. I prefer my SIG 9mm, I shoot my GLOCK .40 a hell of a lot better, guess what, I carry the GLOCK. Point being, carry what you can consistently hit with, after all, if you can't hit with it you might as well throw rocks.

x2...I don't know much about pistol calibers but I like my 357 mag double action revolver...also shoots 38's like already mentioned...

I like my Glock 23