revolver power

[gonpce]

I'm interested in purchasing a revolver and don't have any experience with these. Do they have enough power to kill a feral hog and if so, what caliber and loads would be best?

 

[longcruise]

I shoot a Pietta .44 a bit but not for hunting. I think it would do a hog in if you got up close. Say 10 or 20 feet.

 

[JackAubrey]

Well,personally,were I to go after a feral hog I would use a long arm.If I was set on using a revolver I'd choose either my third model dragoon or my Walker.The shot is going to have to be up close and personal and expect to empty the revolver and /or climb a tree. Revolvers just don't have the poke to bring a hog down,from what I've seen.I mean ,yes,it will, but be prepared to do some tracking.Best regards,JA

 

[Zonie]

I agree with Jack.

Revolvers are very limited to the amount of black powder you can put into the chambers and most of them result in loads that are not at all suitable for hunting larger critters.
Rabbits and squirrels are easy to take but (IMO) even a fox at anything over 30 yards might be a bit much for a revolver like the Colt or Remingtons in .44 caliber.

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd model Dragoon and the Walkers all permit larger powder loads behind their .45 diameter balls which helps a lot but for hunting a tough critter that can bite back like a wild hog, a good set of running shoes might be in order.

 

[larry wv]

I have killed deer with a cap and ball revolver. waited for a perfect shot at very close range. Would not do it again. I have hunted boar with a .54 rifle and not felt over gunned! I am sure it can be done but it is a very bad idea. If you try it take someone with a big back up gun with you. Preferable some body YOU can out run. Larry Wv

 

[Golfswithwolves]

Dragoons were liked for buffalo hunting. This was close up and from horseback though.

 

[Mulebrain]

Colt Walker will surely drop a hog! I use 55-60 grains of fff. Within range, it should be no problem, plus you have more shots!

Be sure to sight it in, before tackling that kind of work!

The gun is heavy, but if that is all your carrying!

Put a strap on that loading lever, because with the heavier charges it will come down, and act as a cylinder stop.

 

[longfowler]

I agree with mule brain - a walker loaded to it's max has the same balistics as a .357, but that would be the minimun I would use on dangerous game! Better bring along a friend with another big gun.
I hunted deer with mine, loaded with a 45 cal t/c maxi ball over 55 grs of 3f, but never killed anything. the recoil is very strong, like my 44 mag. defintely, tie up that lever, or you'll never get a second shot!

 

[mykeal]

Dragoons were liked for buffalo hunting. This was close up and from horseback though.

Those were not one shot, humane kills that we now consider the standard for any responsible hunter. They were wounding shots in which the hunters slowed the animal down and pursued it until it collapsed or bled to death.

If you are going to use a black powder revolver for hunting medium to large game you must be a very accomplished hunter with the ability to get close to your target AND an excellent shot. Otherwise, stick with long guns.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I've taken 2 wild/feral hog with BP revolvers.
from a ground blind near bait - they are classed a pest in parts of NC here in WNC. both times my nephew was in the blind w/his 20ga Mag H&R loaded with 3" Buck.
the smaller was a little over 100 lbs field dressed the larger was a sow little over 200 lbs fielded.
I took the smaller with a '58 Rem max charge of 3F and a Lee mold conical over blew part of it's brains out.
the big one I shot too far back with my ROA loaded with slugs (it was moveing at slow trot)and it ran off over patchy snow but I had drilled both lungs and found it piled in thicket nearly 1/4 mile away still blowing blood so stuck another slug in back of head/neck. I had both pistols w/me both times. the lung shot slug was stuck in the opposite side hide.

 

[R.M.]

What range was the lung shot?

 

[FishDFly]

I spent most of December and January shooting pistols, single shot percussion and flintlock and revolvers, all were 44s and 45s. I shot a total of 6 different pistols.

Only 3F was used and the loads ranged from 18 to 30 grains depending on the pistol and only round balls were used. All shooting was done for paper matches, not hunting, accuracy only.

After a bit I had to shift my shooting range (cows on the range) and started shooting into my wood pile with the target frame in front of the pile.

When shooting the single shot percussion and flintlocks, I did not hear from my wife. When I started shooting the revolvers she came out and said that is enough, the balls are hitting the house. Not believing her I went back to shooting. When I heard a ball hit my truck, I quit.

When I started looking at the end of the firewood, I noticed that where I had shot the percussion and flintlock single shots, the balls were embedded in the wood. Where I had shot the revolvers, there were many balls barely stuck in the wood or where a lot just bounced off the wood.

The difference in the pistols I see, is that there is a loss of energy in revolvers when the ball jumps from the cylinder to the barrel which does not happen in single shot pistols.

In all honesty, I do not think black powder pistols have a place in hunting for critters much larger than small game, they do not have the energy that is needed to do the necessary work in quick order.

And most people are not what I consider to be adequate pistol shots to put the ball where it needs to go.

Just my opinion,

RDE

 

[renovato]

For hog, you're probably going to want a bullet instead of a ball. Those little balls just aren't heavy enough for much penetration in a critter that large. Think big. Big bullet, big powder charge.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

about 40'. bear in mind that W.B. Hickok shot dead many men with a .36 Colt loaded with RB - about the energy equivalent of todays .380acp.

 

[Zonie]

I'll admit I don't have historical records of every shootout that W.B.Hickok was in but generally speaking, man is not nearly as bullet proof as a wild hog.

A lot of those old time shootouts resulted in the dead person taking several days to realize that he was killed. It wasn't like the movies at all.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Very good point. A bullet wound that stops a man in his tracks may just irritate a hog or a bear. We know we've been shot and that it isn't good for us and that we may die and so there's a powerful psychological effect that these animals don't have to deal with. A hog with a bullet hole in him and the adrenaline flowing is an impressive beast indeed. That may explain why a lot of the early European rifles had large bores--the bigger the hole you put in a boar the better. I've read that hunting swords used for boar had cross pieces fitted part way up the blade because a stuck boar was apt to "run" up the blade to get at it's tormenter. I've always found that rather impressive, myself.

 

[sundog]

My shootin buddy Big Paul shoots a Colt Walker Replica. When that thing is loaded with 60 grains of 3F it certainly is impressive. I think it might work out OK but if it didnt youd be lookin for a tree fast.
My personal choice for Boar is a .58 rifle

 

[TFoley]

My shootin buddy Big Paul shoots a Colt Walker Replica. When that thing is loaded with 60 grains of 3F it certainly is impressive. I think it might work out OK but if it didnt youd be lookin for a tree fast.
My personal choice for Boar is a .58 rifle

The man said it earlier - a Walker stoked up to the gun'ls with powder AND a .44cal ball or conical is the equivalant of a .357Mag load.

You now have to ask yourself - are you up to taking on feral hog with a .357Mag?

tac

 

[torn moc]

Yep....No problem!

 

[Blizzard of '93]

these have considerable more 'whomp' than Wild Bill's .36 Colts when stoked with a .32acp case of 4F and a 7.62X39 case of 3F atop then capped with a Lee mold conical. I'm guessing around a mid-range .357 loaded with 158gr cast slugs.
I once shot my '58 Buffalo (doubt buff hunters actually used these as claimed in advertisement) thru a jack pine that was stopping 125gr JSP Rem .357 factory loads.