AS A NOVICE HANDGUN HUNTER, I LEARNED MY LESSON ABOUT THE NEED TO USE HARDCAST BULLETS THAT CAN PENETRATE. MANY YEARS AGO, I WAS HUNTING LARGE BOAR, 300 LBS AND UP, WITH MY NEWLY PURCHASED 8" PYTHON IN .357 MAGNUM. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD AN IN AT COLT, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET ONE, WHILE THEY WERE BEING WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE GUN RAGGS, BUT HAD YET TO BE SEEN ON THE SHELVES. I WAS VERY EAGER TO TRY IT OUT. IT WAS A SPUR OF THE MOMENT THING, WITH LITTLE PREP, SO I RUSHED OUT TO MY LGS, AND PURCHASED THE HEAVIEST SWCHP AMMO ON THE SHELF, THE ONLY TYPE OF AMMMO HE CARRIED IN .357 MAGNUM. THE BRAND AND SPECS ESCAPE ME NOW, IN MY OLD AGE. A FRONTAL SHOT FROM 50 FT, FAILED TO PENETRATE THE THICK GRISTLE OF THE CHEST. QUICKLY REALIZING MY PROBLEM, MY SECOND ROUND COMPLETELY SHATTERED THE FRONT LEG. ON THREE LEGS, HE TURNED AWAY FROM ME AND CHARGED THE DOG, WHICH WAS A CLOSER TARGET. THAT GAVE ME AN ANGLED SIDE SHOT FROM THE REAR, INTO HIS CHEST AREA, THE BULLET FRAGMENTED AND DID A LOT OF DAMAGE. HE WENT DOWN, BUT HAD A DEATH GRIP ON THE DOGS NECK, THAT HE WAS SWINGING WILDLY, TRYING TO GUT WITH HIS LARGE TUSKS. TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, THE DOG HAD HIS TEETH SUNK INTO THE BOARS NECK, ALSO. URGED ON BY THE GUIDE, WHO WAS ABOUT TO LOSE HIS DOG, (AND WAS ALSO ABOUT 4' UP A TREE) I BURST OUT OF MY COVER OF BRUSH AND FROM BEHIND, PUT A ROUND THROUGH HIS SPINE AT THE BASE OF HIS NECK. THAT ENDED THE STRUGGLE. THE DOG WENT TO THE VET AND LIVED, AFTER GETTING STITCHED UP. THE HOG WEIGHED 350 LBS. SWCHP IS DEFINITELY THE BEST MEDICINE FOR 2 LEGGED THREATS, BUT FOR WILD ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY BIG ONES IN A CHARGE AT YOU, YOU NEED A BIG HEAVY HARDCASTS THAT CAN PENETRATE, SMASH BONES, AND CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE--SMASH THROUGH THE SKULL, PENETRATE AND TAKE OUT THE SPINE, OR SMASH THE PELVIS--SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO STOP THE BEAST DEAD IN IT'S TRACKS. A HOLLOWPOINT WON'T ACCOMPLISH THIS, IMHO…..
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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.
Last edited by one eye joe; 12-18-2014 at 03:07 AM.
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