.45 Colt loaded max. Hornady JHP. That'll make bacon for ya!

...tough choice. If those are your only two choices, go with heavy .45 loads. I've hunted pig since 1986, for handguns on pigs, bigger is better. If you can't get your hands on a .44 magnum or larger, .45 loaded up. I've taken pig with both the .357 & .45. A good shot would work on 300-500lbs but anything larger, .44magnum+
Good luck and good eats...

If you load your own and can taylor your ammo to higher levels of performance than standard factory stuff, then I would prefer .45 Colt. If not, then I would go with .357 mag with heavy bullets at maximum velocity. It seems to me that good penetration would be needed. Factory ammo in .45 Colt is pretty expensive, particularly the high performance stuff and to be able to draw and hit a fast moving target that could well require several hits to end a charge requires lots of practice. At my advanced age, its interesting to see that many these days believe the .357 Mag to be anemic...What about a short barreled pump shotgun with buck and slugs and a sling?...So far as gators go, I'm not wading into any water where they are around!

I have shot several large Florida hogs with a Model 610 10mm using Double Tap 220 gr WFN hard cast bullets. They are very effective and have not required a second shot yet. I have had a few that charged me and stopped them easily with this combo. I had a momma pig with piglets walking down the road while I was driving and they would not get out of the road, the momma charged my truck and tried to slash my bumper several times as i drove behind them. They finally moved out of the way after me driving behind them for 100 yards. they met up with a big ol' boar and walked off the road. funny as heck!

Lazarus post from 2011..wonder what he chose and how it worked ...(Or maybe it didn't) ?

On a side note Buffalo Bores website shows:

Heavy 10mm Ammo - 180 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point - J.H.P. (1,350fps/M.E. 728 ft. lbs.)

Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo - 180 gr. Hard Cast LFN-GC (1,400fps/M.E. 783 ft. lbs.)

Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo - 125 gr. J.H.C. (1,700fps/M.E. 802 ft. lbs.)

Standard Pressure Heavy 45 Colt Ammo - 255gr. Gas checked soft cast bullet (1000 fps M.E.566 ft. lbs.)

Heavy 45 Colt +P Ammo - 325 gr. L.B.T.-L.F.N. (1,325 fps/M.E. 1,267 ft. lbs.)

Heavy .44 Magnum Ammo - 270 gr. JFN (1,450fps/M.E.1,260)

Heavy .44 Magnum +P+ Ammo - 340 gr. L.F.N. - G.C. (1,478 fps/M.E. 1,649 ft. lbs.)

460 Smith & Wesson Ammo - 360 gr. L.B.T.-L.F.N. (1,900fps/M.E. 2,860 ft. lbs.)

454 Casull Ammo - 300 gr. J.F.N. (1,650 fps/M.E. 1,813 ft. lbs.)

500 Smith & Wesson Ammo - 400 gr.J.F.N.(1,675fps/M.E.2491 ft.lbs.)

Sweet!! A "bear gun" thread with a twist!!

As others have said, both 357 Magnum and 45 Colt are adequate for pigs. The true test is the ability of the shooter to put rounds on target with the gun. My next choice would be based on portability of the two guns in question. Spend a some time in the woods with an overly large handgun strapped to you and you'll be looking for a better belt, holster, and lighter gun.

I'll admit I've missed an "unmissable" shot on a running hog with a 4" 629 that left me shaking my head in disbelief. Hitting a fast moving animal can be a challenge better tackled with a long gun.

As an aside, I remember reading about a guy who hunts hogs in Louisiana with a sharp stick and a big knife! I guess it depends on the determination in the man...

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

Well, I've never shot a 300-500 pound hog with my .357 but I have shot a 225 black bear with it. Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast worked just fine.

While I am sure either the .357 or the .45LC will get the job done, I already own the .357 and there is enough factory ammo variety available that I don't have to be a re-loader to get the full Monty from it.

Choose the one you are most comfortable/confident with.

Bob

PS: I love it when old threads refuse to die.

I like versatility so I like to stick with very common calibers so the .357 mag is my choice. either way your gonna want to put 2 shots in a big boar so might as well pick one you will be able to follow up with better.

My guys murder lotsa hogs. One shot seven in about 15 seconds, all fell over but one. 22LR. We are getting 1,240 fps out of a 4 5/8 inch Ruger Blackhawk launching a 200 grain Cast Performance gas checked bullet . They will go end to end in a 125 pounder. We don't have monster hogs here, we don't let them get that old. If you have ever seen what a dozen hogs can do in a bean field in one night you know why.

Since you have both I would use the .45 with heavy cast LBT style WFN or LFN bullets at 1000 FPS and be golden

Both are adequate for hogs or gators. that being said, I have both, but I carry a .357 in the woods. I guess one could always carry more gun, but why carry the extra size and weight if it's not necessary. Additionally, I shoot my 4" 66 better than any other gun I own, it spits a 158 gr LSWC @ 1341 fps, so that's what I carry outdoors in these swamps.

I'm not recommending this, especially in a defensive situation, but I've seen a lot of guys down here kill hogs and gators with .22 Magnum!

You have not completed your profile, so we do not know where you are.

I am not sure what your concealed permit has to do with this, many States allow the open carry of a defensive sidearm while hunting and fishing. Florida is among them (790.25).

My preference would be a 4" - 6" 41 Magnum or 10MM Magnum, but those are not in your choices so I would go 45 Colt

If going 357 Magnum, I would choose a 180 grain projectile for better penetration.

If carrying the 45 Colt I would probably want to go with something like the 225 grain Silvertip or the new Barnes 200 grain XPB.

45 Colt using the RCBS 270 SAA (mine cast out at @285 grains) at 950 to 1,000 fps is a very effective load in my Model 25 S&W and Vaquero. The plus is that the recoil is less than the 44mag so follow-up shot is faster.

Depends on the gun. I carry a 45LC in the form of a Ruger Blackhawk, but handload so Ruger/TC Contender only handloads.

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I agree with others that either will do the job, but my first pick would be the 45 Colt with appropriate loads.