Revolver caliber for whitetail deer and hog.

[JaxJim]

I have shot more hogs and deer with a S&W 629 4" than any other handgun. The reason for this is this is the gun on my hip most times in the field. I keep ranges reasonable, 50 yards or less most times but there have been longer shots at pigs.

I use heavy cast bullets loaded pretty stout. Nothing over the top, just what is comfortable for the gun.

I've lost count of how many hogs I've taken with this combo and most are down either on the spot or within just a few yards.

 

[MCgunner]

Hogs are normally shot by a feeder around here. When hunted, they stick to thick cover and even when not hunting a feeder, normally, the shots will be well within 100 yards, at least around south Texas and east Texas has a lot of thick cover, too. I've never even been IN areas of mountains where hogs reside, well, not including Javelina. I've hunted hogs with a knife a few times, but I'm too old to stay up all night chasing hounds through rice fields. I let my trap do the work.

Oh, and optics are necessary at night. I'd get a bright one, one with as large an objective as you can find if you're going to night hunt 'em with a spot light.

 

[BBDartCA]

I have found 357 with 180g cast lead run hot to be borderline on hogs beyond 25 yards. 41 44 with heavy lead is a cleaner kill.