Thinking οf getting a .44 (6″ barrel) fοr hog hunting bυt wουld a 30-30 bе better?Shots wіll bе under 60 yards,I јυѕt lіkе thе іdеа οf hunting wіth a handgun,seems tο take more skill.
Alѕο ѕіnсе a .44 runs $500+ I сουld gеt thе 30-30 fаѕtеr,ѕіnсе used thеу саn gο fοr under $300.
Eіthеr way mу 12 gauge wіll bе thе gun οf сhοісе until thеn.
Alѕο fοr hand gun hunting,Scope οr iron sights?
Worry about bagging some game using more conventional means before thinking about making it more challenging. Starting off with a . 44 Remington Magnum isn’t the best introduction to handguns. . . a . 22 long rifle would make a lot more sense.
Go for the . 30-30. . . you’ll get a lot more use out of it if you don’t already have a center fire rifle.
. 30-30 is the far better choice for hog hunting.
The 170 grain 30-30 bullet at 2200 ft per sec delivers 1830 ft lbs of energy and with its better sectional density will penetrate better as well as retain its velocity better than the 240 grain . 44 magnum cartridge.
The . 240 grain . 44 magnum cartridge fired from a handgun at 1250 ft per sec delivers 845 ft lbs of energy. OK for small hogs if you hit them right but clearly not as good for the big guys or the longer ranges as the . 30-30
For your first handgun, a . 44mag is a LOT to handle. A 12ga is child’s play compared to a full powered . 44mag with hog hunting loads. Beginners will VERY commonly develop a flinch from starting too early with such a heavy recoiling handgun like a . 44mag.
That said, I’m a much bigger fan of the . 44mag than the . 30-30. Personally, I see a lot of benefit in the . 44mag over the . 30-30, even in a lever action rifle. I have used a 7. 5″ Ruger Super Blackhawk . 44mag, Ruger Vaquero . 44mag, and Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan . 44mag for hogs (one just last week in TX), and have never had a piggy argue with a well placed 240grn slug. The recoil of my handloads is “all there”. One of my work colleagues, a 6ft 6″ 245lb former all conference college linebacker, was only willing to take ONE shot with the pistol. Firing more than 6 shots in succession is pretty potent even for me, when I have been shooting this load for over 10yrs.
If budget and recoil are a problem, then I’d recommend a lever action Marlin 1984 . 44mag. Plenty of power (as much as the . 30-30, but using less powder, and a higher knockdown factor), but less expensive ammo, and then once you DO get a . 44mag revolver, you will have a handgun and a rifle that can share ammo. I can commonly be found during deer season carrying a Marlin 1894 . 44mag over my shoulder for long shots, and a Ruger revolver (one of the above 3) on my hip, also in . 44mag, for short range brush work.
New picture eh? Anywho have you looked at . 44 magnum lever action guns? When I have the money that’s what I’m going to get for hog hunting