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Buck and ball out of a side by side. Idea is intriguing. I remember an article in Double Gun Journal about just such a gun. Can't remember when it was, some time ago and I'm old, memory fades. Dan, for pigs do you think the .72 ball has any advantage over a standard slug? Any recommendation for a 12 bore buck load for swine? Have only shot 3 but with a rifle, how far you shooting them down your way?

Good questions that I can reply to with a little bit of a foundation.

I've used slugs, 20 & 12 bore on pigs and the result has been indistinguishable. Boom-whop-flop. Longest shot of this nature was about 50-60 yards with the 20 ga. I have killed several tons of pigs with #3 buck using an Ithaca 37 and note they all had to be shot at least once. None required a second shot, but over the course of time I killed 3 with a single shot on three occasions due to the shot passing thru the primary target and visiting horror upon those in the background. I'm not talking wee little piggies either.


That said, one of the things noted over time was that Forster slugs NEVER exited. Buckshot did. I suspect that a .72" ball would zip thru a hog like light thru the solar system, though alloy mix of the ball would likely have influence on the outcome.

I also relate that the only hogs I ever had to shoot twice with buckshot had been perforated by my 12 ga using the world famous and immensely popular 00 version. I haven't owned or shot any of that since those events occurred back around the mid '90's.

Cover down this way, meaning most of the SE is typically close in bottom country which is where I do most of my pig whacking. Shots are typically in the 15-30 yard range though some trend a little bit further if the right style of weapon is in your hands. I don't use buck much beyond 35 yards and my longest rifle shot (.30-30) on a pig was about 50 yards. Doesn't mean I wouldn't take a longer shot, but such opportunities are not common in bottom country.

In more recent times I've been using .22 CCI CB shorts with a T/C Contender. Longest shot was a measured 38 yards. Only one out of about 150 required a second shot.


Sneaky Dan

Foster slugs are hollow shells of soft lead (which you know). Typically they flatten out or the skirts peel off of the nose. Deadly on lung shots, but bone (and presumeably gristle) are hard on them. If I ever hunt with a shotgun again, it'll be with Brennekes or the imported steel ones. Have some of both to try in my 20ga Deerslayer, just for fun so far.

BTW, I was re-reading an old piece by Layne Simpson on shooting cap and ball revolvers. He wrote that he has shot a bunch of pigs with various models and doubts that conicals penetrate any better than RBs, in close anyway.

I played with buck and ball loads in my Brown Bess many years ago. Can't verify the load's effectiveness on pigs but can say they were pretty effective against closed ranks of Redcoats.

Pigs is pigs, I see a new excursion on the horizon.

Looking forward to hearing about it! I built a 458 Socom with pigs in mind, but it's pretty modern, lol! Might start looking for a 10 bore double. Just picked up some more Goex too.

Well OK then......

I suggest YOU/we hunt pigs....... 'sportingly'

I have made us a couple of 'weapons'







They're about 5' long......

If we're going to hunt like MEN, I suggest we keep a Safe Hunting Distance SHD apart of about 10' minimum....

If we're going to hunt like Social Justice Warriors, throw and run, then I suggest maybe SHD of 25'

Back to hunting like MEN, I think we should wear metal or Schedule 40 PVC 'leggings' of some sort, I'll leave that to you.

So we throw out some corn, wait for the piggies to show and 'wade' in.

If you're worried maybe we could get JeffA, frogman43 or maybe another CF local looney to back us up with a real firearm, 'course we would need to see them shoot under pressure before trusting our lives to them...

Are you THAT bored????

Only half the day.

Realistically I was poking around looking for a shooting project, and think a proper idea is on the table. BP buck’n ball from the 12 bore DAMascus! Brass shells in the way!

Spears are cool though, too bad my name ain’t Chucker. They might even work on lizards. Lemme work out this B&B thing and I got your 6 when you go pig huntin’.

muffin, complete with loin clothe? Lol!

Could be this young fella has a first rate close range bacon maker. My mind is running riot on what could be done on the cheap with a Parker, Fox or LC.