Judgeg, just wanted to take the time and say thanks agian for selling me the ruger In 450 nitro,and thanks to NE450 for load info just got back from my first hunt trip in over two years due to back surgery, and must say hogs were slamed to the ground like the wrath of GOD.
The 450 accounted for two feral's that weight in at 200 and 250 dressed and I took one with my 8 bore black powder under hammer that went 150-160
lbs, all meat was given to a local charity and boy were they happy to get it,swamps were not back this time we only killed four cotton mouths

Dave
Congratulations on your hunt. Sounds like you did real good. What load and bullets did you use, and where did you hit the pigs? Details Man Details.

I'd love to hear more about it! Good gun, good buyer, good price! Can't beat that!

Always carry enough gun!

The day started with a 15hour drive to the honey hole,we arrived about 0400,unloaded the truck and Papa Tucci's atv,we decided to walk down and check the feeders,as we were walking the sun was just breaking through the swamp,the water was misting and the blue jays were makeing a fuss,could hear morning dove calling and even an old bull gator roared,life was good. We found the feeders about 0500 and they were about half full,and tracks every where,we vered off and went to walk the river bank,we had moved about 70yards when Tucci shot,the air was heavy and it took awhile for the smoke to clear,when it did we found her laying about 20 yards futher on,I stayed while Tucci went back for the atv,I knew it would take awhile because he goes out the same way he came in SLOW,I was watching the back trails when I saw a sow and her brood cross,so i hunkered down behind Tucci's pig and layed the 450 across he back,about 15-20 minutes went by and heard the pig coming, it was rooting along,as he stepped into the path he stopped and looked down the path,and started shuffleing toward me, at about 25 or 30yards I put one round just under his chin,and it just slamed him back on his back side,as i was about to put another into him I realized he was dead sitting up,latter when Tucci showed up we hooked both pigs to the gamble and then to the triple tree and towed them back to the truck.While at the area to field clean them Tucci looked up and yelled at me to shoot that pig,I grabed the 450 and looked,75 or 80 yards down the path was one standing there,I don't think it even knew we were there,as it turned to go I put one into its side ahead of the rear leg and behind the rib cage,it hunched up took 10 or12 steps and dropped,i walked over to check it and it was stone dead.We finished up cleaning the three and ourselfs and had lunch,now you have to picture a redneck and a southern Italian at luhch,,Tucci had me set up the folding table,with table cloth and folding chairs,he set the table,with iced cold tea, ravoil and garic sauce,meatballs and cheeze and potatoe rolls,damn it was good, along about 1500 we headed back into the swamp,I told him I was takeing the 8bore,his only worry was weather i was strong enough to tote it,we didn't see another pig untill a hour before sunset, Tucci saw him and told me to shoot.I kneeled and layed the barrel across the sticks and touched her off,even over the boom of that cannon I heard the round ball hit,it sounded just like some one had hit a side of beef with an axe handle.It was time for the atv again,and once again back at the truck Tucci was smileing,he told me he hadn't seen me have that much fun in a long time,as we were sitting on the tailgate we saw a bobcat crossing the open path he stopped as if to look at us and I swear he nodded to say well done and then slinked off into the reeds.
Rifles
Ruger 450 Nitro 3 1/4" 80grains,5grains filler and a 570 hardcast and checked slug,2nd load was 82.5 grains/3gain filler and a 450 WFN hardcast and checked slug
Pacific Arms 8bore/ 315 grains FF black,over powder wad, .15ticking and a 950 grain round ball
12bore, Army&Navy single bore, don't know Tucci's load

[ 06-22-2003, 07:23: Message edited by: Dave James ]

Sounds like a great hunt.
Just want to know one thing...Did Tucci have a tape of violin music playing durring lunch?

Great strory ...

Now I won't feel guilty about trying the .416 Rigby or .470 NE on hogs! Looks like I certainly won't be the only one every to go "over gunned."

Bravo David!! A well written, entertaining story. Way to go.

NE450, Of course VERDI