Viewing the Handgun Hunter mag. web site last year I came across a story by JamesfromJersey about using a handgun for boar at the Double Boar Ranch in western Pa. Well that was enough for me to start researching the place. I corresponded with Andy Krantz (owner) for over a year about his operation and if I could use my Ruger Blackhawk 357mag on one of those boars.
He and one of his guide's Dana felt that the 357 was a little light for the big guys but that they had 3 smaller ones that I could try for. I was more interested in hunting with the handgun then getting a big boar so I booked the hunt.
Dana was my guide and I went out with another guy using a muzzleloader. Dana told me the boars that I would be looking for were not with any of the bigs ones because they get too beat up.
After about 2 hours and only seeing 3 boars run off, we came to an opening and there were about a dozen pigs up ahead. I looked at them and said to myself, "man that last one looks big and mean" and at the same time Dana looks at me and says "how about that last one". I was thrilled. The boar walked by at about 25yds broadside and I put a 180gr hard cast by Double Tap Ammunition into his lower shoulder and he took off running up the hill. By the blood in the snow you could tell he was hit in the lung but that boar still ran about 200 yds. We saw him lying in the snow and he got up and ran another 150yds. After I hit 2 trees I finally put a finishing shot into his vitals as he angled away from us. he was much bigger than i had hoped for and he was estimated at 130 to 135lbs.
About 4 hours later the other guy got his boar, which was about 250lbs.
I was very impressed with the place and I will be back.
Warren

Beautiful hunting-

Sounds like a fun time.

Nice work, Warren! Congratulations!

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you had a fun day.

Warren,
Five of us were to hunt at the Double Boar on the 16th of this month. I had to opt out because I'm back in the hospital for four days of chemo and I'll be too whipped on Sat. I talked to Andy and he said to just come up when I can. We were going to stay at my camp which is 15 miles from Andy. Now the guys are thinking about staying at the lodge. Did you stay at the lodge and how was it?

Congrats on the boar!

Congradulations, on a great hunt

Ed P 6989

I foolishly stayed at a motel near by. Next time I will be staying at the lodge. It looks brand new and clean and the food was very good. I shown up in the morning and they insisted I take a place at the breakfast table. After a long morning of hiking thru the woods (lasted until 2pm but went very fast)we were treated to a very nice lunch.

AWESOME WARREN!!!

Ed P 6989

I just re-read yout post and want to say I'm sorry to read about your chemo. Good luck with that. Get well soon!

Warren

In this short movie did the 357 Magnum work.
http://www.youtube.com/user/safariadventuresbg#p/u/22/kk2K2TvS8OA
I do not know what kind of ammo the hunter used but for the boar it doesn't matter. The 357 Magnum did the job!

Congrats on the nice hog.It ran 200 yards in that deep snow with both lungs deflated ? Wow,they sure are tuff.

Thats a good day all right!! That video is awsome.

Warren, Congratulations on a great boar taking with your 357. Glad you had a good experience at Double Boar. Dana is a terrific guide.James

Warren,

Congratulations on your successful hunt!

Thank you everyone for the kind words.

Ravenman - thanks for video, it was great.

JamesfromJersey - Andy and Dana spoke highly of you. Dana carried a 44mag Anaconda instead of the shotgun.

I've been hog hunting at another ranch in SE PA, the Wilderness ranch south of Everett, PA. But the Double Boar ranch sounds good too. Might try that one next time in PA - hopefully this September.

However, I've only hunted with my custom .44 mag, but have done a lot of testing of .357 bullets. The 180gr XTP is, in my 10" .357 Desert Eagle, an excellent round - superior precision and more than 50cm or about 20" of penetration in dense, wet newsprint @ 55 yards. Way enough for most standard size hogs actually.

But as Whitworth and others have been saying here, bigger holes are normally better, especially if you know how small the lung/heart package of a boar actually is. Way smaller than a deer of the same size for example.

Great hunt. Congrats on your success. The 357 is a fine hog hog leg!

Warren- did you see the article in the paper last week about the DEC having concerns about the growing population of feral hogs in Cortland and Onandaga Counties in our fair state?

the 180 X.T.P. is one fine bullet for the .357 mag. it will get the job done.