Taurus Judge with 45 long colt or double ought 410 buckshot when hunting. Carrying 7s or 8s in the prong and summer can sure help with buzzy tails. Don't have to use a shovel.

My thinking is perhaps a bit different than some of the others. I carry a Taurus Titanium Tracker in .45 Colt with a Crimson Trace grip, mostly because the field of view with night vision gear is so narrow at ranges under 20 yards that a rifle is nearly useless under most circumstances. Do I need it? Well, I never have, but it makes me feel good when I approach a downed hog in the dark. Realistically, rattlesnakes and escaped bulls are more likely antagonists than angry hogs. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a gear snob and ordinarily wouldn't consider Taurus, but the Titanium Tracker only weighs ~20 ounces and is very compact; I have no complaints.

Another, probably simpler, option is to mount a laser on your rifle; mine is zeroed at about 20 feet, again intended for the walk up on downed hogs.

I use a simple 9mm that doubles as a truck gun. Generally carry to finish of a pig rather than self defense from them. Learn how to use it...then use it. It’s good to be familiar with different firearms, you know, just in case the need arises.

G18 is the only reasonable answer.

I love my 92 FS. It's accurate and dependable. Close second is my GP100.

I agree.

hogs see me and they take off and I've encountered a few

you can yell at them and they'll take off

If you feel more secured with a sidearm, just carry anything,
just shoot them in the head shoulder area. Revolvers are good,
short and stubby even better. Kimber has a snub .357 double
action hammerless revolver that has a really nice trigger.
Look into that as a start.

The 10MM is robust but I feel like it is probably the best all-around hunting round for a pistol. If you get a heavy 1911 frame 10MM with a 6", recoil is not really an issue but if you get a polymer wonder, they are pretty snappy. The 1911 will be really heavy on your hip, though. If you want lighter carry weight and less recoil then 9MM is your huckleberry. Glock, Walther, Smith, Sig... there's are dozens of options in the 9MM polymer wonder category. I myself have a Walther PPQ and it has the best out-of-the-box trigger of pretty much any of the polymers.

I have 7 or 8 pistols. I prefer my bargain priced Judge for a couple of reasons. Choice of 45 or .410. Also, I don’t really like the idea of wondering if there is a round chambered, working the slide or taking it off safety.

If you want a revolver I like a 44 mag, however, I would really recommend a good 10mm auto like Kimber or Glock. You have a lot more firepower with a auto.

My brother shoots alot of hogs and always carries his 92FS as a backup. Once in awhile he shares a GoPro video of wounded hog antics where he gets chased into his pickup truck bed, or has to use the pistol because his rifle is out of ammo.

So far he's lived to tell his tales, so I expect the 9mm does its job well enough.

I carried the Ruger GP100 as well, but long barrel. Just got to be too much weight. Still love that wheel gun!

get the 10 mm you will like it

Glock 10mm here with buffalo bore ammo

9mm Glock. They are everywhere on my deer lease and a 9mm has been more than adequate to make a humane kill.

I carry a Springfield XDM in 45, always handy.

Yup
After 30+ years of sneaking through the woods, I am never afraid of a hog coming at me, just afraid that one might get away.

Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore has the Judge Public Defender poly for $319.99. Is that the one you have? Looking pretty hard at it.

I carry a .380 Ruger LCP. Fits fine in a front pocket. I'm more afraid of coyotes or wild dogs than anything else and feel that gun would be effective in scaring them off if needed. I plan to hunt hogs this spring with a Glock Model 40 in 10 MM. Remember if hunting corp of engineer public land, hand guns are completely off limits even with a Texas LTC permit.

This is what I got use buckshot , but if we had hogs would load 45's. Heavy but a lot of bang for you buck