This, exactly.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

First a tree, then whatever is handy

Woke a sleeping giant once. Only had 22 with me, so when it charged, I went up a tree. Have had multiple run-ins with hogs while turkey hunting and although none have charged me yet, I'm pretty confident the turkey load would be sufficient.

My main hog busters are both shotguns. one is a 12GA Weatherby Element (semi auto) or my 1st shotgun a 12GA Remington 870 pump - both loaded with 00 buckshot.
I have removed the upland/fowl plugs from both of them, and they have been all I have needed on our property.

I was charged by a large sow last month...after I shot 2 small boars in the group...the sow was hit in the hind quarter by one of the boar kill shots, and ran at me full speed until the last round 00 in my chamber did the trick and stopped her immediately.

I will admit that I was plenty nervous when she charged, and I was thankful that the plug was removed giving me another shot.

Seriously considering getting a larger capacity tube to get another 4-5 rounds without having to rely on another weapon!

I had two in the circle trap, when they saw me, they started charging the wire. I made the mistake of taking my 1911 but only had FMJ in the mags. Shot one of them right between the eyes at 8 feet, she went down to her knees, after about 30 seconds, she stood up slowly, shook her head a few times and went back to racing around the trap. The next shot went in her ear hole, and down she went. All about placement and proper ammo loaded up

The first choice for bears up here is a shot gun with buck shot and slugs, alternating every other one. That said, trying to get someone to carry one while trying to fish, or try and get it off a shoulder or with the sling across your chest when they surprise you makes it the 2nd choice for ease of use. But if you know, it will be close and you a ready, that is what most use. For most others, it is a hand gun in a chest holster so it is easy to get at, and usually out of the way when packing meat, fishing, or doing other stuff in the outdoors.

-TJ

I've was charged recently. It was close quarters and I was carrying a G23. I was barely able to pull and fire and I hit him right above the eye. I'm not so sure I could have done so well with a 12 ga. of any sort. Either way I was very thankful because he was pushing 300 lbs. I guess it depends on the distance and reaction time.

It's hard to shoot a rifle backwards when you're running, I'll take a shotgun.

Charlie

I had a big wounded one come right at me at full speed. He veered off before he got to me. Things happened real fast. From that experience, I would say that a shotgun with OO buck would be my choice. Auto preferred.

Had a bird dog point a bush couple weeks ago. When I got close 2 black hogs about 150lbs came out. One went past my dog, I was able to call her off before chasing. The other ran past me at 5 yards. It took a full load of 20ga 7.5’s in the side. It grunted and kept running toward a brush line along a drainage. Glad it kept running, I was carrying an o/u.

My only extreme close encounter was not with a hog but a javelina while quail hunting. The javilina had rolled a pointer and cut him up pretty good, then it turned to my friend who ended the javi with bird shot from about 10 feet.
I keep a 12 gauge with buckshot handy in the Ranger when we are out and about. I have never been charged by a hog, but I have killed many while on the move.

If I had to choose I would pick a 12 gauge shotgun with a turkey choke loaded up with 3" magnum shells

I’d prob just get out of his escape path then shoot him in the [censored]

Right! And for the win!

LOL, few people not actively involved in trying to capture, handle, or harm feral hogs will ever be charged by one. Statistically, you are probably more likely to be randomly charged by a mountain lion or bear than you are a hog. So unless you are hunting with a shotgun, you aren't likely to have a shotgun with you should you get charged.

The few I've encountered always seemed to more scared of me. Speaking of bears, I wonder if bear spray would deter a hog?

My one and only charge came when I had a 44 special with a 6” barrel. I had two rounds left in the cylinder and the second stopped him about 4’ in front of me. I had to sit down for a minute as I got a little wobbly.

It was at a high fence place that my employer had us entertaining customers at near Jacksboro, I think the ranch might have been called squaw mountain. It was in the late 1990’s I believe.

Were I to do it again, I wouldn’t. But if it had to happen, then a 12ga buckshot load would be helpful.

Only been charged once, all I had was a .22 handgun...luckily the guy next to me had a .308. It worked at 8 feet.

I was tracking a deer when a 700 lb monster came at me. I had my full size M&P 45 an dumped the mag into it. It finally dropped about 7 feet in front of me and magically shrank to about 60lbs. I was super proud of myself for not needing a new set of pants!

I get to choose ahead of time?

Trench shotgun with a bayonet!

In real life? Hunting boots light enough to jump around in, then whatever’s handy.

I might have to disagree with you on this one DNS. The population of hogs in TX compared to cougars or bears would say that statistics point to a higher likelihood of a hog charging you, especially a pissed off momma when you're hunting them out

22 is all you need, just tap your buddy in the knee with it and run like hell.

What he said. After all, they're not called "scatter guns" for nothing. They're best at scattering hot lead as well as whatever they're pointed at.

Haha that’s right

I have had them charge me twice while night hunting with thermal. I hunt hogs with an AR10 with at least 12 rounds in the magazine. I just take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger , maybe several times. Ive not had one charge in daylight, but I don't think I'd want to try to swap weapons mid chaos. Shoot what you have in hand.

Not long ago we were stalking hogs in a field trying to head them off before they crossed the fence into a place we couldn't hunt... Didn't get there in time, and as the last 3-4 bunched up to get through the hole in the fence I let one off that probably went through 2-3 of the hogs.

Big boar then came charging right up the fence live like a locomotive.. right towards us. Like you, I shoot a .308. We shot him in the face before he got close enough to scatter us.