We hunt bear and hogs with handguns. We use Ruger and Dan Wesson revolvers, either 44 Magnum or 45 Colt. The most common loads are 300-360 grain hard cast lead bullets with a relatively large flat meplat, over copious amounts of H110 or WW296, with velocities ranging from 1200-1300 FPS.
We tried the jacketed 300 grain flat point and 300 grain jacketed hollow point, but the hardcast lead bullets seem to be more accurate, and surely give better velocity. The hollow point does expand, and that cuts down on penetration, which we prefer in bear abd hogs.
We've found that using the heavy bullets to smash through a shoulder or the base of the skull to anchor the critters quicker. Chest shots through the heart and lungs usually take MUCH longer to kill both bears and hogs, leaving them up, running, and dangerous. I saw a hog shot through the heart and one lung with a 30-06 180 grain run for a very long time and distance, and he was on his feet grunting at us when we caught him SEVERAL minutes later. He turned to run, and I shot him in the shoulder and he never moved again. I walked up and put a round in the base of his skull.
You'd be surprised at the recoil. While there is serious recoil, it is more of a slow, smooth, heavy push as opposed to a sharp snapping twist. I find them VERY enjoyable to shoot.
For deer we use 180 grain jacketed hollow cavity bullets in the 44 Magnum, at 1700-1800 feet FPS, with H110 or WW 296 powder. The deer loads don't work as well on hogs, but will work. They've even killed a bear or two, but they are not nearly so effective. The bear/hog loads work on deer, but there is not nearly enough exit wound or blood trail. The deer loads have a MUCH sharper recoil, but they do make a real cool screaming noise like the sound effect for the German tank guns from the older World War II movies.
