bullet choice 454 Casull

[normAK]

I'm going to be hunting pig this spring with my Rossi 454 Casull lever action rifle. My loads for bear protection up here in Alaska are 335gr hardcast at 1950 ft/sec, but i was wondering if the Barnes XPB 250gr bullet at 2000 ft/sec would be a better choice for hogs.

The shots will be up to 200 yds.

 

[Ratdog68]

Welcome to the fray! Where 'bouts in the Last Frontier are ya?

I'd be inclined to use a bear load for a large hog. Especially if that bullet 'shrooms out nice and big at the speed you're pushin' it.

 

[normAK]

Thanks for the welcome...! I'm currently in Anchorage but I have lived all over the state, on and off since '68.

I always seem to lean toward the hardcast myself, but I have also had good success on hogs with Barnes in other calibers. The lighter bullet will have about 1/2 the holdover at 200 yd but the penetration of the heaver bullet has it's appeal. Thus my dilemma

 

[Ratdog68]

I lived in Anchor-town for six years, and have lived in Kotzebue, and Juneau as well. Been to Nome, Sitka, Ketchikan, Noatak, Barrow, Fairbanks, LOVED Kodiak... I worked on the Slope for about a decade... quite familiar with your area. Lots of snow for you this winter, I hear.