Tom, I do have a pistol I would love to try on an old stinking hog, I have this 1873 Uberti replica in 44-40, sweet shooting gun with a forgiving kick but its got an 18" barrel and I would probably get hog caught by the time I got my "hog" up and ready to fire....
Thank you for the good advice guys. If I ever decide to hunt big cat or grizzly I will certainly consider a different arsenal. I think you guys somewhat misunderstand why I do this. Samuel Johnson once said "He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." I'm not here for the hunt, I'm here for the slaughter. I'm not better than the predatory creatures of the wild. I don't want a trophy or some sausage. This is my release. I respect the beast and its desire to protect what it sees as his. My intention is to take it all. I brought 25 bolts with cold steel tips. I fired 7 and landed all 7. 6 behind the ear/throat and one in the eye. I don't honk my horn. I'm a very good shot with the crossbow and I don't flinch. I always keep my head. The only boar I didn't kill with a bolt, I killed with my knife. The skin is thick and tough. I didn't cut its throat, I ripped it out. I know what they are capable of, the only thing that came as a surprise to me was their speed. I'm now aware of that as well.