June 26th, 2023
12:40 runtime
The 10mm is a favorite for folks looking for a pistol with PUNCH.
Few would dispute the power or punch of the .357 Magnum, especially for self-defense.
I found that Federals Fusion 200-gr.
The author shows the results of a hog hunt with his Springfield Armory XD-M Elite loaded with Federal Fusion 10mm soft point ammunition.
Bonded Soft Point has as much or more punch than most of the self-defense rounds for the .357.
What does this mean?
With it, I also get red dot capability for even better accuracy and quicker follow-up shots.
Before heading out on a hunt, be sure to check the zero on your optics. For this hunt, the author ensured he could hit all the way out to 50 yards.
A New software?
I could not have done that with a revolver, and certainly not as fast as I did.
That got me thinking, how could I prove all this?
When dialing in your red dot sight, use a stable shooting platform and make small changes to bring the point of impact in on the target’s center.
What better way to test the 10mms punch from a pistol?
Lets take the XD-M Elite OSP 10mm hog hunting and see for ourselves.
In the Field
I went to No Mercy Hunting Services in southern Oklahoma to go hog hunting.
Hogs are an invasive species that can do a great deal of damage to farmland and natural wooded lands.
They have quite the set-up there, and the options were endless.
I had about 18 different treestands from which to choose and a couple of ground blinds.
After not seeing a decent-sized hog after sitting for about three hours, we decided to go stalking again.
A good guide should have a good understanding of hog movements across local lands. This will be a significant help when hunting them.
This is where the hogs like to hide.
They like the freshly moved cool dirt to lie in.
Its actually extremely energy-draining because you are so focused on where you step.
Depending on the type of hunting you are doing, you may be shooting a hog on the run. Don’t panic — track the animal and press the trigger when you have the shot.
One crack of a twig and they are up and gone.
The terrain we were hunting in ranged from canyons, creeks, hill sides to heavy timber.
We typically found them by hearing and smelling them.
There are a lot of good ammunition choices. Federal’s Fusion line is excellent for hunting. The author used the 10mm Fusion load with a 200-grain bonded soft point to take his pig. Image: Federal
The biggest challenge after finding them was getting a clear shot without having branches in the way.
We could smell them at first, and then got close enough to hear them.
My guide Matt sent me ahead to see if I could get a visual and a shot.
I slowly crept to the edge of a small cliff and waited for several minutes to get a visual.
I could hear them, but still could not see them.
I could see his ears and snout.
I had Matt circle around to the left and make some noise.
Much to our surprise, in the thick bush about 50 hogs came running out in every direction.
Some of them came running towards me and kicked up the one under the log.
I shot him on the run at about 10 yards.
I could not believe how far he ran as I watched him go up over the hill.
I knew he would not go far.
I could see it was a perfect shot.
We walked to the top of the hill following a blood trail and there she lay.
It was a nice size sow.
Conclusion
When people say hogs are tough, that is an understatement.
The 10mm did exactly what I expected, as did the XD-M Elite pistol.
Go to forum thread
XD-MElite 4.5" OSPTM w/ HEX Dragonfly
FederalFusion 10mm
HEXDragonfly
