Thanks for your reply.
Originally Posted by
Salamander
In areas with high bear or pig density, I formerly loaded up a mag with Underwood Xtreme Penetrator rounds and would swap that mag in at the trailhead; more recently, I've gone to handloads with 200 gr Cutting Edge solids, these are copper bullets with a huge flat meplat and excellent penetration documented in some other post here that I can't spare time to go look for right now. I'm currently loading these to +p velocities, which is probably fine for north coast California
I thought about doing something similar until I got to CCR T14-353 which seems to further specify that only softpoint or expanding projectiles may be used for taking big game with a pistol or rifle:
CCR T14-353 (Methods Authorized for Taking Big Game)
...
c) Except for the provisions of the following subsections (d) through (j), big game may only be taken by rifles using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles; bow and arrow (see Section 354 of these regulations for archery equipment regulations); or wheellock, matchlock, flintlock or percussion type, including “in-line” muzzleloading rifles using black powder or equivalent black powder substitute, including pellets, with a single projectile loaded from the muzzle and at least .40 caliber in designation.
...
e) Pistols and revolvers using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles may be used to take deer, bear, and wild pigs.
f) Pistols and revolvers with minimum barrel lengths of 4 inches, using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles may be used to take elk and bighorn sheep.
So now I'm thinking about trying the new Hornady Handgun Hunter line: