[aigel]

I have done a lot of hog hunting and killed plenty, and quite a few >300 pounds. And I never needed a handgun. Just take your rifle. Hogs are not that dangerous, key is that you stay on your feet, no crawling after them in brush or walking backwards tripping over stepping out of their way. If there are follow up shots, even close, a rifle is fine. You can fire a rifle just looking over the barrel at close range and be pretty accurate.

Personally, the less guns I need to worry about, the safer I feel. I.e. how will you carry that pistol? One in the chamber, safety on? Now you are running around in the field with a loaded gun that is more likely to hurt you than help you.

My only advice otherwise is to take a large caliber rifle, so you don't have wounded hogs to deal with. I shot most mine with a .300 win mag (!) which will bring home even a marginal hit. For your choices, I'd definitely leave the .223 at home and take the 30-06!