Hmm, interesting read. 9mm makes a little more energy than a .38 especially from a 2" barrel, but still, you don't think of the 9 as a hog gun. LOL When I actually HUNT hogs with a handgun, I go with a .45 Colt from my Ruger or a .357 magnum (another Blackhawk) or my TC Contender in .30-30 shooting a 140 Barnes X bullet to about 2100 fps.
I've never hunted anything bigger than rabbits with the .38, and that with wadcutters, so this little episode was my first for observing actual wounds from the .38 on flesh. It did exceed expectations. I think often, in this magnum world, we underestimate what came before. Do we really NEED a .300 Win Mag for deer hunting when the .30-30 has killed more deer than any other centerfire caliber? You know, people get carried away in a Tim Taylor sort of way with horsepower. I'm guilty as charged, too. I've been through my magnum phase with rifles, back to .308 now. LOL