In your situation I can understand shootin something that's more likely to knock one down in every scenario imaginable. Especially since hogs are involved. Can hogs be killed with smaller cartridges? Absolutely, I've done it but I also shot them in the head to get it done. Once they start running a headshot isn't doable every time. Or let me say, I can't do it. That's where you need a cartridge that will knock them down with a shot to the body. I don't know that I'd be using anything less than a 6mm bullet for that application. So I can understand where you're coming from.
Having said that I saw my buddy shoot a coyote with a .308 using Hornady American Whitetail ammunition and that coyote was never recovered because it was hit through the guts. So shot placement was still a factor in that scenario. Coyotes are tougher animals than most people give them credit for. Very tough.
Heavier bullets do help when you cannot get the perfect shot undoubtedly. But shot placement is still something to focus on. For me personally, I've always been a fur hunter. I've always shot bullets that didn't tear them up but still anchored them on the spot. As time went on I cared less about tearing them up too bad and focused on a bullet that would guarantee they weren't going anywhere even if my shot placement wasn't perfect. That's why I started shooting 55 grain Softpoints. They leave a little room for error in my opinion. Do some have big holes where the bullet exits? Sometimes, as you can see from the picture above. But most of the time they're not bad at all. Quarter sized exits mostly. That's good enough for me. Above all else recovering the animal and making a quick, clean kill is the most important thing.
