[mbt2001]

I was talking with my neighbor last night and we were talking about going hog hunting. Our lease is in East Texas and I told him that there are some pretty big oinkers on it and that he needed to bring his rifle and a sidearm. We started talking about some of the hogs that we have taken and he shared with me that last season he shot a 400 pounder with his .30-06 and that he shot in the shoulder. He didn't hit the bone, just a little behind it and the bullet didn't pass through.

Frankly, I couldn't believe that...

A .243, maybe, but a .30-06 should have been rocketed out the other side.... Anyone else had an experience like this? Frankly, I haven't ever hit one with a .30-06 and to tell you the truth, I haven't always checked to see if my 30-30 has gone through. My .257 usually does, but again, I haven't ever gotten into it with a 400 pound porker

[Preacherman]

I may annoy both African and American hunters with this post, but having hunted Cape buffalo in Africa and hogs in the USA, I'd have to say that a good-size hog, pound for pound, is just about as tough a customer as the Cape buffalo. If you get a good, accurate, solid hit on either animal, without them being aware of your presence, you probably won't have much trouble: but if they become aware of you, and their adrenaline gets to pumping, you're going to find that they can soak up bullets like a phone book soaks up water, and still keep going.

To illustrate how tough hogs are, next time one is butchered, check out the very tough layer of muscle, ligament, etc. against the ribs. This stuff is like internal armor-plate! A light bullet really won't do too much if it hits there.

My favorite hog gun is a .44 Magnum Marlin carbine, usually loaded with Federal 300gr. CastCore. (Range in Louisiana, where I hunt, tends to be 50-75 yards at most, in thick brush, so a longer-range cartridge and weapon really aren't necessary. Also, the heavy .44 Magnum loads seem to deflect less on brush than lesser loads.)

[rich636]

I just had my first run in with a hog while goose hunting with a buddy this weekend. Preacherman is right, when we skinned this hog it had a plate of thick gristle behind and on the shoulder, you can knock on it with your fist from the outside and feel it. However, I think a 30-06 would get through it unless it was an absolute monster.

[redneck2]

I suspect some guys shoot a 150# sow with a .223 and do just fine, then say it's an adquate round. Big, big boars are a different program. Guys will make blanket statements about deer hunting, but mature bucks are a whole different program from yearling does

You might cruise the hog hunting forum at http://www.huntamerica.com/. I think the guys that hunt a lot of big pigs would tend towards a .444 or .45-70type round. Certainly a .30-06 with controlled expansion would take about anything

[Greybeard]

If true, the man with the '06 was possibly shooting something like a 150-grain "deer load". And/or the bulllet could have hit something else and partially expanded before getting to the hog ...

As example, not that I necessarily agree with what he did, but one of the guys in recent elk camp finally dropped a cow with .338 Rem. Ultra Mag. - with his 5'th shot. There were lots of obstuctions (tree limbs/brush) between him and the animal that he supposedly did not see until after the shot(s) ... Once we located the downed cow, I could not believe how he could even see it through the cover there, much less hit it cleanly. His 5'th 250 grainer penetrated completely, but only after he eventually stalked to within about 150 yards (instead of taking shots at 500) ...

[sm]

I suggest a Search in this forum under the username H&H Hunter for Hogs, Hawgs (yeah there is difference :p ) and anything that would prefer to hunt YOU, aka Dangerous Game (DG)

On TFL Go to Hunting and search under Rich Lucibella, Johnny Guest, Harley Quinn , recent thread The Hunt

( I believe was thread(s) title , if not one of the nice moderators here will correct me and bail me out again - please).;)

[mbt2001]

Then what do you guys use for Hogs?

What sidearm / rifle?

[Lennyjoe]

I've shot hogs with a 30-30 and had no problems taking them down.

Them swamp hogs in Georgia are some tuff dudes.

[rich636]

At the risk of getting flamed for undergunning...I used .38+P 125grn silvertips from my 6"GP-100 and my buddy used his 12G 3.5in #2 Hevishot on a hog of the 150lb variety. We walked up on it while goose hunting in a marsh. I had the initial shot, hitting it in the neck. It ran and I landed one more .38 through both hind legs. My friend fired twice with the 12G as soon as took off running, his second shot caused it to go headfirst into the mud.

The part that had me pissed at myself was that I had my .45 colt Vaquero and 45-70 Guide Gun sitting back in the truck. The hog went down in a matter of seconds so I don't feel bad, but it certainly wasn't ideal.

I found the double action advantageous for quick follow up shots when the animal is on the run (3 of them). That would be the only problem I could see with carrying the Vaquero in the future. Maybe a Redhawk in .45 would be nice.

[Caliburn]

the man with the '06 was possibly shooting something like a 150-grain "deer load"
So you need a 180 grain to take a hog?

[Blue Line]

I just went on my first hog hunt a couple weeks ago. I used my 45-70 marlin and AO 1911A1 in 45ACP. The Marlin dropped the hog where it stood going thru both shoulders, weighed about 100 lbs as I was told by my host. Later two friends shot two hogs almost same time with AR's in 223 one ran and died nearby the other ran and ran and probably died later. I also shot one with my 45 using winchester silver tips. First shot was way long but I hit and chased after in the clear, 4 more shots, the last to the head and it was down probably weighed around 2-225. Took two of us to drag it back to the swamp buggy path. This one had been fighting with something with a bunnch of cuts and scratches on the head area. First hog we butchered, second one host said no to cause it looked like infection may have set in.
I don't think I'd go with a 223 unless it had heavy hunting type expansion bullets.

Got any pork recipes?

[Smokey Joe]

Caliburn--What you need is a bullet for penetration, in case you end up shooting it at one of those big ol' boars with the heavy cartilage collar.

A 150 grain .30 cal deer bullet is made to penetrate soft thin skin and expand quickly. (Example: Nosler's Ballistic Tip) They are great bullets for deer but I would hesitate to shoot one @ a big hog.

A heavier bullet in .30 cal, say, 180 grain, and made for better penetration, would be a much better choice. (Example--just to stick with one maker--:Nosler's Partition or Accubond bullet.)

You notice many of the hog hunters reccommend "big and slow" rather than "small and fast" calibers and bullets.

Again, for a smaller piggie, the choice is less critical. I have a friend who goes after the real small ones with a .22 magnum--successfully. But he is smarter than to shoot his .22mag at a 400 pounder!

[DigMe]

I regularly use my Ruger Blackhawk .357mag with 200gr Cor-bon cast bullets or Federal 180gr Castcores. Penetrates real well. I've taken bigguns too.

brad cook

[mbt2001]

I regularly use my Ruger Blackhawk .357mag with 200gr Cor-bon cast bullets or Federal 180gr Castcores. Penetrates real well. I've taken bigguns too.

brad cook

What barrel lenght on your blackhawk?

[Caliburn]

Thanks, Smokey!

[DigMe]

What barrel lenght on your blackhawk?

4 5/8. I hunt in thick brush, sometimes so thick I've found myself crawling through hog trails. I've also had times when there were hogs running all around me probably starting at 10 or 15 feet and I couldn't see even a glimpse of them.

brad cook

[mbt2001]

Thanks!

I have a Ruger GP100 - 4" that I have been wanting to use on Hogs with the Federal Cast cores or the Corbon loads. I will let you know how it works out.

[Matt G]

Sometimes, it's just how you hit 'em.

I personally watched my father pop a large-ish wild sow at about 150 yards with a 165g '06 handload, and she just ran off into a creek, never to be seen despite careful hunting. We saw the dust rise off of her and heard the hit.

Then again, I've tagged a decent sized sow with a minor varmint caliber behind the ear, and had her go down quick.

I'm partial to '06 and higher for hog, but agree that the heavier loads are the way to go.

I recall that Jim Wilson was testing the .450 Marlin, when it came out, and had a fail-to-exit both on a buck deer and a hog. Still, it did the job on both.

[Blade]

I can gaurantee you a 150 grain deer load wouldn't have penetrated a 400lb. hog, even at point balnk range from an 06. They are tough animals. Leave your guns at home and hook up with some hog hunters after deer season is over and turn them dogs loose. Catch one of them rank old boars with a bulldog and your bare hands. You'll find out how tough them hogs are, and them bulldogs too!!!!!!!!!

Make em squeal.. Bullldogs forever !!!!!!!!!!!!

[DigMe]

I can gaurantee you a 150 grain deer load wouldn't have penetrated a 400lb. hog,

That's a pretty loose guaranty you're making there. Big hogs have been taken with far less. I have a friend that killed two 200+ lb boars in a day on the run with a .22 mag. I've taken them with 12 gauge buck, .30-06 and my usual hog gun is a .357 mag revolver.

brad cook

[oneshooter]

Rifles: Siamese Mauser action in 45/70 24"bbl, 400gr JSP w/full load of IMR 3031
Winchester M94 Trapper 16"bbl 45LC 250gr JSP w/near max load of 2100

Custom Flint Longrifle 50cal wPRB and 100gr 2fg

Pistols: Ruger Blackhawk 7 1/2"bbl 45LC w/custom tight chamberd cylinder same load as M94 only with JHP

As you can see I believe in LARGE holes in the barrel. They tend to produce LARGE holes in the target!:D

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[ScreamnEagle]

I use a 7mm Rem. Mag. with 175gr. Core-Lokt, works very good on big and small hogs. :)

[mbt2001]

I am gonna use a FN Five Seven from now on. The Brady Bunch seem to think it is the most dangerous gun in the world, so I am sure it will kill hogs. It can penetrate kevlar, so it should have no problem going in and out of the porker.:neener:

[Preacherman]

Well, the Brady Bunch seem to think it's a cop-killer gun, and the hippies that run the Brady Bunch, in their youth, probably called cops "pigs", so I guess that makes it a hog gun! :D

[Mannlicher]

Hogs can indeed be tough customers. I hunt them up in South Georgia, swamps and pine forests. I have equal respect for the 30-30 with my 170 grain Speer FP handloads, and the Marlin 1894S .44 Mag with my Speer 270 GDSP handloads. Both are proven killers.

Lately though, I have been taking my SOCOM. I have an EOTech 511 mounted, and although somewhat heavy, its a sure hog buster. I am using Federal factory 150 grain SP.

[mbt2001]

Do you load it with the Nosler Partitions or the power points?

Precherman: That was the funniest comment I had read in awhile... I laughed out loud on that one. I guess the FN five seven is a real HOG KILLER...:D :D

[Geno]

Ijust happened to see a man put down a hog with a Model 94, 150 grain round nose at about 50 yards...one shot! The bullet lodged (stopped) under the skin on the far side. Ergo, if a .30-30 Win. could do that at 2,200 FPS, then so could have a .30-06 at 3,000 FPS. I have also seen big hogs drop to 130 grain 270 Win. at 3,100 FPS (one shot). My favorite, was the 525 pounder I shot twice with my .375 H&H, with 300 grain Nosler partitions...it took 4 minutes + to expire and ran more than 200 yards. Any how, 150 grain will do, and so can 30-06, though I do admit I prefer the 180 grain.

Doc2005

[formerflyer]

Ijust happened to see a man put down a hog with a Model 94, 150 grain round nose at about 50 yards...one shot! The bullet lodged (stopped) under the skin on the far side. Ergo, if a .30-30 Win. could do that at 2,200 FPS, then so could have a .30-06 at 3,000 FPS.
Doc2005

Two factors here that people frequently overlook or aren’t aware of. First is that not all bullets are created equal. Standard deer bullets (non-bonded cores, ballistic tips, sierras, etc. .) are famously poor at achieving deep penetration in tough critters. The same weight bullet with premium construction will go much, much deeper.

Second, most bullets have an optimal impact speed for deepest penetration. Beyond that optimal speed they actually have less penetration, as the bullet deforms (mushrooms) farther and deposits its energy sooner. This is sometimes called the “Splash Effect”. The famous Professional Hunter and veterinarian Kevin Robertson has dissected thousands of game animals to examine bullet performance, and has noted this very consistently. If I remember correctly, he feels that the optimum impact velocity is somewhere between 2200 and 2500 fps, depending on bullet construction. He advises his clients coming to hunt for buffalo and elephant with .375’s to load them down to about 2400 fps at the muzzle to insure maximum penetration.

Given these two factors, I’m not surprised that a .30-’06 with an unspecified bullet penetrated less than a .30-30. Faster always means more energy, but it doesn’t always mean better. Bullets that fail to reach the vitals do not perform well.

[carolinaman]

Hi there,

I went Hog Hunting a couple of years back at The Chesnut Lodge up in Taylorsville, NC with a group of three guys. We all had kills and this is what we used:

Two of us used 1895 Marlin Guide Guns in 45/70.
One of us used a Marlin 336 in 30/30.
One of us used a Remington 700 in 7mm Remington Mag.

Our common after action hunting critique was, "use enough gun" and then use a decent "cartridge".

Chris

[Waffen]

I think it can be agreed upon that it's all about shot placement. Blanket statements such as "A 150gr Deer load will not kill a hog" is assanine. If you get a vitals shot on just about any animal with just about any caliber the animal will go down. I hate myself for saying this but didn't O'Conner kill an elephant with a .270? Hell it could probably be done with a .224 cal with the right bullet.

Personally I would think anything .243 or above would work just fine, of course a .30 or larger would be ideal. If I had one to pick i'd be a 338-378 Weatherby, there would be no second guessing if you brought enough gun. :)

[RTC]

I have killed two hogs with two different rifles. First one was with a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Shot hog first time about 30 yards away with no noticeable effect. Second shot about 15 yards away and hog dropped in his tracks in the middle of a small creek. Had to pull hog out of water. Both shots hit on left and right side of snout. Don't know which was first shot. Both shots penetrated from jowls back into neck/shoulders. Both bullets expanded properly. Was getting ready to climb tree. Bullet was Sierra 150 gr. FP reloaded. Second hog killed was with a 280 Rem with Nosler 160 gr Partition. Shot running hog from about 75 yards. Hit on hog's right shoulder just below and behind joint. Hog dropped instantly and skidded to stop with mouth open and dirt in mouth. Bullet penetrated all the way thru hog. Exit wound on hog's left side would have left a good blood trail but wasn't necessary. I would feel OK about hunting hogs with either rifle again but later found and purchased a Winchester 94 in 375 Win caliber. I would probably use this 375 if I was hunting hogs with dogs again.

[Matt Dillon]

Folks, my son and I want to hunt hogs in Sam Houston National forest near New Waverly TX. He was planning on using our AK-47, with Hornady VMAX hand loads, and I was hoping to use our Mosin Nagant M44 with 150 grain hand loads. Will we be undergunned? Thanks in advance for your reply, Matt Dillon

[DigMe]

Folks, my son and I want to hunt hogs in Sam Houston National forest near New Waverly TX. He was planning on using our AK-47, with Hornady VMAX hand loads, and I was hoping to use our Mosin Nagant M44 with 150 grain hand loads. Will we be undergunned? Thanks in advance for your reply, Matt Dillon

No, your fine. Shoot well.

brad cook

[Caliburn]

OK, I did a double-take that an AK47 is enough gun for a hog, but I think I got it now. An AK or 30-30 is enough IF packed with a deep penetrating projectile. An 06 shooting .30 bullets much faster is plenty enough gun, IF loaded with deep penetrating projectiles, for which 150gr deer loads may not qualify.

Right???

:D

[armoredman]

M44 is the PERFECT hog rifle. Great heavy hitting bullets, the 203 gr hunting loads might be the perfect thing. And, if you run out, the attached bayonet makes the carbine into an instant boar spear. I am considering an M44 for just that purpose.

[tube_ee]

From a non-hog-hunter (yet), but based on the opinions of those I respect:

Minimum: .357 Magnum, with the heaviest bullet pushed as fast as you safely can, preferably out of a carbine.

Maximum: Whatever you shoot well.

That about cover it?

I'd go pig hunting here in CA with my 1894C, with the right load. But, depending on how much walking I was looking forward to, I might choose the M-44 Mosin-Nagant. The M-44's got a bunch more power, the 1894 is much easier to carry across miles of open country, and much faster on follow-up shots. Which I might well need.

When I get my 45-70 levergun, that'd be the gun.

--Shannon

[Lummox]

.50 Beowulf AR15 by Alexander Arms

400gr @ 1900fps Semi automatic 4,7, and 10 round magazines.

It is one of the best Hog Thumpers out there. There are some photos on this website of a guy who took a Moose down with the same rifle.

http://www.50beowulf.com

[Deer Hunter]

The .50 Beowulf is a great bullet, but I wouldn't be the one forking out the cash for it.

If and when I do go on a hog hunt, I'd use a DSA FAL in .308 with 180 grain bullets, with a 10mm automatic pistol with 15 bullets of Double Tap ammunition that I will pray I wont have to use.

[JohnKSa]

Sometimes, it's just how you hit 'em.I used to spend time on a hunting forum and there was one fellow who shot a lot of hogs with a 22/250.

His comment was: "When I whisper in his ear with my 22/250 that he's dead, a hog always believes me!"

[delloro]

I have killed a 200+ boar and a 200-ish sow with .30-06 150 gr. Win PP deer loads. both in the boiler room, both went right down. first hog, bullet smashed the shoulder and arm on the way in and did not exit. pon the second hog, the bullet exited. through and through on a wild, feral, nasty hog.

my friend shot two also. one in the head, the other in the boiler room, both with 165-gr. .30-06 deer loads. both were through-and-through.

yes hogs are tough, I saw one shot in the hindquarters a few times working its way towards the guy still shooting at it with a .357 mag. that hog did not intend to clock out by itself if there was anything it could do about it. no squealing, no nothing, but determination.

I will put up my 150-gr. win. deer loads up against any hog in CA, and any hog 300 or under anywhere else.

[H&Hhunter]

I was talking with my neighbor last night and we were talking about going hog hunting. Our lease is in East Texas and I told him that there are some pretty big oinkers on it and that he needed to bring his rifle and a sidearm. We started talking about some of the hogs that we have taken and he shared with me that last season he shot a 400 pounder with his .30-06 and that he shot in the shoulder. He didn't hit the bone, just a little behind it and the bullet didn't pass through.

Frankly, I couldn't believe that...

A .243, maybe, but a .30-06 should have been rocketed out the other side.... Anyone else had an experience like this? Frankly, I haven't ever hit one with a .30-06 and to tell you the truth, I haven't always checked to see if my 30-30 has gone through. My .257 usually does, but again, I haven't ever gotten into it with a 400 pound porker

Well I guess I'll fire up the stove here..........

I've had far smaller hogs stop a .375H&H 270 gr X bullet. MANY times.

I didn't say the hog failed to stop I said the he stopped the bullet just like the poster above. I can almost promise you no 150 gr .308 bullet would exit on a TRUE 400lber. PERIOD!

Not with that shot placement anyway. A smaller hog yes but not a tough old grizzled up 400 lb boar.

Speaking from experience here guys. And that was with a premium bullet at very close range.

This doesn't imply what a good hog rifle it make. It implies that big old boars especially older ones with a tough cartilage shield are notorious bullet stoppers.

Greg

[Charles S]

Greg good information.

I killed a reasonable sized hog earlier this week I would guess it around 175# but I did not weigh him.

I've taken them with 12 gauge buck

I shot this Boar while walking in a clear cut dove hunting. I changed loads and shot him 2 times at 9 yards with 3 inch double ought buck shot. I shot him, with excellent shot placement in the head, and then in the neck. Neither of these shots showed any signs of slowing him down at all. I shot him in the head with a 145 grain Silver Tip bullet out of my Ruger SP101 and it dropped him where he was standing, I must say he was rather upset with me at the time.

I will never shoot another hog with buckshot.

Charles

[MCgunner]

It's all in the bullet. After killing several hogs with my .308, I have confidence in the Barnes X 140 grain boat tail It penetrates! I have a 7 mag I sometimes use for night hunts on hog, load it with 160 Nosler partition. But, I consider it overkill. The scope is a 44 mm objective, though, and gathers light really well.

I load with Nosler Ballistic Tip 150s for deer in that .308, but I want a penetrating bullet for hog. I've seen well over 300 lb hogs skinned and that shield they have is pretty much armor plate. Biggest I've taken was shy of 300 lbs, but totally penetrated both sides through the shoulders.

DON'T shoot behind the shoulders. Unlike deer, all their lungs and vitals and everything is between the scapula. If you try for a "lung shot" behind the shoulder, you're just going to get guts.

[trueblue1776]

I've had fantastic luck with the 12g "Remington premier solid copper sabots" they are a bitch to find but they work beautifully on the 100lb+ hogs, I have no doubt they would knock down a 300lb hog just as easy.

I have stayed away from the high ballistic coefficient (anything pointy) rounds because hogs have such thick skin it will tend to close itself behind the bullet. No bleed out has been a problem for me in the past, Down here in the south I would recommend big, blunt, and heavy rounds, and guns with back up shots. Think lever action rounds ie: .444, .45-70, .44mag, even .30-30. With that thick skin and dense bone you want massive trauma, not a gun you could make a clean vital shot from 400 yds with.

And make sure one of your buddies has a back up pistol.....:D

[MCgunner]

Again, I've not had a problem with either 7 mag or .308 winchester using proper bullets. Penetration is the key. Laying 3200 ft lbs of magnum power on 'em don't hurt either. :D The seven leaves an exit wound you can put your fist through using Nosler Partitions. It's got a good 800-1000 ft lbs at the muzzle on any 12 ga slug and a heck of a lot more'n that out at 50 or 100 yards. That big, blunt projectile with it's pathetic ballistic coefficient runs out of poop really fast. If you don't think the 7 is big enough, a .300 mag, .338, heck, you could use a .375 if you think they're THAT hard to put down. Trust me, they're not.

Two things are key for the big 7's penetration ability, the partitions bullet design which retains bullet weight, yet expands to deliver all that energy and the sectional density of that long 160 grain spitzer bullet. I'll take either of my rifles over a shotgun any day on hogs. The shotgun, up close, can deliver the goods, though, I'm quite sure! I'd keep the range under 50 yards. Night hunting, that's not a problem.

[MCgunner]

Of course, if you're REALLY worried about penetrating a big hog's shield, you could get one of these. Just load it with 750 grain FMJs. ;)

http://www.barrettrifles.com/images/front_rifles.jpg

[Deer Hunter]

If you're looking for penetration, in something a bit LESS than a .50 BMG, try finding some A-square loads for your rifle. If anything, have some made for you. Their design sure as hell has some knockdown power to it.

[adobewalls]

Just to add my two cents. I shot a 400 pounder quartering toward me with a 7mm Rem Mag, using a Sierra 160 Gameking, and it did not fully penetrate. It did however shred the lungs, puncture the liver and break four ribs on the off side of the pig.

After killing that pig, I changed my shot placement from behind the shoulder to between the shoulder and the ear. Have not had a pig walk away from that. Also, if I am just hunting pigs, I use Partitions.

[Snagglepuss]

First time I flew with my AR-15 I told the TSA guys I was going hog hunting in Texas. I had the rifle in a starlite case along with my G19 and G30 with 4 mags for each pistol and 3 30 round mags for my AR all neatly cut into the foam. By the time I got through inspection I had 5 TSA guys all drooling over my firearms. Now for the question. I may really go on a hog hunt in the Hill country of TX this spring. Should I bring the AR or my new Marlin 1894ss .44 magnum? What ammo would best? :confused:

[DigMe]

First time I flew with my AR-15 I told the TSA guys I was going hog hunting in Texas. I had the rifle in a starlite case along with my G19 and G30 with 4 mags for each pistol and 3 30 round mags for my AR all neatly cut into the foam. By the time I got through inspection I had 5 TSA guys all drooling over my firearms. Now for the question. I may really go on a hog hunt in the Hill country of TX this spring. Should I bring the AR or my new Marlin 1894ss .44 magnum? What ammo would best? :confused:

I'd use the Marlin .44 loaded with Hornady XTPs or cast loads. XTPs have incredible penetration in the .44.

brad cook

[Deer Hunter]

Go with the .44 magnum with the XTPs, as stated above.

[huntershooter]

My favorite hog rifle is a 5.5" Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt, with 335 gr. CP gas check cast lead bullets @ 1100 fps.

[Lobotomy Boy]

We used to use a .22LR to butcher domestic pigs--just put the barrel at the base of the skull, pull the trigger, and start cleaning. I understand that wild boars have tougher skin, but it seems to me like the guy with the .22-250 whispering in their ears had the right idea.

I plan to start hunting hogs this spring and decided to try a different gun. I was thinking of a BAR Lightweight Stalker in .308, but then decided to try an AR in .223. I know it's not the ideal round, but hell, our government figures it's good enough for our troops to use against enemy that are far more dangerous than the biggest boar (unless some of you hunt boars that own AK47s and know how to make IEDs). If I end up with wounded pigs getting away, I'll start using my .30-06, or better yet, my Blackhawk. But if it works well and I have good success, I'll stick with the AR.

[BP Hunter]

i have always thought that you should shoot a hog behind the ears to knock them down dead. and i have shot 3 with a .50 cal muzzleloader right behind the ear. they all fall on the spot. they are not fun to track if yoou hit them on the shoulder or lungs. they can run really far before they expire.

[tellner]

A good friend of mine used to hunt hogs for a Colorado local utility district. He tried just about everything he owned or could borrow and did field autopsies of everything he killed.

Some of his conclusions:

1) Pigs are tough
2) Pigs are mean
3) Pigs can make a good stab at climbing small trees, or at least it seems that way
4) No handgun will reliably stop them unless you hit them right in the brainpan, in which case a .22 will do the job. That's easier said than done.
5) His best results were with a 12 gauge loaded with Remington Solid Copper Slugs.
6) He recommends breaking the shoulder first. If the pig can't run it isn't as dangerous.
7) Pigs can take a long time to realize that their heart and lungs are mangled.

He quit that job when he wounded a Russian boar. His boss told him to go into the pig's den. He handed his boss the 10 gauge(!) and said "You first."

[MCgunner]

I'd use the Marlin .44 loaded with Hornady XTPs or cast loads. XTPs have incredible penetration in the .44.

brad cook

Ditto. A .22 ain't enough gun. If you wanna use a combat rifle, get a Garand.

[Art Eatman]

Dang it, MCgunner, you got me to remembering another "way long ago".

I was a high school junior in Manila in 1949/1950. Some friends of my mother thought I should go along on a hog-hunting trip. She strongly disagreed, so I just heard about it, later on.

Down on Palawan Island were thick jungles, with many very large wild hogs.
They had tunnel-like trails through this jungle, and you moved on your knees or in a squat. Duck walk. Hogs are faster.

It's a two-man hunt. The guy in front, Intrepid Nimrod, uses a Garand. The guy behind, Native Bearer, has a ten-foot spear with a heavy-blade head. There is a cross-bar behind the spearhead. At the butt of the spear is a sort of cup; when you put it to the ground with your foot on it, the boar can't shove you backwards. You hope so, anyway.

It is hoped that if the first shot(s) don't stop the boar, the spear will.

Per my mother's friends, the Garand worked just fine--except once, and the spear did its job.

I saw one set of the tusks; they had grown to almost a complete circle. A naturally-grown bracelet.

Unfortunately, a money-buddy of President Marcos got the mahogany concession on Palawan, and it got mostly logged off...

Art

[RaySendero]

Then what do you guys use for Hogs?

What sidearm / rifle?

Don't carry a side arm. A friend and I hunt together - One will carry a 12gauge and the other a rifle. When its my turn to carry the 12 gauge I grab my 870 turkey gun with a threaded choke and use slugs. My favorite hog rifle is a sporterized Vz-24 Czech Mauser in 8x57. It has a 2X scout scope. My reload for it uses a 200 grain Speer HC.

[Charles S]

My favorite hog rifle is a sporterized Vz-24 Czech Mauser in 8x57. It has a 2X scout scope. My reload for it uses a 200 grain Speer HC.

That sounds like a perfect hog rifle for the type of hunting I do.

Charles

[RaySendero]

That sounds like a perfect hog rifle for the type of hunting I do.

Charles


;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

http://www.hunt101.com/img/309802.jpg

[Charles S]

Ray,

That is very nice. Again I think that is a perfect caliber for hog hunting. The load you have selected sounds perfect also. I do a lot of hunting in thick cover so a rifle that is fast and packs plenty of punch is a real plus.

Very nice rifle.

Charles

[kennyboy]

7mm Rem Mag. The 7mm has a lot of stopping power and very flat trajectory. I believe bullets weigh up to 175grains, but have a higher power factor than a .30-06 180g bullet.

[nanookalexkaye]

This is my first post on this forum:) I was so inclined to register just to make this post.

I live in Texas and have asked my self this question a thousand times. Having NEVER BEEN hog hunting take it with a grain of salt.

Marlin 1894 16" Trapper 45LC w/ XS Scout mount 2X Leupold M8 EER scope, leupold aluminum vertical rings, loads are 335 GR H110 21.2 grains or 300 Grain XTP with 2400 (cant remember the exact amount of powder offhand but I like these more as the lighteset 335 load with H110 seems a bit overpressure yet still well under the 2000fps window)

That is for the bigger imported boars.
For smaller ones, I got this:

Marlin 1894P Limited 16" ported 357/38 trapper- load undecided but it will probably be a 160gr hard cast gas check with some hot powder as well.

I like the idea of a pistol cartridge to keep the "big bullet moving slow" theory alive, then with the limited range involved I am covered- hell, people are doing fine with pistols in these rounds, why not a carbine? I can't hit nothing with iron sights but didn't' want to be tied down to a scope if SHTF or some weird laser sight without enough magnification or batteries to short out- I seriously toiled! Finally decided the now discontinued M8 had a great reputation- my only gripe is the objective is a teeny bit to small for very rapid target acquisition but with practice it will improve- but enough to bet my life or limb???

I have not even started to think of the pistol to carry (if at all) Texas is still a big thicket in allot of areas so I am not going with the high powered magnums (a call to John Linebaugh will straighten you out on pushing a bullet too fast) so now I think the right composition of lead/tin/antimony on a big wide gas checked slug is the route. The fact that a 45-70 can penetrate deeper than a 458 Winchester Magnum is something to seriously consider. The scope/iron sights/peep sight has me all wadded up at the moment.

Thanks for tolerating this post.

[TehK1w1]

Not a problem, welcome to the forum. This a good thread worthy of being revived, as well. That said, I think ***shot placement*** and bullet construction are at least as important as the round you use. I have had a 150 gr. .30-06 Nosler ballistic tip fail to exit a 90-lb whitetail, and had a solidly constructed .243 round exit a 250 lb pig.

[Andrewsky]

I really want to go hog hunting some time.

What ammo would be good for my M1A SOCOM?

[MCgunner]

Well, since you dug this thread up, I'll post again. I recently set up one of my SKSs for night hunting hogs, primarily because I got nothing else to use it for. In the past, killed my hogs with .308 Winchester and .257 Roberts. My preferred caliber is still .308.

http://imageigloo.com/images/837PICT0092.JPG

[rhubarb]

MCgunner, what's that red light and what's the power source? How far can you see? Do you use it on the move or set up on a stand?

FWIW, I kilt my first piggy day before yesterday with a Hornady 55gr softpoint over 25 gr of H335 from an AR at 125 yards. It was about a 60 lb pig and the raging 223 bullet went plumb through both front leg bones and kept trucking.

[hobbeeman]

McGunner, Did you make a special mount for that SKS? From the picture, It looks like your scope is mounted not to bolt cover but to the receiver itself. That would certainly be more effective than my mount, that does not keep zero worth beans :mad:
Who did this for you? Did you buy the mount and then have it installed?
I also notice that you lengthened your stock, is that because of that longer scope?

David

[MCgunner]

I bought the mount, I think maybe from Centerfire Systems, but it was back around 1990. Don't know if it's still available. Only bad thing about it is you can't field strip the bolt with it in place, but yeah, those replacement hoods rattle around and there's just no way one's gonna hold zero. The one I bought bolts down on four corners, two on either side of the action. I drilled and tapped it myself, not that hard to do considering the cheap Chinese steel it's made out of. LOL It came with a proper size tap and bit for the screws and I have a tap and die set out in the shop and a drill press with machine vice. The gun has held zero for a long time now and it shoots 3moa which is pretty normal for an SKS.

And, yeah, I lengthed the stock with a slip on pad because the scope won't mount much further forward, but then, the stock was a little short anyway, though longer than the chinese stock that came on it. It's not a perfect set up, a little tall, but I can see the irons underneath it which is kinda cool.

I bought that light back in the 70s from Gander Mountain catalog and never actually used it, lol. It's a 6 volt, have to carry a big lantern battery in a coat pocket when I use it. I'm stand hunting, not moving. It's at night, can move with it, but I bait hogs. I'd like to see if I could find a halogen lamp for it, but the lamp that's in it is good for about 100 yards and at night, heck, that's decent. I set my feeder up about 50 yards.

What I've added to the gun:

Choate stock.... $75
Ambi safety.......$18
vented heat shield w/ bolted on ... $18
case deflector
five round flush mount mag....$24
scope mount....$35
Lighted reticle 3x9....$40

I also cut that bloomin' useless bayonet lug off it. I was using it as a brush gun locally when I first got it and that thing kept grabbin' brush as I walked. I carry it with the front sight pointing backwards when it's slung, so that doesn't bother me. I haven't hunted with it since I got my .308 Remington M7, so I thought I'd stick that old light on it and maybe I'll get the energy to go sit and wait on a hog some evening. I've used that light a few times on coyote hunts, but not on hogs, yet.

I only gave 75 bucks for the bloomin' gun! ROFL! I got a little carried away dressing the little useless POS up, I guess, but it does look kinda cool if nothing else. That scope is sorta impressive, too. I shoot the thing at the range a lot and it's pretty rugged and has quite clear optics. I don't worry much about recoil with the SKS, wouldn't put it on a 300 mag or something, but it's great on the SKS. It's about a bazillion times higher quality than a friggin' Simmons, anyway, ROFL! So far, it's been well worth 50 bucks. It even has the Euro style focus adjust. I had a 1.5x4.5x20 Bushnell on it originally, but it wasn't a real bright scope for low light. This 40mm cheapo is pretty danged bright! Amazing, just bought the thing at this Homier traveling tool sale they had in Victoria some years ago. Didn't expect much out of it, but got a lot more than I expected. Could hardly see putting a 400 dollar Leupold on a 75 dollar SKS, but then, a 75 dollar stock don't make TOO much sense, either, LOL!

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I had a 100+ lb field dressed weight Russky black run up on me in the Nantahala NF a cold late Dec. morning when I had a Ruger 10/22 loaded with Mini-mag solid nose, 10 shots all hits and one round left in chamber later it gave it up. .22 definitely ain't the right thing to use, but that's what I had brought to my buddy's place without being told there was chance of hunting and I doubted seeing one when told we were going out.
in '04 I got another one that size but feral hog with a BP '58 Remington max loaded with slugs one shot cracked the skull, a buddy with me had a .20 ga slug load.
in '05 I got a 300 live weight sow with my Ruger Old Army, took 2 shots the first one I took it was ambling along and I missed the heart but tore up both lungs which sent it running. found it 300 yards away after tracking blood some on snow piled in thicket whereupon another shot to the base of skull/neck anchored it.
now I have a chance to go onto private land in SC for feral hog this coming fall/winter and am loading some .45+P 250 gr cast slug loads for my Marlin Camp. 8 shots of that will be enough for anything short of Hogzilla. if I had a 44 mag carbine I would likely take it instead of my little Marlin Camp .45.

[TehK1w1]

I could see hunting pigs with an M44... if it charges your gun doubles as a spear :)

[Andrewsky]

Is an M44 bayonet sharp enough and strong enough to rely on?

Seems to me the best possible combo would be an M1A Scout with a 20 round magazine and maybe an S&W 66 with .357s as back-up.

[HippieCrusher]

I've never had a problem with my .270 win 150 grain core lokt rounds before. Sometimes they wander into the food plots during deer hunts. Taken some with that load as well as my bow with a Beamon / Muzzy combo with no problem. The only hog I couldn't find is the one that tore the bumper off my truck and wrecked my suspension.

[MCgunner]

The only hog I couldn't find is the one that tore the bumper off my truck and wrecked my suspension.

Sorta a Ron White hog? "Well, I killed a deer with a Ford F250 at 55 mph with the headlights on and the horn blowin'. Whew, wily critter! If you really wanna kill a deer, get yourself a bullet that goes 55 mph with little headlights on it and a horn and the deer will just jump right out in front of it!" ROFL!

[HippieCrusher]

Thanks for the laugh MCgunner. That was a couple of years ago so I can look back at it comically now. :D

[Il Duca]

6) He recommends breaking the shoulder first. If the pig can't run it isn't as dangerous.

Don't ever count on a hog not to run just because it has a broken shoulder. And I would dare say more hunters are hurt by wounded hogs than not. I shot a 100lb sow last year with a 12ga slug. Right thru the shoulder, damn near took her leg off, messed up the off side pretty bad too. She hauled @$$! And when I caught up to her she was waiting on me. She was about to have a go at me when the 2nd slug hit her.

My go to hog gun was always a 20" bbld riot gun. Short bbl makes it quick and easy to handle and I like the 7+1 capacity. I used cheapie Wal Mart 1 oz slugs and they do the trick just fine. But then the shotgun just got too heavy what with no sling and all... So rather than buy a sling for the shotgun I went out and Bought a Puma 92 in .454 Casull. I really like the 9 round capacity now and it's a good powerful round and in a package much lighter then the shotgun. Holy crap! It doesn't have a sling either! Hm...

[Harley Quinn]

Late but still willing to mention:

45-70 lvr is a good one, so is the 35 lvr. I even believe the SKS shooting the 7.62X39 is good. If they are not that far out, these seem to do the job.

Of course the 06 in a 220 or 180 grain is good also.
The bigger 300's and 7mm's will do the job.

I've hunted with less, but it is nice to be able to stop them fast.

HQ

[HiVelocity]

Folks,

Its not what you use, its where you hit.

Everybody's heard of pig farmers dropping hogs with their grand dad's .22 rifle without any problem. Ideal circumstances at best.

I've seen hogs drop "DRT" with a .223 into the ear canal [scrambled brains], or through the eye socket [same result]. If you can't get a pinpoint shot on a hog simply use the largest caliber you can shoot accurately.

Personally, I'm using a Marlin 45-70; can't argue with a 350 grain bullet at 1800 FPS.............Just food for thought.


HiVelocity in SC

[TehK1w1]

Same idea here with the 444 Marlin, just 265 gr at 2325 FPS.

[gym]

My uncles used to go every year, to a friends farm down South. They went with 45's "hand loads" and a backup shooter with a rifle, don't know what caliber, but uncles were a little Nuts "in a good way" they jumped out of planes and hunted Bear in Alaska, back in the 60's. The piolet would come back in a week and get you. Both of them have passed now, but they would go anyware to hunt, the more challenging the better. At the end of my uncles hunting days, my uncle Mike would only track animals, sometimes for 2 or 3 days at a time, just to see if he could get the shot, and not take it.

[H&Hhunter]

Yet another 5 year old zombie thread......Let it die.

[lopezni]

Hog rifle: Marlin 336 chambered in .35 REM w/ 1-4x or 1.5-5x scope 200gr bullet.

quick follow up shots, but you probably wouldn't need one

[Ridgerunner665]

Calibers...30-30, 35 Rem., 444 Marlin, 45-70.

Guns...lever actions, follow up shots are not often needed...but when you do need them, you need them FAST.

[mighty2]

AR Chambered in 458 SOCOM.

[skipbo32]

its always good to have lots of 20rd .308 mags in case the hogs team up and charge you. go with the M1A. and if there is only one hog and he runs off.....just do a mag dump on his ass.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/skipbo32/charlene2.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/skipbo32/m144.jpg

[heeler]

To the original poster.
Yes I have shot many large hogs with a 30-06,308,30-30,270,243,6mm and had instances where the bullet did not exit.
And has exited as well.
And this has happened both ways on all the above mentioned calibers at distance as close as 20 feet to as much as 135 yards.
Hogs are tough creatures and big hogs are even tougher than small hogs.
I never use premium bullets and the above calibers were used with Rem. Core Lokts,Win. Power Points,and Federal Blue Box.
With hogs head shots rule.

[TooTaxed]

My favorite hog gun is my SKS...though an AK would be good in our swamps and brush if you trade that big, heavy brush-catching magazine with a five or ten round mag!:what: That's more than you need for hunting, and the big mags are a serious hindrance. Guns take a beating in my hunting, and the SKS is sturdy, short, and light.

The best hunting load for the 7.62 x 39mm is the 154-gr Wolf soft point cartridge, specifically designed for hunting. I harvested a nice boar over 350-lb with one shot...he didn't take more than one step, just rolled over.:D

The commercial Winchester and Remington hunting ammo I've seen are only 123-gr JHP, and cost about three times the Wolf! I ordered mine from Midway...