1st javelina hunt questions.

[PSYCHOBILLY]

I decided to try hunting javelina and got drawn this spring. I have a 30.06 and have heard that was too much rifle. Can I use a 150 grain bullet and call it good? I hear .223 is a good round but I dont want to use my M4 for a javelina hunt. Also any tips or advice? I would greatly appericate any help thanks! Also before I forget, I got drawn in northern Arizona.

 

[Japle]

I'd go with a heavy bullet made for moose or elk.

Pigs are small. Never saw one that I thought would weigh more than 35 lbs. If you hit one with a light bullet at high velocity, there might not be much left to eat. A 200 - 220 gr bullet at lower velocity won't blow up, will penetrate all the way through and will kill the pig.

I made the mistake of shooting one in the left shoulder with a 90 gr 9mm bullet at 2495 fps out of a .357 AutoMag. The whole shoulder was garbage. Killed the pig instantly, though.
Next one was hit through both shoulders with a 265 gr .44 bullet designed for the .444 Marlin at 1510 fps out of a .44 AutoMag. No meat damage at all. I could eat the hole. Killed the pig instantly.

Slow and heavy for pigs.

 

[WardenWolf]

I'd go with a 60 or 62-grain bullet out of a .223. I'll be hunting javelina for my first time this year, and that's what I'm using. Many .223 barrels don't have a tight enough twist rate to effectively stabilize anything heavier than a 62-grain bullet. You're allowed to hunt javelina with rimfires. You don't need a heavy bullet to kill them.

Just remember that you can't use FMJ for hunting in Arizona. You'll probably want Black Hills jacketed soft point ammo. Their ammo is known for quality, and it's also more reasonably priced.

 

[PSYCHOBILLY]

My M4 only has a 14 inch barrel and a 2 inch flash supressor with open sights. If I have to use it I will But I'm gonna have to get some 5 round mags. If our soldiers are using M4's overseas and dropping badguys then I probaly can drop a pig with one. But I would prefer uning my 30.06 cause it has optics.

 

[WardenWolf]

Get yourself some decent inexpensive optics for the M4. Leapers makes some nice scopes for under $100.

I'm using a Saiga .223. It's an AK variant a heavy 20.5" bull barrel.

 

[PSYCHOBILLY]

Mine is a Bushmaster. The only problem is that my upper is a A1 so It has a fixed carry handle. What unit did you get drawn for Mike?

 

[WardenWolf]

I'd rather not post that in open forum. Hmm, I believe you can get rails that will mount to your carry handle and allow use of an optic.

 

[PSYCHOBILLY]

I was just curious. I've heard that you can get rails. Just have'nt thought of using them before.

 

[Pilot]

I believe you can get rails that will mount to your carry handle and allow use of an optic.

X2. I have an ACOG mounted on my fixed handled CAR-15. Works fine. Just throw a fixed 4X scope on it and go hunting. Well site it in first.

 

[rcmodel]

A.R.M.S. #39 A2 Plus carry-handle mount.





rcmodel

 

[PSYCHOBILLY]

Thats a sweet M4!

 

[WardenWolf]

That looks like what you need, though: a rail that attaches to your existing handle.

 

[mbt2001]

I hear .223 is a good round but I dont want to use my M4 for a javelina hunt.

Nothing wrong with using an M4 for the Javelina. Tell you something you might not know, if you have a .22 mag rifle you could use it. I would prefer a .223 myself, but nothing wrong with using the .22mag.

The .30-06 would be to much gun IMO. Those little wannabe piglets are not large.

Another option is a reduced recoil load for the .30-06. Remington and Federal both have them, below is some published data.

.30-06/125 - MV 2660 ME 1964 (at muzzle)
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/centerfire/managed-recoil.asp
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=353369&t=11082005 (order some)

Compare to a regular load -

Winchester 180gr. Muzzle MV- 2750 ME-3022

 

[Art Eatman]

The best target area is the head. There isn't much neck, and everything else is either meat or guts--which ain't where you want to hit.

First thing, cut out the scent gland that's in the skin on the pig's back. With a head shot, you can gut one out without even getting your hands bloody. Greasy, yeah, but not bloody.

The hide is tough and the hair is dusty, so a knife will dull down sorta fast, compared to Bambi.

If you see Piggy at a distance, it's easy enough to walk up to within close range. They're very nearsighted, and don't hear nearly as well as deer. If you work the wind, you can get close enough to grab a baby, just for the giggles. The younguns are fairly easy to raise; they're territorial and make great watch-pigs.

The best gun, really, is whatever pistol with which you can hit most accurately. .38 Special on up. No point in shooting from a distance; ya gotta walk up there to gut him, anyway.

 

[wankerjake]

Hey art, no kidding that they make good pets? I have tons of them in my neighborhood and have thought about snagging a young one. Do they bite when you grab them?

 

[Art Eatman]

I only grabbed one. Around the middle, both hands. Lordy, the squealing! Momma ran back and forth, popping her jaws. The rest of the crowd had run off. I set him down, he ran to Momma, and off they went.

I've had a couple of friends who raised them, although I haven't. One house-pet piggy was doing fine until in teething, he tried to work over a lamp cord. One-time event.

I wouldn't have a pet watch-pig without the yard being fenced.

I've raised a couple of baby deer; Carnation canned milk cut with water to around 2:1 or 3:1 so it's not too rich. Used a baby bottle, and learned that to trigger the nursing reflex I had to wipe his bum with a damp sponge--in place of the doe's tongue. (Part of why fawns are nearly scentless.)

 

[WardenWolf]

No, they don't make good pets. From all I've read, they're a LOT more cranky than your average hog, and are just too dangerous and unpredictable. The young may be cute. But then again, a young tiger is cute, too. Yes, they could make a good guard animal, but they're NOT pets.

 

[wankerjake]

yeah, I figure it would just cut up my dogs as soon as it grew a little so I probably won't try to catch one.

 

[MCgunner]

I've shot one with a 7 mag and I've shot one with a .357 revolver. It don't take a lot of gun to kill an animal that won't get 60 lbs in his lifetime. I just happened to be hunting with the 7 when I came upon this pack of porkers and decided to take one. AND, you can get close to 'em cause they're near blind, especially if they're below you. But, keep the wind to your face, of course.

Shoot 'em IN the shoulder, not behind it! All the good stuff is protected by the shoulders, nothing, but guts behind the shoulder.

 

[PSYCHOBILLY]

I dont want to shoot it in the head because I want to get it mounted.

 

[mbt2001]

errrr

OK, then you had better bring some vicks vapor rub as taking a javelina in the brisket is a smelly job come cleaning time. Don't forget the rubber gloves.

 

[PSYCHOBILLY]

Is it really that bad? What about a neck shot?

 

[Art Eatman]

PSYCHOBILLY, pigelinas just don't have much of a neck. You go almost directly from head to shoulders. The animal world's definition of "short".

 

[PSYCHOBILLY]

So what I gather take a shoulder shot and just deal with the smell.
What about any advice as to where to find them? I have been reading stuff on javelinahunter but Just asking for some more advice?

 

[wankerjake]

What unit are you in? I've hunted a lot of spots in northern AZ, I might be able to tell you a spot. Otherwise, shady sides of hills in the thick stuff during the day. I've also seen them in brushy washes as well. In the morning and evening spend time glassing, sometimes you can catch them moving around. I think they do most of their moving around at night but I have seen them on the go during midday, especially at water holes.