30-30 for boar?

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roscoe

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I could use a little advice on whether a 30-30 is sufficient for boar. This will be in CA and I think the boar don't get quite as big as they do down in, say, Arkansas. Someone advised against it, but I can't tell whether this is a prejudice based on accuracy expectations (shots are expected to be 100 yards or so since the hunting is in open country), or that the round won't get through all that muscle.

Let's say accuracy is no problem. Will the round do the job?

Any input would be appreciated!
 
It isn't the muscle it's the pads of gristle that cover the shoulders. This requires a cartridge/bullet with good penetration. A heavy, well constructed bullet - 170 gr in 30-30 - should be used. I just heard from a hunter who got a 350 lb boar with a 35Rem with the Buffalo Bore 220 gr , it penetrated completely through both shoulders. I would choose a 45-70.
 
When hunting with a friend for Feral Pigs and his 30/30 with a shoulder shot didn't knock the porker down right away! But I do belive he was using Round nosed lead bullets, nothing Jacketed or to heavy. The Pig ran a wee (No Pun) bit before dropping.
 
I can take any pig over here in hawaii with a 30-30, although ours dont get as big as they do on the mainland. A 180 pounder is a monster over here. Most people hunt with a 30-30, .30 carbine or 44 mag carbine here, and it is plenty. That being said, we also are just blocking trails while the dogs are chasing too so either way we still get the job done. A 30-30 with a 170 grain bullet hasnt failed me yet. Aloha!!!



Dustin
 
The california wild boar of central california are the biggest in the US. I have shot several over 300lbs with a good one (boar) being common at 250 or so where I hunt. A 30-30 works fine! 170 grain core lokt's (remington ) will bust the gristle plate and make a big hole thru vitals. Remember the heart is pretty low in chest. A head shot works well too. Remember the 30-30 runs out of steam at 150 yards and is usually hard to hit with unless scoped over 75 yards.Sight the gun in with your hunting load! Most of the pigs I've shot were 75 or less yards. I have shot them at 300 with the right combination.:D
 
Thanks for the advice all! It's good to know I can use the trust ol' Winchester 94.
 
Necroposting here, but this is the only thread directly addressing the topic.

Just picked up a Marlin 336, in expectation of some pig-culling in the next few months. Paid $175 for a 1961 336RC, little cosmetic wear, zero mechanical wear. Got some WGRS rear and FireSight front coming in the mail for it.

All my gun knowledge is military, so like a twit I bought some 150gr Core-Lokt and went to sight in. While sighting in, I actually read the box and realize that it says "for medium thin-skinned game".

Would 150gr be a very bad idea for Texas feral pig? Go up to 170gr then? Any brand or bullet types to avoid?

I had a chance to buy a .35 Rem Marlin for $235 or so, might have to check back w/ the guy and see if he still has it. Slightly pricier ammo, but I don't expect to be pouring pounds of lead downrange.

I can move to the 170gr after I put the new sights on, b/c I'll need to go sight in all over again anyway. I really need to read up on sighting in, I'm wasting ammo doing it wrong. Deprived of a USMC BZO procedure, I'm geometrically hopeless.

Thanks for any tips on ammo,

-MV
 
I've dropped several Texas feral hogs (120-200lbs) with a 16" 30-30, using 150gr loads. Got good silver-dollar sized frothy exit wounds on all of 'em.

You can use a 170gr if you think that you might encounter a 500lb bruiser, but the 150gr should be plenty for what you're likely to see.
 
The 30-30 will kill everything Texas has to offer. I prefer head shots, and head shots on hogs are pretty easy because they don't have the quickness and range of motion in their neck like a deer or other game animals.
 
30/30????

I have shot tons of Hogs with just abought everything you can think of, However it seems to me I always chased every hog shot with the 30/30? good shots too.I got this trophie hog from 75 yards, right behind the left sholder thru the lungs and stoped just under the skin on the other side.I chased him and lost sight of him for almost a hour.He popped up infrount of me abought 5-6 feet and we ended up finishing him with our hand guns my 38 2in, and the guides 32h&r mag.I don`t think I`ve ever shot so fast...
lastscan4.jpg
 
@ bigger john:

Am I right in reckoning that CA hogs are bigger than TX hogs? (no cheap jokes, please)

Both John and the "Hunting Boar in CA" book I have say that 30-30 is too light. The several Texans I've asked say 30-30 is plenty.

Does this have something to do w/ the more Russified strain of boar found in CA?

-MV
 
.30-30 used today in N. TX on two piggies

I shot these this afternoon just an hour southwest of Ft. Worth with my new 336ss using 160gr. LeverEvolution. Dressed they weighed about 70 lbs. There was a momma with them (and about 12 others) and she was twice their size, but given the performance of the LeverEvolution I would not hesitate to use this on 200-300lbs pigs. The spotted one was shot at 100 yards (through the neck and out the opposite side elbow, dropped right there) and the other at about 60yds (shot him twice as the first round hit too far back).
Interestingly, I recovered the rubbery balistic tip on the spotted pig right at the entrance wound on the surface!
 

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the spotted one

here..
 

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??????????

I don`t know anything abought Texas hogs? I booked and guided hog hunts for abought 9-10 years.we took hogs up too 300-375 and one almost450
but most were around 200.
 
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