7mm Mag Too Much for Boar?
- Thread starter rhoggman
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Ike R
Member
Nope, not too much on the Magnum or the 30-30. Nice thing about the mag is the penetration you can get out of it, this will allow for quartering toward shot though the shield on thier front, which I would never take with my 5.56 shooting 68 grain Horndaddys. The mag also makes a heart shot effective too as the heart on a hog is in the lower chest behind the front legs at the bottom of the frame. To reach it your round would potentially have to smash the upper leg bone while conserving enough mass and velocity to continue penetrateing in more or less a straight line. I think the 7mm Mag can do it because I know a 7mm-08 can do it. I would still rather take the quartering away shot if I could and not have to worry bout bullet deflection from the leg. Thats assuming you want the skull as a trophy, if you dont, shooting behind the ear is a guaranteed DRT shot with either caliber you are bringing.
There is never such a thing as overkill while hunting hogs IMHO, if I could cost effectively hunt hogs with a 50 BMG I would.
There is never such a thing as overkill while hunting hogs IMHO, if I could cost effectively hunt hogs with a 50 BMG I would.
MCgunner
Member
How much is too much? I've seen hogs killed by .357s, seen 'em killed by .338s. Use it. There's really no such thing as overkill.
matrem
Member
I killed two boars last year with one.(160gr partitions)
It seemed to work every bit as well as the .243 (95 gr partitions) my brother used to kill two with the day before.
All four were the same degree of dead, and all four had very little meat damage.
No such thing as "overkill".
It seemed to work every bit as well as the .243 (95 gr partitions) my brother used to kill two with the day before.
All four were the same degree of dead, and all four had very little meat damage.
No such thing as "overkill".
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jaysouth
Member
When you are facing an angry boar headon, there is no such thing as too much gun.
It is not too much, trust me. And if your are going to a driven hunt, know that it can be short (most likely the boars will end up dying next to some other guy 100 meters to your right or left, especially if not proper shot). In driven hunts most European hunters will recommend 9mm bullets.
But if you are pursuing boars and shooting at a stopped target from long distances in clean areas (without heavy bushes), a 7mm mag will do the job.
But if you are pursuing boars and shooting at a stopped target from long distances in clean areas (without heavy bushes), a 7mm mag will do the job.
jimmyraythomason
Member
Yes there is. Just not when it comes to boars!
Flintknapper
Member
Not too much gun (cartridge).....but one caveat:
Select a heavily constructed bullet. Only because....close-up (<50 yds.) a lesser bullet might fragment rather than penetrate at such high velocity.
Otherwise, I'd say you're good to go.
Flint.
Select a heavily constructed bullet. Only because....close-up (<50 yds.) a lesser bullet might fragment rather than penetrate at such high velocity.
Otherwise, I'd say you're good to go.
Flint.
Here you have a sat picture of a driven hunt occurred in 2008. Targets were wild European boars (what you call Russian pigs). Hunters where placed in the spots marked with numbers from 1 to 69, in a circle (some were dropped in the middle). Those spots are called doors.
On the right you have several doors for rifles (all the other doors may have 12 gauge shotgun firing only bullets).
Distance from one hunter to another is between 50 to 100 meters. The dogs (more than 50) are deployed in the middle and the boars rush to the edges of the circle, towards the hunters.
This driven hunt was for members only, for fun, and all the boars caught were eaten in next social events. But in many driven hunts around the country and in Europe you can bring the meat that you kill home, so not only you don’t want to miss a boar: YOU DON’T WANT IT TO DIE 100 METERS TO YOUR LEFT OR RIGHT. If you wound him, if he does not drops in it’s tracks, most likely other guys will be able to take a shot at it. And you don’t want that.
There is a lot of adrenaline in boars at driven hunts, they are always running and sometimes big ones appear out of nothing. That is why many people here in Europe use 9mm bullets. No one sober will go to a driven hunt with less than a 30.06 spring.
Here we cannot use automatic rifles, only semi-auto (with 3 bullets only) or bolt action.
On the right you have several doors for rifles (all the other doors may have 12 gauge shotgun firing only bullets).
Distance from one hunter to another is between 50 to 100 meters. The dogs (more than 50) are deployed in the middle and the boars rush to the edges of the circle, towards the hunters.
This driven hunt was for members only, for fun, and all the boars caught were eaten in next social events. But in many driven hunts around the country and in Europe you can bring the meat that you kill home, so not only you don’t want to miss a boar: YOU DON’T WANT IT TO DIE 100 METERS TO YOUR LEFT OR RIGHT. If you wound him, if he does not drops in it’s tracks, most likely other guys will be able to take a shot at it. And you don’t want that.
There is a lot of adrenaline in boars at driven hunts, they are always running and sometimes big ones appear out of nothing. That is why many people here in Europe use 9mm bullets. No one sober will go to a driven hunt with less than a 30.06 spring.
Here we cannot use automatic rifles, only semi-auto (with 3 bullets only) or bolt action.
Ah, and although the sat picture shows some brown areas, this is what you’ll get when you get out of the van and go to your door. Trees and bushes!
A rabbit could easily take a crap on you boots and you don’t even see the guy who did it
Boars are bad news if you don’t hit them right.
A rabbit could easily take a crap on you boots and you don’t even see the guy who did it
Boars are bad news if you don’t hit them right.
Because hunters have to be deployed very fast (so the boars don’t leave the area), vans drop them along dirt roads like this. So in your door you have bushes in front and bushes behind you, lololol
Somewhere down that road will be another guy with a gun, waiting to shoot your wounded boar, eheheh
Somewhere down that road will be another guy with a gun, waiting to shoot your wounded boar, eheheh
pikid89
Member
my favorite magnum round for wild hogs here in Florida is the .22 magnum...no joke put it right behind his ear...DRT
Insert your head _______.... Think of a nice place
Thanks for the great post..... That was not my question. I don't want to ruin lots of meat. 7mm Mag blows through whitetail, and can be very destructive. I asked if it was overkill. I am going to start reloading for 7mm Mag because the "cheap" $25/ box of 20 rounds stuff ruins deer meat. To my discredit I should have left some more details in my original post. I know that my 7mm Mag is overkill on deer, and I plan on finding the right bullet, or dropping bullet weight drastically.
Anyways, I have never hunted boar, just looking for some advice.
Likely my problem stems from ammo selection. I have this problem during muzzle loader season as well. Powebelts EXPLODE in whitetail. I have heard Barnes bullets hold together very well.
Ike R
Member
You want meat? Bring what you want and go for the ear shot.
hardluk1
member
rhoggman If you have to walk a long ways will the 7mm be a problem??? IF no try to shoot barnes x type bullets. They will break bone if needed and do a great job. If lots of walk;n that 30/30 might be easier to haul around. Shoot the heavest and toughest bullet you can get. Harcaste or a bonded type. It will get it done . Faster follow up shots to.
pikid89,, you forgot to tell us if the 22 was used in the trap or with the dogs. Big boys also use just a knive, don't mean its smart all the time. Hard to chase them down to sometimes to stick'um. Where you at in swfl. I grew up in Naples
pikid89,, you forgot to tell us if the 22 was used in the trap or with the dogs. Big boys also use just a knive, don't mean its smart all the time. Hard to chase them down to sometimes to stick'um. Where you at in swfl. I grew up in Naples
Is it over-kill? On a hog? No such as over-kill exists when it comes to killing hogs. I've killed many hogs with many different calibers.. I've also shot several running hogs with a 7Mag and hit some of them in the guts.. You hear when the bullet hits, you see the hog roll over, then you watch him get right back up and continue running.. So, with a poorly placed shot even a 7mag is NOT ENOUGH GUN..
On the other hand, I killed my biggest hog with the other "7"... A 17HMR!!!
I shot her right behind the ear at about 80 yards and she dropped right there.
On the other hand, I killed my biggest hog with the other "7"... A 17HMR!!!
I shot her right behind the ear at about 80 yards and she dropped right there.
ColeK
Member
"I'm going on a Russian Boar hunt this week. Anyone think 7mm Mag is overkill? I plan on taking a 30-30 as well?? "
It kind of depends on how big they are.
If they are under 200# a 7mm Mag might be a little overkill.
If they are much over 200# a 7mm Mag isn't overkill.
A few years ago my son stalked a large boar that was bedded down. He shot it with his bow at about 20 yards. The arrow hit the boar behind shoulder. He got up shook and the arrow fail out. While was happening we stoodup, my son dropped his bow, and I handed him the .444 Guide Gun.
The boar charged us. Have you ever tried to work a lever rifle while running backwards? We shoot 5 times and the last shot was in his ear.
When we got this big boar back to the barn and weighed him, the scale bottomed out at 550# with his head still on the ground.
It kind of depends on how big they are.
If they are under 200# a 7mm Mag might be a little overkill.
If they are much over 200# a 7mm Mag isn't overkill.
A few years ago my son stalked a large boar that was bedded down. He shot it with his bow at about 20 yards. The arrow hit the boar behind shoulder. He got up shook and the arrow fail out. While was happening we stoodup, my son dropped his bow, and I handed him the .444 Guide Gun.
The boar charged us. Have you ever tried to work a lever rifle while running backwards? We shoot 5 times and the last shot was in his ear.
When we got this big boar back to the barn and weighed him, the scale bottomed out at 550# with his head still on the ground.
chas08
Member
Overkill?... Not at all, use it. Shoot 'em in the head if you're worried about ruining meat. The 7mm Remington Mag. was my only bolt action rifle for many years, and has accounted for the majority of the 200+ hogs of various sizes I've killed over the last 25+ years or so. A great round in my humble opinion.
Olympus
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It's more than I'm willing to take with me when I go. My old man and I go every March and we've only ever used muzzleloaders. We carry a pistol if necessary, but every hog me and the old man have shot with the MLs hasn't went more than a couple steps before toppling over.
My line of reasoning, why shoot a bigger caliber when a smaller one will do the same job? Don't get me wrong, the 7 Mag is a fine caliber and it will easily do the job. If you're going to be sniping hogs at 200+ yards, then the 7 Mag easily over the 30-30. But if you're shooting under 100 yards, my vote would be the 30-30. I'm more comfortable using a lever for quick follow up shots than a bolt. Seen another guy in our group take a 250# hog with a single shot from an East German Makarov too. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't actually been there.
My line of reasoning, why shoot a bigger caliber when a smaller one will do the same job? Don't get me wrong, the 7 Mag is a fine caliber and it will easily do the job. If you're going to be sniping hogs at 200+ yards, then the 7 Mag easily over the 30-30. But if you're shooting under 100 yards, my vote would be the 30-30. I'm more comfortable using a lever for quick follow up shots than a bolt. Seen another guy in our group take a 250# hog with a single shot from an East German Makarov too. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't actually been there.
pikid89
Member
@hardluk1 im in the fort myers area ....no traps or dogs...just stalk and shoot from about 25 yards
hogs arnt all THAT tough you dont really NEED bonded or hardcast bullets or premium ammo.
cheapo federal or winchester or my favorite the core lokts are more than enough for even really big hogs. i killed a 300lb hog at 280 yards with one shot from a 270 with the cheapest ammo i could find...through and through broke both shoulders and was last seen high tailin it out into the pasture leaving behind the deadest hog in the area
hogs arnt all THAT tough you dont really NEED bonded or hardcast bullets or premium ammo.
cheapo federal or winchester or my favorite the core lokts are more than enough for even really big hogs. i killed a 300lb hog at 280 yards with one shot from a 270 with the cheapest ammo i could find...through and through broke both shoulders and was last seen high tailin it out into the pasture leaving behind the deadest hog in the area
Freedom_fighter_in_IL
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Like a few mentioned, there is very few weapons I would call "too much gun" for a hog, but one question I have not seen asked is, are you hunting for pure bred russians or feral hogs? The reason I ask is, pure russian are not that huge (average boar is around 170 pounds) versus the feral hogs which can get pretty hefty to say the least. I've killed many hogs with a 30/30 and have never felt under gunned out to 100 yards. Killed several with a .44mag and quite a few with a .500 S&W as well. Main point here is pick the weapon you feel most comfortable with as far as accuracy as well as speed for follow up shots. I'll tell you this, and not to scare you, but one of the most deadly animals on the North American continent is a pissed off pig! So choose the one that you are the best with and good luck!
TooTaxed
Member
The key to any successful hunt is being very familiar with the rifle and placing the shots accurately. Zero at the range you are most likely to take a shot with the ammunition you plan to use...100 yds if you don't know. Then, without changing the sights, take careful shots at 50-yd intervals both closer and farther, and record the rise and fall of the bullet at each range...tape the info to your gunstock until you can memorize it. You likely won't have time to adjust sights in the field...and that's really not needed. Get enough practice that raising the rifle and shooting comes naturally...having to think about what you are doing is a handicap on the hunt.
I recommend you list the specific load you plan to use, and ask hunters on this board what their experience has been with that specific load...where the bullet hit, how far it traveled, how much meat it destroyed...and their suggestions what shots won't work well!
At one time my favorite hunting rifle was a .30-06...now it's a lighter and handier 6.5x55-mm Swedish Mauser, with which all of my shots have been one shot kills. With the proper load chosen to the game, I have had one shot kills on two boars over 350-lb and black bear over 400-lb...and lots of deer.
I recommend you list the specific load you plan to use, and ask hunters on this board what their experience has been with that specific load...where the bullet hit, how far it traveled, how much meat it destroyed...and their suggestions what shots won't work well!
At one time my favorite hunting rifle was a .30-06...now it's a lighter and handier 6.5x55-mm Swedish Mauser, with which all of my shots have been one shot kills. With the proper load chosen to the game, I have had one shot kills on two boars over 350-lb and black bear over 400-lb...and lots of deer.
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