Boar Hunting, Best caliber to use ? ? ?

[wayneB]

My brother-in-law and I are considering a wild boar hunt near Crossville, TN. this year.
Although we're both excellent shots on deer year after year, we've never tried our hand at hunting boar.

And that's why I'm bugging all of you out there ! ! !

Were looking to have a successful hunt, and need some insider information on these points of interest to us.

1). What would be considered of these weapons listed to be the best all around weapon to use, as I have the following ;
a). .30/.30 lever. W / Scope.
b). .357 / .38 special magnum lever rifle. Open Steel Sights.
c). .300 SAUM in .308 rifle. W / Scope.
d). 12 ga. slug. W/ Scope
e). .45 ACP semi-auto pistol.
(questionable on private land) W / Heim Sights.

2). I'm only interested in what would be considered the best weapon to use of the 5 listed above, as I want the shot to be a clean kill.
Again, please, I'm only interested in the gun, in your judgment would be the best to use from those listed above.
As I'm not interested in your 50 caliper M-107 sniper rifle used for an amazing 2000 yard accurate shot. You know the one that knocked a gnat off an elephants ass at 2000 yards ! ! !

3). The best time for the hunt; ..................Morning, noon, afternoon, evening or night ? ? ?

I thank you all in advance for your opinion.
WayneB

 

[browningguy]

I'd go with the 30-30, and the 12 ga. slug gun as second choice. The pigs here in Texas can get pretty big, not sure about your area. Pistols can work but you need to be able to get pretty close, those old boars can be pretty tough.

The .300 would work of course but it's a lot more than you need. I've shot them with everything from a .223 to a 45-70 and they can all be made to work, just pick your shots. I have shot a coupple with a .40 S&W, the only one that was a clean kill was a head shot at about 12 yards, body shots took 2-4 rounds to put them down so i gave up the pistols.

 

[lipadj46]

At 2000 yards you can't go wrong with a 50 caliper M-107 sniper rifle. It can knock a gnat off an elephants ass at 2000 yards.

But seriously I would say either the 12 gauge or the 30/30. Some thing that can give you a fast follow up in case one of the hog decides to kill you. I'm not sure what caliber would be the best for hogs but a .308 semi auto like an AR-10, M1A, Saiga, PTR-91 etc. with a reflex or red dot sight would be really good.

d) may be an option but I was not sure what kind of beast a ".300 SAUM in .308" is.

Forget the pistols I was at a pig roast once as a kid and saw a farmer put 5 rounds of 9mm in a pig's head and the poor beast just looked at him.

 

[byrnesy94]

if you were to buy another gun get a 243 winchester this would make an excellent pig gun

 

[R.W.Dale]

which kind?



or

 

[DRYHUMOR]

I like digital myself, but when the batteries fail- ya got to go analog.

Just remember to kill the hog before you try a caliper it.

I'd lean towards the 30-30 and some 180 grains, and 12 ga slug, in that order. And I would definately carry a pistol for backup.

Try and get some practice in tree climbing just in case.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

30-30 of those listed. DRYHUMOR shame on you for recommending analog! Analog is soooooo 1980s!

 

[3pairs12]

Another 30 30 vote. Also I would hunt morning, evening and night.

 

[ZXD9]

Dang, we're hunting hogs with calipers now!

I guess that's one way to measure penetration in real-time.

Hunter1: I got him, I got him.
Hunter2: How far in?
H1: 8"
H2: That's not enough! Push harder! You need at least 12"

 

[Uncle Mike]

I'd use the 2000y M-107 .50 'Caliper' gnat neuter'- lol hehehehe

And yes.. using calipers to hog hunt works.. you see, you simply put the hogs nerts in the caliper and....squeeeeeeze!

Ok,Ok, of your list... first choice... the venerable 30-30
second choice... the 12ga slug

It doesn't take much to unplug a hog... at least the ones down florida way.

 

[kanook]

I'm going old school

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Best time is night (if legal), with use of night vision and/or lights (if legal), or full moonlight, if not.

If you're on the ground, not in a stand, and you've got Russian boar blood out there, and some big ones, then that 12 ga slug gun might be just the ticket. I'd want a 6.5mm round or larger for hogs, in case you run across a big one with the thick gristle plate.

The weisenheimers have already chimed in, so I'll refrain from talking about which caliper.

 

[TX1911fan]

30-30 will work, but, as we always say, shot placement will matter. A fried took 3 shots to kill a pig with a 30-30. Mine went down with one .223. The 30-30 was to the shoulder first, mine was in the head. A 12 gauge will work well too.

 

[cameron.personal]

Caliber for pig hunting???

The 12gauge is just for back up, get in there and stick the bugger, get some dirt on your hands!

 

[nathan]

Mosin rifle will put them down where they should be,

 

[woof]

Of those listed the .30-30 by far

 

[fishing]

Go with the 12 gauge slug. Use the .45 pistol as a backup. You need stopping power for these suckers. I know high powered rifle hunting is illegal in some states (ohio, for instance), as stray bullets will travel too far.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Obviously the 30-30 is a good choice, if your shooting with a scope I would assume your 75 plus yards and have no need for a backup gun. If you plan some less than 75 yd shots or hunting out of a blind then use a 357 mag lever gun with iron sights. Since you have iron sights then again, no need for a back up gun.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Definitely have a back-up handgun. Even if the shot is 75 yards or greater you still have to approach the downed porker which may still have a little bite left in him.

 

[DeepSouth]

30-30 with the .357 (with fmj's) as a backup.

I use a .450 Marlin. I have pulled off a "One shot, two kills" with it.

But I am one for 'over kill'

EDIT: I am curious, is there a reason not to carry a back up?

 

[kanook]

some states do not permit it.

 

[winchester '97]

simple. savage model 210 slug gun. affordable, and will place 1 oz. slugs where you want them at ranges up to 400 yards with new sabot slugs, mine will print golf ball sized groups at 100 yards with remington slugger, and you really cant top the killing power of an ounce of lead.

 

[DBR]

I was there when a friend of mine (world class hunter and a very good shot) put down a 600# Russian boar with one shot from a SKS that he was testing at about 20 yds. He fired a front quartering shot in front of the pigs shoulder. The pig stood for about 30 seconds and fell over dead. Think shot placement.

I would use the 30/30 with a heavy, deep penetrating round or the 12ga with Brenneke hard cast slugs. Pigs are hard to penetrate unless you think you can hit them under the ear.

 

[sarduy]

c). .300 SAUM in .308 rifle. W / Scope.
d). 12 ga. slug. W/ Scope

 

[NELSONs02]

Piggies are tough... go with the .300saum.