First pig hunt caliber/rifle suggestions

[Gabes220]

Hello everyone,

I have several questions about an upcoming pig hunt that i'm going on... thanks in advance for participating in the discussion.

Keep in mind that i'm hunting in a lead free zone in California
1.
First of all, i don't feel that i have an adequate pig gun. The only firearm that i feel would be satisfactory is a 300 Win Mag. I do hand-load for this cartridge, which brings me to my first question. What type of load would you suggest in a 300 Win Mag for pig? I'm thinking a Barnes 165gr TSX traveling at around 2600 fps. Any suggestions?
2.
Also, i have the luxury of working in a very firearm friendly establishment, and several co-workers have offered to lend me their rifles.

One rifle is a Marlin lever gun in .444 marlin express. I'm very unfamiliar with the cartridge, but non-lead ammunition is available for it. What kind of non-lead ammo would you suggest in .444 marlin express for pig? Is this a good round?

Another rifle is a Marlin lever 30-30. I understand that this is a reputable pig cartridge, but would the .444 or the 300 win mag be a more suitable round?


Thanks for the advice.

Gabes

 

[rcmodel]

Either the 30-30 or the .444 would be my choice.

Fast handling, instinctive pointing, and fast follow-up shots are far more importent then .300 mag performance you don't need to kill a hog.

And for that, a lever-action carbine wins hands down.

rc

 

[hardluk1]

The 30-30 is the more affordable and fully able to deal with a pig. It will offer a 200 yard shot. 300 mags fine IF your stand still at distance and might be shooting out to 200 to 400 yards but a bit of over kill at closer ranges.

 

[MCgunner]

God, I hope you all keep that non-lead stuff to yourselves. Does that apply to muzzleloaders? Surely not. That would eliminate all, but sabots or solid copper powerbelt type bullets, I reckon.

 

[Asherdan]

They'll all do the job just fine. Which is best will be determined by what kind of ground you're hunting. If you're working SJ Valley rice, corn or rye fields the .300 WM is going to give you the most flexibility. If you're out at Ft. Hunter-Liggett working foothills and swales the leverguns will work out for you. That's where I bring out my Marlin 1894-44RM with the 225g XPB's.

I'd say go with what you own. The Barnes TSX is a little spendy but if the 165g shoots for you it'll sure whop the pigs for you just fine whether they're up here or out there.

 

[Gabes220]

God, I hope you all keep that non-lead stuff to yourselves. Does that apply to muzzleloaders? Surely not. That would eliminate all, but sabots or solid copper powerbelt type bullets, I reckon.

believe it or not, thats the truth. Apparently, some scientists have found that the lead used in hunting bullets has some effect on the Condor populations in parts of california. Therefore, ALL ammo has to be non-lead when shooting in this area (this includes rimfire, muzzleloaders, rifles, shotguns, and even airguns). The next think that i've heard is that they're trying to ban non-lead ammo because they say that non-lead ammunition is somehow more armor piercing than lead ammo. :banghead:

I'm thinking i'll load some of my 300 win mag loads but also take one of my co-workers lever guns (probably the .444). This allows me to switch platforms depending on the terrain. We're hunting at the Vandenburg Air Force Base, and apparently its very overgrown with foliage. This makes me want to lean more towards the lever gun with iron sights.

Anyone familiar with this location?

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

First off, there is no such animal as the .444 marlin express It's just .444 Marlin.

Now, as far as your question, the .300 win mag is by far way more than is needed in hog hunting. Hog's are very easy to get into 200 yards and below of. The .30/30 or .444 are both perfect choices for hogs. I have used them both and they both will drop a hog easily within 200 yards. Corbon makes lead free ammo for either but I'll forwarn you, it's far from cheap.

 

[Asherdan]

You can get the 444 loaded by Cor-Bon, as mentioned, with the Barnes 225g XPB. Or you can make some of your own. Pushing those bullets out of a 444 at ~2200 fps is a real decent option.

From what I remember of Vandenburg, taking both is a good choice.

 

[Hawghunter68]

Mossberg 500 12ga. shooting 3" copper solid sabots,this will ruin any hogs day and keeps you lead free.I know its not a rifle and the range is cut down alot but the stopping power to me is worth it.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

sorry you hunt in California (mexifornia) with its stupid laws.

 

[dirtengineer]

I am a fan of barnes. I killed a black bear with 180 grain XBT out of my .300 win mag. I am sure it is way more than needed, but will get the job done.

 

[gp1]

+1 on the 30/30- pigs are fast critters, a quick follow up shot will be possible with the 30/30 if the first one does not bring it down

 

[chas08]

I hunted Vandenburg back in the mid 70's when I was on active duty. There weren't any hogs there back then that I know of but, I managed to take my limit of Blacktailed deer each year I hunted there.

Most of the terrain back then was waist to shoulder high Manzanita. All but one of the deer I killed were under 100 yd shots. I'd lean heavily toward the .444 or 30/30.

If it hasn't changed much the fast handling and quick follow up shots of a lever gun would be an advantage. I used a Savage 99 in .300 Sav. back then, I sure wish I had never parted with that gun.

 

[critter]

Sure the .444 will work. However, so will your .300. I can't think of any reasonable load for it that WOULDN'T work on hogs.

I've taken multiple hogs with my Win M70 .300 using 150 gr Nosler BT's. DRT!

 

[snakeman]

I would use my own rifle.

 

[Certaindeaf]

If you compress some loose chads dense enough, you'll be good to go and be famous at the same time.

 

[jeepmor]

I'd use a 30-30 or the Marlin. Heavy and slow does less damage to meat.

 

[dougwx12]

I'm thinking a Barnes 165gr TSX traveling at around 2600 fps. Any suggestions?

That's less than .308 ballistics there; if you load down that far, the difference between that and 30-30 is pretty much moot.

 

[mbt2001]

The 300 win mag would be fine. I would rather use my own gear than borrow someone's. One thing you should think about is getting your own 30-30 (or other lever gun). Because it is an "old lever gun" then it isn't Politically incorrect but is a great and time tested defense platform and a dandy hunting rifle for anything smaller in scale; while your 300 win mag is good for big game.

Solid copper rounds for the 300 win mag:

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/rem...r-copper-solid-tipped-3290-rdbx-p-112248.html

 

[Kachok]

300 win mag is fine, but unless you are hogzilla country (like me) you won't need anything near that potent, heck the world record feral hog was dropped with one very well placed shot from a 7mm-08. I use a 6.5x55 or 30-06 depending on my mood. Barnes TSX is the premier lead free bullet IMHO, nothing wrong with the E-Tip or GMX but the barnes seems to be the most proven of them, not that I use them, I get to use Ballistic tips Just figured I would rub that in LOL

 

[fol4321]

ive killed pigs with 22 mag all the way up to 300 win. also my 40 and 357 mag. its all about shot placement. i shoot behind the ear. but if you look at the pigs eye and follow straight back to the neck youll get the spine. im sure if you look around someone has made a diagram or something

 

[fol4321]

funny i used the ole interoogle and found this right at the top of the page
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=489097

 

[nathan]

The best part is to sneak up on them and aim for the head .

 

[MCgunner]

If they outlawed lead in Texas, I'm afraid I'd become an outlaw. Some laws are made to be broken. I like my 50 cal front loaders and don't wanna shoot patched steel ball bearings or some other asinine something to comply with an asinine law.