Foolish to go hog hunting with a single-shot rifle?

[kamagong]

I am a shallow person. I'll fess up to it. I like my firearms pretty, with nice wood, good bluing, and pleasing lines. Most of my firearms are attractive -- 1911, BHP, CZ 452 Trainer. The AR might not have traditional good looks, but even then I still think it looks cool. The only exception is my Ruger 22/45. It's quite ugly to be honest. But this was my first firearm, so it has sentimental value. And I bought it for training purposes as the 1911 is my pistol of choice. So it stays.

The reason behind this long winded introduction is that I want to go hog hunting. I want to use a single-shot rifle, the Ruger #1. I'll probably get it in .308, maybe even .30-06. The #1 is one good looking rifle, and the moment I saw one I was smitten.

I'm not sure about the wisdom of using a single-shot rifles when going after hogs though. I know that people use all sorts of weapons when hog hunting, from bolt actions to bows and arrows to spears to even knives. And compared to bows, spears, and knives a .308 rifle, even in single-shot has much more stopping power. Still, I felt it would be smart to ask the thoughts of my fellow forumites. Good-looking or not, I'm not willing to take unnecessary chances just so I can go hunting in style.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The #1 is one good looking rifle, and the moment I saw one I was smitten.

Me too amigo. I haven't been able to get one yet, but it will eventually happen.

I wouldn't hesitate to use a single shot rifle on hogs. I wouldn't think you would have any trouble unless you wounded one and had to go into the thick stuff after it. I may carry a side arm in the event that happened, but it definately wouldn't dissuade me from carrying a single.

 

[splithoof]

I have had great success hog hunting and taken all but one with one shot. Proper bullet placement and construction from a decent caliber will be fine. One of my hunting assocoates uses a .308 single shot with a fixed 6X optic, and he has taken tons of hogs at various ranges from 25 feet to 300 yards, and never needed more than one round.

 

[rondog]

Stick close to trees.....

 

[scythefwd]

ron, I'll amend that and say hunt from the trees (as in up one )

 

[Canazes9]

Too much is made of hogs being dangerous, don't worry about it. Have fun w/ your new rifle.

David

 

[AKElroy]

Too much is made of hogs being dangerous, don't worry about it.

+1. Unless you are crawling through the thickets flushing them yourself, I would not be too concerned. Better yet, just get plenty of practice with that single shot & don't miss. I have lost count of the pigs I have taken in the last three years from our overrun central Texas lease, and I have not been charged yet. Just be sure to let them lie awhile before you walk up to inspect the damage, and give the requisite eye-poke to make sure.

That said, when I do venture into the thickets to rouse them up, I carry an A/K w/ an Aimpoint on an Ultimak Rail for super fast shot placement. Not that it's helped; so far they've gone in a blur before I can get a shot. Even so, they always seem to run that-a-way, not this-a way.

 

[jbr]

i second the "don't miss" part

 

[jbr]

on a serious note i would advise a backup weapon. Most hunts go off without a hitch - plan for the one that doesn't! You come up suddenly on a sow with some young ones and the large weight added to your underware might effect your aim.

 

[AKElroy]

As for trees (and tower blinds for that matter), dramatically more hunters are injured or killed by falling from a tree or tower blind than have ever been acosted by a piggy.

I would add that DEER have likely injured or killed more hunters than pigs.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I rather like a repeater for hogs and deer too. Even the best shots miss. Plus I've shot hogs that defied all odds of dying and while doing so tried to kill me (not that I blame them), but 2 good repeaters saved my behind (a 742 and a 1911).

 

[exbiologist]

If you're just shooting them over bait, I wouldn't sweat it at all. Shot plenty of them with rimfires to know they ain't that dangerous. Dogs, traps, and following up on arrowed pigs makes for a different situation. They scare the hell out of me in a trap when they charge; never know if the snare or fencing will hold.

 

[AKElroy]

They scare the hell out of me in a trap when they charge; never know if the snare or fencing will hold.

They do put on a pretty good show, especially after you shoot the first one of several.

 

[Cob]

+1 on hunting from a treestand...
Once you fire the first shot, the rest will run for cover anyway, if more than one appear. Also, if piglets are present, shoot the sow first,they will not be as apt to run, once you eliminate the biggest sow. ( I have heard of young piglets sucking milk off the teat of a sow that had just been shot, lying dead on her side.)

 

[exbiologist]

seen that happen when I head shot a sow once. They all scattered at first but came back a minute or two later and began sucking on her.

 

[hoghunting]

I've taken many hogs with my 14" T/C Contender pistol in 7-30 Waters, and haven't needed a second shot. I hunt on the ground, not is trees or an elevated stand. There have been times that I wished for one of my rifles as there were plenty of hogs to shoot, not enough time to get a 3rd or 4th shot off.

 

[alsaqr]

Most of my hogs are killed from stands with a muzzleloader.

 

[rangerphil]

I have been an avid hog hunter for over 15 years at our farm in north Texas. You will do fine with a single shot hunting rifle for 99%+ of the situations you will encounter in hog hunting. After the first shot, hogs scatter and the ability to take a follow-up shot is limited in my experience. Always take a backup sidearm ( I use a 686) and you will be good to go.

 

[retrieverman]

Single shot works for me.

 

[Cob]

you should be able to reload efficiently for a second shot if one presents itself, and the single shot lends to better accuracy for some, while waiting for the most opportune time to take the 1 shot.

Some people in this area hunt them with dogs only, catching them alive. still others use spears, swords, knives, and misc. archery equipment. these types might call the rifle "overkill"....
Personally i love my .270,. yet sometimes use the 12 gauge 1100, or .223 with clip if elimination is the objective.

 

[Frozen North]

Hogs die when you shoot them good just like everything else. They are not armor plated or immune to the effects of a high powered rifle. If you want to hunt with a Ruger #1, do it with confidence.

Too much is made of hogs being dangerous, don't worry about it. Have fun w/ your new rifle.

I wholeheartedly agree. People have been making these things sound like an equal to a grizzly bear. A white tail buck can mess you up pretty bad too. Remember that it's our large brain that puts us on top of the food chain. Use it and you will be fine.

I want a Ruger #1 in 30-06 too...

 

[critter]

I have used a Ruger #1 in 45-70 to great success on hogs. Great hog thumper.

 

[jmorris]

I have never hunted a hog from a tree and have used a single shot pistol to take them without issue. Every time I have fired at a hog in a group, they all have been in a rush to exit from sight, run a short circle or stand around like nothing happened (suppressor), at least until the 2nd hit.

You corner a cow and you will see aggression.

 

[bswiv]

This is one she shot this spring......at about 15 yards......after stalking it on the ground for a ways. Over the last dozen years that little .243 Win has put 20 or so on the ground, all but one shot while slipping through the swamps or in the palmettos.

Normally I hear the rifle go off and start off in the direction of the shot. Can think of only 2 that got away, one time she hit a hanging vine ( big thing about 1 1/2 diameter ) and the other was a miss.

Point being that if you get close and are careful the single shot is plenty good.

As for being charged...........not once that I personally can attest to or that I can say a known friend will attest to. Just not that big a worry. Bigger chance to get hurt in a stand or by stepping in a ground hornet ( Yellow Jacket ) nest than getting attacked by a hog when stalking.

 

[sig232]

Just carry a sidearm for close encounters. Most of the boars I've seen at a distance look, grunt, and go back to rooting. They run like hell (away) when they hear a shot.