American_Fusilier
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What calibers would you want to take on a feral hog hunt?
Hog hunt calibers
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Orcon
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Practical or just for funsies?
OP
OP
American_Fusilier
Member
Either, but I guess I meant more practical
WestKentucky
Member
30-30 for me. There are plenty others that would work, but I’m comfortable with the 336 as a shooter, and as a club if needed. 30-30 is no powerhouse, but it’s far from being a slouch. More than plenty for a hog, and the fast handling lever and short overall gun length make for a fine brush gun where most hogs live.
Orcon
Member
223, 300 BO, maybe a big bore like a 458 SOCOM. 375 Ruger just for a laugh. I went down to TX for a pig hunt, 223/5.56 did just fine. The more important thing to consider is your optic of choice, we didn't shoot a single pig over 35 yards and often times they were on the move.
OP
OP
American_Fusilier
Member
Yeah, if I went on a hog hunt I'd just take it AR. But I'd really like to take ALL my guns, just to see what works best and which platform is best for killing hogs. But that's obviously unrealistic...
gotboostvr
Member
Is it close and fast in the woods, or looking out over an empty field?
I'd pick a semi auto carbine chambered in an intermediate cartridge for the former and either a bolt gun or semi auto rifle in a higher powered cartridge depending on how "target rich" the environment is for the latter.
So something like an AR15 or SKS to a Rem700 or AR10.
I'd pick a semi auto carbine chambered in an intermediate cartridge for the former and either a bolt gun or semi auto rifle in a higher powered cartridge depending on how "target rich" the environment is for the latter.
So something like an AR15 or SKS to a Rem700 or AR10.
DocRock
member
It depends on approach.
For simple vermin eradication, anything that will put holes in pigs will do. The goal being death, not necessarily ethical dispatch.
If ethics or eating comes into it, 6.5 Grendel is where things really start. If night hunting with thermals, a low recoil 300 yard cartridge like 6.5 Grendel is pretty ideal. With IR and light gathering scopes, something in 7mm-30 cal is probably a little on the more forgiving side
If day hunting, walk up, stalking, line hunting, hard to beat a light, handy, lever gun in 30-30, 35 Rem, or 44 Mag, 45LC. If still hunting in the day, a bolt gun in anything from 6mm to 458 Win Mag.
Contrary to internet myth, hogs are no harder to kill than deer. But, if you want the body, you need to kill them fast because if they run in the habitats they live in, recovery becomes tricky if you give them 100 yards.
For simple vermin eradication, anything that will put holes in pigs will do. The goal being death, not necessarily ethical dispatch.
If ethics or eating comes into it, 6.5 Grendel is where things really start. If night hunting with thermals, a low recoil 300 yard cartridge like 6.5 Grendel is pretty ideal. With IR and light gathering scopes, something in 7mm-30 cal is probably a little on the more forgiving side
If day hunting, walk up, stalking, line hunting, hard to beat a light, handy, lever gun in 30-30, 35 Rem, or 44 Mag, 45LC. If still hunting in the day, a bolt gun in anything from 6mm to 458 Win Mag.
Contrary to internet myth, hogs are no harder to kill than deer. But, if you want the body, you need to kill them fast because if they run in the habitats they live in, recovery becomes tricky if you give them 100 yards.
Varminterror
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6mm ARC may be at the top of my list these days. A plain ol’ 223rem is more than enough, 6.5 Grendel and 6.8SPC are fantastic, 6 creed, 243win, 7-08, 300blk, 458soc, 450bush, 350 legend... any of this class work great without excessive recoil or powder use.
Bombing long distance over fields to feeders, I’d like to stretch back far enough to make use of a 300PRC.
Bombing long distance over fields to feeders, I’d like to stretch back far enough to make use of a 300PRC.
Garandimal
member
If you hunt in the thickets... .223 isn't the best choice.
Somethin' that will lay'em low is a better choice, say 125 gr. and up.
GR
Somethin' that will lay'em low is a better choice, say 125 gr. and up.
GR
Hogs can be closer to 30 lbs or closer to 600 lbs. I've never specifically hunted them, but there are a few in the areas where I hunt deer and black bear. I've passed up several over the years not wanting to potentially spoil my chances of taking a deer. I'd just use the same rifle i use for deer or black bear which means 26 caliber minimum.
But I suppose if I were in an area where anything over 50-100 lbs was a big one I might take an AR in 223.
But I suppose if I were in an area where anything over 50-100 lbs was a big one I might take an AR in 223.
marksman13
Member
I hunt them with 5.56, 300 BLK, 6.8 SPC, 6.5 Grendel, 458 SOCOM, 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. It honestly does not matter what you shoot them with. There‘a literally zero difference in the way a pig reacts to being hit with a 60 grain .22 caliber bullet from a 5.56 and the way pigs react to a 300 .458 caliber slug from a 458 SOCOM. If you hit them in the brain or spine, you’ll recover them every time. If you shoot them in the heart and/or lungs, you may or may not recover them depending on the terrain, vegetation and your level of commitment. Hit them anywhere else and you are much more likely not to recover them than you are to recover them.
I don’t care one bit about recovering a dead pig, so I take whichever rifle tickles my fancy that day. That’s generally a 6.8 SPC. I generally shoot them directly in the shoulder fairly low because it almost guarantees they will exit the crop field before expiring and keeps me from having to drag them out. When a recovery is desired, I shoot them in the head or neck no matter what my rifle is chambered in.
I’d advise you to shoot whatever rifle you are most comfortable with and shoot them in the head or neck. Otherwise, be prepared to blood trail them for a while and pigs do not bleed the way deer bleed. Blood trails on a lung shot pig are often very light and sporadic compared to a lung shot deer. Bullets that exit deer don’t always exit the tough skin of a pig and unless you make a very large exit wound, that tough skin almost seems to close itself back up.
I don’t care one bit about recovering a dead pig, so I take whichever rifle tickles my fancy that day. That’s generally a 6.8 SPC. I generally shoot them directly in the shoulder fairly low because it almost guarantees they will exit the crop field before expiring and keeps me from having to drag them out. When a recovery is desired, I shoot them in the head or neck no matter what my rifle is chambered in.
I’d advise you to shoot whatever rifle you are most comfortable with and shoot them in the head or neck. Otherwise, be prepared to blood trail them for a while and pigs do not bleed the way deer bleed. Blood trails on a lung shot pig are often very light and sporadic compared to a lung shot deer. Bullets that exit deer don’t always exit the tough skin of a pig and unless you make a very large exit wound, that tough skin almost seems to close itself back up.
BreechFace
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Upt to me I would choose 6.8 SPC or 450 Bushmaster
Close in and hog size dependent 300 BO Suppressed subs.
Although, a 280AI loaded with 120gr Barnes TTSX charging ahead at 3,400fps would be fun to watch.
Close in and hog size dependent 300 BO Suppressed subs.
Although, a 280AI loaded with 120gr Barnes TTSX charging ahead at 3,400fps would be fun to watch.
Telum Pisces
Member
Is the aim to recover the animal or just shoot it? I'm fine with just shooting as many as you can so they can wonder off and die!!!!! Filthy creatures that are invasive and tear everything up!
You can shoot well and in the ear hole, any caliber will do. But typical .30 caliber rounds and up to enable good possible pass through to track and recover!
You can shoot well and in the ear hole, any caliber will do. But typical .30 caliber rounds and up to enable good possible pass through to track and recover!
I've used .357, .44 and .45 revolvers (ACP and Colt), .44 Desert Eagle and .44 Automag pistols and .308, .358 Norma Mag and .450 Marlin rifles.
Next hunt, I'll take my .280AI and after that, a suppressed .300 Blackout pistol with a scope.
Breaking the spine right behind the ear gave me the quickest kills, but running a big slug through the heart works just fine.
If you're hunting from a stand with a feeder 30-50 yds away, a rifle is nice, so you can place your shot. Hunting with dogs and shooting at close range, maybe at a running hog, I like a handgun, but I have over 50 years of
"action" shooting experience and that might not be the best way for you.
Next hunt, I'll take my .280AI and after that, a suppressed .300 Blackout pistol with a scope.
Breaking the spine right behind the ear gave me the quickest kills, but running a big slug through the heart works just fine.
If you're hunting from a stand with a feeder 30-50 yds away, a rifle is nice, so you can place your shot. Hunting with dogs and shooting at close range, maybe at a running hog, I like a handgun, but I have over 50 years of
"action" shooting experience and that might not be the best way for you.
alsaqr
Member
Any caliber suitable for deer hunting will perform well on wild hogs. Hogs are built differently than deer Shot placement is important when hunting hogs. Shoot a broadside hog behind the crook in the front leg or high in the shoulder. Hogs shot behind the ear often go down like poleaxed and then get up and run off. Hog anatomy:
Been a dedicated hog hunter since 2000. Most of my hog hunting has been with .50 and .54 caliber muzzleloaders. Fort Sill had a prohibition on the use of muzzleloaders and centerfire rifles outside of deer season. Killed some hogs there using a .22 LR then graduated to a .22 magnum. The .22 magnum is a good hog killer at shorter ranges.
Most of my hogs were taken with scoped inline muzzleloaders. Several years ago i also began using conventional muzzleloaders and patched round balls.. Most of my kills are from stands or blinds overlooking game plots, ponds or feeders. Most shots are <60 yards. .50 and .54 round balls kill really well. That large hole causes a bad leak. With those balls there is no bloodshot meat.
The mark of a hunter is sneaking up and putting a round ball in the critters ear: Just like Great Grand Pa did.
.
BTW: Every animal deserves to dispatched quickly with a minimum of suffering.
Been a dedicated hog hunter since 2000. Most of my hog hunting has been with .50 and .54 caliber muzzleloaders. Fort Sill had a prohibition on the use of muzzleloaders and centerfire rifles outside of deer season. Killed some hogs there using a .22 LR then graduated to a .22 magnum. The .22 magnum is a good hog killer at shorter ranges.
Most of my hogs were taken with scoped inline muzzleloaders. Several years ago i also began using conventional muzzleloaders and patched round balls.. Most of my kills are from stands or blinds overlooking game plots, ponds or feeders. Most shots are <60 yards. .50 and .54 round balls kill really well. That large hole causes a bad leak. With those balls there is no bloodshot meat.
The mark of a hunter is sneaking up and putting a round ball in the critters ear: Just like Great Grand Pa did.
.BTW: Every animal deserves to dispatched quickly with a minimum of suffering.
jmorris
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Last one I killed was with a .22lr but I would have never set out on a hunt for one with a .22.
It was as DRT as they get though, one standard velocity 40 grain bullet in the right spot of the head.
The ones before that was with a 30-30, .458 socom, 450 BM, 308, 7-08, 300blk and other similar stuff. Trapped ones are .22 or 9mm so far but I have some 45acp and 44 mag loads to try.
Right now, just waiting on the piglets to get big enough that they can’t just walk out of the traps, once I drop them.
It was as DRT as they get though, one standard velocity 40 grain bullet in the right spot of the head.
The ones before that was with a 30-30, .458 socom, 450 BM, 308, 7-08, 300blk and other similar stuff. Trapped ones are .22 or 9mm so far but I have some 45acp and 44 mag loads to try.
Right now, just waiting on the piglets to get big enough that they can’t just walk out of the traps, once I drop them.
627PCFan
Member
Funniest quote in a long time....
I have used various of my Marlin .30-30s and in more recent time my Marlin .45-70 SBL. Nothing kills a hog like a .45-70 "Marlin" level load, it just flattens them (well, maybe that .458 Win Mag!). I have also used my Savage Scout in .308. All provide more than enough power to provide immediate and ethical kills. I intend to use my Savage Axis II in 6.5CM and my new .44 Magnum CVA Scout break action in the future.
ECVMatt
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Like others have said I guess it depends on where you are hunting, how you are hunting and what is the purpose of the hunt. I have killed hogs with everything from a knife up to a 50 Caliber Muzzleloader. I have found that a good shot is often more important than a bigger caliber. I think folks tend to lump hogs together with grizzly bears and cape buffalo.
In my circle, in terms of rifles, the .223/5.56 has probably taken the most hogs only because this is what we mostly carried around the ranch. We were using a Remington 700 and a Ruger MKII M77. Next up would be the .22/250, .243, 6mm Remingtons. In the fall we generally switched it up to a little bit more power as deer season approached.
For handguns I would say a .44 Mag or .45 Colt with 240/255 grain bullets around 1100 FPS worked best for us when catching hogs and a knife was probably the safest. At first we went for the max loaded rounds but quickly found out they shoot through hogs and are a danger to those on the other side. The 10mm/.357 Mag also works very well for this method.
For thick cover the .357 Mag, .44 Mag, 30-30, .35 Rem, 356 Win, .444M and .45-70 are hard to beat. They all come in handy platforms that are perfectly suited for the woods. We mostly used handi-rifles and Marlin 336/1895's.
Hogs are to be shot on sight were I worked so that is kind of different than going on a hog hunt with a guide or shooting at them from a blind. If I were going on a hog hunt with a guide I would start with the .243 and go up to something like a 30/06. Since you pay by the hog, you want them to drop on the spot.
I actually much perfer hogs to deer when it comes to eating. While they were a nightmare on our ranch, they kept the smoker and our bellies full. I guess they are meant to be both cussed and consumed.
Let us know what you choose and how your hunt worked out.
In my circle, in terms of rifles, the .223/5.56 has probably taken the most hogs only because this is what we mostly carried around the ranch. We were using a Remington 700 and a Ruger MKII M77. Next up would be the .22/250, .243, 6mm Remingtons. In the fall we generally switched it up to a little bit more power as deer season approached.
For handguns I would say a .44 Mag or .45 Colt with 240/255 grain bullets around 1100 FPS worked best for us when catching hogs and a knife was probably the safest. At first we went for the max loaded rounds but quickly found out they shoot through hogs and are a danger to those on the other side. The 10mm/.357 Mag also works very well for this method.
For thick cover the .357 Mag, .44 Mag, 30-30, .35 Rem, 356 Win, .444M and .45-70 are hard to beat. They all come in handy platforms that are perfectly suited for the woods. We mostly used handi-rifles and Marlin 336/1895's.
Hogs are to be shot on sight were I worked so that is kind of different than going on a hog hunt with a guide or shooting at them from a blind. If I were going on a hog hunt with a guide I would start with the .243 and go up to something like a 30/06. Since you pay by the hog, you want them to drop on the spot.
I actually much perfer hogs to deer when it comes to eating. While they were a nightmare on our ranch, they kept the smoker and our bellies full. I guess they are meant to be both cussed and consumed.
Let us know what you choose and how your hunt worked out.
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ozarkhillbilly
Member
An M1 Garand would work very well, so 30-06.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
As alsaqr said, any caliber suitable for deer is good for hogs. I shoot (almost exclusively) 6.5 Grendel.
Want? All of them of course.
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The first thing my 375 killed was a hog..... The first thing by 458 is going to kill when I get it done...... is probably going to be a hog....
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