Looking for an Ideal Hog/Deer Rifle

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I have used a .30-o6 on both deer and hogs. but I usually leave my auto loader in the safe these days, and hunt with my 6.5 Swedish Mauser. It delivers a hard hitting, flat shooting super penetrant 150 grain pill that will kill even a moose!
 
Your ideal choice would be a Marlin 336 in .35 caliber.
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Exactly what I was thinking too. 35 Remington is my first choice for deer and would be what I'd grab first if those piggies ever wander into central KY.
 
An SKS...?!?

I tried hog hunting this last weekend in brush with my SKS...and found it to be just fine! Took a 320-lb hog with one shot...the hog moved about five feet, fell over, kicked a couple of times, and was dead.

The SKS has a lot going for it...inexpensive, light, short, fast handling semi-auto, with a cartridge about equivalent to a .30-30. (An AK would be good also in brush...but ditch the long magazine and get a 10-round mag.) Wolf makes an excellent 154-gr soft-point hunting round, only $5/box of 20 from Midway. Remington also makes a similar soft-point hunting round, but it's only 123-gr and costs three times as much as the Wolf. For short-range brush hunting, don't use a scope, except possibly a red-dot reticule.

Things get more complicated at normal deer ranges, though accuracy is entirely adequate...I can hit the 360-yd steel plate at my range every shot, using a 3 x 9 scope...but if you put on a scope that extends over the breech opening, you also need to install a case deflector (about $5 from CDNN) as the SKS ejects vertically. The original 10-shot fixed mag or a detachable five or ten-round magazine is also the best...the long magazines just seriously get in the way. AKs don't do well at ranges over 100-yd...the SKS has a longer barrel.

My favorite deer rifle is my Kimber-sporterized 6.5 x 55 Mauser with 3 x 9 scope, preferred to my .30-06 sporter.
 
Still not clear on what 7mm cartridge you are being offered, but I think 7mm (.284) is one fine size for a hunting bullet for almost anything but the biggest of bears in NA. I really like my 7mm-08 for hunting the woods or inside of 200yards. For hunting over large fields I use a 7mmSTW which is only about 200-300fps faster than the 7mm Rem Magnum. The 7mm Rem Mag is plenty for hunting short or long ranges.
 
The 7 Mag fits the bill. As well as most any deer round from .243 to a 300 win mag. You won't get laughed at by your hunting brothers with any good, dependable, centerfire round in my circles, unless you come with a .223, or a .204 ruger, and even they are up to the task.
 
I killed a 200 lb. boar with my Glock-27, using 180 gr. remington golden sabers. It was more of a "surprise" encounter than a "hunting" one. It took two shots to bring home the "bacon" but it worked! Scared a little water out of me.
 
Dont worry about it being too good for a deer, if you want a rifle with more versatility in game its capable of taking, the 7mm Magnum has pretty much killed it all.

And youll be able to use it on other big game such as elk and black bear.
 
I personally use a .223 for deer and hogs. It's never failed to drop a deer. I've taken 250lbs hogs with it although I had one run off. It was my fault, I immeadiatley got up and walked at him instead of waiting and couldnt get my rifle up in time when he got up. I would recomend a .243, you can't go wrong. If you feel you need more power, go with .270. I've shot a 7mm Mag and a .270 and the .270 is much more enjoyable to shoot, and you will shoot better with a lower recoiling rifle. However, the 7mm is a fine cartrige and will do the job well. I personally wouldn't use it for anything smaller than a cape buffalo, but that's just me.:D
 
I've used many on both, usually one of these: .223, .30-06, .357 Mag (Revolver), and my personal favorite the Model 94XTR Big-Bore in .375 Winchester.

Depends on the distances involved and the terrain.
 
1) depends on where you live...semi-auto might not be allowed...PA is an example; since I live in PA, I would suggest a good quality & popular bolt action, lever action, or pump action (eg: Remington 700, Winchester 70, or Savage bolt action, Marlin 336 lever action, Remington 760 or 7600 pump action)

2) I would recommend a mainstream caliber that is available in a variety of loads and has a lot of rifles chambered for it (eg: .25-06, 7mm-08, .30-06, .308, .30-30, 7mm Rem Mag, etc)

3) find a load that will fit your needs for all types of terrain & ranges that you will be hunting deer & hog; make sure that load is functional & accurate in your weapon; stockpile that load; practice, practice, practice; most of all...have fun!!!

4) what I have...Savage 111G in .25-06 topped w/ Simmons ProSport 6-21 x 44 (deer & groundhog...mostly groundhog); Marlin 336 in .30-30 topped with Bushnell Trophy 3-9 x 40 (deer, bear, woods walking); dad has a classic PA woods gun...Remington 760 in .30-06 topped with Bushnell Trophy 3-9 x 40 (deer, bear)
 
I have used a .30-o6 on both deer and hogs. ......and hunt with my 6.5 Swedish Mauser. It delivers a hard hitting, flat shooting super penetrant 150 grain pill that will kill even a moose!
Click to expand...

And I have to throw the 308 in too. But my favorite is the 6.5X55 Swede in a Remington 700 Classic.
 
257 roberts - Great round, Ruger makes a rifle for it.

Other than that go with a .308 as it has SHTF cross over functions for ammo.
 
Anything as long u are confident to put where it needs to go. That is , headshots for hogs. A good economical tool is the SKS. But I would nt go as to shoot one beyong 50 yds unless you are a good shot. Know its limitation and you are set .
 
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