Old Rifles for Hog Hunting

[Todd1700]

Some of our land has quite a hog infestation. So when life hands you lemons make lemonade. I have been having a blast stalk hunting them with my old open sighted military surplus rifles. Killed this one with the rifle in the photo. A M/28 Finnish mosin nagant and a 203 grain silver bear soft point.

 

[Speedo66]

Looks like you'll be eating bacon for a while. Nice hog.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I killed 3 with my lee enfield. Great rifle for sure. I took pictures of one of them with my neighbors digital camera and have been trying to get someone to post pictures here for ya'll.

 

[goodtime]

Todd1700 --
I've got a mosin nagant M91/30. Picked it up about a year ago and never had the chance to shoot it, but I'm curious. Is yours accurate?

 

[Todd1700]

Goodtime, I own 4 different variants of the Mosin Nagant rifle. The one in the photo used to kill the hog is a M/28 finnish version. All finnish versions of the Mosin Nagant have a good reputation for accuracy and the one above is no exception. Now I also own a 91/30 Russian Mosin Nagant and while it will not shoot as tight a group as my M/28 or M/39 finnish Mosins it will consistently keep 3 shots using 180 grain Wolf Gold bullets at or under 3 inches at 100 yards. Not scoped benchrest accuracy to be sure but then we are talking open sights and a 70 year old WW2 rifle. How well your rifle will shoot will naturally depend on it's individual condition. In particular the condition of the riflings in the barrel. But I'd be willing to bet that it would shoot at least as well. Three inch groups at 100 yards may not sound impressive by modern rifle standards but it's hot death on a deer sized animal at that range.

 

[goodtime]

That's accurate enough for me. Especially for a $79.00 rifle. Mine's in pretty good shape, rifling included. I shoot handguns on a regular basis, but getting to a rifle range is not as easy. I'm going to make it a point to get to one soon; I want to try this rifle. Thanks for the info.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Looks great!

 

[RustyShackleford]

Shot these with my k-31, I admit its sporterized.... but its still an old rifle, and a tack driver at that.

 

[qajaq59]

That's a nice hog. Good shooting.

 

[Mp7]

oh mama, i´d so much rather join you guys in the woods, then
sit here in my office chair and congratulate via interent :sigh:

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

good sized hog there Todd. my neighbors dad down in N.E. 'Bama hunts 'em with a 6.5mm Swede.
I use a Mini 30 myself or my Marlin Camp .45acp w/+P loads myself.

 

[mavracer]

GREAT,we are planing a trip in the spring now I'm gonna have to take my 110 year old 30-40 Krag.

 

[MCgunner]

That ain't "old".....

This ain't old, but it's old school:

 

[H&Hhunter]

I do also enjoy hunitng hogs with old style iron sighted rifles.

 

[MCgunner]

What caliber is that one? Looks rather large and I notice those hogs are petty well dead.

 

[H&Hhunter]

It is a .470 Nitro Express.

If you're gonna hunt wee little piggies in Texas always, always use enough gun!

 

[MCgunner]

Which hurt worse after the shot, you or him? Bwaaaaa, ha, ha! I think you had the caliber covered, put it that way. LOL

 

[H&Hhunter]

It is kind of like using an f-16 fighter plane for crop dusting. The amount of power available isn't an issue.

 

[LeonCarr]

Mr. H&H,

F-16? More like a C-5B Galaxy .

There is no such thing as overkill on hogs.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[dagger dog]

H&H,

That is one nice lookin rifle, the wood is really nice is it hand rubbed oil? The checkering looks great. I see you have enough recoil pad on it. Does it thump much, looks like the stock is fairly straight, and if it is does it rise much during recoil ,or is the push straight back? Does the back of the trigger guard bite into the middle finger.

That is the rifle I see in my sweetest dreams !

 

[H&Hhunter]

DD

the wood is really nice is it hand rubbed oil?

Yes it it is a hand rubbed oil finish.

Does it thump much

I know this sounds funny but it is really pretty mild to shoot it weighs almost 11 Lbs

looks like the stock is fairly straight, and if it is does it rise much during recoil ,or is the push straight back?

The muzzle rise is very mild.

Does the back of the trigger guard bite into the middle finger.

When I first started shooting it the answer to that question was a definite YES it was a finger bashing SOB!

Then I learned from some old time double rifle shooters how to hold a double and it hasn't been an issue since. When you grip the rifle don't try to pinch the forend with your fingers. Grab the the rifle with your hand wrapping your fingers around the barrels using that splinter forend as a palm swell. And really grip it with a firm hand. That stops any and all finger bashing from the trigger guard and I guess this is the way that you are supposed to hang on to a British style double rifle. It sure works for me.

And oh by the way if you are doing some shooting you will quickly find out why you see the Brits wearing a shooting glove on the weak hand when shooting a splinter forended double. Those barrels after a few rounds will sizzle your little pinkies to a well done char without a glove in no time flat!

PS

I don't have this rifle anymore. I traded it for a upgraded version the old one was a Field Grade my new one is a PH model which is still s solid working double but it has a rounded action looking more like an original H&H style rifle and a wood up grade.

I'll see if I can get some pics posted later today.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Here are some pics of the new .470.

It is pretty much the same gun with up graded wood and a more rounded action.







Here is what I am talking about with the forend grip.

The wrong way.



The right way

 

[MCgunner]

Back when I used to hunt ducks and geese with a double 12, I came home on good days with the worst swelling in the middle finger from that blasted trigger guard. I never knew this technique. I shall try it if I ever pick up that old war horse to use on something, again. LOL. It's sort of retired from waterfowl hunting in difference to steel shot laws and I haven't used it for waterfowl or much of anything in 30 years.

Very nice looking double rifle. I'm a sucker for high grade twice pipes, though it's usually a shotgun I'm drooling over.

 

[H&Hhunter]

MC,

Just be sure to bring your shooting glove or your fingers will be Kentucky fired in short order.

The other thing when shooting a double, shotgun or rifle is that the forend hand does all the work it supports the gun it swings the gun it holds the gun. The trigger hand is just that it pulls the trigger. Your trigger hand has almost no pressure on the wrist of the gun it is loose.

Try it on your twice pipe next time you'll be shocked at how much nicer it becomes to shoot.

 

[Todd1700]

It is a .470 Nitro Express.

Well I guess you are obviously an advocate of the priciple "Bring enough gun". LOL! Beautiful rifle H&H and I'm sure it makes for quite a hog thumper. Just out of curiousity what is the grain weight of the bullets you are using.