Question about hog hunting
- Thread starter Cueball
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Kachok
Member
I use a 6.5x55, but if I am hunting trophy sized hogs (300+lbs) I will bring one of my 30 calibers. (308 or 30-06) Remember bullet selection is just as important as cartridge or rifle. The bullets that work perfect on deer might be a little light on a large hog. Wild hogs vary alot throughout the country, kinna hard to pick one cartridge without knowing the size range that area. The little ones we had way out in west Texas are tiny little things only about 30lbs (javelina) you could take one down with a 22LR but you would not want to try that around here 
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41 Mag
Member
Like Kachok say's it depends, but in general the .308 or 30-06 are pretty good.
We have used everything from .223 up through 300 RUM on them and for the most part nowadays use our revolvers in calibers ranging from 41 mag up through the 454. Not that the 4545 is really needed, but I find it a hoot to drop them with it.
SHot placement is key on them and the best shot isn't behind the shoulder like on a deer. You best bet is straight up the leg about 2-3" for a heart lung, or in a line straight down from their ear and level with they eye, for a head shot if they are standing still. The biggest issue with it is they rarely stand still, that head is usually moving especially if they are on corn.
Look up Texas Boars, and thee are several good information pages there that show detailed shot placement, and also caliber recommendations.
All that said I use between a 243 with 100gr bullets, or the 308 with 150gr CL's for rifles 95% of the time. The rest I am usually with either a .270 or my 25-06 AI. Like was said it just depends on the terrain, and the average size we're after.
If you look at the link below my sig, you will se plenty we have taken and most were with the above mentioned calibers.
We have used everything from .223 up through 300 RUM on them and for the most part nowadays use our revolvers in calibers ranging from 41 mag up through the 454. Not that the 4545 is really needed, but I find it a hoot to drop them with it.
SHot placement is key on them and the best shot isn't behind the shoulder like on a deer. You best bet is straight up the leg about 2-3" for a heart lung, or in a line straight down from their ear and level with they eye, for a head shot if they are standing still. The biggest issue with it is they rarely stand still, that head is usually moving especially if they are on corn.
Look up Texas Boars, and thee are several good information pages there that show detailed shot placement, and also caliber recommendations.
All that said I use between a 243 with 100gr bullets, or the 308 with 150gr CL's for rifles 95% of the time. The rest I am usually with either a .270 or my 25-06 AI. Like was said it just depends on the terrain, and the average size we're after.
If you look at the link below my sig, you will se plenty we have taken and most were with the above mentioned calibers.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
I don't like to chase hogs and have had poor luck with heart/lung shots providing reliable stops. The hogs still die, but after running X distance, usually into the brush which is often briar and poison ivy. They never run to the truck. So head/CNS shots are my preferred shots.
As noted above, you can use a lot of rifle calibers, but the larger or more powerful the caliber, the more likely to produce a quick stop. Remember, it isn't just about placement, but also trajectory and penetration. You have to think of the hog as a three dimensional animal, not a two dimensional target. You aren't trying to hit a spot outside of the hog, but inside. Your aim outside of the hog should be determined by the hog's orientation to you relative to what is inside. It really doesn't matter where the entry is so long as the bullet penetrates sufficiently and hits the necessary structures to produce a proper kill.
It was pointed out where to aim on the shoulder. That is just fine if the hog is absolutely broadside to you. If the hog is quartered toward you, then you are going to want to aim forward of the shoulder so that as your shot traverses the body, it passes through the correct heart/lung structures. If quartered away, behind the shoulder. Just how far foward or behind will be determined by just how much the hog is quartered relative to you.
The last sow I shot was fairly severely quartered away. My shot was about mid body which would be a terrible broadside shot, but put the bullet through the liver and into the lower portion of the heart. She did run about 50 yards, into briar and poison ivy.
As for not standing still, if you have the hog at a destination location (feeding, drinking, resting/sleeping, etc.), the hog is going to get still for you. That can be good for a shot to the vitals or to the CNS structures of the head. Hogs on the move will often stop occasionally as well. Hogs may not remain still for long, so you need to be ready to shoot for when the hog does get still.
What I have noticed is that hogs will often do what I call "security checks." Individuals entering a clearing or traversing an wide area will often stop briefly, usually stand very still, often nose high (sampling air), and then continuing on once they feel safe. A loner or all the individuals in a small group may do this and sometimes do it at the same time. In bigger groups, some individuals will be vigilant and the rest will be oblivious. The vigilant ones are the ones stopping to check their surroundings and often make for the best target. Watch their behavior and usually you can spot patterns fairly quick. Some hogs make prolonged security checks and some make shorter ones. Watch your hog and be on target and ready when he makes his next stop.
Feeding hogs are great targets, especially with a concentrated resource such as a bait station, but also when rooting. They will remain stationary in a given location for longer periods of time when feeding and often their head will be fairly stationary as well.
Here are some videos showing what I am talking about. Note that most folks take head shots inside of 100 yards.
Feeding head shots...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgG7JWMa6gM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR9gnMHSkfw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gmhg9OGhpg (this guy has some neat vids)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfPoRQomw5o (2:40 in video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq8RZbyyb1g (LOL, the pig "looked big through the scope")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llw1aUJmjHQ
Feeding vitals shots...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-94O8o0X-6s (note shot deflects out of hog and how far hog runs)
Security Checks, then feeding head shots...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6dv32qaQ6s (check little red hog at 1:42 doing security checks, sows (?) doing checks at 2:55...)
Feeding vital shot double bow kill...
http://www.thehighroad.org/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=8914378
Security check vitals bow shot ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmLYNGDLqGs (0:40, then feeding @ 2:00)
You can do you own searches and see when folks are picking their shots, but as you can see, hogs are often still enough to make good head shots, but you need to be certain of your zero and if you take the head shot, plan it so that if you err, that your err is toward the neck and not toward the nose. With a good rifle caliber, you often get the necessary CNS damage via hydrostatic shock to the brain and/or brain stem.
Like I said, I do like head shots, but if they aren't for you, that is fine. You can use the same information about waiting for hogs to go still for making vitals shots.
As noted above, you can use a lot of rifle calibers, but the larger or more powerful the caliber, the more likely to produce a quick stop. Remember, it isn't just about placement, but also trajectory and penetration. You have to think of the hog as a three dimensional animal, not a two dimensional target. You aren't trying to hit a spot outside of the hog, but inside. Your aim outside of the hog should be determined by the hog's orientation to you relative to what is inside. It really doesn't matter where the entry is so long as the bullet penetrates sufficiently and hits the necessary structures to produce a proper kill.
It was pointed out where to aim on the shoulder. That is just fine if the hog is absolutely broadside to you. If the hog is quartered toward you, then you are going to want to aim forward of the shoulder so that as your shot traverses the body, it passes through the correct heart/lung structures. If quartered away, behind the shoulder. Just how far foward or behind will be determined by just how much the hog is quartered relative to you.
The last sow I shot was fairly severely quartered away. My shot was about mid body which would be a terrible broadside shot, but put the bullet through the liver and into the lower portion of the heart. She did run about 50 yards, into briar and poison ivy.
As for not standing still, if you have the hog at a destination location (feeding, drinking, resting/sleeping, etc.), the hog is going to get still for you. That can be good for a shot to the vitals or to the CNS structures of the head. Hogs on the move will often stop occasionally as well. Hogs may not remain still for long, so you need to be ready to shoot for when the hog does get still.
What I have noticed is that hogs will often do what I call "security checks." Individuals entering a clearing or traversing an wide area will often stop briefly, usually stand very still, often nose high (sampling air), and then continuing on once they feel safe. A loner or all the individuals in a small group may do this and sometimes do it at the same time. In bigger groups, some individuals will be vigilant and the rest will be oblivious. The vigilant ones are the ones stopping to check their surroundings and often make for the best target. Watch their behavior and usually you can spot patterns fairly quick. Some hogs make prolonged security checks and some make shorter ones. Watch your hog and be on target and ready when he makes his next stop.
Feeding hogs are great targets, especially with a concentrated resource such as a bait station, but also when rooting. They will remain stationary in a given location for longer periods of time when feeding and often their head will be fairly stationary as well.
Here are some videos showing what I am talking about. Note that most folks take head shots inside of 100 yards.
Feeding head shots...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgG7JWMa6gM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR9gnMHSkfw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gmhg9OGhpg (this guy has some neat vids)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfPoRQomw5o (2:40 in video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq8RZbyyb1g (LOL, the pig "looked big through the scope")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llw1aUJmjHQ
Feeding vitals shots...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-94O8o0X-6s (note shot deflects out of hog and how far hog runs)
Security Checks, then feeding head shots...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6dv32qaQ6s (check little red hog at 1:42 doing security checks, sows (?) doing checks at 2:55...)
Feeding vital shot double bow kill...
http://www.thehighroad.org/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=8914378
Security check vitals bow shot ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmLYNGDLqGs (0:40, then feeding @ 2:00)
You can do you own searches and see when folks are picking their shots, but as you can see, hogs are often still enough to make good head shots, but you need to be certain of your zero and if you take the head shot, plan it so that if you err, that your err is toward the neck and not toward the nose. With a good rifle caliber, you often get the necessary CNS damage via hydrostatic shock to the brain and/or brain stem.
Like I said, I do like head shots, but if they aren't for you, that is fine. You can use the same information about waiting for hogs to go still for making vitals shots.
Certaindeaf
member
Here's a pretty neat video on hog hunting in Hungary. It seems they are driven by dogs. Most all shots are running and those bolt guns are fired about faster than a semi and whomp those critters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pslzMze9rNk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pslzMze9rNk
Kachok
Member
If I had to pick just one rifle to hog hunt with it would be either my 6.5x55 or my 308, no need for crazy fast 7mm Rem Mags or my 270 WSM almost all hogs are killed within 30-30 range, and stupid fast bullet generally perform poorly on close range shots. A medium speed, heavy for caliber bullet (say .240 SD or better) would be the perfect setup, hogs are not hard to kill if you have adequate penetration, the world record feral hog weighed over 1,100lbs and was dropped by a single well placed shot from a 7mm-08.
MCgunner
Member
Anything that will take deer will take a big hog. Use a good bullet on the big ones, though. Controlled expansion bullets ain't THAT expensive and a Nosler Partition won't stop in a gristle plate. Light varmint bullets should be avoided.
sage5907
Member
Cueball, I've been shooting hogs with a 30-06 and 150 grain bullets and getting one shot kills. It's all about shot placement no matter what cartridge you use. Don't shoot them in the lungs like some people do deer because they run like crazy until they drop which could be in some thick brush. Also, the layer of fat in the hog's body may come out of the bullet hole and seal the blood trail. The key is to follow the front leg up the body and shoot them at the point of the shoulder about half way up the body and they'll drop in their tracks. This is deceiving for a deer hunter because a hog doesn't have much of a neck and the head looks like it is attached to the front legs. This means that you're going to have to shoot the animal further forward than you're used to looking. Good luck in Oklahoma and enjoy the gun show.
It's not the arrow but the Indian.
A hog shot through the shoulder with a 30-06 will die but not before it runs few hundred yards and go into the thick stuff where you'll never find it. My little boy uses an AR-15 carbine in 5.56 loaded with Winchester Q3131 and only take head or upper neck shots. Even a large boar of 289 lb. dropped on the spot with one shot to his brain.
A hog shot through the shoulder with a 30-06 will die but not before it runs few hundred yards and go into the thick stuff where you'll never find it. My little boy uses an AR-15 carbine in 5.56 loaded with Winchester Q3131 and only take head or upper neck shots. Even a large boar of 289 lb. dropped on the spot with one shot to his brain.
Sav .250
Member
As you can see,It`s boils down to .....different strokes for different folks.
Do some home work on the web. Check out , Hog hunting Guide sites as well.
There is more to the hunt than just ," what cal rifle do I need." Some time it`s what cal can you handle as well.
Do some home work on the web. Check out , Hog hunting Guide sites as well.
There is more to the hunt than just ," what cal rifle do I need." Some time it`s what cal can you handle as well.
I shoot all "trapped" hogs with a 22 long rifle pistol. They drop immediately! When hunting "nontrapped" hogs, I do not use a 22, but instead a 7mm magnum. I have killed hogs with less than stellar shots with the 7mm, and they will run quite a ways. That proves just how important shot placement is.
lastofthebreed
Member
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I have killed several with my 6.5 Remington Mag and 120 gr. hunting bullets. Also a couple with my 240 Weatherby Mag and 100 gr. Nosler Partition bullets. Both work well with the proper shot placement.
200 plus DRT hogs with the rifles pictured below.
Iron sights, optcs, and NVS, depending on what the hogs I'm after are doing.
308 is plenty for hogs, and I use mine for hunting in the brush, on out to longer range shooting in the more open areas.
Semiautomatic for dumping more than one before they can make it to the treeline.
They dont seem to be all that picky at what bullet they are shot with either.....as long as I put said bullet where I need it to go.
Have also taken several whitetails with both rifles, and to date....... 2 black bear, and 1 Elk with the rifle pictured at bottom.
Iron sights, optcs, and NVS, depending on what the hogs I'm after are doing.
308 is plenty for hogs, and I use mine for hunting in the brush, on out to longer range shooting in the more open areas.
Semiautomatic for dumping more than one before they can make it to the treeline.
They dont seem to be all that picky at what bullet they are shot with either.....as long as I put said bullet where I need it to go.
Have also taken several whitetails with both rifles, and to date....... 2 black bear, and 1 Elk with the rifle pictured at bottom.
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TexasPatriot.308
Member
I shoot em every day in the cow pastures, my favorites are the little .17hmr and .22-250. the .17 hmr thru the head drops em also at less than 100 yards, the little 20 grain hunting tip makes jello out of their heart and lungs if you know where to shoot. I also shoot whatever rifle comes out of the safe, anything between the .17 to .308s, AR15, AR10s (which I love). the 7mm-08 is an awesome round, but I am infested with pigs so I keep it cheap.
Texan Scott
Member
Almost anything. My SKS works fine. Put the bullet where it needs to go.
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