Rifle for Hunting Hogs

[The_Shootist]

Have been serioulsy thinking of hunting Texas Hogs here for awhile and now am thinking of what to use.

I was thinking rifle, although I've heard a handgun could be used - I have a 686+ but from what I've heard, something in the .44 mag/.45LC is minimum.

Question is - what rifle calibre would be suitable? Is .243 too light? Would it be better to go to something like a .270/30-06? Also, I expect that it being woods hunting iron sights or maybe a low-powered scope would be applicable.

Comments?

 

[Oldnamvet]

Only went once, long ago. My lever action in .35 worked well for short range shots in the brush.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Hog rifle

If you're getting a dedicated hog rifle, and you think you might ever have to shoot one of those big tough boars (which have been called walking bullet traps--cartilage collar, fat beneath hide, massive body in the vital areas) IMHO you oughta be looking @ big, heavy-bullet rifles.

Not necessarily high-velocity; you want mass for penetration. My current hog rifle is an 8mm Mauser, with 200 grain Accubonds. If I had it to do over it'd be a .35 Whelen Ackley Improved.

Now, do you need a massive bullet like that for the little piggies, or the easy head shots? Of course not. But as the man said, there will be times when out looking for a pig that one will find you, and not necessarily at the right angle. Therefore, again, as the man said (Was it Robert Ruark?) Use Enough Gun.

Somebody's going to say that a .323 bullet of 200 grains isn't really a big bullet. I hear you; and I grant you that it's no .375 H&H, let alone one of the truly huge giant-killers. But this isn't Africa, and unlike Cape buffalo, big hogs normally tip the scales in the 300# range, not the 1500# area.

And, unless you actually like heavy recoil, there is such a thing as too much gun, too.

 

[jmorris]

I am not sure where you are hunting in Texas, but if the hogs are not prolific, and nocturnal, I would suggest a little advantage. The pics are of game radios I have built, that utilize digital voice recorders short waive radios and motion detectors, which tell you the hogs location (if interest exist I can post more info). Once alerted you must stalk up; however, this requires more skill than sitting in a box and waiting for something to walk past (you just don’t waist “quality time” with your buddies). With any of the “big” game in Texas, which is quite small, I prefer to use bullets in the 139grn+ range, which means a 7-08 or better. Now, I am not trying to say a .243 isn’t up to the task, but that’s my personal opinion. Many have been taken on my farm with the lowly 30-30.

 

[Skoghund]

With the fast growing population of pigs here in Sweden the 8 and 9 mm calibres are very popular. 9.3x57 & 9.3x62 are no longer so easy to find on the shelves in the gun stores. The 9.3x62 being the most popular. Me i use 7x57R under 12 bore combination weapon. 7x57R with partition bullets and rifle slug good pig medicine.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I've shot several with a 30-30 without fail.

 

[oneshooter]

Here in South Texas I use a Siamese Mauser action that I screwad a 45/70 bbl onto. Very strong combo. Currently launching 400gr softpoint handloads at 1700fps. Never had to us a second shot! My other hog gun is a Win.M94 in 45 Colt. 250gr sp at 1100fps. Very handy with the 16"bbl.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[H&Hhunter]

Oneshooter,

How do like that Siamese mauser? Any feeding problems? Is the accuracy ok?

I've heard some adverse reports as to the quality of these rifles but have never used one or even seen one as far as I know. I think I need to own one.. What is your overall impression of the rifle?


Smokey,

While a .323 bullet at 200 grs is not a .375H&H it is a fine hog round. I like to shoot pigs with big guns. I've shot them with a.458Lott a .470NE and literally hundreds and hundreds with a .375H&H. I've also killed a whole pile O pork with my .308's. they do fine.

But the reason I use heavies on hogs is because I want to, not because it takes this kind of artillery to kill a hog. Hog hunting is a GREAT way to get tuned up with your heavy rifles so that you feel more comfortable when using them for their intended purpose.I.E. hunting dangerous game in dangerous conditions.

I think that anything in power range of a .308 and up makes a fine hog rifle. I particularly like the .35's they may well be the finest pork producers ever invented. I also like the .375H&H for it’s combination of power and long range trajectory. Pretty darn close to a .338 just in a “cooler” sounding caliber.

I do not like varmint rounds which in my opinion include the .243 and I've seen a hog soak up some major 25-06 rounds as well.

Don't ever buy off on the "just shoot them in the head" fallacy as this is more often than not impossible in regards to real life hog hunt. Hogs usually only pose for a head shot at the bar.

 

[oneshooter]

How do like that Siamese mauser? Any feeding problems? Is the accuracy ok?
I've heard some adverse reports as to the quality of these rifles but have never used one or even seen one as far as I know. I think I need to own one.. What is your overall impression of the rifle?

The rifle shoots real well. The load I use is a near max charge of IMR3031 and it is a little painfull to shoot from the bench. Had some feeing problems at first but fooled around with the mag spring and ramp and got it fixed. The action is strong and can be slicked up well. The barrel I used was a McMillian blank I picked up at an estate sale, The stock is from the same sale.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[formerflyer]

I’d agree with H&H, any of the .30’s and up will work splendidly. The key is penetration with enough caliber to do some damage when it gets there. High speed is nice, but not critical. Your grandfather’s 30-30 loaded up with 170’s would be the lowest recommended combination, and I’d be careful of distances and angles with it. I would stay away from any of the .25’s and below, no matter how you load them.

In between those two, I wouldn’t necessarily feel under-gunned with, say, a .270 loaded with super-premium bullets (Barnes X, Combined Technology) or heavy-for-caliber premiums (like the heaviest Partitions). It’s not that standard loadings they won’t take down your average 150 lb hog, it’s just that you never know when you’re going to run into a monster. I vividly remember looking through the scope on my .308 at what we estimated to be a 450lb+ hog, and NOT pulling the trigger even though he was only about 200 yards away. I remember thinking, “I’ve only got the .308, and that’s one damned big boar. What if the shot isn't quite right? He’ll get away, and that’ll be our only chance at him!”

As for your .357, I’d be very satisfied with it as a backup gun, or as a primary in a carbine, just recognize that you’re on the light end of satisfactory under many circumstances. Load (or buy) the heaviest bullets you can get for proper penetration. I’ve been very happy with the Federal Cast Core hunting loads with 180gr lead flat points. I’ve also just acquired a long barreled .357 rifle that I’m experimenting with 180’s in. Speeds of 1700 are very possible, and they tell me that close to 2000 can be had with some powder combinations if I’m willing to load to the max. I’ll probably stop short of that, but any of those loads should work pretty well, given the same limitations as the .30-30 above.

 

[Dr.Rob]

My dad's first pig hunt involved a .30-06 Remington 760 Carbine and a 300+ pound Russian sow. Handloaded Sierra Game King 165gr Spbt... one shot entered between the neck and shoulder, crossed through the pig diagonally, got the blood vessels on to the heart and one lung, exited the off side.

Dead pig. Right there.

Dad DID mention he had 'too much scope' for hunting the close in cover he was hunting... he wished he had gone for iron sights. He missed a pig up close (50 yards) he could see the pig in his sights but not a bunch of gnarled roots 20 feet away... he missed low and blew up the roots/dirt. (at the time he had a 3x9x40 scope mounted, set at 3x)

If I was going to go pig hunting I'd borrow dad's Marlin 1895 Guide gun. I'd de-activate the push-button safety thing. Of course my Brother has a Marlin 336T (straight stock) carbine in .30-30 that I hunted with for years (no stupid push button safety)... I could borrow that. My hunting rifle doesn't have iron sights... and my 1903 A3... well that front blade is HARD to pick up in shadows.

Good excuse to buy a new rifle?

Sounds like it. Marlin 1894 in .44mag or CZ 550 Lux with express sights in .30-06?

 

[Matt G]

Rob, I'm not very impressed with the .44 mag carbines on hogs. While they're fine on "feeder hogs" or 100 lb piggies, I guess, I have found that: hogs often don't like to pose for real hunting conditions, and in real hunting conditions it's often difficult to distinguish the 100 lb hog from the 200 lb one. I shot one once that I probably never would have dropped the hammer on if I'd realized how big she was.

Go with the '06!

 

[belton-deer-hunter]

this is where i disagree

this is where someone turns a simple topic into something else all together

unlike most of yall i tend o use smaller clibersi think that he 243 is plenty and have heard of people who use nothing but thier 22-250 and drop hogs on the spot a 25-06 will also do the job and many hags have fallen here in texas the a mini14 in .223 so all it takes is the right shot and the right person to do it but i would also say a 30-30 is a good bet but like always someone has to pull in the my grandpa did it with a .22 and it has been done many times wit ha plain .22 to the skull but jsut my oppions

(choose which ever one you like best)

 

[Preacherman]

Matt, I'd agree that with the "standard" 240gr. JHP/JSP loads, a .44 Magnum carbine is not optimal for hogs over 200-300 pounds: but if you go to something like the Federal CastCore 300gr. load, it's a whole new ball game. I've seen that load in a Marlin 1894 (20" barrel) whack large hogs (300+ pounds) like there's no tomorrow. Scarily efficient!

 

[MrDig]

Again a Topic that is long on calibers and such but short on accuracy . There are a Few statements regarding these topics. So lets ask a question What is the proper shot placement on a Hawg? Feral or otherwise. I have heard that your typical below the shoulder shot is no good, due to the fact that the Shoulder Blade is like an armor plate.

 

[mete]

Just saw photos of a pig taken with a 458SOCOM .A semi auto 'military' gun giving equivalent to good 45-70 loads. If you're hunting more than one !...MDig, The heart lung shot is the best like most other game.From the side shoot just behind the leg about 1/3 up on the body. It's not the shoulder blade that is the problem but the flanks have a layer of bullet resistant tissue which in a mature true wild boar may be as much as 2" thick !! This tisssue is used to protect the boar from the tusks of other boars during fights. Always use a well constructed heavy bullet.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Wow that's the first time I've seen anyone discount a .44 mag from a rifle on medium sized game.

I figured a 240gr softpoint would be serious enough.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The .30-30 works well on hogs. However, most hogs are not Hogzilla -- and when you run into him, all bets are off.

I like Bigfoot Wallace, my custom '03 Springfield in .35 Brown-Whelen, with 225 grain Nosler PJs -- same as I use for elk.

 

[Dr.Rob]

This with express sights...

http://www.cz-usa.com/01.detail.php?id=17

or one of these...

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_7600.asp

Either in .30-06

 

[Geno]

I've used .270 Win., .444 Marlin (Encore); .45-70 Gov't (Encore) and .375 H&H Mag

I've used .270 Win., .444 Marlin (Encore); .45-70 Gov't (Encore) and .375 H&H Mag in a Sig Sauer 202 Safari. The 270 Win dropped them fastest. The 444 Marlin was 2nd best. Then, the 45-70 was 3rd best and last-place went to the 375 H&H. I have these on video, so comparing how well they worked is pretty easy. ALL bullet impacts were the same heart/lungs. No spine, no head, etc.

All other things equal (sectional density), bullet placement and bullet integrity rule supreme. I've seen hogs taken cleanly with MANY .30-30s, and .44 Mags. I had a cousin ATTACKED for being stupid enough to hunt a hog with a .45 ACP. Dumb...very dumb!

Good luck. Oh, get a LOW POWER scope with illuminated cross hairs, or get a red dot sight. You will be UPCLOSE and personal in most cases. My biggest hog (Russian) was 525 pounds with 6 1/4 inch "razor blades".

Doc2005

 

[Dixie Slugs]

Interesting!

Since retiring from the Gun & Ammo Co's and returning to my native of Florida.....I hunt hogs most of the time.
All the answers are good, but some concern should be based on how you will be hunting wild hogs.
If hunting from a tree stand where shots can be carefully placed, about any modern load works well.
However, if you are down in the swamps where qvshot might be at "kissing" range and you are dealing with a true Spanish/Russian blood bore hog......you had better carry something that will put their nose in the dirt quick! Modern bullets that are designed to expand on medium/heavy game out at the 100 plus yardage may well fragmate at a 25/50 yard hog shot. I class dangerous game when it is within 30 yards and about to work on your frame! The Brits designed 12 & 20 bore guns over 100 years ago just for this type of situation. In 12 bore they pushed a 730 gr hard lead slug/bullet at 1000'/" (blackpowder) and 1200'/" (smokeless) out of rifled or semi-rifled barrels. That design still holds true!.....James

 

[Vern Humphrey]

However, if you are down in the swamps where qvshot might be at "kissing" range and you are dealing with a true Spanish/Russian blood bore hog......you had better carry something that will put their nose in the dirt quick! Modern bullets that are designed to expand on medium/heavy game out at the 100 plus yardage may well fragmate at a 25/50 yard hog shot. I class dangerous game when it is within 30 yards and about to work on your frame!

That's why I like Bigfoot Wallace, my '03 in .35 Brown-Whelen with a 225 grain Nosler PJ -- it leaves the muzzle at 2,800 fps and when the nose gets wiped off, the shank still penetrates.