TX Wild Boar and 308's

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twoblink

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My friend out in TX use to bate wild boars on his property; and he use to tell me they were "big" but I didn't know what he meant until I saw some of the pics at his house one day..

Some looked like they were pushing 300lbs+.. :eek:

My question then becomes; are 308's enough for the boars or is that close to the low end of the horsepower needed?
 
I have used the .308 on probably 99% of the hogs I have killed, including several over 300 pounds, and the vast majority of them were DRT. As far as horsepower goes, IMO it doesn't work as good as a .45-70, but it will get the job done. I have never had any "stopping power issues" using the .308 on hogs.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
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Ya know the beautiful thing about Texas?

People spend thousands and thousands of dollars to go to Africa and shoot Cape Buffalo and Warthog.

You can go to Texas and, if you find a rancher who will allow it, you can shoot a wild hog or a Longhorn steer.

Both are just as big and just as mean as their African relatives and you will save thousands of dollars on airfare, gun bribes, gifts to your outfitter,etc.

God I miss Texas!
 
From talking to park ranger friends in TX, I guess wild boar in TX is so numerous that you can bate them, and shoot as many as you want!

My friend's got like 30~40 acres, and I've got an open invite to shoot anything that can become bacon ..:evil: They say there are MILLIONS of boars in TX..

I'm working on the sentence.. "Honey, I need the 45-70 for next time we go visit Joe in TX!"
 
The .308 will do just fine and as said above the AR-10 is the path to happiness whil e pig hunting!
I have posted this pic here a few times but it fits this thread so well.
pigswithar10.jpg
 
Hoguns

My prefered hog rifle is built on a Siamese Mauser action, in 45/70! A hot load of IMR 3130 with a 400gr JSP. This leaves a 24" barrel at 1900fps, and has dropped hogs and deer out to 150yds.:D

As for your question, the 308 will be plunty of punch, provided you place it correctly.:D

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
 
Yes, feral pigs are considered a real problem here because of how incredibly destructive they can be to land, how fast they multiply and the fact that they are fairly smart. They are considered pests and game laws do not apply - you can hunt them just about any way imaginable.

Also since most hunting in Texas is on private property, most landowners are happy to be rid of them provided they think you won't do more damage than the hogs. Around DFW it seems harder to find a place that will let you hunt for free though... most of those property owners seem to have decided that charging ~$150 to shoot pigs is worth whatever damage they do.
 
I've used both 7.62x39 and 308. Either will do just fine up to 300lbs or so, but clearly 308 gives you more of a margin in case you run in to a bigger oinker. However, I've taken larger hog with the 7.62x39 - it just took stout bullets and the willingness to use multiple shots if needed.

The key is to use bullets that will hold together; you don't need solids, but no Ballistic Tips.

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I use a .308 M7 Remington for about everything including hogs that I hunt now days, when I ain't hunting with one of my handguns. Yeah, it'll stop ANY hog. I shoot a 140 Barnes X bullet at close to 2900 fps, plenty of penetration and energy for any porker I've every laid eyes on. I would use a controlled expansion bullet, but heck, I've found that even my Nosler Ballistic Tip 150s penetrate pretty danged well. I shot lengthwise, stem to stern or rather stern to stem through one this season. The hole in its throat was pretty impressive on exit after shooting through over 5 feet of deer and through the ham. I'm beginning to think the Barnes unnecessary on hogs, but it's good insurance I reckon.

.308 is all you'll ever need in Texas and most of the US, frankly. Oh, some say a .300 mag is best for Nilgai. If I had the money for a Nilgai hunt on the King or Kennedy Ranches, I probably could buy a bigger gun, but I think the .308 could do it, frankly. I have a 7 mag if I thought more was necessary. that thing is a cannon, though, and I prefer my little .308 for normal game. Hogs may look impressive, but they're normal game to me.
 
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.308 works extremely well on hogs. I've seen it done with .223, but trailing a wounded hog on hands and knees through swamps and brush on Ft. Benning did not convince me that it is the best choice. I'm a big fan of .308 for just about everything, but like everything else it all boils down to shot placement. My preference is 165gr Sierra Game Kings. Shoot them in the neck and they'll kick twice after they drop in place before expiring. Much better than the scenario described above. Both of these hogs were taken in Sweetwater, TX and dropped in place with one round each to the neck. Big sow was walking point with the boar behind her. Shot a third as well before the remaining twenty or so got out of the engagement area. Needless to say we had lots of pork to eat... Texas hog hunting is good, but Georgia is right there with it.
 

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MC Gunner, I used to have free roaming Nilgai on my Ranch. That was until 5 years ago I haven't seen em since. They are too smart. They have awesome eyesight.

I'm not sure I'd use a .308 on Nilgai. A well placed neck shot will bring it down but these suckers are huge and have thick thick hide. Remember as bad as a .308 sounds it is just a Short Action.

.300 win mag would be awesome for Nilgai. I have a .303 British that would do the job just fine as well. I've heard people say you could also get by with a .270 and some Nosler Partition rounds but even then I'd be hesitant.


As for hogs in Texas :) ) Just put a pack of TNT at your feeder and wire it to your blind. When the avg pack of 20 hogs approach the feeder git r done!!
 
My friend Joe: "CoolAid powder and Cap'N Crunch."
Twoblink: "Is that what we are having?"
Joe: "Nope, that's the Hog bate.."
Twoblink: "Are you serious??"
Joe: "I'm 3 coolers and counting serious..."

I'm doing my "budgeting" for the coming years, and I do this every few years, I basically list out EVERYTHING I want/need, and go from there..

Going Hoggin' with Joe was on the list, and as you all know, any event is an excuse for a new gun:evil:

I have an M1A and a Mauser K98 rebarreled in .308, so if 308's are OK, and I don't need to step up to 45-70's.. well then.. I'll still buy a 45-70 anyways :neener:
 
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Hmmmm? I did not know that action length was a limiting factor on power. I lean something new every time I pop onto THR.

S-
Click to expand...

When your talking about hunting big game and not just shooting paper it is. It's common sense really.
 
Ruben Z

You are kidding I hope....you are aware that a 308 fired from a long or short action has largley the same performance characteristics....and 30-06-ish performance characteristics at that?

They may not have caught on but you must be aware that the WSM gave up pretty much nothing performance wise to the long action non-WSM versions of the same rounds?

S-
 
I've seen them drop with one round of 30-30 Win.

A .308 Win is far more than enough.

Doc2005
 
You can go to Texas and, if you find a rancher who will allow it, you can shoot a wild hog or a Longhorn steer.

Both are just as big and just as mean as their African relatives...
Click to expand...

Are you serious? Most longhorns I've run across can almost be classified in the "pet" department. Equating one to a cape buffalo is assinine. I do have several cows that are much larger (and better eating) than any longhorn that I would let someone shoot for a substantial fee (much less than a trip to Africa as you indicated)

As to the original question:

My favorite hog gun is a Marlin 1895 in .45-70
Close runner up Savage 99 in .300 Savage
HAve also used, .30-30, 308, 350 Rem Mag, 300 WinMag and various quarter bores. .30 cal mas y menos works sufficiently well.

Smoke
 
ok, people won't believe this, but...

My brother has friends who hunt coyotes with a passion every year (ny eastern coyotes running much larger than western coyotes). The past few years while coyote hunting they have been running across russian wild boars that were released by a game farm that went out of business and have multiplied like rabbits, and have shot quite a few because they are destructive. He said they said we could shoot as many as we wanted if we wanted to come hunt where they do. I asked which of my rifles he thought I should use, and what they are using. The surprise answer? They've just been shooting them in the head with the 22 magnums most of them use on the coyotes!

can't say that that would be my choice if I were LOOKING for pigs, but apparently these are the typical yokels that don't know such lightweights aren't supposed to work...

I would think a 308 would work just fine :D
 
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