The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Hunt

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 13, 2012, 04:22 PM   #1
jakeLC
Member
 
Join Date: July 26, 2011
Location: Plainfield, IN
Posts: 49
Planning a hog hunt

Planning a hog hunt this summer but not sure which rifle to bring. I was hoping either my 45 colt lever action or my savage .223 would work but i just dont know if either could take down a full grown hog. Just wondering if you guys had any suggestions.
jakeLC is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 04:32 PM   #2
rickyrick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 15, 2010
Posts: 8,233
Either would work in the right circumstances.

Where are you planning to hunt?
__________________
Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!
rickyrick is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 04:36 PM   #3
ammo.crafter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 25, 2006
Location: The Keystone State
Posts: 1,966
oink!

Geographically speaking, where will you be huntimg?
What is the average size hog usually taken?
What is the average distance for your first shot?
Will you be in open areas or more or less wooded areas?
__________________
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson
ammo.crafter is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 04:36 PM   #4
jakeLC
Member
 
Join Date: July 26, 2011
Location: Plainfield, IN
Posts: 49
its a ranch in texas close to the border of louisiana. the owner says there everywhere down there. He said most of the hogs appear to be around 200-250 pounds and the shot will be from about 40-50 yds more than likely
jakeLC is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 04:38 PM   #5
1tfl
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 12, 2007
Posts: 287
I've been hunting hogs for many years and I have yet to see a hog that would not go down with a good hit from 223/5.56. On the other hand, I have never seen a hog go down with a bad hit from a 375 H&H. You just gotta hit the right spot. I have put down plenty of hogs using handguns in 45ACP and 357 Mag. caliber.

If you have never hunted hogs before I suggest you do some homework and study the hog anatomy as it is different from deers. A lot of people say hogs are tough to put down but IMHO it is no more difficult than a deer of similar size. I believe hog's reputation came from people shooting them in the wrong parts of the body. Hogs heart and lungs sit much lower and forward than on a deer. That perfect deer shot behind the front leg when taken on a hog is too high and too far back. With hogs you want to shoot lower and further forward in the chest. I personally shoot them in the neck as it is large target and very effective in dropping them quickly... it also minimize meat loss.

To answer your question, yes you can drop good size hogs with rifles in 45LC or 223 if you hit them in the right spot.
1tfl is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 04:48 PM   #6
Lee McNelly
Junior member
 
Join Date: June 9, 2011
Posts: 325
sugg

visit texasboars
Lee McNelly is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 04:49 PM   #7
rickyrick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 15, 2010
Posts: 8,233
__________________
Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!
rickyrick is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 04:51 PM   #8
rickyrick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 15, 2010
Posts: 8,233
Grr! I'll type it later!
__________________
Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!
rickyrick is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 08:50 PM   #9
ammo.crafter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 25, 2006
Location: The Keystone State
Posts: 1,966
oink

Like 1tfl said, if you never hog hunted before, use something substaintial. Me, I use a .444 Marlin at 290gr. They go down and stay down.
__________________
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson
ammo.crafter is offline  
Old January 13, 2012, 09:41 PM   #10
BigBadPigg
Member
 
Join Date: July 21, 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 79
If you take a head shot either gun will work wonderfully!
BigBadPigg is offline  
Old January 14, 2012, 10:26 AM   #11
JACK308
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 10, 2011
Posts: 377
IMO I think the best gun to kill hogs with is the Marlin 1895 45/70 you just know when the bullet leaves the barrel the hog will be dead when the bullet arrives. Why take a chance with a smaller cal?.
JACK308 is offline  
Old January 14, 2012, 01:36 PM   #12
theyallhurt
Member
 
Join Date: December 28, 2011
Location: New England
Posts: 62
Quote:
IMO I think the best gun to kill hogs with is the Marlin 1895 45/70 you just know when the bullet leaves the barrel the hog will be dead when the bullet arrives. Why take a chance with a smaller cal?.
I'm going on my first boar hunt this year as well. Pretty much every seasoned boar guide/hunter told me the 45-70 will definitely drop 'em; that's their preferred caliber it seems. They do stress that, like 1tfl said, its all in knowing the game and good shot placement...basic hunting 101.
__________________
RETREAT HELL!
theyallhurt is offline  
Old January 14, 2012, 10:39 PM   #13
Deja vu
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 14, 2010
Location: Border of Idaho & Montana
Posts: 2,584
Of the guns you listed I would go with the 45. But I believe either will work.
__________________
Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull.

all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...
Deja vu is offline  
Old January 15, 2012, 12:24 AM   #14
Double Naught Spy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2001
Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX
Posts: 12,712
Quote:
I recommend you do some homework and study the hog anatomy as it is dissimilar from deers as well.
If you aren't trying to clip the rear edge of the lungs with your shot and instead are trying to put a round through the middle of the lungs or the heart, you will be fine.

Skull anatomy is very different and volumetrically the brain is smaller on a pig than a deer given the size of the animal and size of the head. So a lot of folks aim for the base of the ear, about an inch below, inch below and slighty forward, or slighty backward. Those are all fine shots. People like neck shots as well.

Quote:
IMO I think the best gun to kill hogs with is the Marlin 1895 45/70 you just know when the bullet leaves the barrel the hog will be dead when the bullet arrives.
I love my .45-70 but have taken more hogs with .223/5.56. Most of the hogs taken with the smaller caliber have be via CNS damage. The nice thing about such shots is that the hog does not run and the meat usually isn't damaged.

If you are shooting at 50 yards or so, there should be no reason you can't make good head shots on the hogs with the .223 or the .45.
__________________
"If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011
My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange
Double Naught Spy is offline  
Old January 15, 2012, 04:15 PM   #15
rickyrick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 15, 2010
Posts: 8,233
Shootem like this.

This youngish boar was moved into the light for photo, but it is a good example for instant incapacitation by a .223.

The side shown is also the exit wound, the other side the pig was slightly quartered away, so the shot was slightly higher and further back...maybe 45 deg from the ear. I show this picture because it shows a wound better than most pictures that I have taken.

50 yards, 55gr jhp, I don't recall the brand. I haven't used it again because it made an exit.

As you can see the neck is a pretty large target. If the animal is positioned correctly, it is an easy shot to make.

I believe the pigs fall so quickly due to hydrostatic effects, not necessarily wound diameter.


__________________
Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

Last edited by rickyrick; January 15, 2012 at 04:25 PM.
rickyrick is offline  
Reply

Tags
.223 , 45 colt , hog hunting

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04415 seconds with 10 queries