April 28, 2014, 11:55 PM | #1 |
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Hog hunting rifle
I have never hunted anything but squirrels and that was with a shotgun. I would like to try hog hunting and I'd like to get a rifle for that. I have a Blackhawk in .45 Colt and thought maybe trying a lever action in that caliber so I can use the same ammo in both. How would the .45 work on hogs? I've read some things on this and another forum saying that large caliber heavy bullets don't really work well on hogs.
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April 29, 2014, 07:14 AM | #2 |
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The caliber is great for hogs. The issue is then the cartridge and velocity. What ammo are you using? You can find .45 Colt ammo that will give you 1400-<1900 fps which would be fine.
For example, you could go with Buffalo Bore's offering for hunting and get 1300 fps from your revolver and over 1800 fps from a lever gun. https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...ct_detail&p=38 Just a thought.
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April 29, 2014, 09:02 AM | #3 |
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I found some Double Tap that runs 1775 according to the company and uses a 255 gr hardcast bullet that looks like a Keith bullet. That looks promising.
Double Tap costs less than Buffalo Bore and Cor-Bon. |
April 29, 2014, 10:15 AM | #4 |
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If you were using a 45Long colt to hunt hogs, I would expect that you'd be eating bacon in short order.
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April 29, 2014, 11:23 AM | #5 | |
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The last one I shot with my 45/70 would disagree with that, if he still could. If you already had a 45 Colt rifle and wanted to know if it would work on hogs I'd say get some warm loads for it and go hunting. But if you're starting from scratch and are going to buy your first centerfire rifle, I'd advise a rifle chambered in a rifle round such as 308. It will work even better, give you a much longer reach and would be much more versatile. |
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April 29, 2014, 11:31 AM | #6 |
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I second the motion for a .308, and, although pricey my preference would be a semi auto. Vepr .308 semi autos can be had for a little more than a good bolt gun, $700-900. Other more expensive options are .308 ARs and M1As. Another low cost option is an SKS in 7.62x39, I've heard of plenty of people taking hogs with them and my brother took his first deer with one.
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April 29, 2014, 12:14 PM | #7 |
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Ah, but the problem is that he doesn't have a revolver chambered in .308 to match. He has a .45 Colt and wants to know if the caliber will work for hogs and it will work just fine and be good a bit beyond 200 yards, which is further than most people hunt hogs with any regularity.
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April 29, 2014, 03:59 PM | #8 |
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200 yards with any 45 Colt load is a real stretch even from a rifle.
The idea of using the same ammo in rifle and pistol is appealing, but not enough to offset the very real advantages of a real rifle round. |
April 29, 2014, 04:12 PM | #9 |
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Even if you were to use the same .45 Colt caliber, you might want to consider loading the ones for the rifle differently than the ones for the handgun. With a longer barrel, a slower powder might be more appropriate. On the other hand, with some of the single shot rifles, you could even load the rounds quite a bit longer than the maximum OAL for that particular caliber.
Of course, if you don't handload, this does not apply to you and you'll just have to compromise with whatever the commercial ammunition manufacturers think is right for you. Being that you are in AZ, you might encounter longer shots that those of us who hunt hogs in SE Texas. There's places where I hunt that a hog could be 30 yds away from me and I would not see it. Some of the river bottom land has pretty thick brush.
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April 29, 2014, 11:41 PM | #10 | |
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"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 |
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April 30, 2014, 10:44 AM | #11 |
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It's not a question of energy, it a question of trajectory. A 250 grain Hornady hollow point @1800 fps will drop 17.3" at 200 when zeroed at 100. Worse, it's dropping fast because it was 11" at 180 yards. So misjudge the distance by only 20 yards and you'll be 6" off.
Yes, I know you can use a rangefinder and holdover, but why not just use a 308, aim and fire? |
April 30, 2014, 11:49 AM | #12 |
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A 45 Colt with a hard cast bullet would work. How do I know? Because I know how well they work on elk and moose as well as a few bear and buffalo.
I have never hunted hogs. (I feel so deprived) But I have to guess that anything that works on bear and elk would be fine for hogs. I also think a 308 or a 7.63X39 might be "better" but the object of the hunt needs to be defined. If the object of the hunt is primarily to enjoy it you should use any weapon that brings you the most pleasure to carry and use. If the primary objective is to kill hogs for control or for meat I'd have to say an auto-loading military rifle is going to beat all others. I know some avid hog hunters in Oklahoma and one in S. Carolina thay tell say the "new standard" has become the AK-47 for most of the hunters that need to kill hogs to thin them out. 30-30 like ballistics in a rifle that has almost no kick, and is utterly reliable. There are many others options. As long as you can get a good wound channel clear through the piggy I doubt it would matter much. |
May 4, 2014, 11:11 PM | #13 |
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.45 LC would be fine for limited distances of an iron sighted lever gun. Make sure it will digest your Blackhawk "Ruger Only" loads.
Another option is a .454 Casull lever gun which would also shoot your .45LC, but has room to grow for really big stuff. |
May 5, 2014, 07:00 AM | #14 | |
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So the guy doesn't get point blank ballistics out to 200 yards. He may not even be shooting 200 yards, LOL. Why not use a .308? Simple and as already stated. He doesn't have a pistol in .308. If he wanted to ask about what was a better caliber for hunting hogs, then a .308 might have been a better suggestion, but that wasn't what he was asking. Of course, there are much better calibers than .308 for hogs, depending on your perspective. He wants to hunt old school and wanted to know if .45 Colt would work for hogs. The bottom line is that yes it can. You gotta let people hunt their own hunts, LOL.
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"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 Last edited by Double Naught Spy; May 5, 2014 at 09:17 AM. |
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May 5, 2014, 08:51 AM | #15 | |
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I realize the OP wants to keep the ammo the same with his pistol and that's fine, but he should realize he's giving up a lot of versatility in his ONLY hunting rifle to get ammo compatibility. IMO, that's a bad trade. His opinion (and yours) may vary. Last edited by natman; May 5, 2014 at 08:59 AM. |
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May 6, 2014, 01:01 PM | #16 |
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Let your pistol be a pistol. Let your rifle be a rifle. Why limit yourself just because you want to only stock a single cartridge. I see the appeal, but why? A box of 45 Colt cost you nearly the same as a box 30-06 or 308. And the rifles will be cheaper. And the Buffalo Bore ammo, while easy shooting in the rifle, will be a beast in the revolver. That's assuming your revolver is good for the high pressure ammo.
Anyway, even with that said, your Buffalo bore ammo, (as mentioned) doing 1800 fps from the rifle (as mentioned), zeroed 2 inch high at 50 yards should be 2 inches low at 150 yards and still pushing a heap of energy at that distance. It'll be just fine for hunting. Make sure you get the right barrel length. With pistol carts, longer isn't always better. Especially with big bore bullets. For instance, I find the 357 is starting to choke at about 20 inches of barrel (depending on the load). My 444 Marlin isn't really giving me much more from 22 inches as it does from 18.5 inches. I'm guessing the 45 lc rifle might be really good at 16 to 18 inches. But you should ask somebody who knows and do your research before you buy. |
May 6, 2014, 01:29 PM | #17 |
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I know alot of folks that go to East Tn in the Smokies and foot hils to Hog hunt and one of the more common firearms you will see is Mini14's and Mini30's . Hogs there are as big as any but Laws have changed and you have to own the land or be helping extermanate them because there is no longer a season the land owner must want rid of them .
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May 6, 2014, 08:33 PM | #18 |
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Well, I have been reading the debate about a rifle and revolver with the same cartridge for hog hunting.
Though I believe you would have no problem with your 45LC with some hotter loads in both the revolver and lever gun. I would through this idea out there.... Buy the new BFR in 308 and a semi auto rifle in 308. Problem solved. I have a 94 in 44 mag and a Redhawk and like that combo, but for big hogs I want to get a 45/70 lever gun to match up with my BFR 45/70. Mel
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May 14, 2014, 11:18 AM | #19 |
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A rifle in 45 Colt with appropriate ammo will work fine.
I don't know what kind of land you'll be hunting but here a 100 yards is a long shot and 50 yards is the norm. |
May 14, 2014, 08:16 PM | #20 |
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.45 colt will get 'er done, I'd imagine, if you hit 'em in the right spot (know your trajectory), and use a heavy-ish bullet.
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May 23, 2014, 06:03 PM | #21 |
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45 colt henry an hogs
well henry will tell you do not use 300 gr. bullets,the rifle is not designed for it,250gr. max,i am not nearly as smart as you folks here,but I have an opinion,lol I know they are like butts everybody has one,the henry has a drop of 14.8 in.@ 100 yrds using 250 swc 1300 fps,thats a fact, as far as hog hunting with the henry I don't think u can push a 300 gr. bullet hard enough @ 100 YRDS TO STOP A 300 LB. HOG, unless its a ear shot,it will run off,if your 25,30 yrds away why not just use you pistol,i have dropped a bounch at that range with my ruger 7.5 in. 300 gr.lrft 1400 fps, buy a nice 6x284 an pic your shots
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