hog hunting... calibers you'd use first???

[dangthathurt]

If you're going to hunt at night, I would recommend a big caliber gun. This fall I went on a guided hunt with my AR in 223 and was disappointed. My hot hand loads with Barnes tipped TSX's did their job with pass throughs and dropping both lungs but the hogs still could run pretty far before dying. We couldn't find 2 of the three I shot because of the dark. We found both carcasses the next day by following the vultures. Last time I went after pigs I used my 450 marlin. No tracking was needed.

[Double Naught Spy]

That is a bit of a mixed interpretation. I have shot plenty of hogs with a .45-70. You can blow out their heart and lungs and have them run the better part of 100 yards. If their CNS is not disrupted significantly, don't count on them dropping in place.

I have watched hogs go over 70 yards with two broken humeri, plus lung involvement.

Just because you use a big caliber does not mean the hog will drop in place more so than using a smaller caliber.

The bottom line here is that if you don't have significant CNS disruption when shooting a hog, then there is a high probability you will have to track/follow the animal. On top of that, hogs often frequently self seal on entry wounds. I have seen it with .223, 6.5 Grendel, .308, and .45-70. Sometimes the exit wounds seal up fairly well also. The net result there is that there may not be much of a blood trail from the wound itself, though if you catch the lungs, you may get a goodly amount of nasal spray.

[oneoldsap]

I'd use my .358 Win. I like shooting things with it , and nothing goes anywhere after either .

[agtman]

In-the-know hog-hunting pros always use the classic 45-70 Gommint.

[GeauxTide]

After another disc surgery, I started looking to lessen the recoil of my 45-70. The Bushmaster has been excellent, putting the first 5 250 Hornady FlexTips into a quarter sized hole. With a spitzer profile and 2200fps of velocity, hogs and deer can be touched 200 yards. BTW, recoil is like a 20ga shotgun. Can't wait to get to the field.

[Texgun]

After wounding two hogs, one with a 357 mag and another with a 44 mag, I am going to stick to my 30-06. Few animals run away after being hit with a round from that old, under used, disrespected caliber.

[dakota.potts]

I've used .223. A .223 up the nose of a hog dropped it on the spot already twitching before it hit the ground. It was a 60-grain V max and a small sow. .223 will work, but if I were going to do it again, I'd probably feel better at close range with my VZ 58 or Mosin. I wouldn't want to try the .223 anywhere but the brain or maybe the neck. Some people do.

I'm all for humane kills even for pest animals

[Ibmikey]

I hunt with Stony on my Texas trips, last Sept he gave me a Handi Rifle in 300 Blackout topped with a 3x AR223 scope. A single 150 gr TNT from that rifle took a 350# boar down dead. The animal was facing me at a slight angle and i put the round through the forward portion of the shoulder. He ran about forty yards and was found with all four legs out like a beached whale. Last month Stony presented me with a Ruger Scout in .223 (he has one in .308) unfortunately it rained for the thirty days i was there and hunting was poor. We did get fourteen in traps but a low velocity .22 lr from a suppressed S&W Compact M&P .22 took care of all of them. Next trip the Ruger will score, but there will probably never be another hog like "Spot".

[Rmart30]

After shooting my first boar (250-275#) with a 30/06. Seeing the impact on the chest and watching him run off never to be found Ive changed my tactics.

Now ive learned any centerfire to the head will put them down. Ive shot them with everything from 223 to 30/06. Mostly with 7mm/08 though as thats my favorite carry.
Most of my shots are under 100, but some out to 200 and ya cant tell a difference between the calibers and they will drop 99% of the time right where they were standing.

[corsair82pilot]

Sporter 8mm Mauser Carbine.

[Deja vu]

I have never hunted Big hogs. My experience is limited to small Oregon hogs. When we hunted there the guide asked what guns we all where shooting. I said I brought both a 357 magnum carbine and a 45-70 marlin and he suggested the 45-70 was massive over kill. I went with the 357 magnum. The pigs we got where all under 120LBS most under 90 LBS.

If I where to be hunting big 250+ LBS hogs Id bring my 45-70 May be even my fathers 450 Nitro Express Ruger #1 just for fun (so long as I was not going to eat them). I bet that would knock them down. 500 Grain bullet at 1900 FPS

[Double Naught Spy]

I never thought of overkill as being a bad thing. It is far superior to underkill.

[stubbicatt]

I had an acquaintance many years ago who lived in Texas. He started hog hunting with a lever action 44 magnum. I didn't pay it much mind, but he would talk about his experiences from time to time.

One day he told me he was using a 444 Marlin for hog hunting as he felt the 44 magnum was inadequate.

Months went by. Next I spoke to him, he has purchased a trailer and installed a rather up scale blind on it. Of some note to me, he had upgraded his rifle to a 416 Rigby and was shooting solids. I asked why? He said he had been charged by hogs and shot some which didn't stop, so he decided he needed a light artillery piece to get the job done!

I've never been hog hunting, and I don't know much about it. But based on his stories, I think I would look favorably on a 416 Rigby!

[doofus47]

I have an AR in 7.62x39. I'd use that.

[rightside]

AR in7.62 x39 also. I love the little light kicking Russian round. 30-30 Winchester works very well also. Never have taken one over 150#'s ,though.

[BIG P]

I hunt alot of open farm land beans an corn.Been real lucky to have such a great place to kill those nasty stinking critters.Killed them with a lot of different guns an calibers. My favorites are 25-06, 22-250,223 never seen where size mattered, these 3 take them all from 10lbs to 500lbs.

[Richard SIA]

Shot placement over caliber.
.45 acp in a carbine seems to work just fine according to several of my customers.
Not for long range but very effective with XTP type bullets at up to 150 yards.

[bshefa]

I used to think an AR 10 was the best thing for these critters, however, they are heavy and I got tired of lugging it around. The internet will tell you .223 is not enough gun, but I started using one of my lighter AR15s with an Aimpoint and haven't taken the AR10 in a few years. If you shoot them behind the ear or really anywhere in the neck area they fall immediately. I killed a 300+lb boar last week with a one shot kill while I was out checking my game cameras. They aren't magic or bulletproof, just pick your shots. I do prefer a semi auto as you are very likely to come up on a big group of them.

[ammo.crafter]

Interesting post.

My main hog round is a 7x30 Waters with 140gr Barnes TTSX and have never needed more than one shot.

One the other hand, my first hog was taken with a .444 Marlin and needed several hits from my .41 mag to put it down.

Appears that velocity may play a greater role than mass when it comes to hogs.

Tasty fun.

[Boogershooter]

Hogs down here in louisiana are not hard to kill. I used to love shooting them at long range with my 220 swift just to hear the bullet pop thier hard shoulders! I've used just about every modern caliber and even some old ones! The rifle I always take is the old marlin 1895 357. It's short, easy to carry and I don't cry if it gets scratched or thrown n the creek as I climb a tree! I must say tho that the 338 federal just seems to hit them like a Mack truck! Maybe just in my head but it thumps them harder than the old 35 whelen. Get a coonass microwave and it will appreciate them piggies even more!

[The Big D]

Personally, I'd use my 1886 in .45-90 WCF. Since hogs are medium game despite all the hype, I'd probably just use the commercial Hornady 300gr .45-70 load. Easy on the shoulder.

[Guv]

I have been hunting south Texas feral hogs for 30+ years. They shouldn't be underestimated, I've used everything from a 6mm to a 444. I would say a lot depends on your way of hunting, ranges involved and the size of hog you may be going after. This could be for some, shooting them in a trap (not really hunting) all the way to stalking one in heavy brush. Obviously the choice of fire arm would/should be different.

I'll pass on a 45ACP for use up to 150 yards though.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I'm the OP... I'm still here & still reading... thanks for keeping this civil & offering up your honest opinions... keep the comments coming

[deadcoyote]

I've used .30-30, shotgun slugs, and .35 remington. All worked fine. You can't go wrong with a classic .270. I can't say if a .223 would work well or not, but I'd probably go more toward a round with a larger projectile. Just me.

[robinsroost]

It also depends upon whether or not they are aware of you and how charged with adrenalin they are. I once shot a 250 pound hog at a range of about two feet, with a 100 grain Nosler Partition, 243 Winchester, at 3000+ fps , as it ran past me. The round burnt the hair around the entrance wound and made a hole through its heart that you could stick your thumb through, and it still ran 75 yards. On the other hand, I have seen my grandfather put one down with one shot between the eyes, with a 22 short at butcher time.