Need a recommendation for Boar Hunting

[dratner]

I have been invited on a boar hunt with some friends later this year. I am primarily a handgun user. I guess its about time that I bought a rifle of my own. Been meaning to for a while.

Need some honest recommendations on what would be a good rifle. It needs to be pretty cheap as the recession has hit me hard. Under $500 would be ideal. Obviously needs a scope. This gun is going to be only occasionally used. Maybe 1 or 2 actual hunting trips. Will probably put a few rounds through it sporadically when my buddies organize a shooting day.

Also, .308 seems to be the defacto standard for hunting rifles. Is this a good round for boar? I worry about needing a second shot if the boar charges.

Your thoughts

-Dan

[Fat White Boy]

Anything over 6mm will work, just make sure you use a good solid bullet that offers good penetration. I use a .270 win or a .308...

[crghss]

What type of handgun do you have? A lot of people use handguns for hogs.

.308 is perfect. I'd look at Savages great gun for the money. Start with http://www.budsgunshop.com this will give you a starting point.

Maybe look at a used rifle also.

Also, .308 seems to be the defacto standard for hunting rifles.

We'll see how nice the fellas are after posting that

[dratner]

what do you mean by a good solid bullet? Sorry for my ignorance but my knowledge of bullets is pretty slim. I know the difference between ball and hollowpoints but not more than that. Do you mean a heavy bullet? More than 150gr?

[MarCon9]

I've hunted pigs for many years. I consider the 30-06 with a 180 grn. bullet the minimum. Although .270 .308 7mm mag 8mm are all quite effective for deer hunting. I would prefer a a bullet that goes thud, rather than a splat . Big bore Marlin lever actions with the right loads are very consistant .444 with 265 to 300 grn, .45-70 350 grn, and .450 Marlin W/ 350 grn work well. 35 Whelen 250 grn. Great choice. Wild pigs can be the most dangerous animals in the world. They are smart, organized in large groups, and real tough. Marcon9

[dratner]

.308 is perfect. I'd look at Savages great gun for the money. Start with http://www.budsgunshop.com this will give you a starting point.

Yes I have looked at these. There are a couple that have scope packages for a very reasonable price. But didn't know if their accuracy sucked.

Handguns? I have a .22 for target shooting. A .45ACP 1911 ( I will prob take this one on the hunt as a backup in a holster) and a P229 in .40 (awesome gun BTW).

[Abel]

All you need to kill a pig/boar is a 30-30. But a 308 is more than adequate.

A Marlin 45-70 1895G would be about perfect. You could find one for $500. But a scoped 30-30 would be more in your price range. Plenty of those in the used market.

Here are a couple from gunbroker that are good deals:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=159346459

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=160756264

[troy_mclure]

First what kind of hunting are you doing?

Hunting over bait at >100yd?
Watching a field/trail at >100yd?

Then a scoped bolt rifle in '06, or .308 is perfect.

If you are <100yd and or in brushy area's you might want to look at a lever gun, semi, or pump for fast follow up shots.
Closer than <100 yds .44mag, .35rem, .30-30, .45/70, .50beo, .458socom, or even 20ga and 12ga.

I know lots of peeople that hunt them with .44mag pistols as well.

[dratner]

All you need to kill a pig/boar is a 30-30. But a 308 is more than adequate

My only reservation with the 30-30 is that while researching this whole thing, I found a ballistics chart online. It looks like the 30-30 has about 25% less energy at 100 yards then the .308 for a 150gr bullet. I assume that means more knockdown power. I do not want to to be on the receiving end of a mad boar charge because he is wounded and ******.

Also, a pump action rifle just makes me feel like I should be wearing a cowboy hat and talking like John Wayne.

[22-rimfire]

The 308 is a very good choice. There are a zillion calibers available and any "deer hunting" load in 308 should be fine for boars. The 30-30 (such as in a Marlin 336 or Winchester 94) is enough and is a very common whitetail rifle. You can find them at gunshows and so forth used at pretty reasonable prices.

[fast-eddie]

Marlin XL-7 or Stevens 200. If you get the package deal the scope will get you by until you finds something else. I'd personally go with a Savage 111 in 308 if I were you, mainly for the detachable box mag. Both Stevens and Marlin are good rifles as well.

The below scope can be mounted with weaver rings and base as well for not much more. This set up is more then adequate for anything in the lower 48.




http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/57846

http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-ri...ff-3-9x40.html

[billfrombyron]

Hard to beat a marlin in 45-70.

-Bill

[ammo.crafter]

Hog hunting for many years and use S&W #57 41 mag c/ 210gr lead as good medicine.

If you're in close and on the ground, a fast lever action is what is needed; I use Marlin 444 c/ 295gr Beartooth handloads. A 44mag, 30/30, 45-70 would work just as well. If you're shooting at distance, hard to beat an 06 or 308. Check Savage for your price range or consider used.

Hog hunting is exciting...never turn your back on one even after it's hit. They do have a tendancy to pop back up and are fairly ****** off. Have fun!

[Abel]

My only reservation with the 30-30 is that while researching this whole thing, I found a ballistics chart online. It looks like the 30-30 has about 25% less energy at 100 yards then the .308 for a 150gr bullet.

So? Don't be skeered. The 30-30 is plenty at 100 yards.

Also, a pump action rifle just makes me feel like I should be wearing a cowboy hat and talking like John Wayne.

Do you mean a lever action? John Wayne is a lever action man. And if you are concerned about a follow up shot on a hog-wild ragin' boar, you'd do better with a lever action or a pump than you would a bolt action.

[tjh]

Marlin xs7 in 308 would be the first pick . .

Savage are known for thier accurracy , most will out shoot anything factory made , they just look ugly .

Howa makes a good rifle and would be second choice .

[10-96]

Fast-Eddy and TJH pretty much mirrored my thoughts. Those Marlins are darn good rifles.

[matt_3479]

well depends.
You said it would most likely only be used on a few hunting trips. So If that few will only be hogs then buy a solid round like a 308. win, 30-06 win or 270. win. all cheap to shoot, popular and just a solid round.
If you will hogs aren't the only thing within though few trips something like moose, elk or bear then get a 30-06. whitetail or smaller get the 270. win

[dratner]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/57452

Is this the Savage rifle you all are referring too?

BTW, thanks for all your advice. You have been very generous.

-D

The marlin looks good too but I didn't find a deal with a scope. So that adds extra $$$ to the equation.

[crghss]

Easy now....

a pump action rifle just makes me feel like I should be wearing a cowboy hat and talking like John Wayne

You are talking about a lever action and a it's a Winchester. And whats wrong with a cowboy hat and talking like John Wayne???? Don't be messing with the Duke.

Pumps and Lever actions make great pig guns. 30-30, 32 or 308....

[dratner]

Your right, it was a lever action. Prob. just tired last night when I wrote that.

Also, nothing against Mr. Wayne. The Searchers is a GREAT western. One of the best. Just can't see myself holding one unless I am sayin "reach for the sky pardner"

[crghss]

Where do your relatives live? What do they use? Because I'd go with a carbine (shorter & lighter) style rifle. In FL it's pretty dense and flat, really flat. So I like something like these.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/58080

http://www.ruger.com/products/m77Haw...ht/models.html

http://www.ruger.com/products/m77Haw...ct/models.html

Taking the 1911 is a must. I take mine hoping that I get a chance to sneak into range and get a shot.

"The Searchers" WHAT? The Shootist.....

[lej0012]

+1 for the Savage, totally agree with the others, Savage for their price bracket make some of the finest most accurate rifles on the planet. I have 3, two model 10fp's and a Palma match rifle. Also .308 is one of the most versatile calibres around. You simply wont go wrong.

Stevens are made by savage, I have never seen one in the flesh, they are the budget end of the savage brand but ive never heard anything bad about them. I know they lack the accutrigger.

[oneoldsap]

A .308 with 180Gr. bullets will get the job done . Before you buy a new rifle check out the used racks in your area . The recession has taken a bite out of everybody , and when the baby needs milk the guns are the first things to go . Check out the auction sites too , GunBroker , Auction Arms . There are a ton of used guns available at good prices , if you search you will find one that suits you ,

[Lashlarue]

I'm not much of a game hunter, and only hunted feral hogs once, with a co-worker, who lent me a ar15. Pretty sure he invited me to help carry our quarry.He prefered the babies,said they were just better eating.He shot one and it dropped like a rock.But suddenly I was facing a very large sow who was more than ticked off.I got off one shot, that was perfectly placed, no fault of mine, she ran another ten yards then fell in a heap.I don't know her live weight as we were half mile from our truck, so we gutted her where she lay.Took an hour to get her to the truck and both of us to lift her into the bed.My friend said she had to have weighed 350 lbs live.So I do know a 223 Remington will kill a 350lb hog with a single shot.This was 1981 and fairly sure we were using mil spec ammo and the rifle I had was a Colt.