Why are BIG calibers so popular for Hogs? - Page 2

CobrayCommando · December 13, 2006, 05:49 PM

I think its pretty futile to discuss caliber choice. Experience is far more likely to change opinions, and thankfully takes up less bandwidth!

**Rich Lucibella** · December 13, 2006, 05:50 PM

Why are big calibers popular for hogs:
a) Because they're really tough animals
b) Because they do not tend to bleed much from entry wounds

Combine the two and you have lots of lost trails for already dead hogs with moderate calibers. Exits, especially BIG exits, tend to increase your odds.

That said, I just got back from Texas. I took 3 good Boar with a .308 Win Mod 70 and scout scope. It did the job and I've never felt "undergunned" when hunting hog with it. But over the long haul, I guarantee I'll lose more well hit hogs with the .308 than a 45-70.
Rich

Trip20 · December 13, 2006, 05:51 PM

The pup is growin' quick, Rich. Looks like you had a nice time.

**Rich Lucibella** · December 13, 2006, 06:01 PM

Yeah, Gringo's coming along real well.

As for a good time, leave it to me to have my first 3 Boar kill when I'm hunting HIGH DOLLAR DEER!

Rich

vanilla_gorilla · December 14, 2006, 05:00 AM

Nice looking pup there, Rich.

I believe in heavy calibers for oinkers because I've seen the scars of what a mean pig can do. Old timer around town when I was little told the story often of how a pig tore a huge gash up his calf, and he sported a scar to prove it.

Personally, I've sewn up a couple of dogs and buried several more that got too close to the wrong end of a pig. Just last year, a friend in AL shot a old sow with his 7mm Mag, but he was shooting offhand and pulled the shot (his words) and hit her in the throat area. She immediately turned and charged him. Three rounds and some dirty drawers later, she plowed dirt far too close to him for comfort.

I'll stick to big, heavy bullets.

High Planes Drifter · December 14, 2006, 12:30 PM

quote:
i think its more fun to catch them alive. but thats just me.
------------

Yeah, me too. Let the dogs pin him down, then tie the oinker, and pop him. When my Dad took me on my first hog hunt, he got out of the truck and put his Makarov in an in-wbh, I thought he was nuts to only bring his Mak. 2 hours, 1 very large hog, and 1 shot behind the ear(with the Mak) later, it became evident that anything else is just needless weight. The dogs we hunt with will kill the hog if you dont get there soon enough. Thats the hounds Im talking about; not even letting the catch dog loose. I just bring a .45 with me nowadays. Im not worried about getting charged by a hog. That hog has bigger problems than me to worry about, like the 7 or 8 black mouth curs & catahoulas chewing on his rump.

December 13, 2006, 06:01 PM	#29
Rich Lucibella Staff Join Date: October 6, 1998 Location: South Florida Posts: 10,229	Yeah, Gringo's coming along real well. As for a good time, leave it to me to have my first 3 Boar kill when I'm hunting HIGH DOLLAR DEER! Rich __________________ S.W.A.T. Magazine Weapons, Training and Tactics for the Real World Join us at TFL or at AR15.com or on Facebook

December 14, 2006, 05:00 AM	#30
vanilla_gorilla Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 272	Nice looking pup there, Rich. I believe in heavy calibers for oinkers because I've seen the scars of what a mean pig can do. Old timer around town when I was little told the story often of how a pig tore a huge gash up his calf, and he sported a scar to prove it. Personally, I've sewn up a couple of dogs and buried several more that got too close to the wrong end of a pig. Just last year, a friend in AL shot a old sow with his 7mm Mag, but he was shooting offhand and pulled the shot (his words) and hit her in the throat area. She immediately turned and charged him. Three rounds and some dirty drawers later, she plowed dirt far too close to him for comfort. I'll stick to big, heavy bullets. __________________ A gun is just a tool, the real weapon lies behind the face in the mirror.

December 14, 2006, 12:30 PM	#31
High Planes Drifter Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2005 Posts: 558	quote: i think its more fun to catch them alive. but thats just me. ------------ Yeah, me too. Let the dogs pin him down, then tie the oinker, and pop him. When my Dad took me on my first hog hunt, he got out of the truck and put his Makarov in an in-wbh, I thought he was nuts to only bring his Mak. 2 hours, 1 very large hog, and 1 shot behind the ear(with the Mak) later, it became evident that anything else is just needless weight. The dogs we hunt with will kill the hog if you dont get there soon enough. Thats the hounds Im talking about; not even letting the catch dog loose. I just bring a .45 with me nowadays. Im not worried about getting charged by a hog. That hog has bigger problems than me to worry about, like the 7 or 8 black mouth curs & catahoulas chewing on his rump. __________________ Plane, as in carpenters plane

December 13, 2006, 05:49 PM	#26
CobrayCommando Junior member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Posts: 1,631	I think its pretty futile to discuss caliber choice. Experience is far more likely to change opinions, and thankfully takes up less bandwidth!

December 13, 2006, 05:51 PM	#28
Trip20 Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2005 Posts: 2,181	The pup is growin' quick, Rich. Looks like you had a nice time.