About half the hog kills i made last year were with center fire rifles. Calibers used were .223, .308, .30-06, .300 Win Mag and .35 Whelen Improved. The remainder of the hogs were killed with a .50 muzzleloader using Goex Pinnacle powder and the 240 grain .430 XTP bullet, the 250 grain SST/Shockwave, or a 350 grain FPB bullet.
I try to put the bullet in the same place every time: Standing broadside, low behind the shoulder or in the shoulder. Quartering away: Mid ribs low.
None of my muzzleloader hogs shot this year ran very far after being hit with one of the above bullets. Can't say that for the centerfires though. One hog hit with a 180 grain Bonded Core-Lokt at over 2,900 fps from my .300 Win Mag went well over one-quarter mile. Another big hog hit with a .35 caliber 250 grain Nosler Partiton at about 2,350 fps went nearly as far.
A short non-scientific comparison leads me to believe that a M/L using a decent bullet is more effective on hogs than a centerfire rifle at normal M/L ranges.
I believe it.....I have shot Deer with Fist sized entrance holes and exit holes that were the size of Silver Dollars. My Hunting Buddies could'nt believe the devestation that My ML does. I got the nickname of Master Blaster. I cant figure out the devestation either, but I like it! That's why I just use a ML, No Shot Guns or Rifles anymore.
(BP)
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Those who hammer their Guns into plows will plow for those who do not. Thomas Jefferson
I have to say though that I have never hunted a Hog, though I would like to, so My Opinion on this one is only just that a Opinion. I wish we had Hogs to Hunt it would supplement the Venison well. I know Hogs are a problem to Farmers as the Coyotes are a problme to our Deer herd, so If I could I'd Kill as many as I was allowed with a ML or a Rifle.
(BP)
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Those who hammer their Guns into plows will plow for those who do not. Thomas Jefferson
The fellow that brought me into the world of muzzleloaders did so because I deer hunted with him for many years. . He always carried his .58 caliber CVA Mountain rifle or a 1861 Springfield Rifle (original from the Civil War) .58 caliber muzzleloader.
The gang we hunted with all considered George a little strange. You'd of had to know George to understand. He did have his quirks. But most of them felt he should use a center fire rifle. Yet, he always got his deer.
I asked George once why he hunted with a muzzleloader, and he swore his muzzleloader stopped them faster then a center fire rifle. He did deer hunt once with a center fire at my place up here. It was a Winchester lever action 44/40 that his Grandfather had bought and passed down to him. I told him to put that rifle away as it was too valuable to deer hunt with, but he just laughed. Like I said, you'd of had to know him.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
The fellow that brought me into the world of muzzleloaders did so because I deer hunted with him for many years. . He always carried his .58 caliber CVA Mountain rifle or a 1861 Springfield Rifle (original from the Civil War) .58 caliber muzzleloader.
The gang we hunted with all considered George a little strange. You'd of had to know George to understand. He did have his quirks. But most of them felt he should use a center fire rifle. Yet, he always got his deer.
I asked George once why he hunted with a muzzleloader, and he swore his muzzleloader stopped them faster then a center fire rifle. He did deer hunt once with a center fire at my place up here. It was a Winchester lever action 44/40 that his Grandfather had bought and passed down to him. I told him to put that rifle away as it was too valuable to deer hunt with, but he just laughed. Like I said, you'd of had to know him.
Dave your Buddy's not strange he's smart, I have taken crap for years about using my ML but as the years go by they have since changed there minds, now they just look at me when Im dragging out my deer.
(BP)
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Those who hammer their Guns into plows will plow for those who do not. Thomas Jefferson
I have shot a pile of deer over the last 40 some years.Not as many as some guys,but a enough to form an opinion.I have used shotgun with several brands of slugs..308 with a couple different bullets,and have never seen the damage done to an animal that my MZ can do. I do not know how you can have an entrance hole so large as what i get with these bullets. The first deer I shot this year,I painted the tree behind him with blood,hair and lung tissue. I left chunks of lung 6 feet off the ground 10 feet behind where he stood. Just amazes me,but maybe I'm a little strange too.
Charlie
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"Fathom the hypocrisy of a Government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured.... but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen"
Dave your Buddy's not strange he's smart, I have taken crap for years about using my ML but as the years go by they have since changed there minds, now they just look at me when Im dragging out my deer.
(BP)
BP-When I started using my MZ during the regular season,my brother in law asked my why, since I only had one shot.My answer to him was "When did you ever hear me shoot more than once?" I originaly wanted to extend my range beyond 100yds,but now I seem to use it in places where I only get close shots. I guess I am strange.
Charlie
__________________
"Fathom the hypocrisy of a Government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured.... but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen"
i'll agree with the quick kill MUZZLELOADER issue ,very lethal up to 100 yards ...past 100 yards i prefere my 300 wsm [center fire] with a 180 gr. ACCUBOND bullet ... i am not saying that ur ML. will not kill deer past 100yds. but i will let the deer walk ,and wait for anouther chance of collecting a deer ...i am only allowed 1 deer per season so there is no rush filling the freezer ..ps. it's OK if you don't agree with me ..
I almost wonder if that .300 mag was just to much and didn't mushroom much on that hog...I would think that a centerfire rifle like your .308 you used would lay the smack down just fine on a hog, that being said...I still think everyone here is correct, the ml seems to make a nastier hole....though I still shoot fail safe's in my 270wsm...and that makes one mean exit hole....but, this coming fall, I am thinking of carrying the smokepole for the first time during regular rifle season as well.
I have hunted deer since 1959 and used just about anything thats legal any where except a spear. In muzzleloaders I have taken deer with PRB in calibers from 36 to 62 and a lot of other game animals to; I have used a wide variety of center fires to and for North American game especially deer the 54 caliber with around a -70 twist and a120gr load is really hard to beat for laying them down right where they are hit.
The inline loads that come close for me are a 110 to 140 gr load with the sabot that shoots good and a 250 gr or 300gr Gold Dot, Nosler partition, and maybe the Lehigh. [I have only shot a couple of animals with the Lehigh but it impressed me.]
For long range I like the 200 gr bullets with a good BC. But the 250, 275, gr weight works well for me on deer for elk and moose the 300 to 350 gr have worked well.
Lee
Is a M/L More Effective Than a C/F Rifle on Hogs?
