general hog questions

GreenSwampHunter · 08-30-2009, 07:06 PM

i am taking my young cousins hunting for the first time this year. i am hoping to get them both a shot at a pig. i was wondering what gun was the best for them to shoot that could make a good, clean kill on a hog. one is 12 and the other is 15. we will be hunting from a ground blind so a long shot is not very likely. i have a 30-06 which i think is too much of a gun for them to handle. i also have a 12, 20 and .410 shotgun and a .22 lr. which gun would be good for them? and if a shot gun would buck shot or slugs be better? also, is it better to head shoot hogs or shoot them in the vitals?

aharley1 · 08-31-2009, 05:49 AM

I never shot any hogs but from what I gather, the 30-06 would do it. The 12 ga would recoil as much as the 06, so that would be out. Maybe the 20 Ga with a slug??

SWThomas · 08-31-2009, 06:34 AM

The .22LR would work for a head shot. Otherwise, I would try to stick with the lower recoiling guns for the youngsters. Unless you can get them out to the range and get them comfortable with the .30-06. What type of barrels do you have on the 20 gauge and the 410??? If they're rifled, you could use some sabot slugs. They are very accurate. If not, you could use rifled slugs but you'd probably want to get as close as possible to ensure a good clean shot. I don't recommend buckshot, but with a tight choke and engaging them up close, it'll work.

GreenSwampHunter · 08-31-2009, 03:11 PM

both the 20 and the 410 are smoth bore. ill prolly just let them shoot the 20 guage with rifled slugs.

SWThomas · 08-31-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSwampHunter

both the 20 and the 410 are smoth bore. ill prolly just let them shoot the 20 guage with rifled slugs.

That'll work. Just take them out and let them fire it several times so they can see where they need to aim. And ensure they're close to the hogs.

GreenSwampHunter · 08-31-2009, 03:53 PM

i doubt there would be any shots londer than 30 yards.

Hurricanespg · 08-31-2009, 05:14 PM

You could always shoot the '06 with managed recoil loads.

GreenSwampHunter · 08-31-2009, 06:44 PM

what loads would you recomend?

der Teufel · 09-01-2009, 05:51 PM

I've been casually shopping for a new rifle, and although I'm not certain that I'm actually going to buy one, my research indicated that one can buy "limited recoil" rounds for a 30.06. If you're shooting at close range, you might look into that for your cousins.

Supposedly they make a 30.06 feel more like a .243

Here's a link to an article on the subject:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rem_managed_recoil.htm

GreenSwampHunter · 09-01-2009, 09:07 PM

that is exactly what i need.thank you very much for the info.