ORIGINAL: Capt. Mark Bennett
I wanted an opinion from the guys here at HN. I am relatively new to hunting. All of my hunting up until now has been archery. 1/2 mile from my house there is a WMA that opens for hog hunting for a few weeks a year. Archery hunting is allowed and shotguns, no rifles or muzzleloaders. The problem is this place is very thick swampy terrain. Very few wooded areas for treestand hunting. The wooded areas have almost zero hog sign. Mostly palmettos and peppertrees. I have walked/scouted this place extensively, about 5-7 miles a day. All of my encounters have been no more than 100 yds, but most are 30 yds or less. In this thick stuff archery is almost out of the question. We will be hunting there this season with our bows, but next season I want to get a shotgun. What would you guys recommend as far as brand (reliability, durability) and do I want a gun with a rifled slug barrel or a gun for shooting buckshot and or rifled slugs? I have no idea on range or accuracy with buckshot or rifled slugs. I have heard that rifled slug guns shoot accurate out to 100yds or so. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
BTW: If it matters most of the hogs we have seen so far have been on the large side. 200#+
[b]Capt. , since you say it will be your first time, ..........
ANY 12ga shotgun W/rifled barrel and a Sabot that groups well with it is fine for a 500 pd hog or Smooth Barrel with Slugs with Slugs that group well.....Not exceding range limitations.....
I have used many shotguns in my life from .410, 20ga and 12ga with Smooth Barrel to Rifled Barrel and Slugs and Sabots and 00 for Hogs............The one I have used for many years is an FN Browning A-5 W/ Hastings Full Rifled Barrel and Winchester BRI Sabots...
