Hog Hunting
 

What caliber weapon do ya'll use to shoot hogs with? Tomorrow will be my first hog huntin trip and I was just wandering what to use.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Your going hunting tomorrow for hogs and asking about what gun to use? Man people like you scare the the bageezus out me and I ain't scared of nothin, Bobby

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Well thanks for the info 121553! That sure helped me make my decision!

RE: Hog Hunting
 

It depends on how I'm hunting them, if it's from a treestand I use a 300 win mag or my 30-06 with 180grain silvertips. If I'm hunting with dogs I use a 10" knife and carry the 30-06 just in case one of the dogs gets hurt and the knife isn't an option.

Sounds like you're hunting without dogs, I would use anything .270 or above. Or a shotgun with slugs.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I depends on the hogs. The Russian bore has a grissle plated chest and shoulders. A 22 mag would not penetrate. A 223 bullet might fragment and not do any good. Be safe and use something 30 cal. with a non hollow point bullet. Minimum 30-30 or 7.62x39. You need to make a good heart lung shot . They are like most animal with their heart down low and right between their front shoulders with the lungs around that. Field dress them like a deer and find a meat processor that can handle wild pig.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Don't mention it, I'm glad you dicided too stay home until you learn that the hunt starts way before the night before you go. Since when do you start studing for an exam the night prior to the test? You get an F. Bobby

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Bobby, Is it really necessary to be like that? I asked an innocent question on a hunting message board and get this. I know where I'm going to hunt and what I'm doing. I just asked a simple question as to what caliber weapon you guys would suggest using on a hog. If thats a problem get over it. I'm not on here to bicker with people lie you, I'm here to talk hunting.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I just find it intresting that you waited till the night before you go hunting and ask this question? I am just somewhat confused on your part of preperation for this. Don't take it as a personal attack, none intended, Bobby

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I was just invited last night(the night the question was asked) to join my cousin on a trip to his lease. No harm done just asking since I've never done it. Gotta learn how to do things sometime from somebody right?

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Well then tell us what kind of weapons you have in your arsenal that you can use or you going out to walmart and buy one before you go?

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I sayif you shoot your guns well, you can pick what you use the night before and be fine.

Me, for them hogs I would take a 45/70 Marlin lever gun in the thick woods, or in a little more open place a .300 mag of sorts. Make sure you put it down cause those Russians are mean mothers.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I agree with Bigbore. I don't know how much preparation I'd put into a hog hunt either. If you're already a decent "hunter"? Pick a high caliber rifle and go. We used muzzleloaders the time we went down in Florida. They weren't Russians, but knowing the capabilities of your firearms is always your first reponsibility.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Newmansking, don't worry bout people like that. 121553, he was just asking a simple question. If you are not going to try and help him out, don't post anything. Newmansking, good luck on the hog hunt.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

How about 12 guage slugs?

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I have used my 375 Big Bore Win. mod.94 for years in Arkansas. works very well on those big Russ. boars out to about a hundred yards.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Well excuse me, but I take it kinda a personal when someone goes hunting for the first time for hogs and ask what gun they should hunt with, I wonder about there skills when asking this question as I am concerned about there ability to handle a weapon that may be given to them by a friend prior to the hunt. I have never had a friend call me up on the phone the night before hunting day and ask me what broadhead to use on an elk or what gun should I bring the night prior to a hunt, if he did, it would show his lack of experience, not to mention that someone whom may be unskilled in firearms and having someone just stick a rifle in their hand the morning of the hunt and expect him to shoot a hog, my questions that I ask is I am more concerned abount his ability and experience in handling a firearm than anything, I like to think that what I know I can share with others through my mistakes and when I go into the woods I like to think their are people behind that gun that know what their doin, but to come up the night before the hunt and ask that question really tells me the experience level that this person has and needs to be put in cheque until he has had the training to know how to hunt the species prior to the night of the hunt.
If you or he gets the feathers ruffled than so be it, I was just tring to find out his experience level, as I think I found that out, Bobby

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I used a 60# compound & 3 Blade Rocky Mountain Broadheads on 9 hunts last year. good luck in your hunt. I would guess any large caliber would be good but then-I only Bowhunt..

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I would have to agree with Bobby on this one. Not to knock Newman but If the question had been " I received a last minute invitation, these are the guns I have which is best suited?" I don't think there would have been a cross word said. The way the original post comes across is exactly how Bobby replied to it.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Well thanks Bobby, what a valuable asset you have proven to be on this site. Man, what would we do without you? You complain about his lack of knowledge on the topic and don't help him any, just complain. Thank you Bobby, we appreciate all your help. Hey everybody, no more questions allowed on this site, that's not what it's for.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Thanks Old Faithful for realizing it's a simple question that requires a simple answer. Thanks also to everyone who responded. Bobby, I've been around guns all my life and own just about any caliber capable of blasting a hog. I was just asking what caliber would best suit mowing down a hog. Sorry Bobby if I didn't give you a life history or a hunting skill level. From now on I'll keep the questions to a minimum and let the "experienced hunters" talk about it. (oh and by the way we didn't see any hogs anyway)

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Last time i went both my dad and I had .300 Savage. But he was using an .300 Savage Mag.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

i too find it very troubling as not knowing what weapon to use, why did he not ask his friend or whoever invited him.i too would be seriously concerned about hunting experience here. an experienced hunter would not have to ask.if i knew nothing about what weapon to use i would ask the one who invited me. that is not a slam on anyone but a genuine concern.
i just got in sunday night from a 3 day hog hunt in palestine,texas.hogs are not meant to be should in the shoulder area due to the plates they have.the best shoy is behind the ear.using a bow the best shot is a quartering away shot.you need to practice with what you use and the nite before does not allow that. i have pics of out hunt for anyone to see.many hogs have been recoverd with old bullets and broadheads inside them.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

dep,
Sounds like those hogs are as tough as elk, I also believe shot placement is very critical on an elk as a hog. I killed a bull during archery season 3 years ago and upon butchering a front shoulder I found a 50 caliber black powder slug embedded in the front shoulder blade, Would like to go hog hunting one of these days, would think it would be alot of fun, and exciting...

RE: Hog Hunting
 

This is why I second guessed your skill level. You want to learn the night prior to the hunt and the imformation you provided is you gave the impression this is your first hunt and wondering what gun to borrow? This is why I gave you the impression you don't need to be out in the field jeopardizing someones life. I just wonder if you actually ever have completed a hunter safety course or not and also wonder how many years you have actually been hunting?
A man with all the weapons you say you has knows that any weapon will just about bring a hog down, but if you must know for future references this is my own personal resume for hogs,

* Bow 45# Kodiak Hunter
* Bow 60# Black Widow (175 LB boar)
* Bow 63# Golden Eagle
* 45 cal. Thompson Center Muzzleloader(s)
* H&R 22 pistol
* 22 Rifle(s)
* 30-30
* Shot gun(s) slugs and 00 buck
I have probaly killed at least 20 hogs + or minus in my life and mostly it depends on the shot as sometimes you got to wait on on the right angle of projection, I have shot some nice hogs and with the shoulder on some boars its so caluised that a straight broadside shot is out of the question as you won't be able to penetrate it a lot of times, thats with a bow, so the best shot you can ask for is one that is quartering away, but the shoulder is tough as amour. I have left many an arrow dangling with only an 8 inch penenatration and no blood, but sooner or later the chest cavity will fill up with blood and it will drown if your patient and don't push the animal. I have also ben hooked a couple times by the clackers, good luck, Bobby

RE: Hog Hunting
 

here in texas if you use a 22 on a hog you will be wasting your ammo.from a stand it will not penetrate the skull/neither will a 22mag.you would have to be close enough to place the gun directly against their headmost of the ranches i have been to laugh about the 22 and will not allow them.i use a 7mag and a 30.06. a 30-30 will do nicely also if close enough.we used 125 gr broadheads and they all bent.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

True, newmanisking didn't provide much information on which to make a reasoned response. I guess there are a few ways to approach a message like this. I can see three approaches:

1) No response at all. Maybe you don't have any help to offer, maybe you didn't see the note until a few days later and figured it was too late.

2) Offer a note of welcome to a new member of our community. Share with him/her ways to improve the quality of their questions so that you can better help them. Offer some general advice that may help them out while they refine their post.

3) Throw back an insult like you were tossing a hand grenade at an enemy solder. We don't like strangers around these parts! At least strangers who don't format their message the way we think they should.

Welcome to the forum newmanisking. Stick around. Mostly we fall into the first or second categories. Very few of the third. But everyone has an occaisional bad day. For the most part this is a real helpful bunch.

You've already gone and come back, but here are my thoughts. I used a 30-06 on my hog hunt. A friend used a 270WSM. A guy I know uses a 7mm-08. Something in the mid-range will do. Pick a tough bullet as hogs have tough hides and a bullet for thin-skinned game might come apart before it can penetrate and do its work.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Hey newsman, how did your hunt go? What did you end up using? Hope it did the trick man!

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Thanks Bobby and everyone else. I will definitely use this information next time I go. Hopefully next time we'll see something

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Don't mention it, like Dep214 said, 22 is not a recommended caliber, but it would depend on ones skill level also as when I shot mine with 22's, I was within 10 feet (3yds) and I shot them behind the ear and quartered the shot up between the eyes, I was very close in making these shots, but I would not recommend in using a 22. I just wanted to clear that up, Bobby

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I know what you mean Bobby. I didn't think a 22 would be a good choice with the hogs having such thick skin. I've heard a lot of people say just take head shots if your able too cause thats alot easier kill.

BigBore, we had a good time but didn't see any hogs. Did see some turkeys though and I wish turkey season was in! Next week it will be but I won't be able to go cause my daughter's having surgery but maybe the next weekend I will get too. Good luck everyone

RE: Hog Hunting
 

we jus got back from a 3 day hog hunt last sunday. it was archery only.was a real hoot.no offense to anyone but there is not a single ranck=h i have called that will allow a 22 to be used on hogs.skill level or not the probability of killing a hog with a 22 is extremely slim.with a large hog it is even smaller.if the shot has to go thru bone or the thick hide the 22 will lose its energy.to kill the hog you would almost have to have the gun up against the hogs ear

RE: Hog Hunting
 

dep214, SLAPP!!!, SLAPP!!!, thats why I said I wouldn't recommend a 22.
As far as head shots go, I shot a boar with my muzzloader one time and knock it down right in its tracks, I went up to it and sliced the throat and then went to field dress it, then the dang thing came back to life and hauled ass out of there, by this time it was dark and after some tracking found him about 20 minutes later, I thought I had lost him but when I shot him the impact knocked him out and if I didn't slice its throat, I never would of found him. Bobby

RE: Hog Hunting
 

22LR penetrates the skull with ease. I don't know why you think they wouldn't. With a 22, you have to aim for the brain between the ear and eye. On very small pigs, it sometimes can brake the vertebrae and drop the pig in it's tracks but if it's a good size pig, you have to shoot for the brain. Vital shots can also sometimes take out young pigs but are not reliable.

The 22mag is the minimum legal cartridge when hunting with the use of dogs here in Hawaii. With more power and slightly larger bullet, it should be able to drop a pig in it's tracks if you hit the spine or vertebrae. I don't know how it would work with vital shots but I'm sure it would be better than the 22lr.

Any cartridge from .223 on up can take out a pig. But pigs are the toughest animal around in my opinion. They are much tougher than elk. Good shots will kill them just as easily as any other animal but their ability to survive marginal hits makes them one of the toughest animals around. But any bullet that hit's them in the "Drop them in their tracks" area will drop them in their tracks. The vitals are a different story. I've heard some bad stories about the 30-30 but then, I've heard alot of good stories too. I would say that the minimum would be a .270 or 7mm. 300 win mag is a good bullet choice. So is 30.06. The bigger, the better for vital shots. 44mag. I prefer 12 gauge slugs. They punch a nice hole even through the thickest pad ensureing a good blood trail. Buck shot works good too at extremly close distance and is good if your driving the pigs with dogs because you can easily hit running pigs. The only bad thing is that you might hit the tusks.

The pad is actually a thick layer of dence skin. Notice how tough even thin skin is. Now imagine skin that is 1 - 2 inches thick. You can shoot low in the chest at the heart and go completely under the worst of it ensureing a great blood trail.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Newmanisking,

Welcome to the board, I'm fairly new at it myself, but not at hog hunting. You will probably have already gone on your hog hunt by this time, and I hope you had a great time.

As you can see from all the replys, there are many choices of weapon to take wild hogs. I grew up hunting them in Georgia with my father, he started me when I was in the 5th or 6th grade, and I can assure you that has many years ago. My two choices of weapon are the 22 Mag. or 357 Mag. I have taken them with 30-06, 30-30, 243, 7mm-08, 16 ga buckshot, 223, and Bow and Arrow. We have a wide variety of hogs where I hunt, russian, ferral, true Georgia swampers, and any cross in between and it all comes down to shot placement as others have told you. I have never had the opportunity to elk, moose, or bear hunt, but I'll put a 250 lb hog up against any of the big game animals as for as tuffness and ability to take a shot and keep going.

I hunted with dogs and mostly just still hunting, have had dogs cut wide open from the hogs tusk, and a friend or two has been cut. Trust me, they can be bad and will put you up a tree if you hunt them long enough. We have caught many alive by slipping in and grabing them by the back legs when the dogs had them backed up in a thicket. To say all of the above is to say this with a word to the wise, a Sow with pigs is more dangerous than any boar hog, tread lightly when in hog country, she will defend her pigs. I've seen a sow run off and leave her pigs and when she hears one her pigs squeal, from a dog catching it, she will return like a run away freight train.

Hope your hunt was a great experience and the above and other replys helped you.

dog1

RE: Hog Hunting
 

somebody done told you wrong that 22lr will penetrate the skull with ease.you would have to almost have the gun against the head.the probability of it wounding the animal is too great .i would never even attempt the risky shot.i shot one behind the ear with a 7 mag and it still lived. i had to use a second shot to bring him down

RE: Hog Hunting
 

I think the guy asked an honest question. The guy with flag has too much time on his hands. I saw his list of weapons he would use on the hunt, just hope he doesn't wait until the last night to choose what he wants to hunt with. Be such a disgrace to hunting if he did not give it at least 4 months of thought.

If you are not sure of someone's level, just ask.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

i agree he asked a honest question. the night before the hunt is not the time to ask that question.if asking anyone it should have been asked of the guy who invited him

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Dep, that is the point that was being made but some blew it way out of proportion.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

i have no problem at all with the question.that is just like hunting any animal. practice for that animal with the weapon suggested. this guy did not have time i think.i practiced with my cross bow for weeks before a hunt. i do the same with guns before hunting season.this guy was in a bad position.

RE: Hog Hunting
 

Hmmm.. I guess I must have been dreaming when I shot my first pig with a 22lr, because at about 10yds I shot him directly behind the ear , he dropped and never quivered, well over 250lbs, shot another in the neck with my .44 mag at about 40 yds , the bullet hit the neck vertabre and followed it into the head, it did take a second shot to finish him , but he was paralyzed and down for good, I guess theres exceptions to every rule