Perfect fit gun for hunting the Florida wild boar hog
In Florida we are fortunate to be able to hunt twelve months out of the year. On private land there is no closed season on the very cunning, dangerous, wild boar hog. One of the first questions facing the serious hog hunter is, should I use a shot gun or rifle? Without question a shot gun with buck shot will put a hog down. But will it keep him down? Large boar hogs have what is called a shield protecting the front part of the animal. This 'shield' is very capable of stopping, to a large extent, even 00 buck shot. I have harvested many huge hogs with a shot gun. However, I have also had many run only to die a painful death later on.
If we decide to use a rifle, the 'shield' is no problem. Non-the-less, putting them down and keeping them down can prove to be very difficult. Even a heart/lung shot is no guarantee our trophy will stay down. We all have our own opinion as to which gun, and what caliber, is best. Here is where personal preference plays a huge part.
I have been hunting hogs in Florida for over 50 years. I have learned a great deal of respect for them. For many years my gun of choice was a BAR 7 mm Mag. Very fast and powerful, however, without a perfect head shot, often not available in the wild, they will run even on this very powerful magnum caliber. Somehow hogs just do not think too much of the idea of being shot; they definitely are not happy campers. They have a tenancy to act rather badly. Most try to get away; some don't. Our big boar's tusk tend to be rather large, and he definitely knows how to use them. Being charged by a 200 + pound wild boar hog is not exactly a good situation to be in. By far the better solution is to drop this monster and keep him down before he has a chance to inflict grave bodily harm. My personal preference; my 'Perfect fit gun for hunting the Florida wild boar hog' is the Marlin 1895 stainless 'guide' gun. It's small, fast, easy to take care of, extremely dependable, and can chamber the big boar, drop them in their tracks, 45/70. Will it keep him down? You had better believe it.


Bob Harbison Florida Outdoor Writers Association

I did a lot of hog hunting when I was stationed at Pensacola. I liked the Marlin Guide Gun in 450 Marlin. When it hit, the hog just went "flop" and started kicking. A very effective gun for hogs. The factory shells for the 450 are quite a bit stouter than factory 45-70 rounds but if you handload, there isn't any difference in the 2 rounds when it comes to ballistics.

For what it is worth, I've got a Marlin 45-70 as well but it is a full sized rig and not the shortened gun like the Guide Gun. So, the Guide Gun got the nod for hogs since often I needed to go in the thick nasty stuff and the shorter gun was easier to wield effectively. I used it on a few bison as well. It works for them too!

If I did not already have my 45/70 I would love to try the 450. I have heard a great deal about it; all positive. Isn't that Guide Gun really something! Mine is in stainless; very easy to take care of.
Guess one reason why I am so intrigued with the 45/70 is because of the 'Old West' background. It was originally used with black powder as a buffalo gun. The 45/70 was also used in some Gatling Guns:

I am a bolt action addict and would probably go into convulsions if I tried to hunt with anything else.
When I visit the family in GA and go after hogs down on the Oconee River I use my 35 Whelen and 250 grain factory CoreLokts.

Drops them DRT most of the time.

I prefer an AR-15 chambered 458 socom, basicly a mid level 45/70 in a short semiauto
300 gr hp at 2200 fps
RR

Never hunted hogs but would use my dad's bear gun. Remington 760 30/06 with 18" barrel and 2-7 Leopold

I am sure all the guns & calibers mentioned would do the job very well.The best choice is what you feel most comfortable with. My advice would be to pick whatever you think is best for you & stick with it. Get to know exactly what your weapon will and will not do. Go to the range; practice a great deal. We owe it to the animal we are hunting to make a quick, humane, kill..