Going on a first time hunt with my 14 yr old son for hogs and I was wondering what some of your opinions were on good youth guns for hogs? He has not shot centerfire rifles before. He mostly uses a Mossberg 20 ga for birds and deer(rifled slug barrel for deer).

If he can handle a 20ga slug, then he can surely shoot a mid-size centerfire. I'm no hog expert...but a 25-06 or 270 would surely be enough. Just make sure to get a good bullet.

Unless you're looking at distance shooting, the 20Ga will do the job with either slugs or buckshot. My boys have killed about 5 with my Mossberg 500 and there have been no complaints.

If the boy is of small stature or if you're looking at longer shots, then a .243 would be a good choice as well - low on recoil, but with enough impact to do the job on all but the most HUGE model of hog.


"Every moving thing that liveth, I give unto you as meat" (Gen 9:3)

Trust God..........but keep your powder dry!

For hogs, I'd use something a little bigger than a 25-06, even though that would work. But, you want a bigger bullet to go through the thick armor cartlidge of a hog.

Last November I shot a 250lb boar with a .243, using a 100gr. SP bullet. One shot knocked it over and unconcious. After about 5 minutes, the boar woke up and started kicking. I think the .243 is a little light for a pig over 200lbs., but it WILL work.

To me and my son, a better option is the Remington Model 7, in .308 with a muzzle break. The model 7 has the famous "model 700" action, yet the gun is lighter and the stock slightly shorter. It works great for youths.

With a muzzle break on the gun, it has kick somewhere in between a .223 and a .243. It's a really pleasant gun to shot. My nefew who is 12, used it on a pig without any problems. Plus the .308 hits a pig much better than a .243 does.

JMHO.

for hogs you definatly need penetration. i would say go with a .308. if he can handle 20ga slugs for deer he can handle a .308 no problem. and .308 is a good deer caliber too.
heavy bullets in whatever you go with though. you need lots of penetration

How about using 20 guage deer slugs?

Yeah, like 1950kid said, how about the 20 ga slugs. Anyone have any experience with using either Remington's Premier Copper solid sabot slug or Federal's Premium Barnes Expander Sabot slugs for hogs? How about penetration? I have used them for deer and they are great.

I've used Federal, Winchester, and Brenneke 20Ga rifled slugs - all three delivered almost instant kills. I prefer the Brennekes as they are a little heavier & just plain look cool!

I like the suggestion of the .308, he can really grow with that gun (in a model 7 perhaps). Another one I would look at long and hard would be a model 7 in 7mm-08, it is a really light recoil rifle, with a good deal of power and pentration. If he can shoot 20ga slugs neither should be a problem, although I bet his Mossberg has a thicker recoil pad than a rifle does.

Gordon

[Deleted by Admins]