Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

I will be hunting wild hogs/Javelina in TX in March and need advice on what rifle is needed. I have a 280 Remington that I reload with 140 BT and 160 Nosler Partitions. Also, an older 30-06 Springfield that I have reloaded over the years with bullets from 150-180 grains. The Outfitter says the 280 BT will do too much damage to the Javelina, and may not penetrate on the hog. On any day, either might be encountered. So, what do I carry? One compromise would be to use the 280 with 160 the Nosler Partition. I also have a 225 Winchester in the box, but since it has never been fired, I hate to break it out for this. Also, I do not want to purchase another rifle. Any advice would be appreciated.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

i think that they 280 would work for both with the 140. just my opinon

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

A really, really, giant javelina might go 40 lbs, on the hoof. Run of the mill hogs might weigh 200. It sure is a tough problem, unless you wanted to carry two different pistols. :D

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Either the 280 or the .30-06 will get the job done just fine. I WOULD advise not using the Ballistic tip bullets though. I've had BAD luck with them on hogs in .308win. They tend to explode on impact - leaving MASSIVE entry wounds & sub-caliber exit holes. Any good standard bullet for either rifle will work fine - the Partitions, Sierra Gamekings, Barnes Triple Shocks, or even the old Rem Core-Lokts will put Porky right on the ground.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Either of the two, the 280Rem. or your 30-06, should work just fine. But, I'd stay away
from the BT bullets. Nosler Partitions should be fine, as would most other standard bullets such as Rem. Core-Lokts.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

I am going on a hog hunt (my first) in March in Tenn. I asked this same question, and after many responces and talking with guides etc. have settled on using my 760 pump, in 30-06 with 180 gr Nosler Accubonds, they have all said that i will get the penetration I need plus will hold together well also. My backup gun I am taking is my 870 with 3" Brenneke slugs. I figure, if I cant knock a hog down with one of them two, I shouldnt be hunting. As far a the javalina, I dont know what to say, i dont know how much damage a 180 accubond would do to one, it may pass right through.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

ditto what everybody else said, but if you shoot a javalina with either of those guns its gonna stink to high heaven, oh wait a minute they stink anyway

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Howdy Hunter401 and welcome to the forums!

I would just take whatever gun you shoot best in whatever load your gun shoots best. Either one is capable of providing a clean kill on most anything Texas has to offer.

:D The hogs don't smell any better. Any hog I've ever shot (or helped fetch that somebody else shot) that weighed over about 100 or so pounds stunk so bad that nobody could do anything with them.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Javeline are stupid and blind, hogs are just blind and nocturnal, Both are easily stalked to within bow range. Get a different rifle and make some fun out of it. Grab a .222 or something and stalk them an pop them behind the ear. Actually a .222 is more than enough for a javeline with a body shot.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Any gun you have talked about here will work fine. I've taken 200LB+ pigs with all those listed and dropped em in their tracks. Take the one you can drive tacks with.

.357 185gr under 50yards
.260 120gr
.270 130gr
7RM 139gr

Right behind the ear. But I have also taken a bunch with shots to the boiler room, head on shots, and even a shot through the shoulder on a 250lb using the 7RM. Mind you no pass through on it but he dropped on the spot.

BTW. . . .ferral pigs see just fine. . .the reason folks think they can't see so well is there heads are low, so you can get lots closer than with Deer etc. I guy who keeps these guys around tells me they can tell one person from another at over 50 yards. They are noisy eaters too so I enjoy crawling right up on them using open sights. A prone shot at 15 yards while having a 200lb pig snort at you does get your heart pumping.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Sorry. . .the stink thang. . . .they wallow in all kinds of nasty stuff. so. . . .get him to a hose and give em a good scrub before you start cutting. makes a big diff.;)

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

hey georgetown, what the deal with the extra tit on the back of the javalinas, i heard it was a scent gland?

this is true, but them javalinas are the worst, guy told me i could shoot a few more and i'm like why, i'm sure not gonna try to eat another one, i bet the people that gave me that recipe are still laughin

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Use 30-06 with Remingtons manged recoil. It will work fine on hogs and javelina.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Use your .280 and concentrate on shot placement. Shot placement is KEY. A decent 7mm bullet on top of a .280 has plenty of power for hogs. Just make sure you can hit with your favorite load.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

We hunt mainly ferals, and most encounters are in close brush. We generally use 12 guages with rifled slugs or 3 1/2 in buckshot loads. If you are going to be on the open southern plains rifle would obviously be superior.

As to your question, we have had good kills with a rem 700 in 30-06 using core-lokt on 220lb hogs.

And as you have heard, they wreak to high heaven.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

it sounds like your going to be hunting a lease. if this is so, your probably going to be hunting from a blind. if this is the case i would bet that none of your shots will be over 100 yards at the most. the 140gn bullet in th e.280 would be my choice. you will ahve all day to place your shot on the pig. i would say that th ebullet will travel staright through like an arrow at that range. have tons of fun and good luck.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Dang it why'd you let the secret outa the bag? ;)

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

for javelina you really dont need anything more then a .223 rem, I've used a 22 magnum for javelina but opt more towards either my .223 or 22-250. as for hogs ive killed ferrell hogs with both my .223 and 22-250 and a few with my 308. When you say hogs do you mean Boar?? for a boar Id use my 308 and nothing less

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

I live in west Texas where the feral hog population is almost epidemic. I have shot a lot of hogs, They are often a target of opportunity so I use what I have. That being said all you have to do is hit it form the shoulders forward. They are thick and heavy in the shoulder but the 30-06 with 150’s will do that fine. But I have had several clean kills with a 243 and numerous with a 7.62x39. I did have to track one and shot it again with the 7.62 and I shot a 200lb +++ with a 223 that took two rds to the neck and head to drop, it didn’t even move after the first hit so I shot it again then it took two steps and fell, so they are not just real tough When I go hog hunting I take either a 44 mag or a 30-06. You could use a lighter 06 load for the shot at a javelina, never shot one so I can speak only out of a slightly educated attempt at a guess.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

m.t.hands. . .Have only chased Javelinas while hiking. . .all my shooting has been on the feral flavor, they are more of a southern Texas thang. In Hill country, central Texas, we have LOTSSSS of ferals. But yep I am told those Javelinas do have some powerful stink.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Thats no joke..... man do they have some powerful stink. take the stink of jack rabbits bowl multiply by 1000 and you get javelina stink.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Did ya'll know that javelina are in a diffent family than pigs completely. They are not pigs. Anyways...how about 30/30 for hogs? Any experiences?

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

hmmm then what family are they from?? the horse family?? according to someone i know in missouri they are small horses lol. Well...... they look like a pig and have a pig nose, a pig tail, pig hooves and the males have tusks just like male pigs, they make sounds just like a pig.......... oh and the meat is the same texture and tastes just like pig just alittle more gamie........ you know the old saying if it looks like a pig and sounds like a pig its a pig. the only difference is they have alot more hair then your regular pig.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

The interenet is a great place for quick info.... that said I just read that Javelina are not pigs but more or less they are their own specie class and if they were compared to another specie they would be closer to a hippo or a rhino than a pig. and that they stink because of a dorsal gland which can be carefully removed during skinning and does not effect the quality and taste of the meat aslong it is removed properly. good info totally openned my eyes i look at these critters with a bit more respect now

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

you guys are exaggerating the stink, we took a couple if javelina this past season and I personnaly cleaned them and they are not that bad .
Desert wolf is correct, they are pig like but they are not pigs , more related to a kangaroo rat than a pig. I have video of my son who took one this year with a 125 yd shot. Pretty cool video, wish I knew how to put it here for you guys to see. He shot it with my .243 and it destroyed the whole front half, I wouldnt reccomend using a .280 or 7 mag or even a 30-06 on them. They are small animals, 30-40 lbs is average. Hunting them with a handgun would be sport, as they are very easily stalked.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

yep i wouldnt use anything real big as far as calibers go before i mentioned the use of a 22 magnum and also a 223 is ideal for the longer shots, i think this year im gonna try using my 30-30 with cowboy loads pushing a 160 grain cast lead bullet at around 1300 fps this should do the trick with minimal meat loss.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Hello Hunter401.

RIGHT-ON Georgetownboys........sounds like you have done it a time or three or a Hundred?

I use 35 Rem. on ferels.Down here they get 200 to 300lbs,good dog food! We prefer 75 to 85 for the table.


KEEP ON ROOTING!!!

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

HighDesertWolf. . .the Javelina is a member of the Pecari family.

Check this web page. . . .http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...ri_tajacu.html

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Mark.....you don't think .280 or 30-06 is to much for Javelinas? Just asking!

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

jmfa1957.....I'm a little confused about a 7mm bullet on top of a .280.....?

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Hunter401.....ferel hogs, .280 or 30-06, but javelinas .223 or .243,should be plenty.....

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Bonedoc.....I have killed many a hog with Win 94 30/30 and Win 94 .35Rem.
Depends on the brush I'm hunting in. I carry both in the truck.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

timgrant_75.......In order to learn how to castrate, you have to cut alot of _ _ts! Just my opinion.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Bonedoc......the Javalinas are native to Central and South America.like HighDesertWolf said they are from the Pecari family .The Ferel is not.Ferels were brought
to the US by the Spaniards.In Fla there is no season for hogs,they are always legal to shoot any time of
the year,except on WMA's....They are not native game to the US.
The Russian boars {Razor Backs}....were brought to this country {North Carolina-Tenn. and Arkansas}
by East Coast business Tycoons for thier clients to hunt thier properties in those states.
Javelinas were taken back to Spain by the spaniards for a game animal, from central america.
They are called the pigs of central America.They are also all over the Pacific Islands.Perhaps they are
the Mother of all pigs......Happy Hunting!

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

HighDesertWolf.......remember Genesis 9:3...

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

Bama, say what? On Javalinas! Come-On Man.....

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

WHAT??...... they do stink, their dorsal gland puts off a heck of stinch!!!! but once cleaned up and cooked right they are mighty tasty.

RE: Gun for Hogs/Javelina
 

A .280 remington is the same as a 7mm remington express just the .280 is basically a +P version, you can use a 7mm rem express in a .280 but cant use a .280 in a gun chambered for 7mm rem express for chamber pressure reasons. But anyway a .280 remington uses a .284" diameter bullet which is equal to a 7 mm bullet so basically to help you understand a .280 uses a 7mm bullet. hope this helps you.