Caliber selection
 

I'm sure this has been beaten to death, and perhaps someone wants to sticky this, but I was wondering what kind of caliber selection would be appropriate.

I've done a lot of reading on this for hog hunting, and my reading suggests that most folks go big, .35 remington and higher. But there does seem to be a some who use 30/30, 6.5x55 and the like and rely on better placement. Is this practical? Would using pistol calibers from cowboy shoots work?

Should I understand caliber as being loosely based on the size of the hog, or can a well placed 30/30 defeat even a 800 beast?

It seems foolish to play to their strengths by trying to blast through the shoulder plate, meaning we must shoot around it. But if the issue then comes down to penetration and placement, then a smaller faster more accurate round seems to be the place to go instead of leveling up to a .444 and the such.

As part of this, what kind of range do you all find that you most typically engage hogs? If people are engaging at primarily 50-100 yards, it seems that certain calibers would be more appropriate than if it's primarily 75-125 (although I'm guessing that most taking happens in about 10-50 yards from my reading).

Was just interested in getting some insight.

RE: Caliber selection
 

Hello neoinarien, You're right on target with your thinking. Most hogs are engaged between 25 and 100 yds. Precise bullet placement is critical and if you are capable, the 6.5 and 30/30 are grocery getters as they have the correct velocity and density for sufficient penetration to take out the plumbing without blowing apart. In the case of heavy cover, low light, unfamiliarity with the gun, or shakey hands,the large heavy calibers can be of benefit in case the shot encounters the plate. As for the cowboy stuff, loaded up .45 colts work well for us as well as standard 45/70s. Bullets designed for dangerous game are consistently the best performers. Ballistic tips and hollow points are responsible for many hogs not being recovered. Yet for culling purposes we use .22 mags or .223s placed appropriately in the ear hole. Even the largest hogzilla can't walk away from that!

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ear hole is the place to shoot, shot placement is very important

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Im thinking a deer riflew may be a little over kill on a hog. Im in the process of planning a weekend hunt in the Gays Mills, Wi area in two weeks from today. My buddy will be carrying his bow, I will be carrying my Taurus .44 Mag revolver. Being from a farm half my life, I know this...pigs are soft. A .44 would be just right without the over kill of a rifle like a .35 which is an excellent rifle. I have a Remington Model760 .35.

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I shoot most of my hogs with a .223 using game bullets (not varmint). I have had no problems downing hogs with it, either shooting them in the ear or slightly behind, or sometimes in the heart or lungs. I prefer the ear shot if possible because there is no tracking involved. I have taken several hogs with it this year, and I took over 75 with it last year. Most of my shots are very close, probably half are 10 yards or closer, but I have also taken some nice hogs at ranges out to 200 yards with it.

If a person can't kill a hog witha 6.5 or 30/30, they need to put in some more time at the range practicing.:D

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Killed several hogs with a 45 grain .22 Hornet bullet in the ear. All were bang flops.

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Most of all my hog hunting has been with dogs and carried side arm only, but for 75 & 100yd shots, a .243 w/100gr Sierra in a hogs ear will drop him where he stands.

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The ear shot is the fastest by far! Funny thing...size of critter don't matter when brain is disconnected from rest of body,and projectile size doesn't matter doing it!

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Ok, good. I wanted to make sure that I could use the trusty ol' 30/30 336c.

How about even lighter rounds, like a 38special from a marlin 94? Just really better nail that ear shot I suppose and then you can use anything.

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Have you tried these?




Or these?

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I have a box of them for my 336c .35rem, but I actually haven't done anything more than look at them. I've read the hype, but I've been curious to hear first hand from people who have used them if they have expanded well, etc. Basically, how do they work in the field and were there any noticeable downsides.

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I have tried the "Starfires", but not the "Evolutions".

Before all thenew .30-30 ammo, I always used aPSP Federal or Winchester for my first shot in the chamber and the otherFN in the tube.

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Heres what I like to use, I'm not sure of the caliber. [8D]

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i hear that reb just uses a big stick :D:Dknocks them in the head:D:D

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This last summer I worked up a load for my 22-250 using Barnes XFB 53gr Triple Shock Bullet pushed along with 35gr of Hodgdon's Varget Power, CCI 200 Primers and Remington Cases. I've shot four hogs since Jan 1st, wts. from 140 to 240#, three were from 100 to 130 yds and one from 87 yds. All were shot just ahead of the shoulder and all stopped in their tracks. The Triple Shock is a solid copper bullet thats hold together but open on impact with four leaves that tear the H out of the hogs insides. Will post pictures when I figure out how to reduce the size of the files.

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Bgunner,when you upload your pictures,have you Rightclickedon the picture to get the options menu?

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Greg.

Looks like about a 425 to me:);):D


I personally use a 410;)

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Look closely at the heads of these hogs, this is what a 30/30 does to hogs, we have since switched to a smaller caliber. Pay special attention to the fourth hog from the left.

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OOOOOOOOoWEEEEEEEE:):D, that's some good eating!

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I use either my 30-06 or 9,3x62 or rem 870 with slugs.

I am not a fan of those smaller calibers when it comes to hog-hunting.

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The largest hog we killed was shot with a .223 in the ear though I've also seen the bullets bounce of their skulls if you don't hit them right. We hunt them at night with a light and you have to snap shoot so a body shot is the easiest target. So we always use a large caliber we can get through the shield. I've shot one 350lb boar with a .35 remington and it didn't penetrate all the way through the shield from 65 yards. It stopped underneath the skin on the far side so it takes a large gun if you are going to shoot through the shield on a large boar. Right now I shoot a .450 Marlin and it will drop them regardless where I shoot them. So once the light comes on and I line upon the shoulder we shoot. It will put a large hole through them even through the shield.

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Sheesh, well I'd imagine that a 450 or a 444 Marlin would do the trick.

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Will do the trick onGrizz's also!:D:D:D:D

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Jeffs,

How far out do you have success with your 450?

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We normally shot anywhere from 25 - 100 yards though we have shot out to 200 with the new Hornady bullets.

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My son shot one with 6.5X55 140grGame Kingfrom about 40yrds. Hit it dead center just behind the shoulder and left an exit wound about 2in wide. It ran 30yrds and dropped. I think its just like any other animal, shot placement is the key to quick ethical kill.

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i've killed dozens of hogs, mostly with muzzleloaders. Anyone who has to shoot a hog multiple times with a high power rifle and a good bullet ain't hitting the hog in the right place. Biggestwildboari ever killed pegged the 350 pound scales when field dressed. Shot that hog through both shoulders with a 300 grain XTP Magnumbullet and 100 grains of Pyrodex RS from my old CVAStaghorn. The exit hole wasover one inch. The hog just fell over stone dead. Most of my hogs have been bang flops, including a sow shot at 190 long paces with my .50 Encore.

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Maybe in Wisconsin, but the Hogs down here in Fl are tough as nails. My buddy as well as myself have shot several hogs with 270wsm's and had several rounds not pass through....in my opinion, that's a pretty tough animal.

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If you're not using dogs, you need a shotgun w/rifled barrel and these Sabots. They expand to 70& 75 MM...

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Don't get me wrong Reb, we dropped them all within a few yards but my point was that it's tought to punch all the way through those hogs sometimes (you know as well as anyone).

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I have only killed 4 deer and 2 hogs so far, but I believe the LeverEvolutions are the greatest ammo ever for a 30-30.

And yes, a 30-30 is a great caliber for hogs. I have recently bought a Marlin 1895GS "guide gun" in 45-70 that I am really wanting to try out on a hog. I will be shooting LeverEvs in the 45-70 too. I just leased another 110 acres for my cows that has ALOT of hog signs, so I should be able to report back soon on the 45-70 versus a hog.

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retrieverman, the 45-70s work great. We've tried all available loads for it and have had full penetration by all.With a starting weight of 300 grns., it's the energy, not the speed that punches through a thick shield.We've had one instance of a double pass through with a hard cast 405 grn. One shot took out two nice boars. What a caliber!

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i kill most of my hogs with a 30-30, 223 is also a good gun for hogs but you have to place your shot right. i have even killed hogs with a .22

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My Marlin 1895 GS "guide gun" came in today, but the only ammo that the gun shop had for 45-70 was Federal Classic 300 gr Speer Hot Cor (so that is what I bought). Anyway, I only have a small range at my house, so I shot the gun open sights at 25 yards and was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy and lack of recoil (this is the ported model). My intention is to find some LeverEv ammo before I try it on hogs. This may be sacreligious to many of the lever gun shooters, but I am for sure going to scope the gun. I am too blind for open sights at anything over 25-30 yards.

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I have had good luck with both the .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H on hogs, full penetration, and the hogs never took a step. Was using Federal Power Shok ammo in all instances.

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You are so right Beartooth375. I was using a Winchester model 70 in 375H&H when I took a 400lb pig and it dropped like a ton of bricks had just hit it. I sold it years ago and now I'm looking for the same type but It's been a real hard gun to find. I just bought aWinchester model 70 in 7mm Rem I'm hoping will do just as good of a job on these Texas and Arkansas hogs.

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41mag will get a thru and thru...

some of y'll are using a whole lotta gun to kill a pig.

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The funny part of it is, all of the guys in my hunting party made fun of me for carrying a .375, yet they were green with envy after I killed a hog with it.