1st Hog Gun ?'s
07-04-2008, 11:29 AM
#14
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
RE: 1st Hog Gun ?'s
Are you considering buying a new rifle? 1st rifle/1st hog rifle?
let us know what you're looking to do.....and what you have already, if you had a .30-06, great gun/round there to use, but if you're looking to buy a rifle, and if its your 1st rifle or not, that may make a difference.
Also even if you have no plans to hunt out west, if buying a rifle to hunt hogs, I'd probably opt for a rifle I could use out west if I ever had to.
It's pretty universally accepted that the .30-06 is the best single rifle all around for NA, but if you already have a rifle or two then maybe the suggestion would change....
let us know what you're looking to do.....and what you have already, if you had a .30-06, great gun/round there to use, but if you're looking to buy a rifle, and if its your 1st rifle or not, that may make a difference.
Also even if you have no plans to hunt out west, if buying a rifle to hunt hogs, I'd probably opt for a rifle I could use out west if I ever had to.
It's pretty universally accepted that the .30-06 is the best single rifle all around for NA, but if you already have a rifle or two then maybe the suggestion would change....
07-04-2008, 03:32 PM
#15
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 23
RE: 1st Hog Gun ?'s
I don't currently have a centerfire rifle, and have never hunted exclusively for hogs. I do like the .30-06, but I've done some research on the Marlin 308MX, which is a lever action that shoots the new .308 Marlin Express cartridge. This new cartridge has nearly identical ballistics as the regular .308 Winchester, but you can load it in a tubular magazine. The appeal to me for this gun & cartridge would be follow up shots on hogs. I could certainly use the gun for deer as well. This gun would be good for hogs, especially with see through scope rings for any close shots in the woods etc. Comments?
07-05-2008, 12:00 AM
#16
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 26
RE: 1st Hog Gun ?'s
I'm not familiar with the marlin 308MX, but marlin makes a great lever action. I would give a word of caution if you are planning on using hornady leverevolution ammo. On at least some marlins, the leverevolution ammo can jam in the magazine tube, leaving you standing there holding an expensive club. That is decidedly not fun when you have a 280 lb boar coming after you. Been there, done that, not fun.
About any centerfire rifle of .243 caliber or above will do the job on hogs if you do your part. But I would suggest that you never use a varmit bullet in any caliber on hogs. That, in my opinion, is a recipe for disaster.
As regard the see thru scope mounts, in my opinion they are not the best of both worlds, they are the worst of both worlds. I would suggest either a good peep, or a low power scope, I have a couple of the nikon 2X8's that work very well. Whichever you get, practice with it untill you are good with it.
Bill
About any centerfire rifle of .243 caliber or above will do the job on hogs if you do your part. But I would suggest that you never use a varmit bullet in any caliber on hogs. That, in my opinion, is a recipe for disaster.
As regard the see thru scope mounts, in my opinion they are not the best of both worlds, they are the worst of both worlds. I would suggest either a good peep, or a low power scope, I have a couple of the nikon 2X8's that work very well. Whichever you get, practice with it untill you are good with it.
Bill
07-05-2008, 02:25 PM
#20
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
RE: 1st Hog Gun ?'s
I'm weary of new cartridges, the .308 is hugely popular as is the .30-06, so a new .308 express etc....I'm not sure how successful/much of an impact it can make.
If fast follow up shots is what you want, consider a semi auto,otherwise I'd go for a bolt. Personally a bolt vs a lever IMO is splitting hairs as far as action speed. Most guys I ever see throw their bolt well after that 1st shot anyway, by the time most do, could have reloaded a single shot. So action speed wouldn't really affect my decision, but if either were, I'd go for a semi auto probably or bolt.
If fast follow up shots is what you want, consider a semi auto,otherwise I'd go for a bolt. Personally a bolt vs a lever IMO is splitting hairs as far as action speed. Most guys I ever see throw their bolt well after that 1st shot anyway, by the time most do, could have reloaded a single shot. So action speed wouldn't really affect my decision, but if either were, I'd go for a semi auto probably or bolt.