largeli

Hey guys, gonna totally put myself out here now and just say I am looking to go on a hunt by end of this year. Only experience I have with rifles is the Marine Corps issue M16 A2 and that was about 10 years ago....

I dont wanna be a pest around here, and ask all these stupid questions, been reading some old threads and stuff but really just wanna know where to start....any good reading you can direct me to or whatever. I live on the west coast not too much "country" around....I mean theres plenty of guided hunts within a half days drive that I have found on line, Pig Point Ranch, Raw Hide West, and others but where I live theres realy no hunting comunity so Im left to trying to learn about this stuff on my own.

So any good reading on different types of rifles for hogs, and any good reading for a begginer with zero hunting experience that I should know before booking a hunt would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

romat

Welcome largeli. An excellent way to start is keep reading this forum! Tons of information goes thru every day. Is it Hogs you are after? Or hunting in general?

largeli

Thanks for the reply, romat...yeah hogs seem the most abundant hunting within driving distance, maybe turkey. I wanna eat whatever I kill and I love pork and turkey. Never ate deer, but I guess hunting in general.

Im gonna get a rifle in the next few weeks, any advice for someone who has very little experience with firearms? I mean I dont have "zero" experience, like I said I was comfortable enough with the m16a2 to score a sharp shooter badge in the Marines hitting targets from as far as 500 yards out. But that was 10 years ago.

der Teufel

I'll make a few comments, but you'll find there are many different opinions and most of them are probably valid.

As for rifle type, one's personal budget is probably the biggest consideration regarding that choice. I've heard (only hearsay) that some folks are unhappy with the Remington 770 series. The 700 series seems to get good ratings. There are obviously many other good rifles available, Check here and other forums for rifle commentaries.

As for caliber, I like my .308 Winchester. Although I bought it partially because of the variety of ammunition available, in practice I pretty much use 150 grain SP bullets. Other calibers have their own fan clubs. I also have a .223 (AR-15) that I use for shorter range shooting, like when I'm shooting at a feeder site or at a water tank where the hogs are likely to come in close. I only use it for close-in shooting because I just have a red dot sight on it with no magnification rather than a rifle scope. My personal recommendation is that if you're going to use only one rifle, get at least a .270 caliber.

halfbakedi420

I WOULD SUGGEST A 270 WSM WITH A BREAK ON IT.
research your public lands hunting areas.

largeli

right on, thanks for the comments guys! The budget Im looking at right now is around 600bux.

Sheridan

Take a look at these;

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=117270

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=117249

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=113410

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=87768

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=99595

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=90826

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=86358

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=86703

Rebel Hog

Get a Marlin 336 .30-30 , more than enough for hogs.......Many on here use dogs so a large weapon is not nessary...You can find a good used Marlin to start with....

hoghunter59

hunt with whatever you are most comfortable with, bullet placement is crucial on hogs even when using big bore rofles. if you are bookin a hunt, it means you will probably be hunting over feeders, not over 100 yds . a 223 0r 22-250 on a headshot is possible, i prefer a ,338 federal, but have killed alot of hogs with 22 cal. rifles. today most rifle makers are about even, prefer remington or savage. but there are alot of package rifles out there that are good choices. good luck, get a gun you like and leaRN TO SHOOT IT WELL.

largeli

thanks again guys for the links and all the info, I really appreciate it.

Hey when I take the class to get my Ca hunting license, will that class give any good info or is it pretty generic and more of a formality?