.243 100-grain Partition

[Val]

Is a .243 100 grain Nosler Partition adequate for pigs?

 

[Speckmisser]

Val,

Please do a search on this topic before the war starts again.

You'll find more discussion than you ever wanted.

 

[fremont]

Val, since I'm lazy, would you mind posting any threads you find on this subject, because I'm curious now, too!

 

[Val]

fremont,
Got a pretty even divide on yes , no and yes with a well placed shot. Several of the yeses stated that they would prefer a larger caliber but that the 243 is adequate. The reason I asked the question is that while coyote /varmint hunting with my 243, if I spot a pig should I take the shot? Typically when targeting hogs I would use a larger caliber.

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

The reason I asked the question is that while coyote /varmint hunting with my 243, if I spot a pig should I take the shot?[/b]

Definitely! It's not the best, but it'll do the job.

 

[larrysogla]

Typical Speck, full of good advice. Right on!!!! Yessireee!!!! Whack that piggie!!!
larrysogla.

 

[jawtightener]

i've taken 6-8 hogs with a 243 when i was in my early teens. the biggest was 360lbs. hit them good though, otherwise get ready for a rodeo.

 

[Mel Carter]

I took this 175# hog at about 100 yards shooting a .243 with the Partitions. It took two well placed shots, both were about 2" from each other, right behind the shoulder, and he still ran about 50 yards in wide open country. I got full penatration, recovered both bullets in the skin on the opposite side. Although it took him down, I wasn't real happy with the mushrooming of this bullet out of the .243. I use the same bullet in my 300 mag with better results. Like you probably already read, it's doable, so if a hog shows itselft, make him regret it! Have fun

 

[BGH831]

I know I'm going ot get some hate mail from this but a Buddy killed a 300# boar yesterday with a .17 HMR stuffed right in the ear hole at 60 yards. But won't go out with less than the .270 WSM cause when I do get one I don't want to chace it

 

[fremont]

Originally posted by BGH831@Sep 28 2004, 02:00 PM
I know I'm going ot get some hate mail from this but a Buddy killed a 300# boar yesterday with a .17 HMR stuffed right in the ear hole at 60 yards. But won't go out with less than the .270 WSM cause when I do get one I don't want to chace it

Did the pig just wander over to figure out why he was beatin' up on ol' creamed corn cans?

 

[Speckmisser]

Originally posted by BGH831@Sep 28 2004, 02:00 PM
I know I'm going ot get some hate mail from this but a Buddy killed a 300# boar yesterday with a .17 HMR stuffed right in the ear hole at 60 yards.  But won't go out with less than the .270 WSM cause when I do get one I don't want to chace it

BGH, You're liable to get more than simple hate mail..

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

§353. Methods Authorized for Taking Big Game.

(a) Except for the provisions of subsections 353(b) through (g), title 14, CCR, big game (as defined by section 350, title 14, CCR) may only be taken by rifles using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding bullets; bow and arrow (see section 354, title 14, CCR, for archery equipment regulations); or wheellock, matchlock, flintlock or percussion type, including "in-line" muzzleloading rifles using black powder or equivalent black powder substitute, including pellets, with single ball or bullet loaded from the muzzle and at least .40 caliber in designation.[/b]

To make it simple, your "buddy" broke the law. Not something you want to be advertising all over the WORLD WIDE web.

It's not bad enough that such a shot is unethical.

 

[BGH831]

agreed he shouldn't have taken the shot they were out for squirells and he(pig) wandered into the area for no good reason. No Bait but he had a tag so he figured might as well I guess. Like I said I won't go out with anything but my 270WSM. Just thought i would post to argue the point that a well placed shot can be efective with allmost any round.

 

[epic extreme]

I have shot about 6 pigs with my 243 using 100 gr. corelokt bullets. Although the rifle is adequate, I think something along the lines of a 25-06 with 120gr. bullets would be a minimum.

I have taken quite a few with my 257 Weatherby with 100 gr. noslers. with no problems.

 

[Bluka987]

Without getting specific, i don't think you'll get good answers to that question, when you say "is it big enough to kill a pig" of course it is, like i have said and done, (and im sure many other people have) i have killed quite a few pigs with my .22 mag. Now would i want to take a shot at a pig 100yds away with my .22 mag No, would i want to try and kill a 300 pound pig with it no, nor do i believe either of these situations ethical if you were to take the shot. Also I don't think placing the shot behind the shoulder with a small caliber gun is a good idea either, when it comes to pigs, id rather shoot them in the head then accidentally hit em in the guts. So really i think it depends on the situation. But it is definetly capable of killing one.

 

[Freedivr2]

Since you asked.................

I never want to be "undergunned" when hog hunting and here's why. You never know when you might run across a true trophy boar, something you don't want to be undergunned for. And my guilt complex is pretty high, so wounding an animal due to my own stupid fault (of choosing a lighter weapon or bullet) would haunt me for many, many moons I'm sure. So I don't want to go there and recommend the same to others. Some of the shoulder cartilidge on those bigger hogs is purty thick and tough on bullets. I want to have adequate penetration and the bullet to do it.

My 30-06 Win M70 shoots it's best groups with 150 grain Noslers, but I use 165 grainers for the reason stated, plus the trajectory is pretty flat (would go to 180 grainers but aren't comfortable with the amount of bullet drop over 200 yards).

So I'm not saying a 100 grain bullet won't take an average hog humanely (if the shot is well placed). I just don't know what I'm gunna run across when I'm out there, and like spearfishing, I can ALWAYS shoot a smaller fish with a large gun, but don't want to be caught with a small gun when a big Whiteseabass is lurking out at 20 feet........

 

[wmidbrook]

If a person can place a bullet from a .243 in the boiler room 99% of the time over his effective range, that's better than using a 7 mm mag or .30-06 if that person can only hit the boiler room 75% of the time over the same range imo.

Although, I think Mel's right in that it's more likely to be like an archery hunt where you get to follow the blood trail a while to recover your hog with a .243.

I've seen a handful of pigs (hampshires - farm kill) taken suprisingly effectively with a .22-250 (60 gr. nosler partitions) from 50 - 100 yds...it was an experimental deal using bi-pods/extreme shot placement.