General hog behavior and hunting techniques from Texas

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (baboltin @ Mar 20 2006, 04:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

o i just found it interesting and quiet amazing that a pellet gun would kill a pig but thanks anyways.[/b]

baboltin,

I was a little shocked too. I was talking to the rep about turkey hunting with pellet guns, and the ammo that he would recommend, when he showed me the clip. It was pretty amazing, but the conditions were ideal, and those high-end pellet guns are generating higher muzzle velocities than a .22lr. The hog was bayed by dogs, and he shot it at about 10'. The hit was directly between the eyes, and the hog rolled over, feet up instantaneously. Amazing.

I've seen lots of barnyard pigs killed with a .22 short, so it's certainly possible... I just don't find it adviseable or sporting as a hunting round... much less a pellet gun.

Captdavid,

First, thanks again for posting up a great topic. One of the cool things about JHO and similar forums is that folks from all over get to share their experience and knowledge, and to learn from others.

I don't know if anyone is "disagreeing" that your choices are good for hogs. Just some different, personal preferences. I think both of the rounds you describe are plenty for hogs. At 200 yards, my .308 and my 30-06 aren't all that far apart, performance-wise, and I very seldom shoot past that range anyway. I don't own a 7-08, but it's a pretty good round as well. So, I'm in 100% agreement that those are both great hog guns. I don't think even Larry is disagreeing there... just that he's got an oft-expressed preference for his .300. And RanchoLoco... well... I don't know what to say about that boy. He's just a troublemaker.

All,
Keep in mind that Blackknight originally said he was trying to choose between 30-06 and 270 (both excellent and versatile calibers)... not looking at .300mag and up. Given his parameters as I understand them (first rifle for western big game, and the possibility that his wife will be shooting it too), I think he's narrowed it down to two good selections. I don't think it does him much of a service to throw a bunch of alternatives out there, when the field of selection is already confusing enough.

I'm not trying to "scold" anyone here, because I know everyone is honestly trying to be helpful (except maybe Rancho)... but it is a very common thing on the forum when someone says, "I've narrowed it down to this and this, which one should I choose?" Suddenly everyone wants to open up the field again by offering a myriad of alternatives. Didn't the person just say they had narrowed it down?

 

[Rancho Loco]

I'm dishonestly trying to be helpful.

 

[superduty]

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

I'm not trying to "scold" anyone here, because I know everyone is honestly trying to be helpful (except maybe Rancho)... but it is a very common thing on the forum when someone says, "I've narrowed it down to this and this, which one should I choose?" Suddenly everyone wants to open up the field again by offering a myriad of alternatives. Didn't the person just say they had narrowed it down?[/b]

What about the Remington 280? That's the gun my wife prefers to hunt with and she has her pick. Sorry Speck, just couldn't help myself. Whatever Rancho has it must be rubbing off.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Don't worry, a few rounds of Penicillin will treat it.

 

[captdavid]

I think that the 30-30 is about minimum for hogs up to a max of 100yds. With the new lever/Revolution 'pointy' 30-30 bullets I would consider it OK for 150 or less. That is considering what I've read, not experienced. capt david

 

[larrysogla]

I cannot add anything more from what Mr. SpeckM has said. Blacknights154 definitely will be well served by his posted choices(.270 and up). 'Nuff said.

 

[upper]

JEESH.. You guys and gals,,Get my book,,Its all in there.Its avaliable at all good book stores,Titled "The angle of the dangle".The jest of the book is,Use what you got,study what you want and dont shoot what you can't. Like I said its all there. Scott

 

[larrysogla]

Mr. SpeckM,
Rancho Loco a troublemaker???? Nah!!! just looki't the caption under his avatar.......he's just a regular guy. 'Nuff said.

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (larrysogla @ Mar 22 2006, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Mr. SpeckM,
Rancho Loco a troublemaker???? Nah!!! just looki't the caption under his avatar.......he's just a regular guy. 'Nuff said.

[/b]

Larry, don't be fulled by his cover there. That's how he sneaks up on you.

 

[Rancho Loco]

 

[Franklin3]

This is just to much fun to pass up.
I vote .270 it performs better than all of these other calibers up to 300yds. Sectional Density of 140 grain .270 is equal to 180 grain 30-06.
Its that awesome velocity the .270 develops that pushes it's performance.
My .2 worth

 

[Rancho Loco]

.30-06 gets the job done.

Load it hot or soft.
Wide selection of bullet weights.
Manageable recoil.
Accuracy.
100 years of history.
Because your Grandad used it to save the world.

 

[larrysogla]

Rancho Loco,
You took the words out of my mouth. Plus, the dirt cheap milsurp ammo that non-reloaders can fire up to maintain their muscle memory without wrecking the wallet. 'Nuff said.

 

[spectr17]

.300 Winmag with a good recoil pad. You won't be trackin far.

 

[Rancho Loco]

word.

 

[Franklin3]

Why stop there;
that .375 mag has got to be a total rush to shoot

 

[Rancho Loco]

Yes! My .444 Marlin is getting boring.

 

[larrysogla]

.444 Marlin!!!!!......... you got an artillery piece in there, pardner.
It is an awesome piggy gun. No squeaky calibers for me, only boomers. 'Nuff said.

 

[larrysogla]

Why boomers for me???? It was Sept.2000 and it was the first time I was on my friend's Houston ranch, we were all in treestands inside a neglected pecan tree orchard with thick, overgrown brush. At 4:00AM, with a full moon, I saw in my illuminated dot, 4X riflescope a 150 lb. pig trotting at a fast clip along the edge of the overgrown, waist high hayfield. The piggie was moving fast and would be obscured by overgrown brush in about 2 seconds. I just snapped my .338WM BAR at center mass and squeezed a round of Barnes X. The shot was center, high and had destroyed 1/4 of the liver and exited with a golf ball sized wound. The piggie ran off like a bolt of lightning and we came down from our treestands at 6:30AM. We saw a good blood trail and started marking it with pieces of toilet paper. The piggie(a dry sow) had made a wide U-turn and had ran off into the pecan jungle. We found it dead as a door nail, laying on it's side. It had traveled about 100 yds. from the point of shot impact. It was very, very good eating. Must be the peanut farms nearby giving these local piggies the sweet, nutty flavor. We had driven non-stop for 24hrs.(except for gas refueling stops and a quick burger) for 1,600 miles from L.A. to the Houston area ranch. After traveling for so long and spending so much precious dollars on gas, well, I intend to up my chances as best as possible of nailing a piggie, by upping my caliber and bullet construction. So I was not about to hammer a piggie in the thick overgrown brush and lose it because I shot it facing away from me and the bullet failed to reach the vitals because leg bone disintegrated the light construction deer bullet and the bullet failed to reach the vitals. When I see a piggie in that thick brush, I only have a split second to hammer it. I do not have the luxury of waiting for it to present a broadside shot. I have to hammer it from any angle. On a 200lb. piggie, with a boomer and Barnes X bullet, it will plow thru leg bone and cream the vitals and exit. On a descending angle from another treestand, this one in the center of the overgrown hayfield, we have shot 200 lb. all the way up to 350 lb. piggies and the boomer, tough construction bullets have smashed bones, plowed all the way thru and dug deep holes in the ground with the descending angle. We never lost a piggie. Heck you can shoot and kill a piggie with a good pellet rifle and a shot thru the earhole, but I just love Boomers and their bone smashing, bone crunching, vitals destroying, exit hole producing, blood trail providing, game anchoring power. No frustrations for me tracking a diminishing blood trail that is plugged up by pork fat. Or wondering if the rear leg bone will stop the bullet from reaching the vitals on a close range rear end shot. If within 100 yds. and if that is the only shot presented by the piggie trotting into thick brush and disappearing in a split second, the rear leg bone will be smashed on the way to the vitals and the piggie will be in the freezer. Of course, that is just my 2c. 'Nuff said.
P.S. In the field I do not feel or remember the jolt of the recoil and the shot sounds like a muffled shot from a block away. Must be all the adrenaline focused on the piggie blocking all the sensations.

 

[easymoney]

Great points all.
Mr. misser hit the nail on the head, get the gun right first, then concentrate on placement... Get enough gun, then if you hit 'em in the boiler room, they will go down. If you are sketchy on the shot placement, you might have them run off....