Help: 30-06 Bullet weight for Hogs???

[Mr. Luckypants]

I use 130 ttsx primary in my 300WM. I chronoed it and it averaged 3730fps. Not sure if the chrono was correct or not but that is flat out scary fast. If I were to use the 110 ttsx, it will destroy the bullet on impact regardless of all copper construction. So I stuck with 130 ttsx instead.

I have several boxes of the 130 ttsx so I chose to load those for 30-06. Have not yet chronoed those but I'm thinking 3200-3300fps. I'm sure the 110 ttsx will go 3500fps and the results on game will most likely be similar to the 300WM.

I like to run these coppers ultra fast. Not only will it penetrate deep, but hydrostatic shock is what I'm really after. The shock from a fast moving bullet will literally put them down even if it's not hit in the head or spine. Every animal I've shot DRT. I have also used 180 tsx in my 300WM and a buck I shot from only 20yds away ran about 50yds before I put another round in him. I had shot this buck front on from 20yds and it went completely thru. Why did it not go down instantly? I'm thinking no hydrostatic shock and a small hole in small hole out.

For long range hunting (400+ yards), I will use extremely frangible bullets. Bullets that will open up quickly like the bergers VLD. But that's for another thread.

 

[catchdog]

what was the inside of the buck like ? Was the lungs like jello ? It is strange to me how one animal is DRT and another one runs off a little even shot in the same spot with the same bullet and gun.
You have the same train of thought as Roy W. And thats not a bad thing. I have shot 13 animals with a 165 gr Federal fusion from a 30-06. Its a soft bullet that opens fast but has held it weight well. I have recovered 6 bullets 3 of them found just under the skin on the off side shoulder and 3 in the gut from frontal shots. 8 of the 13 fell right there but I would have liked to have seen an exit hole on the broadside 3. Just because 2 holes bleed better than 1 . The fusion shoots great out of my 30-06 thats why I have been using it. The next bullet I am going to try is the 165 gr Hornady IB, it does not shoot quite as good as the fusion but I can still get 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch groupes at 100 yards with it.

 

[catchdog]

Here is a pic of the hog I shot in the head at about 10 feet. I am 5,7 180 pounds.

 

[myfriendis410]

I've used the 130 TTSX in my .300 wm also. Handload velocity in the 3,600 fps range. Killed two animals with it: one hog--DRT and one nice Blacktail 3 X 4 that ran about 80 yards. No idea why 'cause the bullet (rear quartering at 325 yards), turned everything in between into pudding. It was THE most destructive wound I've ever seen. He had no lungs at all. When I opened him up his innards poured out. It was cool. The other nice thing about that load is that out to 350 yards or so you just aim for hair.

For pretty much everything, though; the 168 TTSX is my bullet of choice. I like to be prepared for the LARGEST animal I might run across. You just never know when a big cutter boar will show up.........

 

[catchdog]

This story is a bit off topic but it relates to how animals react to being shot. I shot a deer with my bow and the arrow hit one lung and the liver and it was dead at 20 yards. 2 weeks later shot another deer with a 12 gauge slug, slug hit the heart and both lungs and the deer ran 60 yards or so.
with all the different replies I have to wonder if Pigeater is scratching his head thinking ( I still dont know what bullet weight to use )

 

[asaxon]

With all the different replies I have to wonder if Pigeater is scratching his head thinking ( I still dont know what bullet weight to use )

Pigeater: The moral is it doesn't really matter that much; 110-150-162-180. Find an accurate non-lead for the hunt and practice lots of shot placement with small caliber on good targets. If you don't hit the hog in a good spot, it definitely WILL MATTER no matter what you are pushing. Boris, the Admiral's shooting coach, had her take 500 rounds with a superaccurate pellet rifle at targets before he let her loose with her .243. She dropped her first pig with a head shot when there was no room for error.

 

[pigeater]

Thank a lots for everyone's comments. I learned a lots in this thread.
I ordered the unlead Barnes 168gr and 150 gr at Midwayusa. But, yesterday (our 15 yrs anniversary)
my wife showed a receipt that she bought for me a Cooper custom classic 7mm remington
mag with AAA wood together with Z3 Swarovski scope 4-12x50. I was stoked. Now, I am in dilema to decide what rifle to take for my first hog hunt.

 

[pigeater]

To catchdog:

Woww..it is a really nice hog. I bet it should be a good and tasty bacon

 

[Live2hunt]

Thank a lots for everyone's comments. I learned a lots in this thread.
I ordered the unlead Barnes 168gr and 150 gr at Midwayusa. But, yesterday (our 15 yrs anniversary)
my wife showed a receipt that she bought for me a Cooper custom classic 7mm remington
mag with AAA wood together with Z3 Swarovski scope 4-12x50. I was stoked. Now, I am in dilema to decide what rifle to take for my first hog hunt.

Take both gun. Shoot two hog, one with each gun.

 

[pigeater]

That's a good idea. But, I can not shoot more than I can consume.
one hog bacon is enough me and my family

 

[catchdog]

thanks pigeater. thats the smallest one I have shot of that ranch. Two years ago I shot a sow that was in the 250 pound range. Last year a boar in the 175 - 200 range.
try a 140gr or 150 gr tsx for the 7mag.
dang, you better be real nice to the wife for a gift like that. she must be some woman. congrats on the gift and 15 years.

 

[Mr. Luckypants]

catchdog,

Been meaning to show you this. Read this and it should answer most if not all of your questions. It even answers my410 long 345yds shot on his piggie. Also answered why my 180 tsx didn't anchor a buck at only 20yds.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledge+Base/Part+1+Game+Killing.html

 

[catchdog]

it was a good read thanks.

 

[eoats]

catchdog,

Been meaning to show you this. Read this and it should answer most if not all of your questions. It even answers my410 long 345yds shot on his piggie. Also answered why my 180 tsx didn't anchor a buck at only 20yds.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledge+Base/Part+1+Game+Killing.html

Very interesting, in spite of some spelling nits.

 

[eoats]

ah, oops, sorry. Of course spelling isn't of concern. Though the simplistic 'physics' idea of a bullet pass through vs other impact possibilities has given me some food for thought.

I am extremely interesting in selecting the proper ammo for hunting pigs. Am trying trying to decide between a 30-06 or a 308 & discussions like this are really helpful.

 

[catchdog]

eoats, Do you have a 30-06 and a 308 ? or are you looking to get a new rifle ? If you have both rifles, shoot them both from field positions not the bench. Then pick the rifle you shoot best. Both cals work just fine on hogs.

 

[eoats]

catchdog,
I'm looking to get a new rifle.
Marlin X7, Savage Axis, Remington 770 or Weatherby Vanguard are on my list & in that order, right now.

My first thought was to get a Marlin 30-30 like I used to shoot back in the early 70s, but that seems like its often not enough gun from all I read about pig hunting in Central California. In the Northern part of the state there seems to be more success, or at least popularity with the smaller lighter rifles (30-30, 240....). Which is how I ended up on this thread, looking at finding an effective bullet to get the job done.
Right now I have just a .22 (Marlin 795) that I'm working with to get back into shooting. I like the idea of a 308 for light weight & less recoil, but a lot of evidence/advice leads me to a 30-06 for a bit more range & variety of ammo.

 

[catchdog]

Wow, Just my opinion but I would put the Weatherby Vanguard way before the Axis. I shot a Axis once and didn't like anything about it. For one you have to use high scope mounts so you cheek weld sucks. Two the bolt was not smooth. Three the trigger sucked and there is know adjustment screw. Four the stock sucked. Five it didn't shoot near as well as my Savage 111 or my Rem 700 or any other rifle I have. But many people love them. If you can find some friends or people at the range that have those rifles, shoot them and see what one you like best. As far as the 30-06 vs .308 I am a 30-06 fan and I like the 7mm08 over the .308 because it shoots a bit flatter and carries it's energy better over 300 yards. Many people shoot long range with a .308 . Also what is long range for one person is not the same for another. My 7mm08 is the Savage 111 and the Rem 700 is a 30-06. The 7mm08 should have less recoil but the Rem has a better made and heavier wood stock . So the felt recoil is pretty close. I shoot the 30-06 better off hand because it's heavier so I am more stable. Remember most of this is just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions.

 

[mtnsammy]

OK I will eat the second one for you. Stick with target practice and ballistics. There are many here that have taken much game. Still opinions are not facts. The bullet ballistics are available on all manufacture sites and most dealers also list some ballistics with the ammo on thier websites. I prefer ammoseek.com but I buy where ever I can find the best pricing. THe sites give me the ballistics to compare lead vs copper 150 vs 180 and so forth. I was amazed at how with the 30-06 180grain does not neccessarily have better ballistics. For close 100 yard shots almost any OTC bullet will work but which one can you shoot well with. I am trying to hit 400 yards 80% with my new 30-06. I anticipate several months of shooting before I find the right bullet. Long range vs short range copper vs lead. So much to talk about at the campsite and the range.

Best of all find someone to hunt with that will make the hunt a hunt to remember.

 

[myfriendis410]

IMHO you don't need a rifle with long range capability for hogs (see my Avatar--Sharps 1874 45/70 at 68 yards). They are far different than deer so you can often work in close. Usually, if you do your due diligence you can get amazingly close to hogs before they know you're there. We've been FEET from hogs without their ever knowing we were there. From that standpoint a 30-30 would be fine. That said; I usually try to carry a gun capable of cleanly killing the LARGEST animal I may come across in the field. That's why I carry (normally) either a 7mm rem mag or a .300 win mag. You plug a BIG hog with either of those and you'll get his attention. Sometimes they take a lot of killing--the largest hog I've ever killed took two 150 gr. TTSX handloads from a 7mm rem mag at 170 yards and STILL ran 100 yards (with both front legs broken to boot). He gutted out at over 260 lbs. A 30-06 is amazingly close to a 7mm rem mag in performance. The .308 ought to do the job but it's certainly not as powerful.

My advice would be to use enough gun. you never know what you'll run in to out there......