Hogs with .308?

[jaehunt]

Just thought I would ask for some opinions on using a .308 on piggies. I am currently using a 30-30 but would like to add a little more range.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks,
Jae

 

[Nathan]

It will do the job no doubt about it.

 

[Speckmisser]

JAE,

I haven't shot one with my .308 yet, but with a good bullet (Nosler, Barnes, etc.) it will definitely do the trick. It'll extend your range beyond the 30-30, but I wouldn't be planning on making 300 yard shots. Keep it close, 100-150 max, and you should never have a problem.

 

[SDHNTR]

A 308 is pretty close to perfect. Plenty of punch and fast handling in a short action. With all due respect to Speck, IF you have lots of practice and are very familiar with your weapon, I think you could stretch your range to 300 yards. But that is where I'd draw the line. Its a much more versatile round than the 30-30. Have fun.

 

[One Track]

I've seen two hogs hit by a .308. Both fell over dead. One at about 175, and the other about 80. If you're a good shot, and have a good rest, go for the neck shot. A shot to the neck worked for me at 230 with the -06. Boom. Kick. Kick. Dead. Yee Ha!

 

[DILPRXO]

A 308 is a wonderful tranquilizer for hogs.Use a good bullet in the 150-180gr range and you'll be all set.One of the nice things about the cartridge is the inexpensive practice ammo for it..such as Winchester's USA brand...can learn the weapon without breaking the bank, then pick and use a premium for the field.I'll agree with Speck though keep your shots close for reliable hits on game.
Good Luck with whatever you chose.

 

[MNHNTR]

Thats all I've used for the last several years for deer and pigs. 165-180 gr. On pigs I use the Fail Safe.

 

[Boaring Experiences Guide]

I would bump up to a 30-06 if I were you. If you want a gun of lesser recoil go with the 270 then. For some reason I can't get into the 308. Just feels like there's better calibers out there.

Dwayne

 

[JungleBoy]

Many view the 30.06 as the 'mighty' round, while thinking of the 308 as a 'whimpy' one. In reality, and for all practical purposes, they are ballisticaly the same. Especially for the light to mid-range projectiles.

I love the 30.06, but love the 308 even more... (just personal preferrence). It is a very efficient round. It would definitely do the job on the hogs, if you do your part.

 

[Dakota]

I prefer the 270 and 06 to the 308 for sure, but with that said I dropped a 300lb caribou at 300 yds with a single 308 round. It is definately a capable caliber.

 

[Freedivr2]

I'm with Dwayne........I'd go with a 30-06. You never want to be undergunned if you came up on a 500 lb. hog, least I wouldn't.

A fella told me a long time ago that the 30-06 is the best all around gun, as it will take all animals in the lower 48. My '06 and I have gotten to know each other pretty good, can't say that would've happened if I had one caliber gun for this animal, one for another animal, etc. I firmly believe that if you want to be consistantly on target in various conditions (uphill, downhill, short range, long range, offhand, running game, etc.,), stick with one shooter to hunt all your big game with. Works pretty well for me at least. Not boasting, either, don't take it as such. Wouldn't do that, no reason. Just a method that works for me pretty good.

 

[DILPRXO]

I'll agree with Freediver with regard to choosing a weapon sufficent to humanely put down the game in question and dedicating yourself to becoming proficent enough with it to connect in the field on demand. But to me its a mute point to compare a 30'06 and a .308..they are ballistically identical in performance with any bullet weight under 200 grains. To think that the extra 75-100 feet a second afforded by the 06 is going to make a practical difference on big game is just deluding oneself.I'm not trying to flame anyone here..I am very fond of both calibers...just giving my opinion...but its not the wand its the magician.. put a bullet from either where its supposed to go and it will drop them; a miss from either will just blow warm air by'em and the difference is determined by the skill of the person pulling the trigger.

Take care

 

[jaehunt]

Thanks for all of the good information fella's. I am in the terrible position of having to decide on a new gun to buy

and this is definately very helpful.

I guess I should also introduce myself since I just started posting here. My name is Jason and I live in the Inland Empire area of so cal. I have been very fortunate this year in that my folks obtained an explorer lease on the Tejon Ranch and I have had the opportunity to hunt piggies up there quite a few times this year. So far no pigs for me, although my brother did "gutter-snipe" one right out from under me not too long ago.

Good luck to all of you. If you are ever on the Tejon Ranch and come across a lifted grey cherokee with black rims, that will be me, my bro, or my dad.

Thanks again,
Jae :recall davis sign:

 

[DILPRXO]

Hi Jason
Welcome to the best board on the web.

:JHP rocks:

 

[NoCAL]

Will let you know! I'm off next Tue. to hunt hogs south of Hollister. I have loaded 180 grain Hornadays for my Savage 99 in .308. They are pushing 2600fps. Practice out to 200 yards on a 10" steel target has got me ready for a shot out that far, hopefully won't have to poke one any further but I think I could extend it a little on something bigger than 10"!

NoCAL

 

[tnctcb]

im one of those guys who prefers a 270 BUT i have seen hogs shot with them that ran farther than i like so i dont use it.this year my family killed 4 hogs with a .308 2 fell in their tracks 1 danced in circles for a minute or so and the other ran 20 yards. i dont use hot reloads these were just green box remington core-lokt bullets. if you want i can email you a picture of one of them hit broadside but its to nasty to post here. i am not a 30-06 fan if you want a big 30 cal get a 300 mag, anything on this continent that a 308 wont handle a 300 will. nothing is wrong with them i guess i just dont like them.

 

[jrifenbark]

I harvested a hog with a .308 last April. The 150 gr. Core Lokt struck the spine between the shoulder blades with dramatic effect. I feel that even if the bullet had struck the heart and/ or lungs the animal would have been ethically dispatched. A .30-30 at 40 yrds will also drop the animal in its tracks. Anything generating less energy than a 30-30 is a poor choice.

 

[shovelerslayer]

Personal opinion only, but I think your confidence in and your ability with your chosen gun is the big thing. I would not have confidence to shoot a pig ( or elk for that matter) with a .243, yet I have seen both humanely killed with it. By the flip side I have watched a 300 Mag in the hands of some one who was terrified of it's kick cripple a deer and almost not recover it. If the .308 does it for you, I would stay with it. I bought a '06 because everyone I hunt with owns it and in a pinch I can bum shells