My first pig rifle

[hicntry]

Don't I know it Speck, I was grinning the whole time I was writing that post. Here's to everyone.

 

[Live2hunt]

Hicntry,

When hunting hogs with dogs, I kept my shots within 2 inches from the back of the hog's ear unless it's a mean old boar with cutters then I take the shot between 5-20 yards. And that's no kidding.

L2H

 

[jmabbott888]

Speck, a bit off the subject but you said "Anyway, I know what you mean about the southeast, as I grew up hunting the coastal swamps of North Carolina. " I was wondering where? I grew up in Jacksonville NC.

 

[Speckmisser]

JM,

Didn't we chat on this a while back? I grew up mostly in Hampstead, about 25 miles down 17 from J'ville.

Just to keep it on topic... there's supposed to still be a good population of hogs down in the swamps around there, but I never got sight of one. Tons of bears and deer, though. Did you do any hunting there?

 

[jmabbott888]

Mostly tree squirrels, dove & rabbit. We did a fair amount of deer hunting in the Croatian National Forest west? of J'ville. I never saw any hogs around there, but did hear they where around. When I moved from Jacksonville, I was 15 so I still relied on dad & 1 friend for the hunts not in bike or moped distance. Sure do miss those days though lol

 

[Quacker Wacker]

Well, I think your 30/30 will do just fine. I started out hunting with a model 94, with a 4x fixed wide angle scope. Don't get a variable on that gun. Look for a wide angle if you can. I've killed more than a few deer with my gun, mostly at 30-60 yds and in brushy areas and the lever gun is quick pointing and fast shooting. Down the road, like most of us, you will want to expand your arsenal and you can go get a nice bolt action '06, .270, or 7mm for those longer shots, but you will always love the feel of that short lever gun as it is a special feeling. After killing these cal blacktail hybrids with a 7mm and .243 here in D5, I went back to my 30/30, as I just love carrying it in the woods.

 

[Oooogaa]

When I was younger I started with a 30-30 Marlin. Then I started listening to the professional "gun writers" who told me that the 30-30 was a wimp and I needed a real gun. Well, I've had everything from the 6.5 Swed. to the .338 Win mag..... Now that I am much older and I hope a little wiser my only rifle is a Marlin 30-30. (I even plan on buying another) I am not comfortable shooting any rifle past 200 yards. I always limit my shots to 150 yards or under. You are not undergunned by any means. Learn to shoot your rifle and I have it on good authority that there is nothing in the lower 48 (short of grizzly bear) that will walk away from a well placed shot from your 30-30. Not so long ago I helped pack out a good size elk that was dropped with a 170gr. 30-30 bullet. My brother killed a huge 5 point bull elk with a .35 Rem. Our elk here in Western Washington are BIG! One shot. Lots of bears have been dropped with this round. And as everyone knows, deer will be no problem for your rifle. I like a scope. The best scopes are the fixed 4X. Spend a little money and get a nice one.. Weaver K series are nice. Learn to shoot your Marlin well, but most of all, learn to enjoy the hunt. Go get em!