Hey my name Jose and i was thinking of getting into pig hunting. I took hunter safety a few months ago. Since im new sport i was looking for gun that would work for pig and deer maybe 30-06? I am in the Sacramento area and im not sure wheather to go to down to Fort Hunter Ligget or some of the BLM land around here any advice? Also any tips or things i should know?
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Jeff S.
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Hi Jose!
Welcome to the ranks of hunters. Your choice of a 30-06 as a combination rifle for deel and pigs is fine. Actually anything in the 7x57, .270, .308, 30/06, 8x57 or similar is a good all-round big game rifle for 300 yards and in. This should cover anything from antelope to deer, to pigs up to elk. If you think you want to shoot longer distance more than 300 yards, a Magnum, like a 7mm Mag or 300 Mag might be a better choice. Don't be fooled into believing that more power equates to more killing power - think of it as more range - again, not that the -06 won't shoot a long ways. It has, after all won the 1000 yd Camp Perry matches more than once or twice. It's just that a magnum will be flatter shooting, so you don't have to estimate the distances as accurately and hold over. As the late, great Jack O'Conner, who shot everything up to grizzly and moose with a 270. used to say, if the 338 magnum kills better than a 30/06, he fails to see it. Hit an animal right, and he goes down. Hit him wrong and you're in for trouble.
I've hunted FHL for pigs but never gotten one there. Also hunted the BLM land around Coalinga, but with no success, but did have some success in the National Forest around Arroyo Seco. Pigs are where you find them, and plan on hunting lots to find game on public lands. If you're there for the hunt, great - check out public lands. If you looking for meat, better pay one of the ranches. They're almost guaranteed.
Hope this helps.
- Jeff
Welcome to the ranks of hunters. Your choice of a 30-06 as a combination rifle for deel and pigs is fine. Actually anything in the 7x57, .270, .308, 30/06, 8x57 or similar is a good all-round big game rifle for 300 yards and in. This should cover anything from antelope to deer, to pigs up to elk. If you think you want to shoot longer distance more than 300 yards, a Magnum, like a 7mm Mag or 300 Mag might be a better choice. Don't be fooled into believing that more power equates to more killing power - think of it as more range - again, not that the -06 won't shoot a long ways. It has, after all won the 1000 yd Camp Perry matches more than once or twice. It's just that a magnum will be flatter shooting, so you don't have to estimate the distances as accurately and hold over. As the late, great Jack O'Conner, who shot everything up to grizzly and moose with a 270. used to say, if the 338 magnum kills better than a 30/06, he fails to see it. Hit an animal right, and he goes down. Hit him wrong and you're in for trouble.
I've hunted FHL for pigs but never gotten one there. Also hunted the BLM land around Coalinga, but with no success, but did have some success in the National Forest around Arroyo Seco. Pigs are where you find them, and plan on hunting lots to find game on public lands. If you're there for the hunt, great - check out public lands. If you looking for meat, better pay one of the ranches. They're almost guaranteed.
Hope this helps.
- Jeff
