Rifle hunters: what caliber you use for hogs?

[TheGDog]

Hrmm... just to say you've given it a shot... try the BARNES VOR-TX 168gr .308's. I shot my 1st Deer with one of those @40yds. His body literally got knocked like 10 inches sideways before it fell-over and he just did the kicking thing for a bit. Not the best lung shot. A bit high and back. Basically just below the spine. Exit wound about the size of a Quarter. Pretty sure the hydrostatic shock took out his spine because only the fronts kicked. But be prepared to have to give up a bit of pulverized bloodshot meat on the entry wound. Gotta say it was pretty bad-ass to watch!

 

[OPAH]

A little high and back there bud, but it did get the job done. if it were a 223 ? maybe not

 

[JustGuy]

With all due respect to those who swear by their .223's, IMHO it's an insufficient caliber for the vast majority of hunters who do not have the ability to make a clean kill shot .

Nuff said, in my opinion the hunter who "who do not have the ability to make a clean kill shot " same as a driver " who do not have the ability to drive a car" should NOT take a shot/drive a car but needs to learn basics AKA shooting/driving skills

 

[Hookup]

Man I went on a pig hunt with my buddy, he had a 30-06 and I had a 45-70. We were both shooting Barnes Vortx, his shot was boiled riom and ran about 60 yards downhill(or rolled not sure), mine was a high lung shot dropped him on the spot but must of knocked the wind out of him with the 250 grain and he got up and charged my friend and I put a second one in his shoulder that dropped him and he was still squirming on the ground.

 

[Eagle Peak]

.308 is enough; 30-06 is better. Barnes bullets need enough velocity (1800 fps per Barnes) to open up and do their job, so it's a good idea to know approximately how fast your round is travelling after 300 yards or so...

 

[JustGuy]

I'd say that on hunting forums it is the most discussed subject :'What caliber for hogs".
In my opinion, it depends on your experience and shooting skills: the the more experience/more skills - smaller caliber, less experienced/less skills - larger caliber, you compensate.

 

[TheGDog]

Here's a question. To those of you experienced hog hunters. If you were going to hunt hogs with a handgun... what would be the minimum caliber and barrel length you'd have to have before you'd even consider doing it?

 

[hntboar]

Here's a question. To those of you experienced hog hunters. If you were going to hunt hogs with a handgun... what would be the minimum caliber and barrel length you'd have to have before you'd even consider doing it?

TheGdog- 44 mag at min and now hunt with 454 casull because I have seen a big hog run many miles with a 44 round in it side and never found it. Every one i shot with 454 i found dead at some point. Hope this helps?

 

[JustGuy]

TheGdog- 44 mag at min and now hunt with 454 casull because I have seen a big hog run many miles with a 44 round in it side and never found it. Every one i shot with 454 i found dead at some point. Hope this helps?

+1 and at least 6" BBL or better 8" or more, tho i tried ones with 357Mag. But you have to make headshots only which is hard.

 

[hntboar]

+1 and at least 6" BBL or better 8" or more, tho i tried ones with 357Mag. But you have to make headshots only which is hard.

Yes sorry forgot the length, 6 inches an min. My 44 mag was 8 inches and my 454 is 7 inches and good to 75 yards. Magaported as well.

 

[TheGDog]

OK... so.. I have a Ruger Security Six 4" .357 Mag revolver. Sounds like we've established this would perhaps not be a good choice for hogs.

So side question : This should be good enough for Deer right? Like shots made close-in like 25yd-45yd. Yes?

 

[JustGuy]

It ,might be good for backup or to finish hogs.
For deer... Can you hit reliable at 50 yard distance with this?

 

[OPAH]

I know we have great shooters out there But 50 yrds with a 4" Rugar no scope no enhancements not likely. 25 and under I think so
once again it goes back to how well you use your weapon.

As a Back up to finish or put down most definitely.

 

[TheGDog]

It ,might be good for backup or to finish hogs.
For deer... Can you hit reliable at 50 yard distance with this?

Deer-sized target? Yes. The plan would be to just use it in my same spots where the shots have been between 25yd-40yd.

 

[OPAH]

Gdog, I have a Colt Python 6" 357 and a Winchester L/R 357 scoped, even being accurate as my rifle is 100 yrds is not a shot I would take with it. I am not sure of Velocities and impact energies, but believe me these are close quarter pistol rounds, they do not have what it takes to reach out and take something down. especially a pig.

 

[JustGuy]

once again it goes back to how well you use your weapon.

Right, some also say "size does not matter, honey":wavin hello:

 

[dthome]

Back to the OP’s topic: a 308 is plenty. As for the round, I’m a loyal Barnes user. Every single animal I’ve shot with Barnes Vortx has dropped in its tracks (though I use 30-06, 168 grain).
Here’s a Barnes slug I pulled from a bear. I wouldn’t shoot anything else, including lead. I’ve killed three bears with this round and numerous deer. Here’s a bear that flipped head over heels after being hit, and that was all she wrote.

 

[TheGDog]

The 150gr Federal Trophy Copper I fired out of my .30-30 for my 2nd deer, the Mushroom looked very much like that one!
My shot was heavily Quartering away, so the bullet had to travel quite a distance thru the animal, maybe... somewhere between 18 to 24 inches, so a lot of energy was expended, so the projectile didn't exit. Entered the body at almost exactly midline of height and width at near to back of rib cage... pierced thru the liver, decimated the entire right-hand side lung. It lodged just under the opposing forelegs Shoulder. The buck ran maybe 50+yds afterwards, but the terrain at that location is fairly flat and level. And the shot did not take out his heart and other lung, but that's on me.

 

[White Mamba]

6.5 Grendel, great round, not a lot of recoil. Use the 123eld

 

[TheGDog]

Gdog, I have a Colt Python 6" 357 and a Winchester L/R 357 scoped, even being accurate as my rifle is 100 yrds is not a shot I would take with it. I am not sure of Velocities and impact energies, but believe me these are close quarter pistol rounds, they do not have what it takes to reach out and take something down. especially a pig.

In case you're curious.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html