Sluggin' Hogs

[BarneyFlats]

I usually hunt hogs with my bow but there is a lot of talk about the shotguns around our camp lately. It sounds like the easiest and cheapest way to go is to convert your smooth bore by adding a rifled choke. I wanted to get the "experts" opinion on this matter. Buy a new barrel, add choke or forget it and keep bowhunting?

 

[Jagermeister]

I bought a rifled barrel for my 870 for around $80 on ebay. Comes with the proper sights on top, ready to go. Use a sabot slug - could not be happier with the accuracy. I used this before I had my first rifle and am holding on to it in case I get into any of the special "slug gun' hunts.

George

 

[map]

I bought a Rifled Barrel with iron sights for my Remington 1100, and use 12 Gauge Remington sabot slugs. When I finally shot a running pig at 15 yards, I had to lead it by a full body length. The advantage of using a semiautomatic is that I could see the first 2 slugs hit the dirt behind the pig, so used some windage on the third shot. Very poor penetration, in my opinion, so I would probably not shoot at a large tusker. It would be suicide.

At present we are fixing up my boy's Rossi single shot 3" 20 gauge with rifled barrel. Federal Barnes came out with a copper 3" 20 GA sabot at 1900 fps. I am hopeful that the smaller diameter slug (5/8") at this higher velocity will behave some what like a rifle bullet and penetrate deeper.

At best, after 5 years of hunting boar with shotgun slugs, we are still in the experimental stage, and still not ready to stand up to a large boar headed in our direction.


Richard

 

[weekender21]

I'm with you, bowhunting only; for the past four years now. I did own a shotgun with a rifled barrel and scope at one time. I used it to take the biggest hog I've ever killed (avatar). Shotguns are my least favorite way of taking big game. I'm very anal about accuracy and it seamed like every time I took that gun to the range it would group somewhere else. I have several friends who have had similar results. Keep bowhunting, that's my vote.

 

[Speckmisser]

Directly to your questions, a rifled slug barrel will give you the options for the best accuracy and performance from the more technologically advanced slugs. You can get one for a reasonable price, even brand new, or shop EBay or gunsamerica.com for a used one.

Modern advances have made slugs very accurate at exceedingly long ranges. I've seen some impressive (for a shotgun) groups at 200 yards. But accuracy is not the end-all-be-all.

A slug is still a slow-moving, heavy projectile. Despite the claims of ammo manufacturers, it never was and never will be a mid-range (150yards +) weapon for large, heavy game. Slugs are going to work best on hogs at ranges just a little longer than archery range... 100 yards or less. Beyond that, penetration and expansion are nominal and odds of a wounded and lost animal increase exponentially.

I'd say it wouldn't hurt to get yourself a slug gun setup. It will offer a bit of versatility to your hunting, as you can use it in places where the bow may not be practical such as thick stuff where you can't maneuver or draw a bow, or open country where there's not enough cover to stalk close. But, personally, I'd stick with the bow. If you want to extend your range, just get a centerfire rifle (if it's legal where you hunt)... or, if you want a new challenge, try a muzzle loader.

 

[myfriendis410]

A good muzzleloader setup IS a medium range (150-250 yard) gun that can be used in areas a slug gun is allowed, generally. The liability is that it is only a one shot deal, but Hey! Don't miss!

As to hog hunting, you can usually get close enough to throw a rock at a pig, so long range shooting isn't necessary to bring home the bacon.

I have heard of decent accuracy using a rifled choke tube, but we're talking a pie plate at 60 yards, not inches at 100 yards. At least the sabots won't turn sideways in flight within the first 30 feet.

 

[weekender21]

Allow me to get a little deeper in the weeds from my previous experience.

-I owned a Mossberg 500 shotgun with an after market rifled barrel and scope mount. I mounted a Leupold 3-9 scope on top that is designed for shotguns, according to Leupold.

-I spent quite a bit of money on different high end shotgun rounds to determine which one would shoot the best in my gun. I shot a few different loads from Winchester, Remington, and Federal. If you're hunting hogs with a shotgun premium rounds are the only option. The lead pumpkin-ball might work for the little porkers but not on the big ones.

-I finally narrowed my selection to a Federal loaded Barnes 3/4 oz round that grouped about 4 inches at 100 yards. I would highly recommend taking a few shots every time you head out to check your zero, mine would move around quite a bit.

I was deer/pig hunting on the central coast and at the time I had never even seen a pig on public land. I ambushed this pig just before dark in head high brush. I smelled him before I saw him! Because of the low light I couldn't really tell how big he was. When I stepped onto the pig trail he was only about 15 yards away. I raised the gun and fired 3 shots in about that many seconds. He went into the brush a short distance from where he was shot and thrashed around for about 25 minutes. Even with my good friend telling me to "go in there" and finish the pig off, I made the right decision and waited.
When I finally made my way through the tangled poison oak and brush he was much bigger than I thought at the time. I hit the over 300 pound porker twice, once from behind and once behind the shoulder. Apparently even at that distance the shot behind the shoulder did not fully penetrate and I only got one lung.
The recovered solid copper hollow point had shed it's pedals on impact. Seeing how neither slug exited, that hog received the full, point blank, energy from both shots; I guess that's the only reason he didn't go far.
Since that time I have witnessed a few guys take some nice deer out to 200-250 yards with their slug guns. In my opinion, such a large diameter slug going as slow as they do, my velocity was 1900fps, is just not suited for the penetration requirements you need for hog hunting. I would recommend a muzzle loader as a better option or stick with your stick and string. Hope this helped.

 

[map]

Weekender,

That pig is a bit big for a shotgun. You're lucky to be alive. I finish them off with a shot in the ear, or just behind the ear. My dream gun for pig hunting (with shotgun) is the Browning A-Bolt 12 Gauge with Rifled barrel. The A-Bolt in the URL below has a hollow composite stock (kicks like hell), but I have seen them with a real nice wood stock. At first glance it looks a little pricey, but when I add up what I have wasted on unused guns in my gun cabinet, I would have been better off to get the A-Bolt instead. At least it looks like a hunting rifle with a scope mounted on it.

Here is what I found with a google search:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/928960654/Guns/...fled_Barrel.htm

I'm back with another URL.

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/apr97browning.html

Richard

 

[Jagermeister]

Funny how one set of guys calls hunting big pigs with a slug gun "suicide" and others recommend to keep going with the bow. I stuck a pig with my bow - let me tell you, I would have much rather put a slug in it.

A new Remington 870 can be had for $300 or less on sale. A good rifled barrel for it from Remington on Ebay will run you another $120 or less. That's not a lot of money for a very versatile weapon that will kill anything from small game, varmints to big game. A shotgun will also make one of the best home or camp defense weapons you can own. My 870 is the most used gun in my vault.

George

 

[weekender21]

George,

I guess that is a little amusing. I have killed 3 porkers with teeth over 3 inches and have never had any problems. I have never carried a back-up gun when archery hunting for hogs but I certainly wouldn't hold it against anyone who did!

Richard,

Looking back, I guess things could have turned out different that night. I was indeed still new to hog hunting and might not have thought to just step out of the way if that hog had decided I was in his way!

Andy

 

[map]

George and Andy,


I started hunting FHL in 1968, so when I think back through all those years, I can remember a few real nasty boar that galloped around in circles looking for me. I have had one charge my CJ 5 Jeep, and another chase me as I ran for my pickup truck. Now, I'm not saying that all the boar of Leggett are big, mean, and nasty, but if you hunt a life time, like I have, you will eventually have to tangle with one of those big Liggett boar. It's something to think about! It would be very wise to premeditate a little on how you would handle the situation.

What worries me, is all those young hunters who head straight for TA-29 not realizing what they could be in for. In the old days, we were allowed to driver our trucks across the river at the second gate, and then all the way to the park boundary. The top of the ridge at the park boundary (that overlooks the lake) looked like a drive in movie with all the trucks lined up. We hunters were safe up there. Now-a-days it's a different type of hunting, but one of those big Liggett Boar is still lurking out there.

Richard

 

[BarneyFlats]

Thanks for all of the input guys, that's why I love this site! A guy can ask a question and get blown away by all the info. I appreciate it. I've got an 870 that has been collecting dust and was thinking about its ressurection. Ever since I got that X2 ..... enough said. I love bowhunting, it's what I do so until I can't draw it back anymore it sounds like it's stick and string for me. If anyone has more input I would love to hear it. Thanks again guys.

 

[Huntr Pat]

Alot good points, I'm a bowhunter but I do own a rilfe, 870 with smooth and rilfed barrell. Each weapon has its goods and draw backs. The only thing missing in my arsenal is a 44 mag making it easier to swing around in the hog tunnels which I learned time over and again this past week at Leggitt. I was toting around my weatherby 7mm thru the tunnels(belly crawling) as I fogort to bring the 870 instead I brought my beretta for birds if I came across them.

As mentioned in the past post all weapons will bring the biggest hog down with good shot placement in the right vital area. Some hogs have thicker shields then others.
I have harvested hogs by placing a sharp broadhead just behing the ear throught its neck and had 200 lb hog drop in its tracks.

What ever the means its all fun and boils down to shot placement and having fun. The thing to remember is hogs are tough and mean critters. I have been luck to not have a hog chase me in the tunnels as of yet because all I can do is unload and squeeze my butt cheeks and hope I crawl out unharmed to laugh and tell the story. Later sharing the story with buddies at a warm camp fire.

I wanted to meet wtpops but wasn't sure what campsite he was in but I'm sure we'll meet up some time.

Just for closing what ever weapon you all decide to use just share your stories here at JHO. I enjoy reading just as many others.
Good luck and hope to see you all in the field. Forgot to mention althought I did not harvest a hog this past week for me it still was a successful hunt just did not bring home the bacon. But I did hear and some.

Pat