This is my first visit to this forum. I'm going to Tejon Ranch, I will be using A 270 Win. Which ammo do you suggest? I have some Rem. express Core-Lokt 150 Gr.
You've asked a dangerous question around these parts, because there are an awful lot of opinions on the "best" ammo for hogs. But to save the aggravation, if those 150 gr. core-lokt bullets shoot well out of your rifle, then they're definitely plenty adequate for hogs.
You gonna be at Tejon next weekend? The south side is gonna be better than half-full of JHP members.
Confidence, my man...
That's what it all comes down to. No matter what your shooting at. So use the ammo that gives you the most confidence in your rifle and your shooting ability.
Your .270 will do the job. However do not just aim for center of mass or target behind the shoulder. If you do the race will be on and finding your wounded hog, who by now will be in the bottom of the steepest canyon around, will not be easy.The kill zone on a large hog, for a drop em in his tracks & no meat ruined shot, is the area from behind his ear to start of his shoulder. That is about the size of a football and if you are an average shooter using a rest this can be done from 100 yards out. I have killed a hog with a .17 rimfire with that shot. and have had many first time shooters kill large boars with .243's using the same shot.
Good Hunting ,
Elkron
Are you suggesting a neck shot for hogs? Not disputing, gosh knows you know what you're talking about, but I'd have never thought a neck shot was a good call. I love it for a reasonably close deer, and used it an awful lot when I treestand hunted back east, but always thought a hog was too well protected around the neck area.
After all the meat I lost last year from my shoulder shot (the placement was what I wanted... just that a ballistic tip is very destructive), I'd love to use neck shots when I have the right opportunity.
I've used nothing other than .165 grain Nosler Partitions on hogs, traveling at 2882 FPS (handloads) out of my trusty 30-06. Head shots, lung, neck and spine. All dead hogs, no problemos. I would not change from this bullet due to the success I've had with them. Excellent penetration and bone crushing power. Core-locks aren't partitions, never used them and have heard things good and bad about them. If I were buying factory, I'd get the Winchester with the noslers (what are those called, fail-safe or something like that) for sure. Good luck.......
I've been to Tejon twice carrying a .444 Marlin open sights with 280 grain Cor Bon ammunition -- should be great for hogs I'd think -- unfortunately, I haven't had a shot yet but that's hunting!
That .444 ought to lay one flat out when you finally do get a shot. Hopefully you'll get one next POR.
Ron,
I hope you know I wasn't criticising above. Just really interested in the possibility of neck shots on hogs. If I am reading you right, that's something I'd like to start using. Let us know.
By all means, go for the neck shot. I've been hunting them for 4 years now and have never had one get away when hit there, and it'll save your meat and won't be as messy to clean. All the photos of my hogs have been neck shots. Check'm out
BTW; I primarily use a .30-06 topped with a 4.5 x 14 Leupold with 165 gr soft points but am going to a ballistic tip. I also use a .45-70 and a scoped ..44 Redhawk. The neck is soft enough that I've also taken one with my .22-250. The bigger hogs build up a real tough cartlidge like shield behind their shoulder and can get 1/2" thick or more. A quartering shot there can deflect a bullet off without a whole lot of damage. That comes from all the 'rooting' they do. That's the hardest part to skin on them.
Grunthunter
Jerry, rest assured your choice in ammo will do a fine job on any hog if you do your part. I know a guide on the central coast who exclusively uses a .270 with 150 gr Corelocts. As long as they shoot well in your rifle, and you can shoot your rifle well, use them with full confidence.
Thanks for the info. Here's a tidbit in trade, if you're interested.
I was really unhappy with the Ballistic Tip ammo for hogs or deer. Simply too much damage to the meat. They killed the animals dead every time, but LORD HAVE MERCY!
On a blacktail deer, the entry wound alone was nearly fist sized. In fact, when I first got to the deer I had to replay the shot to figure out how the exit wound ended up on the opposite side! When I realized this was the entry hole, I was shocked. There was no exit wound, as the bullet fetched in the off hipbone.
On a 150lb boar, I completely ruined a shoulder and a couple of ribs. Simply devastating.
I will shoot the rest of the rounds I have, and then switch to a Nosler Partition... or just go back to Core-Lokt bullets. I just started handloading, so the partitions are a little more reasonable. If I were buying factory ammo, I'd go back to plain old green-box Remingtons.
You might want to try using Barnes X bullets. PMC uses them in their Gold line of cartridges. The hog I shot with it had a bullet sized entrance wound with a quarter sized exit wound, yet the heart and lungs were turned to jelly. She dropped where I shot her. I was using 168 grain 30-06. I read in North American Hunter that the new world record boone and crocket elk was taken with a Barnes X from a 30-06.
The X-bullet is on my list too. But I don't wanna get this thread too far off track from the original question so I'll file the recommendation for later.
Sorry for the delay in my response. Speckmisser I want you to start using that neck shot on your hogs. You will find the kill zone is as large as targeting a shot behind the shoulder. Also you will drop that hog IN HIS TRACKS...If you do miss then it's a clean miss and you do not have a gut shot hog left to die a slow death. I have seen large hogs, shot with large cal. guns, run off into the sunset ie .444, 45-70 .338 reguardless of the wepon you must place the round to make a clean kill.
Look forward to seeing you all at por this weekend.
Good Hunting,
elkron
Your just too darn funny, but I was thinking the same thing. Anway, Wanted to let you know I WANT that .308. Your darn lucky I was oversea's when it went up for sale. Good Luck this weekend.
For your 270 I would reccomend the Winchester 140 gr. 'Fail Safe'.
I harvested my sow at a little over a hundred yards away with a perfect shot though the heart & part of the lungs.
The Winchester 160 gr. Failsafe fired out of my Remington 7mm went in and right out the other side.
She squealed really loud and ran about 20’ then dropped dead.
When we dressed/skinned her there was like nothing left to her heart and the top portions of both lungs were gone.
Do these pigs run after being shot on adrenaline alone or what?
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