Yep, I worry about people that consider themselves to be "undergunned" with anything less than a .338 bullet, or preferrably something bigger than .45!

99% of the world's game animals can be quite effectively killed with a .270, and definitely a .30-06.

While I enjoy hunting with and shooting my .45/70, it's just another tool for me.

And I'm certainly not going to say "I don't worry about shot placement" when I'm shooting my bigger rifles...

quote:

Originally posted by Shof:
Yep, I worry about people that consider themselves to be "undergunned" with anything less than a .338 bullet, or preferrably something bigger than .45!

99% of the world's game animals can be quite effectively killed with a .270, and definitely a .30-06.

While I enjoy hunting with and shooting my .45/70, it's just another tool for me.

And I'm certainly not going to say "I don't worry about shot placement" when I'm shooting my bigger rifles...

Shof, I agree, but the bigger calibers are so much more fun to hunt with!

They've all been fun from BB guns to 475#2 Jeffery. They stop being fun at 500 NE! OUCH!

I've always used enough gun when I hunted
because I like to hunt for game BEFORE it's shot.

Well, I see we have a long way to go around this place.

In the OP, I don't recall any mention of what gun he should get, but WHICH ONE OF THE GUNS HE ALREADY HAS SHOULD HE USE!

There have been all sorts of really intelligent answers and a couple of questionable ones.

I have shot several hogs with my 375 H&H some went down on the spot, a few I had to chase around a little before finishing them off.

We don't all hunt under ther same conditions, nor are all the pigs being hunted the same, nor will they all react the same at a hit.

Of the guns listed already the the posters arsenal, the 270 is plenty of gun with the 150 grain bullet within normal pig shooting ranges.

I also go along with Norton as to the possibility of using one of the 12 gauges with slugs or possibly even buckshot at under 30 yards.

I find it facinating that instead of answering the question as it is stated, so many folks jump right in, with "Go Buy Another Gun".

This person might be in a situation where buying another gun would mean not getting to go hog hunting.

JMO.

quote:

with a 375 you can brain them from either end!

i like bang, flop .. and consider a 358 winchester to be a minimum for hogs .. 376 steyr/375HH is a darn fine pig round ... though I think 416 something or other should be considered the minimum for anything over 50# ...

LWD

quote:

Originally posted by In the OP, I don't recall any mention of what gun he should get, but WHICH ONE OF THE GUNS HE ALREADY HAS SHOULD HE USE!
JMO.

Actually he said

quote:

Originally posted by flight doc:
... or what should I look into getting for them? Any help would be greatley appreciated!
Thanks!

and since i didn't prefer any of his choices, I offered my own, as he sounded pretty open to getting another rifle .. and if "the guys on AR think i need a bigger gun" helps him close the deal, good on him!

I stand corrected, my apologies.

But I still think his 270 will do the job, And I Do Not Like 270's!

243 is more than adequate.

Providing everything goes as anticipated.

I do not feel that the 243 is adequate on a shoulder/heart-lung shot on a big pig at anything over 100 yards.

Head shots and it is fine.

That opinion comes from having tracked a half dozen 125 to 200 pound plus hogs that were not recovered during the past 6 months.

Those hogs were shot with 243's/308's and 30-06's.

Admittedly marginal bullet placement playedf a factor, but from my limited experience, a solid body hit with a 243 won't always provide an exit wound, and a pig bleeding internally can go a long damn way.

I don't like a 243, simply because during my hunting career, I have seen things go wrong more times than go right by people using them.

JMO!

If I had a 270, and it was legal in the place where I had a hog hunt planned, that's what I would take. It's plenty adequate, IMO.

I haven't read this whole thread, but I agree with CHC, especially about the 243. Not that I wouldn't use a 243 myself, but I can see what he means, being in the client business.

The initial question included the 270, so that's my answer. The nice thing about hog hunting is there are such a varity of tools to use in slaying them.

KB

Don't get me wrong folks, I know plenty of folks that use 243's regularly with great results on hogs and deer.

My wife uses a 257 Robert's and has had great success with it on hogs and deer.

I just feel that too many folks do not fall into the category of even "Average" shooters/hunters, and don't know when to take a shot or let a critter walk.

People will not agree with this next statement, and I don't really blame them, but from my experiences, both as the shooter and as the guide, a less than perfect shot with a 270 is going to do more damage to the critter than, that same shot with a 243 or 257 or 25-06.

I ain't the greatest at physics, but a 277 diameter bullet hitting a critter is or should produce better results than a 100 to 120 grain bullet hitting that same critter in the same spot.

As has been stated to the point of boredom, proper bullet placement is the key.

Reality is that not all of us, or possibly any of us can properly place a bullet where it is supposed to go 100% of the time.

I am nieve enough to go with the concept that a larger in diameter, heavier in weight bullet if not exactly on target, will still do more damage and give the hunter a chance to sort things out, that a smaller, possibly minimal caliber/grain weight bullet in the same location would not.

This is all JMO, as my idea of the perfect all around rifle is a 375 H&H.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Providing everything goes as anticipated.

I do not feel that the 243 is adequate on a shoulder/heart-lung shot on a big pig at anything over 100 yards.

Head shots and it is fine.

That opinion comes from having tracked a half dozen 125 to 200 pound plus hogs that were not recovered during the past 6 months.

Those hogs were shot with 243's/308's and 30-06's.

Admittedly marginal bullet placement playedf a factor, but from my limited experience, a solid body hit with a 243 won't always provide an exit wound, and a pig bleeding internally can go a long damn way.

I don't like a 243, simply because during my hunting career, I have seen things go wrong more times than go right by people using them.

JMO!

I agree with you here. For head shots, the .243 is fine but that shot doesn't always present itself.

My experiences with hogs, 22s, 270 and buck shot is that all the fast rounds ruin a lot more meat than something more sedate (as in heavy bullets under 2400 fps). My 270 with 130 grain Grand Slams killed them dead but blood-shot both shoulders. And a 12 ga with buck shot can ruin 3/4 of an entire hog.

In the end I killed almost all of them by head and neck shooting with 223s and 220 Swifts to preserve as much meat as possible. No need for the 270 in that scenario.

The other thing to consider is you can take a short shot with a rifle but you can't take a long shot with buck shot at all, and maybe not with slugs unless your gun is set up for it.

If the hunt is for a trophy, I guess it doesn't matter as much.

tiggertate, I agree. My Bud in Needville Texas has probably killed more hogs with his 223 Ackley than what anybody on this forum has killed. Granted he hog hunts every day on his ranch. He is playing with his 6.5x47Lapua now.
Butch

quote:

Granted he hog hunts every day on his ranch.

And that right there children is the whole problem.

I have killed close to 100 hogs with a 22 LR with one shot to the head while in a hog trap.

All of us do not have the same experience level when it comes to hunting, nor do we all hunt under the same set of conditions.

For all of us that are Texans, the rest of the damn country does not hunt from a blind watching a timed feeder at a measured 100 yards.

One thing I have noticed when these type discussions are started, is that too many folks, fall back on THEIR experiences in the areas they are used to hunting.

Hunting methods/practices/legalities are not the same nationwide, what is legal and acceptable in one place, Texas for instance, might get you a nights stay in the crossbar hotel and a little renumeration to the state for such activities.

I have literally shot and killed several hundred hogs in my life. That includes some large scale culling. I have used everything from a 243 to a 458. I have had to track a couple even with the larger calibers when not shot well. Even an ocassional shoulder shot that is on the money needs to be followed up.
1 Shoot them in the head if possible
2 place your first shot well
3 If you dont think you are close enough get closer
4 If you shoot one and he dosnt go down keep shooting.
I love to hunt hogs and some times things dont go as planned. I still however stand by my statement that a 243 with a 100 or 105 grn bullet will do the job 99% of the time. Pound for pound they are tough critters but they are not armor plated. That tough grisly shoulder plate will still be penetrated. Texas heart shots on wounded boars are als effective. Head shots speak for themselves. If you are culling/meat hunting you should go for the head anyway. I dont want to get into a pissing contest but I have shot way too many hogs with the 243.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:

quote:

Granted he hog hunts every day on his ranch.

One thing I have noticed when these type discussions are started, is that too many folks, fall back on THEIR experiences in the areas they are used to hunting.

Damn, I'll be sure to remember to make some sh^t up next time....

Make up what ever you want too, that is your perogative.

My statement still stands, too damn many folks base ALL hunting on their experiences, they do not take into consideration that other folks hunt under different conditions and have different levels of experience and expertice.

Now if you think that is wrong or a lie so be it, but I know it to be the truth.

Hunting in Texas is a whole hell of a lot different than hunting in Colorado.

Someone packing a gun and getting shooting opportunities daily is a whole hell of a lot different than someone that goes on 2 or 3 hunts a year.

Now roll on the floor about that.

I understod your point; I was trying to be funny. Fact is though, if its all folks have to relate with, there's not much else they can say.

I can't fathom why anyone would be worried; I have found that as long as you hit them anywhere in the body, with a really big expanding bullet, they will die really quickly. Of course, I don't intentionally shoot them anywhere but in the vitals, but sometimes happens on those that bust out from under you at top speed. You can't do that with a .243, etc, although a well placed shot certainly will. I would have to pass up on that shot. With big powerful stuff, I don't. Mostly, I just like using them. So, no need to worry about me. Sometimes I just like to stir up things to make sure your heart works ok.

I agree with your point that too many people dont place the shot right. I also agree that when things are not done correctly there is more margin for error with a larger caliber. Still we are talking more about the performance of the shooter and not the rifle.

If a boar is under my feeder, I gut shoot him so he will die someplace else.
Butch

Of course, under a feeder (and I am NOT anti-feeder); that is a controlled situation and you can surgically place your shot wherever you want. When I was a kid on the farm in WV in the 50s and 60s, I killed at least 50 of them with a .22 Long Rifle. Hell, the poor(er) guy in the next holler used a hammer on them. But when you hunt them like rabbits and they bust from under you in the brush and you have (want) to drive your bullet through 3 feet of pig to reach the vitals, Well, I just like bigger, slower, more powerful bullets. Maybe it's just me...They always seem to work in killing the hog quickly. And, that is all any of us want, and owe, any living creature that we intend to kill; a quick, humane as possible, demise.

Well, not all of us Texans hunt from blinds/stands all the time. Sometimes we walk and hunt with unknown distances/circumstances. Out of that battery I would use the .270 with some heavy/heavily constructed bullets. Of corse, if one was wanting an excuse...eerr reason to "need" a new rifle, the ole' .45-70 lever is hard to beat. Very flexible to the handloader and with the advent of the LeverRevolution ammo, no longer just a brush gun.

Crazyhorse, I might be the only one here who knows where Azle is. I'm right between Azle and Springtown off 199. Small world.

Of the rifles he has the 270 would work. Use a Barnes TSX or TTSX. You'll get full penetration from side to side and on a big pig the bullet will be on the other end for end to end shots. (Texas heart shot). A 45-70 with a 300 grain TSX or if you really want penetration use a Buster. Same thing for a 44 mag or 45 long colt revolver or 454 or 460 or 500. In my old age I am gaining an appreciation for large caliber bullets. The folks using 375's and up have good points. Use a good bullet, Make a good shot, read proper shot placement and have bacon for breakfast. DW

The 270 should do fine, but I'd use a premium bullet and would lean towards a 140 or 150 gr.

I've taken hogs with a 308 and a 358 with no complaints about either (the 308 took a nice 350# boar). But, just to do something a little different, I'm setting up a SS 338 RCM Hawkeye as a dedicated pig gun. Now all I need is for Hornady to release their 185 gr. GMX's...

A .270 with a Nosler Partition bullet will certainly take a big boar hog. However,if you are hunting on the ground in thick cover a bolt action scoped sporter would not be the best choice.

Should you take a shotgun for that contingency, I would suggest checking out the Dixie Slugs website. My personal favorite in their line is the 12 gauge Tri-Ball 3" buckshot load. It consists of Three 3/4th ounce hard cast lead "pellets." In my experience an ordinary 870 Express/full choke combination will fire 4 inch or so patterns at 40 yards and shoot to the point of aim with just the bead / vent rib sight system.

Im a believer, that if you have to take one side or the other, err on the side of energy over velocity... Ive seen some nice clean holes poked in big hogs with fast little bullet that did not slow the porker, let alone knock him down. Of course, it depends on how and how close your hunting. Most of mine have been in close with handguns and where Ive hunted has usually been limited visibility. Im talking to a couple of manufacturers now about a .338 Drilling DR as a hog gun. Depending on the weapon config, can use in close or reach out 100's of yards. Not a punishing to shoot as the 375.

We killed hundreds of hogs with our old trusty cz 308 and fmjs never lost one in the head ,heart and lung area ,bullets exited in 90 percent of the cases .
I leed many too with my glock 40sw from my truck or in Zodiacs but at close distance 10 mts .

My choice is the .270 Win. with 150 gr. BB's (boomerang bullets)! At the shot the bullet passes completely through the hog-----does a U-TURN and smacks him again ! VERRRY DEADLY !!!
Only problem is a couple of times I have had to duck on the return flight !

Seriously, I have only taken 3 boars and all with a .45 LC Ruger Blackhawk with 255gr. Hardcast at app. 1100 fps----NO PROBLEM MON !

Hip

Check this out.
http://forums.accuratereloadin...1621043/m/1161005531
Butch

The last three hogs I shot were at lazered ranges of 247, 270 and 280 yards. Two head shots, one high shoulder, and that one was just a bit too high to get both lungs, as the bullet trajectory was too angled... Plain old Remington 130-grain Core-Lokts out of my .270, and everything exited. Even the high shoulder shot didn't mess up much meat.

I have shot Speer GS bullets for years, but re-gained a lot of respect for the Core-Lokts. (And I am surprised at the comment about the GS and bloodshot shoulders. That has not been my experience with them.)

I have said it before: hit them where they live and get out the skinning knife!

Based on what you have on hand I would use the 270, with a decent bullet of 150-ish. As its been said, placement is key, and with a porker you gotta remember the typical Behind The Shoulder Shot (the one I try to always use on deer), isnt too effective on hogs. Aim a little forward, take a little shoulder down low and you wont have to look far for your porker. Head shots work great also if range and conditions are right, but I would avoid buckshot as it doesnt have enough penetration for hogs after a few yards.
My .02
Eterry