I'll be taling a few clients on a corporate hog hunt here in about 4 weeks and have a bit of a decision to make. I was going to take my 7-08 and 204 for a 2 rifle battery for hogs/javies and varmints; however, one of the guys who I'll be taking with me doesn't feel comfortable traveling with a firearm, so I said I'll bring him a gun he can shoot. This obligation now means I must change my battery.

I'll be taking the 7-08 for my client since I don't really know his shooting abilities. This now means I must take either my 243 or 300 Win Mag for myself. I'd be shooting 100 gr soft points for the 243 and 180 gr Nosler BT for the 300. Given that I'll also be shooting varmints I'm leaning toward taking the 243 instead of the 300. I have absolutely NO problems with this rifle since it was the rifle I grew up hunting deer with until I was finally able to afford other toys. I'd say I've probably killed more deer with this rifle than all others combined, and recently found myself using my 22-250 to hunt deer and antelope with.

Therefore, if it were you, would you take the 243 or 300 with the targets being hogs, javies and varmints.

Cheers,

How big will the hogs possibly be, and how far away will you be shooting them.

Walk and stalk huning, or hunting out of a blind?

The 243 will be more than enough. A big Javelina goes about 50 pounds, in Texas it is legal to use a 22 LR on Javelina.

I saw one killed with a single shot from a 22 LR at about 30 yards and the animal ran about 30 yards before piling up, and it weighed 64 pounds.

On the hogs with the 243 aim mid way between the eye and the ear or in the ear, that will drop any hog that walks.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
How big will the hogs possibly be, and how far away will you be shooting them.

Walk and stalk huning, or hunting out of a blind?

Yeah good question.

I'll be hunting in the Uvalde (sp?) area of SW Texas. I would guess that 150-200 lbs would probably be max on the size of the hogs. As far as distance, I don't know because I've never hunted this area before.

We have the option of either spot & stalk or stand hunting, which personally, I prefer spot & stalk, which is what I'll probably do the most.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
The 243 will be more than enough. A big Javelina goes about 50 pounds, in Texas it is legal to use a 22 LR on Javelina.

I saw one killed with a single shot from a 22 LR at about 30 yards and the animal ran about 30 yards before piling up, and it weighed 64 pounds.

On the hogs with the 243 aim mid way between the eye and the ear or in the ear, that will drop any hog that walks.

The last hog I shot I killed with my 9mm S&W. A friend of mine had a deer feeder in SE Oklahoma that quickly became a hog feeder. We snuck in one afternoon and just as soon as the feeder went off the hogs poured in like crazy. He took the first shot with his 22 mag pistol right behind the ear. As the hogs scattered in all directions, I took a few running shots at a sow as she ran by. I hit her three times and dropped her within about 40 yards.

Here is a picture:

I used a 223 with 52gr softpoints last year on Javelina in west Texas, Bang Flop. at about 90 yards. He was about 60 lbs. They say that a big one.

Nothing wrong with a .243. I've used that and a 6 mm to take pigs of all sizes. Also have successfully used a 22... shot placement is everything!

Matt

Well, I guess I'll go against the crowd, while I certainly agree the .243 will do the job, all around, come what may, I like the .300 WM a lot better (I carry one everyday for my truck/deer/hog/coyote gun). Your only real reason for taking the .243 is "varmint" shooting and unless you're counting crows, the only varmints you're going to see are likely to be coyotes. They can be close or far and you won't have that many shots. I'd take the .300 if it is as accurate, and you are as accurate with it, as the .243.

either,, doesn't matter .. load the 243 with 105s, and shoot it good.. it will do the deal.

300, with 150gr barnes, does it a little better...

both will get your bacon!

I'll have to go .300 win mag as well. Just gives you more options.

He will probably be hunting hogs over at a feeder or over bait, probably at 100 yards or less, as for the javelina, unless he just wants to try a prairie dog shot on them, they will probably be in the same situation as the shots at the hogs.

Don't get me wrong, because I have shot feral hogs with my 375 and a javelina with a 458.

None of them however were at ranges that a 243 or for that matter a 22 LR could not have handled.

I ain't a believer in the popular term of overkill, and except for just shooting the 300 WM because you want to, why go with the bigger heavier gun when the 243 will be more than adequate.

I am sure that I have no where near the experience some of you guys do on this, but the farthest out that I have shot a feral hog was less than 150 yards.

I have shot one javelina at close to 200 yards, but that was because of where I was at when I spooted the thing and I had no way of getting any closer, and I dropped it with one shot with an 85 grain Barnes "X" out of my wife's 257 Roberts.

I just thing for the game being hunted and the probable situation those shots are going to be taken in, the 300 WM, while being more than capable of doing the job, might overdo the job by having to well constructed a bullet to give any expansion upon impact and might just zip right thru and the animal could be lost.

I admit, that there are many folks that would say who cares if it gets away on either the hog or the javelina, but the person asking the question might not feel that way. JAO.

I'd grab the .243 but pick up some 100 Partitions or 85 gr X bullets if you feel like you need a little insurance.

I just feel that when someone counts on head shots, they ae fooling themselves. Yes, the 243 will work for boiler room shots, but I personally prefer something that will get it done from any angle presented. You are right though, as he will probably be hunting 150-pounders inside 100 yards, and the 243 will be perfectly capable.

Overkill is a bit of a silly concept in that there are no degrees of dead...... I too have used my big-bores on hogs and one thing is readily apparent is that they tend to do less meat damage than light, hyper velocity rounds -- but that is where the head shot comes into play......see, we've come full circle!

quote:

Overkill is a bit of a silly concept in that there are no degrees of dead...... I too have used my big-bores on hogs and one thing is readily apparent is that they tend to do less meat damage than light, hyper velocity rounds -- but that is where the head shot comes into play......see, we've come full circle!

I was bit square in the ass at an early age by Elmer Keith's dog.

I also believe that he was the person that stated that there is "Only One Degree Of Dead", could be wrong on that however.

As for caliber choices, I am very prone to recommend normal calibers for folks I do not personally know, simply because I have been around way too many folks using Big Rifles in an attempt to make up for lack of hunting skills or shooting ability.

To me, and folks may not or will not agree with this, the big guns, 30 calibeer magnums and larger, are specialized tools.

In the hands of the right person they are perfect.

In the hands of the wrong person, they can produce some nightmare results that give them a bad reputation.

Personally given the choice, I would much rather use my 300 Weatherby/35 whelen/375 H&H for hunting almost anything, except in reverse order.

I will nearly always pick up the 375 before anything else.

I have became a believer that the average hunter needs to concentrate more on bullet placement than sheer power. JMO.

I completely agree. But big calibers don't make up for poor shooting and as with every and any caliber, placement is job number one. I don't think the .300 win mag is particularly big, but I guess "big" is a relative term! I don't hunt much with rifles any more, as I enjoy handguns too much, but when I do, my go-to rifle is often my squirrel rifle -- an old M77 Ruger in .338 win mag.

I have hunted out of Uvalde TX before, shots could be fairly long.

Truth is I consider the 243 light for big pigs, and I have shot a lot of deer with a 243, so I am familiar with it.

I have shot peccary with a 223 [an AR 15 actually].

Since you are loaning your 7-08 to your buddy, I might be inclined to use the 300 Mag. Yes it will probably be overkill, but better to have a little too much than a little too little.

I have shot a few pigs with a 300 Win Mag...

They did not complain.

For ANY game in North America, the 300 Mag, with the proper bullet, is NEVER a mistake.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I have hunted out of Uvalde TX before, shots could be fairly long.

Truth is I consider the 243 light for big pigs, and I have shot a lot of deer with a 243, so I am familiar with it.

I have shot peccary with a 223 [an AR 15 actually].

Since you are loaning your 7-08 to your buddy, I might be inclined to use the 300 Mag. Yes it will probably be overkill, but better to have a little too much than a little too little.

I have shot a few pigs with a 300 Win Mag...

They did not complain.

For ANY game in North America, the 300 Mag, with the proper bullet, is NEVER a mistake.

I agree whole heartedly. I feel the same way about my .338 win mag. There really isn't anything on this continent it can't take handily......... Oh, and I'm not a head shooter -- never got into the habit......

I guess I should clarify my definition of the "Average" hunter, one that goes hunting one or times a year and never really gets into all the mechanics of the sport.

When I give advice I tend to err o the side of not going overboard since I don't know the experience level of the person asking the question.

One of the reasons I don't recommend the calibers I use for the beginning hunter or a hunter that is moving up from say birds to big game and does not have much rifle experience.

If you will notce at no point have I said the 300 wm would not get the job done, my first rifle was a 300 Win Mag model 670 Winchester and I killed a bunch of stuff with that gun over a 25 year stretch.

The thing is however, it isn't any of us going on the hunt, and we don'tknow what conditions the person asking the question will be working under.

My position remains, not knowing this persons skill or experience level or the conditions he will be shooting under, for him, I still recommend the 243 with 100 grain bullets.

For me, A, I wouldn't be asking because ,B, I would have done put the 300 WM in the case, or in my situation, my 375 or 35 Whelen.

That may not make sense to anyone but me, but as other folks have stated numerous times elsewhere, many folks have big rifles, but in may cases have not spent enough time usig them to become comfortable or proficient with them. JMO.

You are preaching to the converted! I agree the average hunter shouldn't be using a big caliber. I've just never been a real fan of the .243 and I think it's a bit light for large boars with thick gristle plates. A .270 would be a good compromise, I think.

243 with 95 gr or 100 gr partitions. I have probably shot 50+ pigs off the river bottom at my farm in East Texas. Never had one run over 50 yards. The largest @ about 200-225 lbs.
Who ever the land owner is he probably does not care what you shoot them with or where you shoot them as long as they die somewhere. They are a terrible problem for land owners.
They are getting to where you almost have to hunt them at night in out area. Get a good quality bright scope.
I have shot them with a 375 and 45-70. They all work. It can be fun to sneak up on them from down wind and pop them with an open sighted gun.

Whitworth, My Hat Is Off To You Sir.

I would not have a 243 if anyone bought me a dozen.

I would trade them in for a 340 Weatherby.

Actually I am the same way about the 270/308/30-06, I just don't like them.

I recommend them to folks, simply because many folks that are just starting out are not going to reload/handload, and also most of those folks have their little support group that is going to have a shit hemorrhage if they mention getting any of the bigger guns, especially if some of them stepped off into a big rifle before they were ready, and got their forehead peeled by being too close to the scope.

Crazyhorse, does that mean I should bring my 300 Ultra Mag istead of the 243 when we come down to hunt javelina in a couple weeeks?

You can if you want to, I killed one with my 458 Win Mag year before last, killed 2 or 3 with a 45-70 over the years, the majority, around 30 or so have been killed with a 22 Hornet and 50 grain Barnes X bullets out to 125 yards.

As to whether you should bring the big gun or not that is strictly up to you, I just do the guiding and the skinning, JMO, but I think you'll enjoy the hunt more with the 243 than the 300, but either way I bet any javelina you shoot at with either will be dead when we get to it.

Thanks for the responses folks. I've decided to renew my relationship with my 243. I think it has been about 8-9 years since it has seen the hunting fields.

I forgot how much I enjoy shooting this little gun until I went to the range with it a couple times this week. I put some new glass on top of her and I think we're ready to go.

Thanks for the comments!! I'll be sure and post a hunt report when we return.

quote:

I've decided to renew my relationship with my 243. I think it has been about 8-9 years since it has seen the hunting fields.

Same here, Graybird. I'm leaving in two hours to head for West Texas to try for some piggies (and coyotes). I could have taken any of my XX rifles, but I picked the .243 because its a fine little rifle (Sako pre-Garcia Deluxe) that I haven't hunted with in at least a decade. I've had hogs drop on the spot when shot with a .223, and run a couple of hundred yards when hit in the thorax with a .338, so I'm not so sure the caliber is a big deal.

Good luck to both of you on your upcoming hunts! Take lots of photos!

I agree with a lot of what has been posted here about experience with the hogs and the choice of the caliber. The only other thing that I would bring up is that if you are going to try and shoot a really big hog that you are wanting to do a mount with I would take the 300. The 243 will flat hammer most hogs, even taken with shots to the vitals behind the shoulder, and sure enough will knock their lights out with head shots. However, if you are going after a mount and will not be inclined to shoot a really big hog in the head, the 300 is a better choice. The shield on some hogs is freakishly tough and will take a lot out of the 243 on its way to the vitals. The brush and country around Uvalde is thick, and with out an exit wound and the possibility that the bullet has produced enough vital damage to kill..just not quickly.. will make the tracking and recovery of a big hog hard. They can go a long ways with lead in them and that thick hide seals up pretty well preventing external bleeding from small holes. If you don't care about damaging the head, or are not going to try for a really big hog, than clean their ears out with the .243.. If big pigs are your cup of tea take the 300 and give them hell.

P.S. I agree with crazyhorse... the 375 is what I like to fed the hogs! It just makes me smile!

quote:

Originally posted by AB Joint Outfitters:
I agree with a lot of what has been posted here about experience with the hogs and the choice of the caliber. The only other thing that I would bring up is that if you are going to try and shoot a really big hog that you are wanting to do a mount with I would take the 300. The 243 will flat hammer most hogs, even taken with shots to the vitals behind the shoulder, and sure enough will knock their lights out with head shots. However, if you are going after a mount and will not be inclined to shoot a really big hog in the head, the 300 is a better choice. The shield on some hogs is freakishly tough and will take a lot out of the 243 on its way to the vitals. The brush and country around Uvalde is thick, and with out an exit wound and the possibility that the bullet has produced enough vital damage to kill..just not quickly.. will make the tracking and recovery of a big hog hard. They can go a long ways with lead in them and that thick hide seals up pretty well preventing external bleeding from small holes. If you don't care about damaging the head, or are not going to try for a really big hog, than clean their ears out with the .243.. If big pigs are your cup of tea take the 300 and give them hell.

I absolutely agree with you!

Interesting that nobody has asked Greybird if he reloads, that 300 doesn't have to be so overpowering.

Even if reloading isn't an option Remington sells a reduced recoil factory load using the 150 Core-Loct at 300 Savage or .308 W velocities.

IIRC someone sells a factory loaded 130 TSX or TTSX. Even though it's a full velocity load it will still knock the recoil down a good bit. That 130 TSX penetrates very well.

Big-foot,

I do reload but I haven't loaded any rounds for this rifle in about 8 years. The last time I really shot my 300 extensively was in Africa in 2004. I packed it the last couple of years elk hunting but never came across anything worthy of a shot.

Plus, with the simple fact I'm headed out on a business trip tomorrow (Sunday) returning Tuesday evening and then catching a plane first thing Wednesday morning, I didn't really have time to work up a new load; therefore, I was just going to use the ammo I already had loaded.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

quote:

I've decided to renew my relationship with my 243. I think it has been about 8-9 years since it has seen the hunting fields.

Same here, Graybird. I'm leaving in two hours to head for West Texas to try for some piggies (and coyotes). I could have taken any of my XX rifles, but I picked the .243 because its a fine little rifle (Sako pre-Garcia Deluxe) that I haven't hunted with in at least a decade. I've had hogs drop on the spot when shot with a .223, and run a couple of hundred yards when hit in the thorax with a .338, so I'm not so sure the caliber is a big deal.

Update: Took a 110 lb boar in the MIDDLE of the afternoon in the MIDDLE of a CRP field from a deer blind at about 200 yards with the .243 -- 100 gr Nosler Solid Base @ 3060 fps. He traveled about 150 yards across the open field before slowing, stopping, then just falling over. In my experience, it usually doesn't matter how much gun you use; unless you hit them in the head or the spine, they're typically going to run aways.

Graybird: Let us know how your Uvalde trip turned out. Damn, it was windy on Saturday!

I shoot ferals all the time with a 470NE double rifle with sledge hammer solids!

That is simply that I want the practice with my Cape Buffalo rifle. A 243 Win rifle will kill any hog that ever lived, with shots right through the boiler room with a 100 gr Hornady from about any angle you want to shoot him, and do even better with 100 gr Nosler Partitions. There is absolutely no reason to ruin a fine scull with a head shot, just stick it where he breaths, and his pump is working, and you got some pork!

Speaking of shooting hogs with a double rifle here is a picture of one days take, at a DRSS hunt! In Jan 09 this year, 12 hunters at our DRSS hunt, killed 31 hogs in two days!