Any opinions (or load suggestions) on the mid-range (200 - 300 yards)effectivness of 308 on 200 lb hogs?

I would surely pass on a shot that I could not place well, but I'm a little un-sure if this caliber is sufficient for an efficient kill - even w/ good shot placement.

For the record, the rifle in question is a Rem 700 5-R that shoots 168 Sierra MK's sub-MOA well.

Bullet recommendation for the 1 in 11.2 rate of twist would be appreciated as well.

No problem at all 165 or 180s in premiums or 180 in regular bullets like Hornadys, Speers, Remingtons, or Sierras

Well, first of all, in my experience, it is damn hard to find a hog at 100 yards and having a shot at 300 is really unusual in my area. Obviously yours must differ. Secondly, hogs tend to move a lot even when feeding, it is going to be hard to place a bullet on a 300 yard hog. My idea would be, if you can see one that far, get closer.

Finally, the old standby Nosler Partition will in 150 gr do all that you need done on a hog at 300 or 30 yards. Barnes will work as well as most other premium bullets and most non-premium ones. Like in most shooting, it ain't the bullet, it's the shooter. If you put almost any reasonable .308 thru the ribs, crank up the grill, because you've got a dead hog. The premiums will help on larger boars and thru the shield shots or raking shots.

To each his own, but I like shooting my pigs up close and personal.

I've taken quite a few hogs with the 165 grain Hornady interlocks.

Your bullet of choice between 150 and 180 grains will work nicely on hogs out to 300 yards. In a .308, I tend to favor the slightly lighter bullets for more velocity. I might start off by trying, say . . . a 168 gr. Sierra MK?

Actually, I don't want to restart the Matchking contraversy, but a 165-168 bullet would seem to be about the right combination of weight and velocity in a .308, for even the toughest hogs. Try any conventional/premium hunting bullet in this weight that shoots well in your gun.

The .308 is PLENTY for hogs.

gcf'
I have taken and seen taken quite a few hogs with a 308.
I even used Federal factory 168 Matchkings on 2 hogs. They killed ok but the recovered bullet fragments made it apparent that they are not your best choice.
Probably my favorite load is the Federal 165gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaw. I have killed pigs with the 168 gr Ballistic Silvertips, 165 Sierra HPBT Gamekings, as well as others.
I have shot pigs from inside 20 yards to about 275 yards.
The 308 is a great hog gun. I had a friend that was having problems knocking pigs down with a 7MM Mag. I had him switch to Bearclaws and he had no further problems.

I'd think any premium 308 bullet in the right place would be just fine for most hogs, even the larger one's, but as far as 200-300 yards shot I'd agree with the previous poster and try to get closer. Sneaking up on a hog is not that hard if you get the wind right and do a decent job of "sneakin" up on 'em.

I had fantastic performance last weekend with my 308 loaded with Hornady 165gr BTSP Interlocks. Shots were from 50 - 75 yards. Complete penetration even on head shots.

Have fun.

I have killed 6 hogs with the 165 gr. Sierra HPBT GameKing running 2755 avg. fps from my 24" barreled 308. Dead right there results and haven't recovered a bullet yet. All were complete pentrations. Last year a friend of mine didn't have time to reload for a quick trip and he grabbed a box of 168 gr. Fed. Match and killed a decent (140 lbs approx.) sow dead in her tracks with a double lung shot at about 80 yards. Complete penetration on that one as well. Not saying it is the best bullet available but it hammered that hog. By the way that is a nice rifle you have. It will work fine. Have you tried the 175 gr. Sierra MK in it. I bet it shoots that bullet very well.

One other thing, the MatchKing controversy, that thread went 1100+ posts if memory serves me right. Trust me, we don't want to rehash that issue again. Both sides have firm believers and I will let it go at that.

RBRN

Red Neck, for many many years I used the Sierra 165gr HPBT in the 308 with 39,5gr of IMR 3031.
From point blank range to @ 550 yards it always performed perfectly on deer sized game. It is one of my favorite bullets in the 308.
I have NEVER recovered one.
It is a very good hunting bullet in the paramilitary semi-auto rifles as with no lead exposed you have no point deformation problems and it feeds perfectly in rifles like the H&K 91, M1-A, M1 Garand, and the FN-FAL.
It is also a very accurate bullet. I have found it to be equal to the Matchking, even in match and sniper type rifles.

GCF,

The .308 WIN kills hogs very well.

On my last trip to TX, my .223 AR-15 took 6 hogs weighing between 140-300 lbs. Shots were taken ranging from 55-300 yds. Some dropped on the spot with a .223 (at 300 yds) and some needed a few extra encouragement shots. I used 55gr FMJBT Nato ammo.

Killed 3 hogs with a .308 VEPR rifle within the 65 yd mark. Blew'em down good. Used Hornady 165gr BTSPs. Those hogs were all around the 175lb range.

I found a semi-auto rifle chambered in .223 REM or .308 WIN is a real hog getter.

Maybe not ideal, but if you had to choose, what rounds are best suited for hogs (meat hog ~150)?

1) 168 Sierra BTHP @ 2600
2) 165 Ballistic Tip @ 2600
3) 150 Ballistic Tip @ 2800

Thanks,

quote:

Originally posted by Buffalo Soldier:
Maybe not ideal, but if you had to choose, what rounds are best suited for hogs (meat hog ~150)?

1) 168 Sierra BTHP @ 2600
2) 165 Ballistic Tip @ 2600
3) 150 Ballistic Tip @ 2800

Thanks,

Your right, none of them are ideal. Nosler BT, act just like hollow points, with a wind screen. Any 150gr - 165gr SP, will work just fine on any hog. If you are meat hunting, HP will ruin to much meat and leaves bone fragments to boot.

Hog Killer

Last Dec my wife shot a hog [@210 to225 lbs] at 20 yards in the shoulder with a Winchester factory 308 168gr Ballistic Silvertip. The hog dropped to the shot. One shoulder was ruined. Similar hits with Federal factory 165 Trophy Bonded Bearclaws have not ruined the shoulder.
The TB make a big hole but do not shed lead fragements or bloodshot the meat real bad.

Anyone ever use Nosler solid base 150 grain, Federal Premium?

Buffalo

Buffalo Soldier
I have shot some deer with the 150 Nosler SB [reloaded] they did very well on broad side shots. If I was walking up BIG pigs 250lbs and up I would go with a Premium 165 or 180 grain.

I just got back from hog hunt shot a 340lb.
russain boar with a 300 win mag with 180gr.
nosler balistic tip went thru rib cage killed
him in his tracks bullit did fragment some but
worked well.

Your 308 will work great, just stick with the good bullets as mentioned above.
Just got back from a hunt in Utopia, tx. 4 hogs over oat fields. Some of the green fields were 400yds long. I used my 25-06 w/100grn TSX on four hogs between 80-140yrds. hogs ranged from 90 to 165lbs. Two 130lb sows fell to one bullet @ 95yrds. I normally use 101 groove bullets but ran out of them and switched to TSX. Both have completely penetrated all the hogs I've shot except for a quartering shot on a pretty big boar.

Stevo

Steveo:

Sounds like you had a good time. Was this a pay hunt? If so, who was the outfitter and how much did it cost? Details appreciated.

Gat.
The hunt was arranged by Don the owner of Groove bullets. Four of us hunted on a ranch called "Record buck". Semi-guided in that your dropped off at a blind overlooking oat fields. Guide's name is Micah Strelsky and can be reached at phrbranch@yahoo.com. Food and accomadations were excellent. $250/day

The ranch is huge/20000 acres. Big deer and exotics if that is your thing. I think their site is www.recordbuck.com

Four of us do this hunt annually and always have a great time. Nice way to get away from the cold Nebr winter for a week or so.

Stevo

165yards is a long shot on a pig.... even a big pig is low to the ground...

a 308 with 150+ decent bullets, if it shoots and if the hunter shoots well underpressure, is a good round for pigs...

a big BUT....

a 308 is a light caliber, and while shot placement is always critical, with the smaller stuff, a near HIT is going to result in a track

pigs don't lay down and die from a lung/liver shot for awhile


shesh, just checked their price list... WOW thats high


jeffe

jeffe:

Those prices took this po ole country boy out of the game as well. Not to mention, it sounds kind of put and take to me. Which is ok for the visiting rich sports, bring money, we need it, but I prefer free range hogs and cheaper ones at that .

150gr. Nosler SP solid base @ 2800fps, proved more than adequate.

Shot a 200+lbs hog yesterday....190 yard shot, broke his neck and dropped him on the spot Second shot ended the flopping and guaranteed he wasn't going anywhere. Complete pass through with both shots, so I did't recover bullets.

Buffalo

Jeez, I think I just got called a rich yankee!

We didn't hunt the trophy boar area at the ranch that the website refers to. We hunted the other 19,500 acres. We paid $250/per day for the bed, food and all the hogs that you can shoot-includes cleaning and quartering for the cooler.

I thought it was very reasonable, especially considering the nice digs.

Not a rich yankee, I go for the meat and the company of my friends.

Stevo

I used a .308 Win with 165 grain Nosler Partitions in it for a 200lb warthog in Namibia once. It took one to the shoulder at 200 yards and dropped 50 yards on.