The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Hogs, Warthogs, Wild Boars, Javelinas Hunting right caliber for pigs?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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| One of Us |
This time next year I hope to be heading down to LA for my first hog hunt. I'm trying to figure out if I need a larger caliber, than what I already have. I originally was thinking my 280 could be my do it all gun (for deer and hogs). But now I'm worried that the 140 nosler BT might be moving to fast to deliver good knock down power. One of my friends recommended looking into a 45-70. Just looking for some advice. | ||
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The 280 is as good as you need for hogs. They aren't hard to kill at all. Caliber is almost never the issue. That said, any excuse is a good excuse for a new gun. You need to ask about the terrain so you don't show up with too much scope if it's close cover or iron sights only to find that the shots are longer than you might have thought. "Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson. | |||
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I like heavy for caliber bullets to ensure good penetration. Big and old boars can be tough, so I recommend premium bullets at rifle velocities. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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I have been looking into getting a 338 fed barrel for my encore and putting a burris 2x7 scope on it. In case we are hunting in the brush and need to get off a quick shot. | |||
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I would try to find out a little more about what type of hunting you will be doing. If you're going to be in a stand or working the fields, then I would say that your setup is just fine. If you'll be working with dogs, then probably a bit much. Even spot and stalking I think your setup will be good if you work the ridgelines and old growth areas. I've hunted quite a few years now near Winnfield, LA, and my 308 bolt gun has been just about perfect for me. All of that being said, to me shot placement is the most critical part of hog hunting. I prefer neck shots on them, and that Ballistic tip would be perfect for neck shots. Seen too many hit hard in the chest but didn't recover them, or spent many hours tramping through swamps and thick stuff to recover them. You may or may not get a good blood trail if you hit them in the chest, and I highly doubt the BT will exit if the piggie weighs over 150lbs. A neck shot, however, will drop it right there. Good luck. LH3 | |||
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Since I live in a state that has a bunch of hogs I have killed my share I suppose. after thinking a bit I have killed more with a 300 weatherby than anything else. I have killed them with a 6mm remington, 270 win. The last hog I shot was with a 375 H&H. The only hog I lost was one shot in south Texas at about 125 yards with the 6mm. It got in the brush and I didn't find it until I saw the buzzards in the tree above him. My biggest boar weighed 385 lbs, got it with the 300. Farthest shot was about 225 with the 270. I am not saying you need a big gun this is just what I use. I do most of my hunting in a stand here in Texas. Keep yer powder dry and yer knife sharp. | |||
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Piggies can absorb a fair amount of energy and still run. I like to hit them hard enough that they are pretty much DRT. The 9,3 calibers and the .375 H&H do that in spades. Obviously not necessary, but fun and provide additional real practice for heavy rifles. Have friends that have taken them with .223, .22-250, and other small calibers. They do seem to have one philosophy in common ... they use very high quality bullets. Mike -------------- DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ... Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com | |||
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Hey wahoo, I've got to agree with everyone else's advice. New toys for a new game are alot of fun but your 280 will kill any pig that walks this planet for sure with a good bullet. You didn't mention what type of rifle the 280 Remington was? If a bolt rifle; them why go to a larger cartridge in a Single Shot? A 280 Remington bolt rifle will give you all the required firepower to cleanly take a hog. For my way of thinking a 140 gr. BT could be perhaps a little on the frangable side for a porker - certainly a big Pig (but how often does a real BIG'en come along....) not outside the realm of cleanly taking one but there are better bullet choices IMO,; say a good 160 or 175 grainer for your cartridge. Like everyone else has said - I'd scope out what the hunting conditions are gonna most probably be like and perhaps invest in some ancilliary accessories like a Red Dot, heavier bullet(s), etc. that could perhaps help ensure success rather than a complete new larger caliber Boomer. Just my $0.02. Cheers, Number 10 | |||
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The 280 that I have is a remington 700 classic, that I have a 3x9 burris on. the 140gr nosler is what I use to deer hunt, since thats more than enough for the deer where I hunt. So loading a heavier bullet wouldn't be a problem. I also have a rem 700 in 7mm mag. This would give an excuse to get a brush gun. | |||
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Geez guys........why all the boomers. I hunt hogs all year here in Texas. A shot behind the ear with my 22-250 loaded with a 55 gr. soft point or 53 gr. TSX will drop them in their tracks every time. I have to admit that I shoot at least one hog every year with my 375 H&H just to get a chance to hunt with it. With that said, my go to rifle if I am targeting hogs is my 7mm-08 with a 140 gr. TSX. I still try to shoot behind the ear if they present that shot. If they don't, just shoot them in the heart (which is pretty low on a hog). Your 280 is a perfect hog rifle. I would not use BT's. If you want to use Nosler's, go with the Partitions. Now, if you are just looking for a little "nudge" to get a new rifle then by all means get one. We can never have too many. Good Hunting, Bob There is room for all of God's creatures....right next to the mashed potatoes. http://texaspredatorposse.ipbhost.com/   | |||
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From my experience, shot placement is much more important than caliber and energy. I have killed hogs with many calibers, but I have killed most with 30-30 and 270 WCF. I take all head, neck, or spine shots and put them down quick. Like has been said, pigs are not that hard to kill. | |||
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Thanks for the info guys, I just didn't want get down there and not have a gun suitable for hogs. I will have to find out what kind of terrain we will be hunting and if it will be spot and stalk or stand hunting. anybody taken a hog with a 338 fed? | |||
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Jeff is right. My Grandson has killed 4 with his 30BR with 125grn. Ballistic tips. All 1 shot kills. Butch | |||
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I've shot a few hogs, and I know a man that has killed more hogs then I and he only uses a .222 through the head on them. Since I am addicted to guns I tend to try anything on hand from .454 casull to .458 win mag on the pigs. Here is a video of 2 hogs I shot with my .280 rem and 140gr ballistic silvertips, 280wahoo. The first hog was hit in the heart and ran just a short ways, the other was hit in the spine and dropped. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPF3IfSKM28 Here's the aftermath of a hog I hit with my 458 win mag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2SsP7ThPHE And here is a hog taken with .300 win mag, 180gr Ballistic Silvertips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GroYpwADnoM I think your setup should work great on hogs! The only time I had felt undergunned against a hog was when I shot a big 250+lber behind the shoulder with a .243. If I would have hit it in the neck or head I wouldn't of had to track it so that would have been preferred. "Let me start off with two words: Made in America" | |||
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| Moderator |
The .338 Federal should work like a charm. I have used my .338 win mag on a number of hogs and it kills them with authority. I don't like taking head shots on hogs -- it's fine if it's a meat pig, but you don't want to go shooting your trophy in the head -- it'll cost zou extra at the taxidermist (I know this from personal experience  ). Since I'm not a headshot guy, I prefer heavier calibers slinging heavier lead for maximum penetration. Just my personal preference............"Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Go by a box of 160 grn premium bullets and load them up in your 280 and you are done... if you have the urge to drop 500 on a new rifle I would say upgrad your scope to a nice leupold 2.5x8 and now you do have one rifle for everything except big bears in NA Mike Legistine actu? Quid scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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You have to buy a New Rifle!!  There is no other way around it! Double Rifle Shooters Society | |||
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Almost forgot! You will also need a pistol when following wounded hogs into the thick stuff and a good sticking knife If your pistols runs out of ammo or jams. And on the pistol, get one with the rail and accessorize it with a tactical light/laser. Works real nice at night!  Have Fun!!Double Rifle Shooters Society | |||
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| one of us |
I have a 30-06, 308, 280 and 7x57. Where we hunt most hogs are shot under feeders at 150yds or less. for those I use my 7x57 loaded with 150 Partitions @2700fps. It'll take any wild pig anyone is likle to see in Texas. When I hunt places the shot might be longer (my personel limit is 350yds) I use my 280 and the same bullet. just shoot a little lower and more forward than you would a deer. capt david "It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds. Get closer! | |||
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Spear with a good crossbar is better than the pistol as it will hold them off you when they impale themselves on the point during the charge!!! Anything .22LR and up will kill 'em dead (.22LR between the eyes up to 30 yds away) and I've killed more with my .22-250 than any other caliber. Head/neck shots and they are dead right there. An old pilot, not a bold pilot, aka "the pig murdering fool" | |||
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I can see where a spear would be handy, a little cumbersome to carry in thick stuff though. A 230 grain slug is rather persuasive during a charge as well! OH What the heck! Tell your wife you need a spear to! And while we're at it a Spas 12 with buckshot! Double Rifle Shooters Society | |||
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Forget the Fed and go for a 358 Winchester. You just as well get the max out of the 308 case. Packy | |||
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Whitworth, that looks an awful lot like a Red River Hog? Regards 303Guy | |||
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I've been popping piggies for over 32 years using a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag loaded with 240 grain JSPs, never had to shoot twice. Also have popped them with my 30-06 using 165 BTSPs, and my Mini-14 using handloaded 70 grain Speers, all one shot stops. Any round that'll drop a deer will drop a pig if you do your part. ILLEGITIMUS NON CARBORUNDUM | |||
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303 -- that is a bonafide central Florida swamp hog! He fell to my .454 Casull shooting 400 grain WFNs at 1400 fps. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Since I'm not a headshot guy, I prefer heavier calibers slinging heavier lead for maximum penetration. Just my personal preference............[/QUOTE] I'm with you on heavy-fun stuff for pigs. I'm taking the one on the right next week for a bruiser Russian I'm hoping.  | |||
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600 Overkill, where are you going hunting? Take lots of photos! It's just a lot of fun hunting with big-bores. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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I'm going to try the guys at Bear Mountain in the U P of Michigan. I'll post some pics if all goes well. | |||
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| Moderator |
Good luck! I've used both my .416 and my .458 Lott quite extensively on hogs and it's just a lot of fun with open sights. The .600 should make a fine hog hammer -- er rather a hog sledge hammer! "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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I love these posts, because in my family we used to use 30-30 Winchester and 30 Remingtons. I still think I am going to buy an old Remington 141 pump in 30 Remington and scope it with a 2.5X Alaskan for deer and pig. I have found that the 308 Winchester can be overkill for both under 125 yards. Granted we do not shoot pigs that are larger than 250 pounds as a rule because the eating is not as good generally. The only gun we had a problem with was the 243 Winchester and I think it was poor shot placement high on the forehead, because an old Government hunter here used the 22 hornet in a Savage bolt for pigs over dogs. | |||
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| Moderator |
We've been through this discussion a hundred times at the very least. Some folks insist on using the bare minimum caliber, while others believe in hedging there bets a bit (and still others, a bit more ). I think that guys that shoot big bores tend to be rifle enthusiasts, not owning weapons necessarily stricly for their function, or they are guys who do hunt DG where big calibers are the norm. In either case, there is no better off-season practice with a big-bore than on live targets. And believe me, if you haven't shot anything larger than a .45-70, a big-bore from .416 on up, requires a lot of practice to master without developing a flinch. So, instead of the .505 Gibbs sitting in the safe collecting dust, why not kill some hogs with it? Is it necessary to use such a heavy caliber? Nope. But it sure is fun and it adds a new dimension to your pig hunts particularly if you are shooting with open sites. Plus, unlike light calibers some would use to only head-shoot a pig, you can get the vitals from virtually any angle. Besides, what is overkill, anyway? There are no degrees of dead. My .338 squirrel rifle is considered too big by some, but I like it and I like the way it kills -- without compromise.I personally like to mix it up myself - sometimes shooting them with a scoped rifle, sometimes with open sights, sometimes a big-bore, sometimes with a handgun......it keeps things interesting. JMHO. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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I've shot a few with a 308 WCF and 165gr Hornady Interlocks and it worked well. | |||
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 "Let me start off with two words: Made in America" | |||
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Dead-on Whitworth. There's no better practice for the big nasties than using full-up loads on these little tanks. Beats the hell out of moving paper targets and you can barbeque the results. | |||
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Amen! LOL! That's funny and oh-so-true! So, when are you going, .600? "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Arriving this Thursday for 3-4 days. I wanted a snow hunt. Looks like i'm going to get that in spades :-) | |||
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Again, good luck, 600! Keep us posted and take lots of pictures! We are expecting a full report upon completion of your successful hunt. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Well, all went well. I will post a new topic with a full detailed report w/ pics & video but for now this will get things started. He was a MONSTER. But now it's time to prpep for the Packers victory :-)   | |||
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Very nice old tusker. Butch | |||
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DANG!! That is one hellofa hog!! Can't wait to read the full report! I sincerely hope that you are mounting that monster's head! "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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